By Adam Hamilton Wanted – a slot in the $1 million Race by Betcha at Cambridge on Friday, April 4. That’s the call from Tact McLeod’s driver and caretaker trainer Anthony Butt after the emerging Kiwi pacer ran a slashing third in Saturday night’s stellar Miracle Mile behind Don Hugo. “That’s where we want to go,” Butt said. “It would be a perfect race for him with his gate speed around the Cambridge track. “I’m so proud of how well he’s stepped into the big league with those big runs…
Month: March 2025
Mitchell takes out West Coast double at big odds
By Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk Heading into the West Coast circuit Mid Canterbury trainer David Mitchell thought Deceptive Lee was his best chance of victory. As it turned out the best he could manage was one third while unfancied stablemate Sinai Sermon won at Westport on Friday and then again at Reefton yesterday, both at big odds. “To be honest I didn’t back him either day, usually I put something on as an interest,” says Mitchell, “I would have at Westport but didn’t get to the tote on…
Breckons and Dalgety win at Rural Sports Awards
The Breckons were winners even before Friday night’s Ford New Zealand Rural Sports awards got underway in Palmerston North. A number of high profile harness racing figures were at the annual awards at Awapuni Racecourse with Ken and Karen Breckon being named joint winner of the TAB Outstanding Contribution to New Zealand Rural Sports Awards and young gun Carter Dalgety winning Fonterra Rural Young Sportsperson of the year. History-making driver Sam Ottley, the first woman to rein 100 winners in this country in a 12 month season, also made the…
Cyclone Alfred causes more Queensland racing to be postponed
Queensland’s thoroughbred racing schedule has been heavily impacted by Tropical Cyclone Alfred, with multiple meetings either cancelled or rescheduled due to ongoing weather and track conditions. Racing Queensland has confirmed a series of changes to the calendar as race clubs work to recover. The Eagle Farm meeting originally set for Tuesday, March 11, has been rescheduled to Wednesday, March 12, replacing the Doomben meeting, which has now been abandoned. The cancellation of Doomben Racecourse has led to three additional races being added to the Eagle Farm program, meaning an expanded…
Sir Sway secures Manihi Classic victory, eyes The Goodwood
Morphettville track. Taylor Johnstone has produced a brilliant front-running ride to guide Sir Sway ($4.60) to victory in the Listed Manihi Classic (1100m) at Morphettville on Monday, securing a significant black-type success for Sue & Jason Jaensch. The four-year-old gelding showed his customary early speed before digging deep in the straight to hold off the fast-finishing bookmaker favourite Prairie Flower ($2.90), with Extremely Lucky () flashing home for third. Sir Sway’s victory was all the more impressive given he was first-up without an official trial or jumpout, showing his natural…
Milnes lands biggest win with Silent Surrente in Adelaide Cup
Silent Surrente (Pat Scala/Racing Photos) Rochelle Milnes has secured the biggest victory of her career, guiding Silent Surrente ($10) to an all-the-way win in the Group 2 Sportsbet Adelaide Cup (3200m) at Morphettville on Monday afternoon for the Will Clarken & Niki O’Shea stable. The six-year-old Fiorente mare delivered a masterful front-running display, overcoming an early wide position to roll to the lead mid-race before defying all challengers in the straight to claim South Australia’s biggest staying race. Silent Surrente’s win was a testament to Milnes’ composure, as she took…
VRC Sires’ Produce Stakes
Odds Bookmakers News Field Past Winners VRC Sires’ Produce Stakes Group Two Betting Guide Date: Saturday, March 8, 2025 Location: Flemington Racecourse – Melbourne, Victoria Prize Money: $300,000 Distance: 1400m The VRC Sires’ Produce Stakes is a Group 2 race for two-year-olds, run over 1400m at Flemington by the Victoria Racing Club. First held in 1862 as the Flemington Stakes, the VRC Sires’ Produce Stakes has undergone several name and distance changes before settling at its current format in 1920. Previously a Group 1 race (1979-2004), the VRC Sires’ Produce…
Gala Queen stakes her claim with Morphettville Guineas triumph
Gala Queen ridden by Joe Bowditch. (Photo by Ross Holburt/Racing Photos) Gala Queen delivered a powerful performance to claim the Listed Morphettville Guineas (1600m) on Monday, March 10, giving trainer Phillip Stokes and jockey Joe Bowditch a valuable feature win. The Deep Field filly settled midfield off a strong early tempo, with Justa Star and Balistique setting a hot pace in front. Sabaj, the unbeaten bookmaker favourite, tracked well in the run, while Gala Queen traveled strongly under Bowditch. As the field swung into the straight, Justa Star and Balistique…
Wynyard Trentham-bound with talented fillies
Hollie Wynyard has a pair of Trentham features in sight for her talented fillies This Time Girl and Archaic Smile after top performances across the North Island over the weekend. Wynyard’s immediate focus on Saturday was at Ellerslie, where her promising stayer This Time Girl was among the key chances in the Gr.3 Sunline Vase (2100m), and put in a game runner-up performance behind race-favourite and eventual winner Island Life. The $1 million Gr.1 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai New Zealand Oaks (2400m) has always been at the forefront of Wynyard’s…
Sister acts deliver stunning breeding double
A stunning family double for Tony Rider on Champion’s Day elevated the Milan Park principal into rare territory. Rider was still coming to terms on Monday with the enormity of events at Ellerslie where his homebred Savabeel sisters Provence and Damask Rose landed massive feature event blows. The former won the Gr.1 New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1600m) and three races later Damask Rose also produced a dashing performance to claim the inaugural running of the $3.5 million NZB Kiwi (1500m). “It was amazing and very, very special. It seems…