By Michael Guerin The marker pegs were paved with pacing gold in the Group 1s at Alexandra Park on Friday night. But even for the biggest winners on the star-studded night could be excused for feelings of “what if” after all was said and done. The three big ones for the hoppled heroes were taken out by Republican Party in the Dawson Harford Messenger, Marketplace in the Woodlands Derby and Arafura in the Pascoes the Jewellers Northern Oaks. All were on the marker pegs throughout, as were the two trotting…
Year: 2025
Mighty Logan lives up to name in Anzac Cup
By Michael Guerin Mighty Logan succeeded where so many others have failed when leading throughout in the $100,000 Fisken And Son Anzac Cup at Alexandra Park on Friday. The Dominion runner-up from last November landed some big bets when he was able to take the Group 1 in what was his first start at Alexandra Park. Some great trotters have come to Alexandra Park and been tripped up by their first right handed start but not Mighty Logan, with driver John Dunn saying it was a team stable effort to…
American Wolf digs deep for St Leger triumph
For all their success in three-year-old staying features, Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young were yet to win a VRC St Leger, with American Wolf (NZ) (Tivaci) pulling out all the stops to change that record. First run in 1857, the St Leger is one of Australia’s oldest classics, and American Wolf ($12) proved the strongest stayer under John Allen, battling stride for stride with the Danny O’Brien trained filly Litzdeel ($8.50) to win by a long head, the pair clearing out by six lengths back to Kicking King ($12) in third. Co-trainer Natalie Young said it was a thrilling…
No Fuss strikes again with another victory
No Fuss (NZ) (Jon Snow) has delivered his ownership group an emotional victory at Flemington on Anzac Day, as the son of Jon Snow extended his unbeaten run in Australia under John Allen. The exciting four-year-old settled a touch closer than expected over the 1800-metre journey, but always travelled comfortably at a slow pace. Several horses loomed up to challenge at the top of the straight, but Tony and Calvin McEvoy’s galloper kept finding and held off the impressive Hoops ($51) to make it four wins on the spin, and…
Mandala gets Williams off to winning start
By Jonny Turner Tim Williams made the perfect start to his racing week; now he just hopes his form can continue. Williams and his Stonewall Stud team got Thursday’s Diamonds Day warm-up at Ascot Park underway by producing Mandala for an overdue victory. The stars aligned for the three-year-old, which is hopefully a sign of things to come for the Steve and Amanda Telfer camp when the feature races are up for grabs at Sunday’s Diamonds Day meeting. “It was three years in the making, but she found the perfect…
Affluential hits form ahead of Warrnambool
John Leek Junior received the confidence booster he was looking for with Affluential (NZ) (Zed) heading towards the Galleywood Hurdle at Warrnambool when he narrowly took out the TAB We’re On (2500m) at Flemington. At his last start Affluential, the younger brother of Melbourne Cup winner and superstar stayer Verry Elleegant, was pulled out of the M.J. Bourke Hurdle and was subsequently found to have suffered cardiac arrythmia. “That was what we wanted to see that he was back in form to confirm he’s back on track for the Galleywood…
Zac Purton gives Ka Ying Rising stamp of approval for G1 Chairman’s Sprint Prize
Hong Kong’s champion jockey Zac Purton plans to employ a familiar plan and use Ka Ying Rising’s (NZ) (Shamexpress) blistering speed against his 12 rivals in Sunday’s (27 April) HK$22 million G1 Chairman’s Sprint Prize (1200m) at Sha Tin. Purton said he doesn’t want a slowly run race but, as the world’s highest-rated sprinter, he has the horse to dictate the way the race will be run. Chasing a 12th consecutive victory, Purton said the New Zealand-bred gelding had been a gem from the first time he got off the…
Hayes Family Chases Historic Double with Ka Ying Rising and Mr Brightside
As the spotlight turns to Sha Tin for FWD Champions Day, the Hayes family stands on the verge of an extraordinary feat in international racing. With two New Zealand-bred stars entered in Group One contests, the iconic family operation is chasing a unique double that would further cement their place in racing folklore. David Hayes will be represented by star sprinter Ka Ying Rising in the Gr.1 Chairman’s Sprint Prize (1200m), while his sons Ben, JD, and Will Hayes send out the formidable Mr Brightside in the Gr.1 Champions Mile…
Awapuni’s much-anticipated raceday comeback ends on a low note
Awapuni’s long-awaited return to racing on its newly renovated grass track has ended in disappointment, with their ANZAC Day meeting abandoned following a slip in the opening race. “A horse slipped on the outside,” RACE’s General Manager of Racing Brad Taylor said. “Walking the track, there is no visual slip, but we have got to have jockeys’ safety first. They are the ones going out there and riding on it and it’s on us that this has happened. “It’s really unfortunate, but we will learn from it and put the…
Eye Candy aiming for black-type breakthrough in Warstep Stakes
Eye Candy will contest the Listed Warstep Stakes (2000m) at Riccarton on Saturday. (Photo: Therese Davis – Race Images) Eye Candy caught her connections a little by surprise with a string of stakes performances this term and she’ll aim to take the top spot for the first time in Saturday’s Listed Warstep Stakes (2000m). A daughter of Darci Brahma, Eye Candy is trained at Cambridge by Shaune Ritchie and Colm Murray, who admitted that at first glance, her compact frame didn’t create a huge impression. “She’s as genuine as the…