Month: September 2025

Whangaehu primed for strong showing in Group 1 company

AAP

Whangaehu is fit and ready ahead of his return to racing at Trentham on Saturday. Photo: Peter Rubery (Race Images Palmerston North) The prospect of a heavy surface for Saturday’s Te Rapa meeting could play into the hands of Central Districts visitor Whangaehu. The versatile galloper has competed right out to the two miles of a Group 2 Auckland Cup (3200m), but last term, he found career-best form over the middle-distance trips, winning the Group 3 Trentham Stakes (2100m) and placing in the Group 1 Herbie Dyke Stakes (2000m). Now…

Regional Queensland in spotlight for Country Cups Challenge

AAP

All roads lead to Doomben as the Country Cups Challenge and Country Stampede commence next week. Now in its eighth year, the Country Cups Challenge will commence with three heats across Longreach, Mount Isa and Atherton on Saturday, September 27. A further 13 heats will take place across regional Queensland over the following two months. The series will culminate with a $200,000 Final as a part of the Queensland Summer Racing Carnival, on Saturday, December 6 at Doomben – which also features the Group 3 George Moore Stakes. At the…

Versatile galloper ready to roll in feature mile

NZRacingDesk

The prospect of a heavy surface for Saturday’s Te Rapa meeting could play into the hands of Central Districts visitor Whangaehu. The versatile galloper has competed right out to the two miles of a Gr.2 Auckland Cup (3200m), but last term, he found career-best form over the middle-distance trips, winning the Gr.3 Trentham Stakes (2100m) and placing in the Gr.1 Herbie Dyke Stakes (2000m). Now firmly in the Group One fold, Whangaehu will resume in the Gr.1 Howden Insurance Mile (1600m), having had two public trials to prepare for trainers…

Thursday’s horse racing bookmaker promos & offers | September 25

AAP

Check out the great racing offers available from horse racing bookmakers on Thursday, September 25. Enjoy bonus back deals and other promotions to boost your betting experience. Explore these specials from top online bookmakers and get more value from your bets. Top Australian racing promotions for September 25, 2025, include: Today’s horse racing promotions 10% Winnings Boost! – Hawkesbury Get 10% Boosted Winnings paid in BONUS CASH. First eligible bet per race. Must apply Promotion in betslip. Cash bets only. Max bonus $100. Eligible customers only Login to Picklebet to…

Will the real Forgiveness turn up at Cambridge tonight?

NZHarnessNews

By Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk   In-form trainer Matthew White’s not sure what to make of Forgiveness in tonight’s IRT.Your Horse.Our Passion Handicap Trot (6.31pm) at Cambridge. There’s no doubting the Father Patrick five-year-old’s ability but she has not produced much so far since trekking north. She’s had three unplaced starts for White after winning six down south for Paul Nairn, including a four length win at Addington in May this year. “She can be a bit ‘in and out’,” says White, “but she’s had a freshen up…

Cup plans for Bankers Choice

NZRacingDesk

Only four horses have taken up the challenge of going from an autumn Mornington Cup victory to take on the Caulfield Cup in the spring since the former was first elevated to offer ballot-free status for the 2013 Cup at Caulfield. None have yet managed to be even placed in the Caulfield Cup, but trainer Ben Hayes is thinking this year might be different with plans to run 2025 Mornington Cup winner Bankers Choice at Caulfield in the $5 million feature on October 18. “If Bankers Choice (NZ) (Mongolian Khan)…

Hawkesbury races free betting preview & tips | September 25, 2025

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What Hawkesbury races Where Hawkesbury Race Club – 1 Racecourse Rd, Clarendon NSW 2756 When Thursday, September 25, 2025 First Race 1:05pm AEST Visit Dabble Provincial racing in New South Wales heads to Hawkesbury with a competitive eight-race meeting this Thursday. Perfect conditions above will mirror those on the track, with the Good 4 rating expected to hold through the program, while the rail is out +2m from the 1100m-450m and sticking true for the remainder. Below are our top betting tips for Hawkesbury races on September 25, with the…

162 and counting for Harness 5000

NZHarnessNews

The weekly Harness 5000 tracker is about to achieve its first big milestone. The tracker is updated weekly depending on how many horses have become eligible for the Harness 5000 at Ashburton on December 21. The series, featuring 12 $60,000 finals, is for trotters and pacers whose sire stood for an advertised retail service fee of $5,000 or less in the breeding season of conception and to be eligible horses must compete in at least five race day starts between July 3 – December 9,2025. The “168” on the tracker…

News Briefs : September 24

NZHarnessNews

Two health updates, Nathan Purdon’s 20th Group 1, the return of qualifying trials at Addington, and Dex’s $1m win all feature in this week’s News Briefs. O’Reilly back at work Sarah O’Reilly has been given the all clear to return to work. The Ashburton based trainer-driver has had a long and frustrating time on the sidelines since breaking her arm in July 2024. She was injured when a horse “jumped” into her cart. Since being given the all-clear by medical specialists she’s returned to light duties at his employers Tim…

Paris Prince moves closer to Dominion Trot start

NZHarnessNews

Up 10 places in a week, Paris Prince is now in contention to make the Renwick Farms Dominion Trot field at Addington Raceway on Tuesday, November 11. The Fred Fletcher-trained Paris Prince has gone from 28th to 18th in this week’s rankings, just three places outside the cut-off. His promotion comes on the back of his game second to the super impressive Oscar Bonavena in the Group 3 Elite Stride D G Jones Memorial Banks Peninsula Trotting Cup at Motukarara. Paris Prince, a Royal Aspirations seven-year-old, is the winner of 10 races and…