Month: August 2024

The Lindsay Park stable of Ben, Will and JD Hayes finished just shy of 200 winners in the recently completely season and will be looking for an early Stakes race win at Flemington on Saturday. The brothers prepared 199 winners Australia wide for the 2023-24 season and got the 2024-25 season off to a good start with an early double at Cranbourne on Thursday. But at Flemington on Saturday the Lindsay Park team will be pinning their hopes in Crosshaven (Smart Missile) and Nicolini Vito (Nicconi) in the Gr.3 Aurie’s…

JJ Rayner will bid to follow in the footsteps of her father Evan with rugged stayer Lord Spencer (NZ) (Zed) at the Riccarton carnival.  She has her sights set on Saturday’s Avon City Sydenham Hurdles (3100m) as a lead into the Hospitality New Zealand Canterbury Grand National Hurdles (4200m) seven days later.  Rayner senior completed the feature jumping double in 1990 with Mister Divinsky (NZ) (Lavinsky), a dashing performer who remained unbeaten in six starts over the smaller fences, while Van Winkle also placed in both events.  His daughter JJ…

New Zealand Horse Ambulance Trust are on-course assisting our equine athletes in their time of need, so the industry is preparing to give back during their “Here For The Horse” campaign from August 1. Established in 2016, the NZHAT was initially the brainchild of equine veterinarians Dr. Peter Gillespie and Dr. Bill Bishop over five years prior, who sought out a solution to how injuries on race day could be handled in a dignified, safe and effective manner. Through the assistance and support of New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing, Harness Racing…

Outstanding wet track performer Justaskme (NZ) (No Excuse Needed) will carry his lightest weight for years when he takes aim at the Gr.3 Winning Edge Presentations 127th Winter Cup (1600m) at Riccarton on Saturday. The evergreen performer will tackle the Riccarton feature for the third time, having finished fourth 12 months ago under 61kg and runner-up with 60kg in 2021. “He has travelled down better than last year and has eaten everything and has been working really well,” New Plymouth trainer and part-owner Allan Sharrock said. “It’s been a while since…

The South Island’s reigning champion stable will be out in force when the Grand National Carnival kicks off at Riccarton on Saturday. Michael and Matthew Pitman topped last season’s South Island trainers’ premiership with 54 wins, earning themselves a sixth-place finish overall on the national standings. The father-son duo will be represented by 10 runners on their home track on Saturday, including a three-pronged attack on the $45,000 Christchurch Casino 29th South Island Awards 13 September Open (1200m). That trio includes the nine-race winner Makabar (NZ) (Swiss Ace), who was a…

Kenny Rae will start a new chapter in his training career on Saturday, with his successful term in partnership with daughter Krystal Williams having come to an end. Rae has been training since the late eighties, accumulating nearly 400 wins, with 132 of those coming since 2016/17 alongside Williams at Ruakaka. The latter more recently moved to her new base out of Burnham in Canterbury, ultimately sparking a desire to go out on her own. “She’s decided she wants to have a go on her own, she’s been good in…