Malt Time well-weighted for Ellerslie assignment

Malt Time will contest the Royal Descent Stakes (1400m) at Ellerslie on Boxing Day. Photo: Therese Davis (Race Images) Classy mare Malt Time will have a luxury weight to carry among her female counterparts in Thursday’s Royal Descent Stakes (1400m) at Ellerslie. After solid performances in the Group 1 Arrowfield Stud Plate (1400m) and Group 1 Livamol Classic (2040m) through the spring, the Shaun and Emma Clotworthy-trained galloper lined up among the best of the country’s sprinters in the Group 3 Concorde Stakes (1200m), where she far from disgraced herself…

The best tips for the Christmas – New Year period

As many look forward to enjoying their Christmas break, harness racing is gearing up for one of its busiest times – there will be nine meetings between Boxing Day and January 6, including Alexandra Park’s premier Auckland Cup meeting on New Year’s Eve. Westport on Boxing Day is a tried and true favourite, highlighted by the Frank Dooley Memorial Westport Cup (3.10pm) with its second day on December 28. Between the two meetings are 12 races on the grass at Gore including the Jaccka Lodge Gore Trotting Cup and the…

Osteria primed for Auckland Guineas tilt

Osteria will contest Thursday’s Group 2 Auckland Guineas (1400m) at Ellerslie. Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images) Osteria was only upstaged by his talented older stablemate last time out, and back in his own age group, the gelding will be a contender in Thursday’s Group 2 Auckland Guineas (1400m) at Ellerslie. The progressive son of Ribchester broke his maiden comfortably at Pukekohe in November, putting a space on subsequent winners Tycoon Prince and Hard Roca. Stepping out at Ellerslie for the first time, he was beaten less than a length by…

New AYDC Qualifying Criteria

The 2025 Australasian Young Drivers Championship will be held in July in Brisbane. This has meant we needed to change the way our Junior Drivers qualify for the Championship. Please see attached here the new qualifying criteria.   Any questions can be directed to Matthew Peden – Head of Racing and Wagering  – matthew.peden@hrnz.co.nz      

Ottley and Dalgety head north in pursuit of milestones

By Brigette Solomon  The Cambridge Pacers Christmas Cup promises plenty of action today with South Island-based drivers Sam Ottley and Carter Dalgety both engaged to drive strong chances as they continue their quests for driving milestones. Ottley aims to be the first woman to achieve 100 driving wins in a 12-month season and drives the Arna Donnelly-trained Little Spike, while Dalgety drives Fernetti who is trained by his parents Cran and Chrissie Dalgety, and he is vying for the New Zealand Junior Drivers Championship title. Little Spike starts the 2700…

Today’s Australian horse racing tips & previews | 24/12/24

There is one horse racing meeting set for Australia on Tuesday, December 24. Our racing analysts here at horsebetting.com.au have found you the best bets and the quaddie numbers for Wagga. Tuesday’s Free Horse Racing Tips – December 24, 2024 Wagga Racing Tips As always, there are plenty of promotions available for Australian racing fans. Check out all the top online bookmakers to see what daily promotions they have. If you are looking for a new bookmaker for the horse racing taking place on December 24, 2024 check out our…

Southern star Matscot chasing Ellerslie Group 1 success

Matscot will take his place in the Group 1 Zabeel Classic (2050m) at Ellerslie on Boxing Day. Photo: Race Images South Sharon Robertson had a taste of the Group One action at Ellerslie nearly 16 years ago, and on Boxing Day she will return to the northern headquarters with Matscot taking on the Group 1 Zabeel Classic (2050m). Back in 2008, the Canterbury horsewoman took her stable star Delbrae to Ellerslie to contest the Group 1 New Zealand Stakes (2000m), where he finished just out of the placings behind Sir…

Rory Hutchings returns to NZ for three-month riding stint

Rory Hutchings has returned to New Zealand for a three-month riding stint. Photo: Trish Dunell A decade ago, Rory Hutchings had the most successful day of his career at Ellerslie on Boxing Day, and the expat Kiwi hoop will kick off a stint riding in his homeland at the iconic meeting this Thursday. Hutchings was a three-time champion apprentice jockey in New Zealand whilst under the tutelage of Graeme Rogerson, for whom he won his first Group One aboard Soriano in the 2014 edition of the Zabeel Classic (2000m). “That…

RV Stewards charge Jason Maskiell with serious riding offences

Victorian-based jockey Jason Maskiell celebrates with the trophy after guiding the Phil Cole-trained Smuggling to back to back wins in the $100,000 Pioneer Sprint (1200m) on Alice Springs Cup Day at Pioneer Park last May. Picture: Nikki Westover Photography) Racing Victoria (RV) Stewards have concluded their investigation into jockey Jason Maskiell’s ride aboard My Schieller Wood in the Insuremyfleet Maiden Plate over 1600m at Seymour on Friday, November 15, 2024. The $10 PlayUp hope finished 12th out of 13 starters, trailing the winner by 25.55 lengths. Following a thorough inquiry,…