By Michael Guerin The fact trainer Brendon Hill has never won a Derby might be a surprise. But the fact his good mate Ricky May have never won one is flat out remarkable. The pair head to Addington on Friday to try and remedy that with Renegade in the $300,000 Garrards New Zealand Pacing Derby, a great race won by great horses. It may not actually contain many truly great horses this year with this three-year-old crop struggling to produce a standout star who has open class hero of the…
Year: 2024
Elegant Return for Rogerson’s Promising Filly
Elegant Jazz(NZ) (Russian Revolution) made a strong opening to her three-year-old campaign at Arawa Park on Wednesday, breaking her maiden with a promising performance in the Novara Park 1230. The Russian Revolution filly had nine starts as a juvenile, with two of her best efforts coming in the hands of Sam Spratt, who was engaged for the ride at the midweek meeting. Starting among the outside hopes at $21.40, Elegant Jazz made good use of her low barrier early, but was soon crossed by several runners, landing her in the…
La Crique chasing Group 1 glory at Trentham
Multiple Group One winner La Crique will contest Saturday’s Group 1 TAB Mufhasa Classic (1600m) at Trentham. Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images) La Crique hasn’t returned to Trentham since she won the Group 3 Desert Gold Stakes (1600m) as a three-year-old, and three years down the track, the star mare will line up as a leading hope in Saturday’s Group 1 TAB Mufhasa Classic (1600m). The Desert Gold was La Crique’s first taste of stakes success and she has scarcely raced out of that company since, winning the Group 2…
La Crique Targets Elite Glory at Trentham
La Crique(NZ) (Vadamos) hasn’t returned to Trentham since she won the Gr.3 Desert Gold Stakes (1600m) as a three-year-old, and three years down the track, the star mare will line up as a leading hope in Saturday’s Gr.1 TAB Mufhasa Classic (1600m). The Desert Gold was La Crique’s first taste of stakes success and she has scarcely raced out of that company since, winning the Gr.2 Avondale Guineas (2100m), Gr.1 Arrowfield Stud Plate (1600m), Gr.1 Otaki-WFA Classic (1600m), and most recently, the Gr.2 Auckland Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1400m) a fortnight…
Top Sprinter Primed for Concorde Stakes
Well-performed speed merchant Babylon Berlin will strip a fitter mare for Saturday’s assignment at Ellerslie. The daughter of All Too Hard will bid to add to her impressive black-type sprinting record when she steps out in the Gr.3 Concorde Stakes (1200m), a race she won in 2022. Babylon Berlin opened her current preparation in convincing fashion when she romped away with the Listed Legacy Lodge Sprint (1200m) at Te Rapa last month and then finished fifth in the Gr.3 Counties Bowl (1100m) at Pukekohe. It was a last-start performance that…
Promising Local Two-Year-Old Set for New Plymouth Spotlight
Improved track conditions will present Almakeitgood(NZ) (Ardrossan) with a gilt-edged opportunity to open her winning account at New Plymouth on Thursday. The Ardrossan youngster is among a host of runners for local trainer Allan Sharrock, who labelled the Grangewilliam Stud Maiden (1200m) contender as one of his leading chances. To be ridden by Craig Grylls from a handy gate (four), Almakeitgood was placed in both of her spring outings, finishing third on debut at Wanganui and then ran second at Trentham. “I’d like to think she can win, she goes…
Antino finally makes his way to Hong Kong Mile
Antino stretches out at Sha Tin. Photo: HKJC Australian trainer Tony Gollan admits the path his star galloper Antino has taken to get to the HK$36 million Group 1 Hong Kong Mile (1600m) at Sha Tin on Sunday is one of racing’s bizarre stories. Antino was bred by Hong Kong-based George Kit Ma’s Blossom Trading & Breeding Company Ltd and was subsequently bought for a meagre HK$135,000 by Hong Kong businessman Jeetu Ramchandani who, virtually on a whim, made the online bid at the 2020 New Zealand Ready To Run…
Geelong free racing preview & quaddie tips | December 5, 2024
What Geelong Races Where Geelong Racecourse – 99 Breakwater Rd, Breakwater VIC 3219 When Thursday, December 5, 2024 First Race 1:30pm AEDT Visit Dabble Racing in Victoria this Thursday heads to Geelong, where a competitive nine-race meeting is set down for decision. A perfect summer’s day is forecast, with the track conditions set to replicate those in the sky. The rail is out 5m, with racing set to get underway at 1:30pm AEDT. Best Bet at Geelong: Universal Harmony Somehow, Universal Harmony is still a maiden through nine starts. The…
Stars assemble for International Jockeys’ Championship
12 of the world’s best jockeys will contest the International Jockeys’ Championship at Happy Valley. Several returning heroes were among the galaxy of stars present at the International Jockeys’ Championship (IJC) press conference at Tai Kwun in Central, Hong Kong on Tuesday. Among them was Rachel King, who will be hoping to emulate her flawless start to last year’s competition after striking in the opening leg on her Happy Valley debut aboard Oversubscribed. The rider was born in Britain but has reached the pinnacle of Australian racing, and it is…
Without A Fight ready to deliver KO blow in Hong Kong Vase
Without A Fight exercises at Sha Tin. Already the winner of two significant Group 1 races – Caulfield Cup (2400m) and the Melbourne Cup (3200m), both in 2023 – young Australian trainer Sam Freedman is confident Without A Fight can topple a class field of local and international runners in Sunday’s Group 1 Hong Kong Vase (2400m). Freedman, who trains in partnership with his father Anthony, describes the seven-year-old as a world-class galloper with an amazing will to win who can add a third Group 1 to his imposing career,…