Day: 9 December 2023

Captain Envious (NZ) ridden by Michael Dee wins the Ballarat Cup at Ballarat Racecourse on December 09, 2023. (Photo by Brett Holburt/Racing Photos) Captain Envious (+280) cruised past his rivals to secure victory in the $500,000 Ballarat Cup (2000m) on Saturday afternoon, reveling in the Heavy track conditions. There was plenty of money for the Paul Preusker-trained son of Savabeel, firming into a clear favourite with online bookmakers prior to the jump. He didn’t disappoint, as Michael Dee sat quietly aboard the five-year-old, before unleashing down the centre of the…

Loch Eagle claims the Group 2 The Ingham at Randwick. Photo: Racing NSW Kris Lees and Dylan Gibbons have combined with Loch Eagle (+1700) proving too strong in the Group 2 The Ingham (1600m) at Randwick on Saturday, earning his ticket to the 2024 Doncaster Mile (1600m) in the process. The writing was on the wall for this talented son of Lonhro after a luckless performance last start in The Gong (1600m) at Kembla Grange a fortnight ago, settling for a runner-up finish after sitting wide without cover for the…

Lupo Solitario fought hard to better Orchestral in the Group 3 Bonecrusher Stakes (1400m) at Pukekohe on Saturday. Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images) A desperate finish to the Group 3 Bonecrusher Stakes (1400m) saw exciting three-year-old Lupo Solitario extend his career record to three wins from just four starts as he defeated talented filly Orchestral by the barest of margins in a thrilling conclusion to the age-group feature. While it wasn’t plain sailing in the concluding stages of the contest as Orchestral put in a valiant challenge, it was a…

Captured By Love dominates her juvenile rivals at Trentham claiming the Group 2 Wakefield Challenge Stakes (1100m). Photo: Peter Rubery (Race Images Palmerston North) Te Akau Racing was on top of the two-year-old podium at Trentham on Saturday, with their untapped filly Captured By Love running out a dominant victor in the Group 2 Wakefield Challenge Stakes (1100m). This year’s edition of the juvenile feature drew a strong 11-horse field, with four individual race winners and several with competitive form behind the likes of current Karaka Million 2YO (1200m) fixed…

Give Giggles ridden by Harry Coffey wins the BM70 Handicap at Ballarat Racecourse on December 09, 2023. (Photo by Brett Holburt/Racing Photos) Promising mare Give Giggles extended her perfect record at Ballarat to four-from-four with an emphatic win in Saturday’s A$80,000 A Grade Sheds Handicap (1100m). Trained locally by Tony and Calvin McEvoy, the New Zealand-bred had previously collected three consecutive Ballarat victories, starting with a maiden win in her final three-year-old appearance in March. She resumed in the spring and picked up where she left off, winning again on…

Group 1-bound sprinter Mercurial toughens out Bonny Lass in a tight tussle at Pukekohe Park on Saturday. Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images) Under-rated sprinter Mercurial booked himself a ticket to the Group 1 Sistema Railway (1200m) at Pukekohe with a tenacious all-the-way win over the same course and distance on Saturday. A ballot exemption for the New Year’s Day feature added extra value to the $65,000 Happy Milestone Birthday David Ellis (1200m), and it was Mercurial who stood up and took advantage. The five-year-old jumped from the second-to-outside gate in…

Ryan Moore is acclaimed as World’s Best Jockey. As the newly minted four-time winner of the World’s Best Jockey Award, Ryan Moore will bid to add further lustre to his Hong Kong International Races (HKIR) achievements at Sha Tin on Sunday. Moore on Friday night was awarded the World’s Best Jockey crown for 2023, tying Frankie Dettori for the most victories in the prestigious award. The European-based rider was the inaugural winner of the award in 2014 and again won it in 2016 and 2021. He was officially announced as…