By Adam Hamilton It is a big weekend for the Kiwis when the Brisbane Winter Carnival steps up a notch at Albion Park on Saturday night. Leading the way is Team Purdon’s star veteran trotter Oscar Bonavena, who faces a fascinating clash with the enigmatic but gifted Gus in Tony Veivers Memorial Trot (race four) over the mobile 2138m. Oscar Bonavena, who looked sharp winning and Albion Park trial last Friday, will be driven by Adam Sanderson and has eased from $1.40 to $1.80. Gus has been backed from $5.50…
Month: June 2025
American Me well-favoured to make winning return at Alexandra Park tonight
By Michael Guerin It may be 14 months since American Me last won a race but it was the quality of that victory that suggest he is the horse to beat in the main race at Alexandra Park tonight. The Ashburton pacer returns to the north and trainers Brent and Tim White appear to have found the ideal race in the $20,000 Classique Landscapers Pace (6.22pm). He is on a 25m handicap but only has four rivals in front of him, of which two share a 10m handicap, so being…
Mate against mate in feature pace at Addington tonight
By Jonny Turner Friends will become foes at Addington on Friday night. Regan Todd and Craig Ferguson have enjoyed success together that many can only dream of over the past 12 months. But this time, the two horsemen will go head-to-head in Friday night’s feature pace with Betterthancash and Da Vinci in Race 5, the Breckon farms Lot 1081 NZB Weanling Sale handicap pace (6.12pm). . Betterthancash returns to the track for the first time since his outstanding win in a hectic running of the New Zealand Country Championship. With…
Novara Park confirms 2025 service fees
In line with the current economic climate, Novara Park owner Luigi Muollo has made adjustments to the service fees for the stud’s four-strong stallion roster. The fee for Staphanos has been reduced from $15,000 to $9,000 plus GST, while Sweynesse has been trimmed from $10,000 to $7,000. King Of Comedy and Press Statement remain at unchanged fees of $7,000 and $6,000 respectively. “We are mindful of the challenges facing trainers, syndicators and breeders,” Muollo said. “The costs of production, wages, everything has increased. All of our stallions this season will…
Nelson-McDougal stars facing off in Waikato features
The powerful jumping stable of Paul Nelson and Corrina McDougal will be out in full force at Te Rapa on Saturday, with the return of champion galloper The Cossack headlining their attack in the feature events. Now an 11-year-old, The Cossack has won a phenomenal 15 jumping races, including a pair of Great Northern Hurdles (4200m), a Grand National Hurdle (4200m) and last year’s Wellington Steeplechase (5500m). After his success at Trentham, the son of Mastercraftsman was ruled out of the Grand National Steeplechase (5500m) and the remainder of last…
Local staying mare’s form hard to fault
All the signs point toward another bold showing from Who Knows (NZ) (Redwood) when she takes aim at the Bullocks Whanganui Handicap (2040m) at Wanganui on Saturday. The daughter of Redwood closed late to finish fourth over a mile when second-up on the track three runs back and most recently ran second over 2040m in the River City. In between times, the promising mare was a winner at Trentham under Kate Hercock, who will be reunited with her at the weekend. “She’s working really well, so we’re quite happy with…
Smart first-up winner heading to Wanganui
Kurtis Pertab wasn’t short of options for War Queen (NZ) (Proisir) before he settled on a return trip to the Central Districts for his impressive debut winner. The Matamata trainer nominated the daughter of Proisir for Wanganui and Te Rapa on Saturday, and Matamata on Sunday, and has confirmed the former venue as his next port of call. War Queen will bid to keep her perfect record intact when she steps out in the Hirepool 3YO (1340m) following her comfortable victory at Hawera last month at the first time of…
Former Great Northern hero to make jumping return
Abu Dhabi (NZ) (Haradasun) will make his much-anticipated return to jumping when he contests the Fairview Motors Waikato Hurdle (3200m) at Te Rapa on Saturday. The nine-year-old gelding placed in the race two years ago before falling in his debut steeplechase at his next start and was off the racing scene before making his return on the flat last month. The son of Haradasun has a solid record over hurdles, winning two and placing in three of his seven starts, including victory in the 2022 edition of the Great Northern…
Tiara pathway for Firestorm
A difficult draw in the Gr.1 Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) has prompted Chris Waller to scratch dual acceptor Firestorm (NZ) (Satono Aladdin) in preference for the Gr.2 Dane Ripper Stakes (1300m) at Eagle Farm, paving the way for first emergency and barn mate Coleman (Pierata) to take his place in the Group One. Waller had initially hoped to run the daughter of Satono Aladdin in the day’s main feature but said drawing barrier 16 made her task hard. “If she had a good draw she would definitely be running (in the…
Vale Herbie Rauhihi
Former jockey Herbie Rauhihi, who was revered by many young hoops in the Central Districts, has passed away, aged 86. One of those impressionable young riders was Noel Harris, who would go on to become one of New Zealand’s most decorated jockeys. Harris looked up to Rauhihi from the outset of his riding career and he said Rauhihi made a big impression on him in his formative years in the saddle. “He was a champion guy,” Harris said. “He rode for my Dad, Eric Ropiha, and all the good trainers…