By Michael Guerin Zachary Butcher says there is a simple reason he is taking Mantra Blue to Alexandra Park tonight : he knows what is coming next. Butcher is the north’s leading reinsman these days but also trains a few horses headlined by the fast five-year-old mare who has won half of her 18 starts. Mantra Blue was originally going to trial rather than racing tonight but Butcher knows the Alexandra Park main pacing races are about to get a whole lot stronger and he wants to get out in…
Year: 2025
Ricky May with some key drives at Addington tonight
By Michael Guerin Ricky May hopes his fill-in driving proves a bit more productive at Addington tonight. Little Ricky is filling in for Big Johnny (aka John Dunn) while the latter is having a working holiday overseas and that means key drives like Triple G in the main pace, the Georgia Anderson Happy 21st Birthday Mobile Pace (8.36pm) and Better Be Quick in the It’s Time to Book With Woodlands Mobile Pace for the fillies and mares at 7.59pm. While May is stoked to be warming the seat on a…
TAB Racing Club has first starter at Addington
By Brittany Graham The harness racing version of the TAB Racing Club will officially get underway tonight (Friday) at Addington Raceway. After purchasing several high-quality yearlings at last year’s sales, Eun Sugno for the Dalgetys will be the first to don the dark blue and red TAB silks on race day. A big son of Captain Crunch out of star race mare One Dream, he has built nicely through some recent trials to make his race day debut a little earlier than anticipated. “Cran was rapt with the fitness improvement…
Seymour racing tips & free betting preview | August 15, 2025
What Seymour Races Where Seymour Racing Club – 55 Kobyboyn Rd, Seymour VIC 3660 When Friday, August 15, 2025 First Race 12:25pm AEST Visit Dabble A competitive nine-race meeting awaits punters at the Seymour Racing Club on Friday afternoon. A typical winter day is forecast in Victoria’s Goulburn Valley, with a top of 15 degrees forecast and showers increasing as the meeting rolls on. The rail comes out 3m for the entire circuit, while the track’s rating of a Soft 6 is likely to end up in the Heavy range…
Manifique a highlight lot in gavelhouse.com auction
Both the pedigree and the racetrack performances of Manifique (NZ) (Savabeel) make her a major drawcard in the latest fortnightly auction on gavelhouse.com. Bidding currently stands at $27,000 for the royally bred Group Two performer and is due to close around 7.30pm on Monday. Manifique is by New Zealand’s 10-time champion sire Savabeel, who is also putting together an outstanding record as a broodmare sire. His daughters have produced the Group One winners Never Been Kissed (NZ) (Tivaci), Icebath (NZ) (Sacred Falls), Savatoxl (Kuroshio), Beauty Eternal (Starspangledbanner), Warmonger (NZ) (War…
Lightning ready to rumble first-up
Peter Moody has indicated Desert Lightning (NZ) (Pride of Dubai) may be ready for a step up in trip this campaign. Desert Lightning is set to kick off his latest campaign that could lead the gelding to a start in the Caulfield Cup. The Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman-trained six-year-old is down to run first-up in the Group 2 P B Lawrence Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on Saturday. Desert Lightning is one of ten runners in Saturday’s race following the scratching of the Chris Waller-trained Full Count Felicia. Saturday’s outing…
The Oaks Stud fillies thriving ahead of Group Three test
The Oaks Stud’s silks were to the fore in the Gr.3 Cambridge Stud Northland Breeders’ Stakes (1200m) six years ago when carried to victory by Catalyst, and this year they are hoping to feature once more. Farm principal Dick Karreman will be represented by two fillies in this year’s running at Ruakaka on Saturday, including Group One performer Tajana (NZ) (Darci Brahma) and Cashla Bay (NZ) (U S Navy Flag). The Andrew Forsman-trained Cashla Bay recorded her second career victory when winning at the Northland track first-up a fortnight ago,…
Ladies Man on target for weight-for-age features
Allan Sharrock isn’t expecting first-up fireworks from Ladies Man on his home track on Saturday, with the focus on upcoming Group One targets. The New Plymouth trainer is satisfied with his stable star’s progress ahead of his resuming run in the Paslode Open Handicap (1400m) to kick-start a campaign aimed at weight-for-age prizes. “I’m pretty happy with him, but with the weight it’s going to be tough on him,” Sharrock said. After apprentice Frankie Barrett’s claim, Ladies Man will still lump 62kg in his first outing for six months. “I…
Logan back in black-type frame with Yokozuna
Donna Logan will be back in the black-type frame with her young stable at Ruakaka on Saturday, presenting the promising Yokozuna in the Gr.3 Cambridge Stud Northland Breeders’ Stakes (1200m). After seven years training in Singapore, Logan returned to New Zealand late last year and has already made her presence felt, picking up six wins from less than 30 starters in a rebuilding phase for the accomplished horsewoman. Among her just-turned three-year-old contingent is Yokozuna, a son of Fierce Impact that she purchased out of the Karaka Yearling Sales last…
Luminance testing her talent on better surface
Luminance has proven herself up to black-type level on a heavy surface and trainer Kurtis Pertab is looking to put that ability to the test on a better track when she contests Saturday’s Gr.3 Cambridge Stud Northland Breeders Stakes (1200m) at Ruakaka. The daughter of Time Test continued to improve through her juvenile season, culminating in a maiden victory against the older horses at Wellington, and just came up short to Platinum Diamond in the Listed Ryder Stakes (1200m) last month. That performance was a rewarding result for Pertab, who…