Month: April 2025

Jonny Cox with key chances on Winton’s big day

NZHarnessNews

By Jonny Turner It’s not just the advantage of horsepower Jonny Cox hopes to have on his side when he pulls on the powerful Purdon colours at Winton on Thursday. Cox will head to his hometown’s bumper cup meeting amid a whirlwind month in which he’s already tasted Group race success. The reinsman will link up with the Mark and Nathan Purdon-trained Secret Wish, who was downed by stablemate Alecto, whom Cox drove to win the recent Group 3 Leonard Memorial at Addington. While Secret Wish was firmly in Cox’s…

Nepotism dominates betting in Group 1 Champagne Stakes

AAP

Nepotism winning the Group 3 Baillieu at Rosehill. Photo: Bradleyphotos.com.au The Group 1 Champagne Stakes (1600m) is the first of two Group 1 races at Royal Randwick on Saturday afternoon, with a talented field of 12 two-year-olds seeking Group 1 glory for the first time. The team Hawkes-trained Nepotism was a dominant winner in the Group 3 Baillieu (1400m) at Rosehill on April 1 and has been the clear favourite with horse racing bookmakers since careering away by 1.5 lengths on testing conditions. The son of Brutal still holds firm…

All-Aged Stakes attracts star-studded field

AAP

All-Aged Stakes favourite, Briasa. Photo: Bradleyphotos.com.au The Group 1 All Aged Stakes (1400m) headlines the action at Royal Randwick on Saturday afternoon, with a star-studded field of 14 set to line up in the $1.5 million weight-for-age feature. The team Hawkes-trained Briasa holds the call as the $3.60 favourite with horse racing bookmakers and is looking for back-to-back Group 1 successes after claiming the Group 1 T.J. Smith Stakes (1200m) on Day 1 of The Championships. Tyler Schiller continues his association aboard the improving four-year-old gelding and appears set to…

Karrakatta Plate

AAP

Odds Bookmakers News Field Past Winners Karrakatta Plate Group Two Betting Guide Date: Saturday, April 26, 2025 Location: Ascot Racecourse – Perth, Western Australia Prize Money: $500,000 Distance: 1200m The Karrakatta Plate is a Group 2 race for two-year-olds, run over 1200m under set weights at Ascot, with this hosted by Perth Racing. First staged in 1902 and won by San Toy, the Karrakatta Plate is Western Australia’s premier juvenile event and was a Group 1 race until it was downgraded in 1999. Originally run over five furlongs, the Karrakatta…

Hayes family hoping for a bright Champions Day

AAP

Mr Brightside arrives safely in Hong Kong. Photo: HKJC The Hayes clan is hoping FWD Champions Day at Sha Tin on Sunday, April 27 will be much more than an impromptu family reunion for David and Prue and their three sons Ben, Will and JD. They are also hoping for a big celebratory dinner later that night. In a unique twist, David and his co-trainer sons have runners in the three Group 1 features and they are all products of the Hayes’ famed Lindsay Park establishment at Euroa in Victoria.…

Today’s horse racing promotions & bet returns | April 16, 2025

AAP

Explore a multitude of captivating racing promotions offered by horse racing bookmakers on Wednesday, April 16. Immerse yourself in the thrill with generous bonus back offers, elevating your betting experience. Delve into these promotions from top-tier online bookmakers to maximise your betting opportunities. The top Australian racing promotions for April 16, 2025, include: Today’s best horse racing promotions 25% Winnings Boost! – Caulfield Health Get 25% BOOSTED WINNINGS paid in BONUS CASH. Fixed win only. First eligible bet per race. Must apply Promotion in betslip. Cash bet only. Max bonus…

W.A.T.C. Derby

AAP

Odds Bookmakers News Field Past Winners W.A.T.C. Derby Group Two Betting Guide Date: Saturday, April 19, 2025 Location: Ascot Racecourse – Perth, Western Australia Prize Money: $400,000 Distance: 2400m The WATC Derby is a Group 2 race for three-year-olds, run over 2400m at Ascot by the Western Australia Turf Club. First held in 1888, the WATC Derby is one of Perth’s oldest and most prestigious races, traditionally run under set weights. Originally part of the Perth Cup summer carnival, the WATC Derby moved to April in 1988, briefly returned to…

Jimmy can settle closer in All Aged

NZRacingDesk

Ciaron Maher is backing in Jimmysstar (NZ) (Per Incanto) to settle closer in the run in Saturday’s Gr.1 All Aged Stakes (1400m), which he feels can make all the difference in securing a second elite-level title this campaign. The Oakleigh Plate winner, who is $4.50 second favourite with Sportsbet, will stretch beyond 1200 metres for the first time this preparation, which should also assist the fast finisher to be within striking range after his fourth placing in the Gr.1 T.J. Smith Stakes at his most recent start. “1400 metres he…

Mark Chittick the latest of the “cross coders”

NZHarnessNews

By Michael Guerin One of New Zealand’s most famous sets of racing colours could be coming to a harness racing track near you next season. But first Waikato Stud owner Mark Chittick will have to get a bigger set made. (Photo courtesy of Trish Dunell)  Chittick, the man who owns the giant thoroughbred breeding operation, has bought his first harness horse, outlaying $50,000 for a Tactical Landing filly out of Queen Bea, an unraced sister to Queen Elida. And he wants it wearing his famous colours, the same ones his…

Chase A Dream is Aussie-bound

NZHarnessNews

By Michael Guerin Chase A Dream is not only back but Queensland-bound. The big improver of the last month, winning the Flying Mile at Cambridge before chasing Leap To Fame home in the Race By Betcha, has accepted an invitation to the Rising Sun at Albion Park in July 5. Co-trainer Mark Purdon hopes that four-year-old can win the A$300,000 Rising Sun to springboard himself into the A$1million Inter Dominion Final two weeks later without needing to contest any of the Inter Dom heats. If Chase A Dream, or any…