Day: 3 June 2023

The Kris Lees-trained Amokura capped off her impressive first career preparation stepping up notably in grade to post an impressive upset in the 2023 Queensland Oaks results at Eagle Farm. Damien Oliver (pictured in Sydney) posted his 128th career Group 1 aboard Amokura in the 2023 Queensland Oaks. Photo: Steve Hart. Lees celebrated his second success in the Brisbane Winter Racing Carnival feature 18 years after his first with Vitesse Dane back in 2005. This time he took out the $700,000 Group 1 with untapped Kermadec filly Amokura ($8) who…

Damien Oliver salutes as Amokura wins the Group 1 Queensland Oaks. Photo: Darren Winningham Amokura announced herself in a new class going from a maiden to Group One winner in three starts taking out the Queensland Oaks at Eagle Farm on Saturday. Although she only was carrying a 67 rating and a 5:2-1-0 record heading into the 2200m feature, the Kris Lees-trained filly had support with online bookmakers winding in her price from $21 to $7.50. She won her maiden by a lazy 8.8 lengths in her fourth career start…

Prince Of Boom was in splendid isolation when claiming the Group 2 Moreton Cup. Photo: Darren Winningham In a throwback to his father Prince of Boom turned the tables on the field to take out the Group Two Moreton Cup at Eagle Farm on Saturday. The Rob Heathcote-trained gelding won the $300,000 feature by a dominant three-length display under hoop Tim Clark paying $3.60 with online bookmakers. His sire Spirit of Boom was a two-time Group One winner including the 2014 edition of the Doomben Cup and the bloodline is…

Verifier (pink cap) winning at Flemington on Saturday under a perfectly-timed Robbie Downey ride.Photo: Bruno Cannatelli (Ultimate Racing Photos) Three-year-old gelding Verifier broke through for a well-deserved victory at Flemington on Saturday under Robbie Downey. The son of Tivaci has been knocking on the door for trainer Nigel Blackiston, coming from the rear of the field under a perfectly-timed Robbie Downey ride to land the prize. Despite his previous maiden status, Verifier had run well when beaten just over two lengths in the Group 3 Chairman’s Stakes (2000m) in Adelaide…

Justaskme winning the Listed AGC Training Stakes WFA (1600m) at Wanganui on Saturday. Photo: Race Images Palmerston North Taranaki galloper Justaskme continued his purple patch of form at Wanganui on Saturday when taking out the Listed AGC Training Stakes (1600m). The seven-year-old gelding was installed a $1.90 favourite for the mile feature following his last start victory in the Listed Rangitikei Cup (1550m) last month, and he duly delivered for punters. Under a patient ride by Johnathan Parkes, Justaskme settled in behind pacemaker Regal Rock where he remained before Parkes…

Chantilly Lace winning the Listed Castletown Stakes (1200m) at Wanganui on Saturday. Photo: Race Images Palmerston North It was a popular win at Wanganui on Saturday when Chantilly Lace demolished her rivals in the Listed Castletown Stakes (1200m). The daughter of U S Navy Flag headed into the race in great form, having placed in the Listed Auckland Futurity Stakes (1400m) at her previous outing, and trainer Chrissy Bambry was confident of another bold showing in Saturday’s juvenile feature. Chantilly Lace didn’t disappoint, running out a 10-length victor following a…

Lucky Sweynesse is chasing an eighth win for the season. Zac Purton concedes Lucky Sweynesse faces a significant challenge at Sha Tin on Sunday when the champion sprinter tackles the Group 3 Sha Tin Vase Handicap (1200m) attempting to match Beauty Generation’s record of eight victories in a season. Manfred Man’s star will contest his 10th race in a campaign which started with victory on the opening day of the season on 11 September and subsequently blossomed with three Group 1 triumphs – the Centenary Sprint Cup (1200m), the Queen’s…

Cody Mo addresses the media with Mr Andrew Harding, Hong Kong Jockey Club Executive Director, Racing. Cody Mo hopes to convert the benefits of a long and comprehensive grounding into immediate success when Hong Kong’s newest trainer formally starts the latest chapter in his career in the 2023/24 season. Mo, 45, has been granted a trainer’s licence to operate in his own right after starting his career with the Hong Kong Jockey Club as a work rider in 1994. After serving as an assistant trainer with David Hall, David Ferraris,…