Year: 2025

Vale Greg Sugars

NZHarnessNews

By Michael Guerin The harness racing community on both sides of the Tasman is reeling after the sudden death of one of its superstars in Victorian horseman Greg Sugars. The 40-year-old was found dead in his hotel room near the Menangle racetrack outside Sydney on Saturday afternoon. He is believed to have died in his sleep. Sugars had driven from Victoria to Sydney on Friday to campaign horses trained by his wife Jess Tubbs, who confirmed his passing on social media on Saturday night. When Sugars didn’t turn up to…

Peg delivers special win in Southern Oaks

NZHarnessNews

By Jonny Turner  Delightful Peg delivered a tight-knit crew a special thrill when showing her true worth to win the Group 2 Macca Lodge-Nevele R Stud Southern Oaks. The Canterbury pacer had flown into a gallop when taking the passing lane in her last two starts leading into Southland’s premier race for three-year-old fillies. But when driver Matthew Williamson angled the Brad Mowbray-trained filly into exactly the same spot on Diamonds Day at Ascot Park, she delivered a powerful and professional victory. Williamson and Mowbray’s association dates back to around…

Jumal “the wee gem” stars on Diamonds Day

NZHarnessNews

By Jonny Turner  There is only going to be one argument between Steven Reid and Samantha Ottley after Jumal’s Group 1 win on Diamonds Day. The two-year-old justified his red-hot favouritism with a brilliant win in the Group 1 Diamond Creek Farm Classic at Ascot Park. While Reid and Ottley are in complete agreement on Jumal being a classy customer, the pair are yet to agree on who is the bigger fan of the exciting youngster. “I think Steven thinks he’s his number one fan, but no, I certainly am,”…

Walker looking to get on Warrnambool leaderboard

NZRacingDesk

Leaderboard has been a force to be reckoned with since his transition to jumps racing, and this week he will be seeking his crowning glory at the Warrnambool May Carnival. The 10-year-old son of Street Cry will have two bites at the cherry, firstly in the Brierly Steeplechase (3450m) on Tuesday before backing up two days later in the Grand Annual Steeplechase (5500m). Raced by New Zealand syndicator Fortuna, Leaderboard performed with distinction on the flat, winning seven races, including the Gr.3 Wellington Cup (3200m) and Listed NZ St Leger…

Beaufort mare produces a beauty

NZRacingDesk

Annabel and Olly Tuthill will be in search of another Swiss Beauty in Sydney next week after her daughter Betty Spaghetti starred on the big stage at Riccarton Park on Saturday. A mare with a name to match her ability, Betty Spaghetti was a stakes performer and five-race winner prior to her deserved triumph in the Listed Daphne Bannan Memorial Great Easter Stakes (1400m), the first stakes winner for her sire Stratum Star. The victory came to great satisfaction for the North Canterbury couple, who bred the five-year-old under their…

Big weight for Kiwi hurdler in Brierly

NZRacingDesk

It’ll be the same old story for Berry The Cash (NZ) (Jakkalberry) in his Australian debut at Warrnambool on Tuesday, carrying a clear topweight as he contests the time-honoured Brierly Steeplechase (3450m).  The class Awapuni jumper is no stranger to sitting on top of the book, carrying 73kg to victory in last year’s Sydenham Hurdles (3100m) and Grand National Hurdles (4200m), as well as 72.5kg at Hawke’s Bay. With most of New Zealand’s hurdling trophies locked away, trainer Mark Oulaghan decided it was time for Berry The Cash to take…

Mr B pulls up ‘OK’ from HK test

NZRacingDesk

Globetrotting champion Mr Brightside (NZ) (Bullbars) has ‘pulled up well’ and will return home soon following his disappointing performance, finishing last in the Gr.1 Champions Mile (1600m). Co-trainer Will Hayes said that the initial signs were that the horse had pulled up ok from the race but had over raced in the run, getting his mouth open and never settling, with his regular rider Craig Williams in the saddle.  “His performance was really disappointing,” Williams said. “Most importantly, let’s see how he recovers. He was in a nice position. I…

Stockman to make hurdle debut

NZRacingDesk

The black and lime green colours of Jamie Walter’s Proven Thoroughbreds syndication company have been carried to victory in a host of feature races around the country, including by the likes of 2023 The Everest winner Think About It (So You Think) and fellow Group One winner Private Eye (Al Maher). On Tuesday, the colours are set to seen in a jumps race for the first time at the famed Warrnambool three-day carnival with multiple stakes-winning stayer Stockman (NZ) (Tavistock) entered to make his jumps debut in a Maiden Hurdle.…

Warrnambool free racing preview & top tips | Tuesday 29/4/25

AAP

What Warrnambool May Carnival Day 1 Where Warrnambool Racing Club – 2/64 Grafton Rd, Warrnambool VIC 3280 When Tuesday, April 29, 2025 First Race 11:20am AEDT Visit Dabble The Warrnambool May Racing Carnival commences on Tuesday with a massive 10-race meeting to kickstart one of the best weeks of country racing on the calendar. The $150,000 Brierly Steeplechase (3450m) headlines proceedings on a track rated a Soft 6, but with showers forecast, it is likely to be a Heavy surface come race day. The rail will stick to its true…

Ardalio wins Cambridge Breeders’ Stakes at Te Rapa

AAP

Ardalio winning the Gr.3 Windsor Park Stud Cambridge Breeders’ Stakes (1200m) at Te Rapa on Saturday. Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images) Talented filly Ardalio has already done more than enough to take her place alongside her dam in Elsdon Park’s broodmare band, but there are expectations she can further boost her value next season. Bred and raced by farm principal Lib Petagna, the three-year-old produced a stirring performance to win Saturday’s Group 3 Cambridge Breeders’ Stakes (1200m). Ardalio’s Te Rapa success, the third of her six-start career, followed a luckless…