Day: 18 April 2024

Matscot will contest the Gr.3 Coca-Cola Canterbury Gold Cup (2000m) at Riccarton on Saturday. Photo: Race Images South Fresh off his rich payday after taking out last Saturday’s $350,000 Southern Alps Challenge (1600m) at Riccarton, Matscot will return to the Christchurch track this weekend in search of more feature spoils. Initially set to target Saturday’s Group 3 Coca-Cola Canterbury Gold Cup (2000m), trainer Sharon Robertson elected to make a late bid for the Southern Alps last week, which more than paid off for the local trainer. Her decision earned her…

Snazzytavi will be one of two contenders for trainers Graham Richardson and Rogan Norvall in Saturday’s Group 3 Easter Handicap at Ellerslie. Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images) Matamata trainers Graham Richardson and Rogan Norvall were rapt with their treble at Arawa Park on Wednesday, and they are hoping they can continue that winning form into the rest of the week. Therapeutic kicked off the treble before Confiance and Darci’s Angel carried Social Racing’s colours to victory respectively. “I am absolutely over the moon,” Richardson said. “It’s good for Social Racing,…

Investigate will contest the Group 3 Trelawney Stud Championship Stakes (2100m) at Ellerslie on Saturday. Photo: Race Images Palmerston North Up and coming staying prospect Investigate promises to give another bold account of himself at Ellerslie on Saturday in what is likely to be the final appearance of his current campaign. The Tony Pike-prepared son of Dundeel has relished the step up to middle distance racing and appeals as a leading chance in the Group 3 Championship Stakes (2100m). He is one of a quartet of strong black type chances…

Caspar Fownes celebrates the milestone with Ellis Wong. The Fownes name has been synonymous with Hong Kong racing across the past 40-plus years and Caspar, son of former trainer Lawrie, became only the fourth horseman after John Moore (1,735), John Size (1,535) and Tony Cruz (1,502) to reach 1,100 Hong Kong wins on Wednesday night at Happy Valley. Assistant to his late father for several seasons, Fownes, 56, gained his licence in 2003/04 and since then he has been crowned Hong Kong Champion Trainer four times: 2006/07, 2008/09, 2013/14 and…

Waitak will jump from barrier 10 in Saturday’s $5 million The Quokka (1200m) in Perth. Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images) An omen barrier may prove the key to Waitak’s success in a star-studded line-up for Saturday’s $5 million The Quokka (1200m) in Perth. The son of Proisir is trained by Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott, and the latter flew from their Matamata base to Western Australia to be present at the Breakfast With The Stars promotional event, where he drew barrier 10 for the Group 1 Railway (1200m) winner. While…