Ciaron Maher might be away on holidays but his team at home are keen and ready for Finals Day at Flemington where the stable says they have a strong team taking on the wintertime features with lessons learnt along the way. Detonator Jack (NZ) (Jakkalberry) and She’s An Artist (Trapeze Artist) headline their team with the former out to break a long run of outs. Despite having not won since taking out The Gong (1600m) at Kembla Grange in November 2023, the now six-year-old Detonator Jack faces one of his more winnable tasks second-up. While the…
Month: July 2025
Sharrock eyes another Opunake Cup with Lazio
Allan Sharrock has won two of the last four editions of the Listed Opunake Cup (1400m), and the New Plymouth trainer believes Saturday’s Group One Turf Bar Sprint (1200m) at Te Rapa could put Lazio (NZ) (Per Incanto) on target to add to that record. Sharrock saddled Justaskme (NZ) (No Excuse Needed) to win the midwinter feature on his home track in 2021 and again in 2023. The 2021 edition produced a Sharrock quinella, with the runner-up position filled by London Express (NZ) (Shamexpress) – the dam of last week’s…
Chance for Pacifico to boost Cup prospects
Versatile performer Pacifico (NZ) (Ardrossan) has hit a rich vein of form and another top showing on Saturday will earn him a crack at a richer winter prize. The son of Ardrossan will shoot for his fourth win on the bounce in the UBP Te Awamutu Cup (1600m) at Te Rapa with a return in the mix later this month for The Callinan Family Taumarunui Cup (2200m). Trainer Andrew Forsman can’t fault the four-year-old and will also be chasing success across the Tasman with Prochester (NZ) (Proisir) in the Mahogany…
Beau the belle of Patterson’s Otaki contenders
Robbie Patterson could have as many as five runners taking on this year’s Listed Sinclair Electrical & Refrigeration Opunake Cup (1400m), including an in-form Belles Beau, who will make his final appearance before the feature at Otaki on Saturday. A four-year-old by Iffraaj, Belles Beau proved he was up to open class when defeating stakes winner Bradman at Wanganui last start, and with Belardo Boy in the mix, he’ll have the luxury of a 54kg impost in the New World Otaki Handicap (1400m). “It’s been three weeks, so we’ve got…
Purvis with an intriguing trio at Addington
Woodend Beach trainer Matt Purvis takes a trio of intriguing runners to tonight’s meeting at Addington Raceway. Kicking off in race one, the TAB 2nd & 3rd Bonus Cash Back Mobile Pace over 1980m, Kotare Kelso ($21.00FF) with driver Sheree Tomlinson will be looking to be competitive from his wide draw of seven. Purvis suggests a freshen-up has the four-year-old Always B Miki gelding in a good head space. “He’s had a bit of a freshen-up, and he seems good for it,” said Purvis. “He was hanging like a cheap…
Quality Cambridge Stud draft in National Online Breeding Stock Sale
The need for Cambridge Stud to control the size of their star-studded broodmare band has opened up some special opportunities in the 2025 National Online Breeding Stock Sale on Gavelhouse Plus. Cambridge Stud is offering six well-credentialled mares – Critical Angel (NZ) (O’Reilly), Friwi (Almanzor), Runway Queen (Star Witness), Stellar Maccartney (NZ) Tavistock), Western Belle (Domesday) and Ziffel (NZ) (Zabeel). They are all being offered in foal to Cambridge Stud stallions. “We’re very fortunate that Brendan and Jo Lindsay’s significant investment in yearling sales and their own breeding programme leads…
Home track double for Ayton
The inclement weather didn’t dampen Robyn Ayton’s spirits at Ashburton on Thursday, with the local trainer posting her first double courtesy of Lady Bankside (NZ) (Belardo) and Tellme You Loveme (NZ) (Tavistock). “That was my first double, so it was nice to do it on the home track, it was fantastic,” Ayton said. “They have both been working well, they look great and have done nothing wrong, so I was hopeful heading into today.” Ayton was particularly hopeful about the chances of Lady Bankside in the Entain/NZB Insurance Pearl Series…
Orange on the Hunt for 100 Wins Again
Blair Orange driving one hundred winners in a season might not seem like a big deal but as the seven-time premiership winning driver approaches three figures again, it’s just as important as the first time. “I remember the first time I got it done (2014) as it was with Donsmedad at Addington for the late Mike Austin who gave me so many opportunities early on. When I started out at Tim Butt’s, driving a winner was a goal so I never take any win for granted,” he added. It would…
Silk Road Final shapes as quality clash
The $34,000 Classique Landscapers Silk Road Final for trotting fillies and mares has drawn a terrific field full of form this Friday night. As is often the case at Alexandra Park the Michelle Wallis and Bernie Hackett team dominate the trotting races numerically and have three very good chances this week. Two of those, Courmayeur and Melsadele have differing form lines and share the co back mark of 25m as they clash for the first time in their respective campaigns. The former galloped and took no part last week whilst…
Betterthancash gains Rising Sun start
Emerging Kiwi pacer Betterthancash is in the $300,000 Rising Sun field. As expected, a tentative flight to Brisbane for Chariots Of Fire winner Bay Of Biscay and his stablemate War Dan Buddy will not go ahead tomorrow. Trainer Emma Stewart scratched the pair and her Inter Dominion trotting hopeful Harold Smith last night from Saturday’s Albion Park meeting. Co-trainer Stacey White was thrilled to learn Betterthancash was in the field. “You feel for the connections of those horses and the club to lose a star like Bay Of Biscay from…