Many pre-race pundits had labelled Saturday’s Ellerslie’s feature, the Gr.3 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Sunline Vase (1400m) as a two-horse contest between Lollapalooza (NZ) (El Roca) and Tajana (NZ) (Darci Brahma), the two hottest three-year-old fillies of spring racing to date. While that ignored the legitimate challenges of several well credentialled rivals, those early predictions played out exactly as expected with the Shaune Ritchie and Colm Murray-prepared Tajana holding out race favourite Lollapalooza by the barest of margins in a thrilling finish to the black-type event. Both fillies are noted…
Month: September 2025
Ears Back claims another northern prize
North Island raids have delivered rich rewards this year for Canterbury mare Ears Back (NZ) (Jakkalberry), who collected her second black-type prize in the Gr.3 Hunterville Vet Club Metric Mile (1600m) at Trentham on Saturday. Ears Back is trained in Rangiora by her part-owner John Blackadder, who previously took her north in the autumn for a pair of feature assignments. The Jakkalberry mare ran a close fifth in the Listed Rangitikei Cup (1600m) at Trentham, then broke through in the Listed AGC Training Stakes (1600m) at Wanganui at the end…
With Your Blessing all the way for Bill Ritchie breakthrough
New Zealand-bred gelding With Your Blessing (NZ) (Vadamos) capped a consistent run of form with his first black-type success in Saturday’s A$250,000 Gr.3 Bill Ritchie Handicap (1400m) at Randwick. The Vadamos gelding progressed through the grades last season with a pair of Randwick victories – an 1100m Benchmark 78 handicap on January 4, followed by a 1300m Benchmark 88 just over a month later. Trainer John Thompson then stepped him up into stakes company and he finished second in a photo finish to the Gr.3 Liverpool City Cup (1300m) at…
Sir Delius claws back to win Group 1 Underwood Stakes
Sir Delius ridden by Craig Williams wins the Underwood Stakes. (Photo: Reg Ryan/Racing Photos) Sir Delius turned a heavyweight spring test into a staying statement, snatching back the lead after being headed to win the Group 1 Underwood Stakes (1800m). Buckaroo swept past at the 300m and looked the winner, but Craig Williams lifted the Frankel entire late, edging clear with Golden Path grabbing third in a tight finish. Officially, the favourite with horse racing bookmakers saluted by a long neck at $2.10. Williams called the five-year-old “a weapon,” noting…
Joliestar all class in The Shorts
Joliestar winning The Shorts. (Photo: Bradleyphotos.com.au) Joliestar turned a “mini-Everest” into her own audition, unleashing a booming first-up sprint to capture the Group 2 The Shorts (1100m) and stamp herself a key player for October. Parked off a strong speed against fellow slot holders, the Chris Waller-trained mare travelled wide without cover before James McDonald clicked her up at the 250m; she surged past Private Harry and held Briasa late in a statement return. The victory arrived a week after connections locked in the Chris Waller Racing slot for The…
Sha Tin races free betting tips & quaddie | September 21, 2025
What Sha Tin Races Where Sha Tin Racecourse – Tai Po Rd, Sha Tin District, Hong Kong When Sunday, September 21, 2025 First Race 1pm HKT (3pm AEST) Visit Dabble Sha Tin Racecourse is the destination for Hong Kong racing this Sunday afternoon, with a competitive 10-race program set for decision. The rail moves to the C course for the meeting, and although some rainfall is expected to hit the track over the weekend, it shouldn’t have any effect on the Good 4 rating listed at the time of acceptances.…
Tardelli caps Ellerslie treble for Marsh
Spring racing moved up a notch at Ellerslie on Saturday for Stephen Marsh, who came away from the meeting with three wins and plenty to be excited about through the months ahead. Marsh collected back-to-back successes early in the afternoon with Guineas contenders Well Written (Written Tycoon) and Churmatt (Churchill), then saddled Little Black Dress (Snitzel) for a third placing in the Gr.3 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Sunline Vase (1400m). But the Cambidge trainer may have saved the best for last, unleashing the exciting four-year-old entire Tardelli (I Am Invincible)…
Spencer back to winning form at Trentham
Quality winter sprinter Spencer (NZ) (Derryn) showed he is just as adept on a better surface as he is on the deep winter footing when he bounced back to winning form with a comprehensive performance to take out the CR Grace Ltd & Waterforce Handicap (1200m) at Trentham. The Erin Hocquard-prepared six-year-old hasn’t had things go all his way during his current campaign including finishing near the rear in the Gr.2 Foxbridge Plate (1200m) a Te Rapa last month after being trapped wide most of the way.. Hocquard was prepared…
Diamond Jak delivers Ellerslie first
Statistics had previously suggested Diamond Jak was something of a heavy-track specialist, but he added a new string to his bow on Saturday and delivered a special win for his connections in the Stella Artois (2100m) at Ellerslie. The seven-year-old son of Jakkalberry went into the $65,000 open handicap with five wins to his name, and all of those wins had come in heavy conditions – four of them at Te Rapa and one at Matamata. But Diamond Jak brought his A-game to Auckland on Saturday and won on Soft5…
Churmatt impressive at Ellerslie
Progressive three-year-old Churmatt showed he has the ability to take on some bigger assignments in the future with a comfortable victory in the NZB Ready To Run Sale Trainers Series 3YO (1400m) at Ellerslie. The son of Churchill was sent out a dominant $2 favourite for the contest against his age-group rivals following an impressive debut victory at Rotorua which was followed by a gallant second-placed effort behind smart filly Platinum Diamond in the Listed Wanganui Guineas (1200m) last month. Trainer Stephen Marsh was confident his charge would perform creditably…