Year: 2025

Higher Power looks to bounce back in Metro Series

NZHarnessNews

After taking on Meant To Be in recent starts, Higher Power looks a huge chance of returning to the winners’ circle when the TAB Metro Series continues at Alexandra Park on Friday night. The Barry Purdon and Scott Phelan-trained Father Patrick gelding lines up in Heat 4 of the Series (for R50-54 trotters) at 7.53pm. The two-race winner has had to play second fiddle to the all-conquering Meant To Be this year but with his stablemate out for a well deserved spell Higher Power gets his chance. At his last…

Jenni ready for Queensland debut

NZRacingDesk

Pride Of Jenni (Pride Of Dubai) will jump from barrier one in Saturday’s Gr.1 Doomben Cup (2000m), as the Trelawney Stud bred mare looks set to meet 12 rivals in the 2000-metre contest. The three-time Gr.1 winner will once again face Antino (NZ) (Redwood), who will again be ridden by jockey Blake Shinn after their thrilling last-start success in the Gr.2 Hollindale (1800m) as he steps out to 2000m for the first time while drawing outside in barrier 11. Pride Of Jenni bounced back to form at Caulfield earlier this…

Big impost for synthetic specialist at Cambridge

NZRacingDesk

Lhasa (Hellbent) has matched up in quality sprinting fields on the turf this campaign and he will pay for that success at Cambridge Synthetic on Wednesday as a clear topweight in the Ride For Jimmy 1300. The son of Hellbent announced himself a proper racehorse with four victories on the polytrack, and while bringing that form to the turf up in grade is not an easy task, Lhasa did just that at Trentham in March, defeating open-class gallopers down the chute. The gelding followed up that effort with a tidy…

Winter Weigh In, May 19

NZRacingDesk

Emily Murphy brings you Winter Weigh In, your place for Thoroughbred racing news, reviews and insights throughout the colder months. This week Aidan Rodley joins the team to take a look back at local and international racing from around the globe. Winter Weigh In, May 19

Chase A Dream fails to impress in Tuesday trial

NZHarnessNews

By Michael Guerin Chase A Dream’s Queensland campaign is hanging by a thread. The rollercoaster four-year-old didn’t thrill co-owner and trainer Mark Purdon with one of his below performances in a three-horse trial at Pukekohe on Tuesday. Chase A Dream took on stablemates Rubira and comeback pacer Akuta in the 2050m mobile, with Purdon driving Chase A Dream and giving them a small start early to try and maximise the trial’s effectiveness. He then looped the field to lead but was run down by Rubira, leaving Purdon pleased with that…

Team Whitelock is going Next Gen

NZHarnessNews

By Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk Next Gen has just got some serious sporting star power. Successful breeders/owners Braeden and Caroline Whitelock purchased a filly at this year’s National Yearling Sales and have now roped in their four rugby playing sons into the ownership. George, Adam, Sam and Luke Whitelock will race the filly along with their Mum and Dad. “It’s the first time for the four boys ever,” says Braeden Whitelock. The syndicate will be known as “Team Whitelock”. “They’ve always had an interest in it but they’ve…

Antino Heads 2025 Doomben Cup Field & Odds

AAP

Antino and Pride Of Jenni Headline Tight Doomben Cup Betting Showdown The elite action of the Brisbane Winter Racing Carnival continues this Saturday with the Doomben Cup 2025, shaping up as a fascinating betting contest with Tony Gollan‘s in-form gelding Antino and Ciaron Maher‘s tenacious mare Pride Of Jenni locked in a tight battle for […] The post Antino Heads 2025 Doomben Cup Field & Odds appeared first on HorseRacing.com.au.

Gift produces dream Melbourne Cup start

NZRacingDesk

A perfect gift continues to keep on giving for expatriate Kiwi horsewoman Emma-Lee Browne who is now in the luxurious position of having a guaranteed Gr.1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) runner with a homebred. Pakenham-based Browne and husband and training partner David produced Basilinna (NZ) (Staphanos) to triumph in the Listed Andrew Ramsden (2800m) at Flemington to earn a golden ticket into the spring staying feature. Basilinna is a daughter of the late Shinko King mare So Royal, who was purchased by David as a present for his wife. “It was…