Kiwi jockey Masa Hashizume will step onto the Flemington turf for the first time this weekend when he attempts to qualify Bulls gelding Trav for next month’s Gr.1 Melbourne Cup (3200m). The 29-year-old hoop partnered the Raymond Connors-trained six-year-old to a memorable victory in the Gr.2 Auckland Cup (3200m) at Ellerslie in March, and the Manawatu horseman has stuck with Hashizume ever since. The pair have recorded two fourth placings in their two appearances together this season, including an eye-catching effort out wide at Ellerslie a fortnight ago. Hashizume was…
Year: 2025
Flemington races preview & betting tips | Turnbull Stakes 2025
What Turnbull Stakes Day 2025 Where Flemington Racecourse – 448 Epsom Rd, Flemington VIC 3031 When Saturday, October 4, 2025 First Race 12:25pm AEST Visit Dabble Group 1 racing returns to Flemington on Saturday afternoon with the Group 1 Turnbull Stakes (2000m) the headline event on the day. Known as “Moving Day”, there should be no excuses for fancied runners throughout the program, with the rail out 9m the entire circuit and the track expected to remain a Good 4 all day. The first event is set to jump at…
Merlin looks the one in tonight’s Holmes D G
By Michael Guerin The reason Merlin shouldn’t win tonight’s TAB Holmes D G at Alexandra Park isn’t as powerful as the reasons he should win it. The north’s best pacer faces the curse of the back makers in the Group 3 tonight, a win-and-you-are-in race for the IRT New Zealand Cup on November 11. Horses starting off back marks in major races in recent years have been regularly getting beaten and costing punters plenty, Merlin doing exactly that in the Spring Cup last start against many of those he races…
Beside Me top pick in stacked Sires’ Stakes heat at Addington tonight
By Michael Guerin The big girl Beside Me is back at Addington tonight and she is ready to go. She is going to need to be. One of our most talented three-year-old pacing fillies in a very deep yet even crop Beside Me looked like she could be the next big thing with a stunning Caduceus Club Ladyship Stakes win at Alexandra Park in March. Soon after she was odds-on for the Northern Oaks but she was beaten by Arafura in the Oaks and Captains Mistress in a red hot…
Olivia Thornley’s 100 wins – “something I’ve always wanted to do.”
By Dave Di Somma, Harness News desk It’s one target down and two to go for talented junior driver Olivia Thornley. Last night the 25-year-old achieved a major personal milestone with her 100th driving success. Robyns Art came from the one-one to win the Captaintreacherous – The Morning Star Filly Mobile in race 4 at Addington ahead of Lorton Vale in a Michael House-trained quinella. “Getting to 100 wins is something I’ve always wanted to do – it’s one of those milestones you want to tick off,” Thornley says. “It…
Contingency Plan for Methven Races
Harness Racing New Zealand advises that significant rainfall is forecast for Methven over the next 72 hours, including up to 30mm on Saturday, prompting the introduction of a contingency plan for this weekend’s meeting. A track inspection will be conducted at Mt Harding Racecourse, Methven, at 11am on Saturday 4 October. If the track is deemed unsuitable, the meeting will be transferred to Addington Raceway. In that event, race distances will be amended in line with Addington’s approved start points, and Race 8 will be reviewed to meet maximum field…
Vale Trevor Craddock
Trevor Craddock, one of the great characters of West Coast harness racing, will be farewelled at Westport tomorrow (Friday). The 85-year-old is being remembered as someone who “loved his racing and rugby” and had “a great life”. Based at Patterson Park, Craddock had exactly 100 training wins between 1967 and 2014 with 27 successes as a driver. His first driving and training win was with Wheels at Reefton in 1967. Among his best horses were Clifford Jasper (10 wins), Chiola Reb (10 wins), and Brooksdale Pal, Oregon Heights, Jovial Jan…
Melody Belle’s daughter on song for debut
It will be a full-circle moment for Te Akau Racing at The Valley on Friday night when Lyrics ‘N’ Song (Written Tycoon), a daughter of their former multiple Group One winner Melody Belle (NZ), makes her debut. Raced by New Zealand syndicator Fortuna, Melody Belle won 19 races for former Te Akau trainers Stephen Autridge and Jamie Richards, including 14 at Group One level. She accrued more than $4 million in prize money and was crowned New Zealand Horse of the Year in 2018-19 and 2019-20. Following her racing career,…
Willydoit ready for Epsom challenge
Last season’s New Zealand Derby hero Willydoit (NZ) (Tarzino) will step back into the spotlight on Saturday when he contests the Gr.1 Epsom Handicap (1600m) at Randwick for trainer Ciaron Maher, with jockey Tommy Berry bullish the horse is ready to make his mark over the famous mile. While his Derby win showcased his staying prowess as a three-year-old, Berry believes the maturing son of Tarzino has sharpened considerably, now looking every inch a genuine miler with the strength to stretch out slightly further if required. The Group One winner…
Milan Park treble shadowed by loss of top mare
Tony Rider experienced the extreme highs and lows of breeding thoroughbreds within a matter of hours on Wednesday. During the afternoon, Rider celebrated three winners across the card at Tauranga with Savvysuper (NZ) (Super Seth), Just Call Me Jonny (NZ) (Eminent) and Vickezzlastcall (NZ) (Wrote), all horses that he bred and races under his Milan Park banner. But, later that evening, the latter’s half-sister Aromatic (NZ) died after complications having her first foal. “We lost Aromatic last night, she foaled on Friday night with a dead foal and the foal…