Progressive three-year-old Single Choice (Anders) recorded the second victory of his career when running out a good winner of the Bendigo Magazine 3YO BM64 Handicap (1300m) on Wednesday for trainer Matt Cumani. Single Choice came from last under jockey Eoin Walsh in a small field to get the better of Mongolian Gobi (NZ) (Ribchester) as he advanced his record to two wins and a runner-up finish from four starts. “It was quite a messy race for him, you never like to see them in a small field being three wide…
Month: September 2025
Maher’s Smokey hope in Underwood
Trainer Ciaron Maher would not be surprised if Smokin’ Romans (NZ) (Ghibellines) was fighting out the finish of the Underwood Stakes at Caulfield. Smokin’ Romans maybe getting on in years, but trainer Ciaron Maher has been buoyed by the gelding’s recent performance and is giving the ‘old boy’ another crack at a Group 1 contest. The Underwood Stakes (1800m) at Caulfield on Saturday will see Smokin’ Romans line up with stablemates Zardozi (Kingman) and Middle Earth (Roaring Lion) in a bid to wind back the clock. At this meeting in 2022, Smokin’ Romans won the Group 3 Naturalism Stakes (2000m) before going on…
Melbourne Cup hope out for spring
Melbourne Cup hopeful Basilinna (NZ) (Staphanos) has been ruled out for the spring. Racing Victoria announced the news on Wednesday afternoon, confirming the Emma-Lee and David Browne-trained galloper is set to have surgery to remove bone chips from her near fore fetlock. Basilinna had qualified for the Melbourne Cup for the Pakenham-based stable by winning the Listed Andrew Ramsden (2800m) at Flemington in May. The daughter of Staphanos had returned late last month and finished behind Revelare over 2000m at Caulfield. She had been allocated 51kg for the Melbourne Cup.
Fork in road for Lightning
Peter Moody will let Desert Lightning’s (NZ) (Pride of Dubai) performance in the Underwood Stakes at Caulfield dictate what direction he will head with the last-start winner of the So You Think Stakes. Moody said he was testing the waters to see whether Desert Lightning could run out a strong 1800m at G1 level, which is why it was such an important run, in terms of his spring plans. Desert Lightning is nominated for the Caulfield Cup and the Cox Plate, but the co-trainer won’t buy into any discussions as…
Three-year-old fillies impress at Taupo
A couple of three-year-old fillies put their hand up when breaking through for their maiden wins at Taupo on Wednesday, with feature targets firmly in the crosshairs for the pair. Jomara Bloodstock’s Oratia Beauty (Too Darn Hot) struck first when she proved too slick for her rivals when taking out the Fox & Hounds Taupo (1300m). The daughter of Too Darn Hot was slow to jump and jockey Matt Cameron urged her up along the rail to sit three deep behind Magic Carpet (NZ) (Satono Aladdin) and Kygo Star (Wootton…
Rising jumping star primed for another prestige test
Hill Of Kings’ (NZ) (Time Test) best jumping days are still ahead of him, but that’s not to say he can’t add another premier victory to his record in double quick time. The six-year-old stepped out in top company for the first time last month and gave a polished display to put away his rivals in the Pakuranga Hunt Hurdle (3100m). On Friday, the son of Time Test will return to Te Aroha to tackle the J Swap Great New Zealand Hurdle (4200m) and will again carry the minimum weight…
Spencer impressive in Trentham warm-up
An impressive hit-out at the Foxton trials has given the connections of Spencer (NZ) (Derryn) a vote of confidence ahead of Saturday’s CR Grace LTD And Waterforce 1200 at Trentham. The Group Three-winning son of Derryn won under similar conditions at the course back in May before striking a series of wide trips including last start in the Gr.2 Foxbridge Plate (1200m). His trainer Erin Hocquard was pleased with how her charge pulled up from the tough run, opting to head back to the trials to take the edge off…
Inglis aiming to entice more Chinese race horse owners
Inglis Bloodstock has been appointed the China Horse Owners Alliance representative in China, with an aim of increasing Chinese race horse ownership in Australia. Race horse sales have suffered a hit in recent years with greater restrictions on bookmaker advertising, increased interest rates, and the extortionate rates of some service fees at studs. But CHOA said their intense reach, which includes around 90% of race horse owners in China, will provide more clarity and opportunity around buying horses down under. “Inglis is a highly trusted and revered company that has…
Don’t underestimate Nelson’s trio of NZ Hurdle contenders
Few trainers could match Paul Nelson’s record in the Great Northern Hurdle, a reputation he hopes to transfer into the renamed J Swap Great New Zealand Hurdle (4200m), with three contenders in the Te Aroha feature on Friday. The Hastings conditioner won his first Northern back in 2002 with Chibuli and followed the early success with back-to-back titles in 2006 and 2007 with Just Not Cricket. Corrina McDougal joined Nelson in partnership in 2019, and the pair doubled that tally over the next four years, with The Cossack (2020 and…
Akuta moves up in latest IRT New Zealand Trotting Cup rankings
After his second win in Sunday’s Hannon Memorial, Akuta has climbed up three places in the latest IRT New Zealand Trotting Cup/ Renwick Farms Dominion Trot rankings. Both races, limited to 15 starters, will held at Addington Raceway on Tuesday, November 11. The Mark and Nathan Purdon-trained Akuta, who also won the 2022 Hannon, was 10th in the rankings before the weekend. He is now seventh. It was his second win this campaign after a long lay-off with a tendon injury. Dalton Shard and Renegade who finished second and fourth in the Group…