By Jordyn Bublitz Benjamin Butcher reached a special milestone at Cambridge Raceway on Thursday night, driving one of his own horses to victory for the very first time. The achievement came with I Can Too, in the Xmas Packages On Sale Now @ Cambridge Raceway Mobile Pace. Despite an awkward draw on the outside of the mobile, Butcher pressed forward early to take the lead. From there, he rated the race perfectly and held off challengers to win by the narrowest of margins. For Butcher, it was a special moment…
Year: 2025
Methven kickstarts grasstrack season
By Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk Laurence Hanrahan is hoping for a bit of beginner’s luck at Methven on Sunday. The meeting at Mt Harding is the opening grasstrack meeting of the spring. It is also his first meeting as Methven Trotting Club president, having recently taken over from Michael Heenan. It’s his first stint as president. “I’ve been on a committee a while,” says Hanrahan, “I’ve had a few breaks but it will be somewhere around the 20 year mark.” Hanrahan says he’s a bit nervous about…
Top southern trainers hoping to “party” at Addington tonight
By Jonny Turner The business is done at home and now the attention turns to Addington. Brett Gray and Nathan Williamson were both in winning form at Wyndham on Thursday, pairing up to deliver Party Up Denario a deserved win. Now both trainers head to Addington on Friday night, taking up a powerful Southland squad between them. Gray starts the unbeaten Miki’s Deal in Caduceus Club Two-Year-Old Fillies Preludes which opens a great night of racing. Williamson takes a powerful team of five north including Off The Canvas, Palladium, Clotilde…
Saltcoats lands Wyong Cup
Saltcoats (NZ) (Ardrossan) delivered trainer Chris Waller his ninth Wyong Cup (2100m) victory when narrowly prevailing in the Listed feature from locally-trained Salt Lake City. The son of Ardrossan was ridden by James McDonald and heavily supported as he landed his fifth career victory from 18 starts, with a further eight placings. McDonald tracked eventual third Glory Daze (Cotai Glory) into the race and came off his back upon straightening to claim the prize. Victory in the Wyong Cup also makes the former Kiwi galloper eligible for the A$3 million…
Gelded Street Artist shows true colours
Smart three-year-old Street Artist notched his first victory in impressive style when leading throughout to defeat a strong maiden field over 1000m at Mornington on Friday by nearly five lengths. The Anthony and Sam Freedman-trained son of Super Seth has recently been gelded after showing raw ability but wayward tendencies at his first two starts as a colt, including a third placing behind stakes performer Express Call and subsequent Group Three winner Ferivia at Sandown on July 30. “If you could have scratched a horse for behavioural issues before a…
Doomben Saturday races betting preview & tips | September 6, 2025
What Doomben Races Where Doomben Racecourse – 75 Hampden St, Ascot QLD 4007 When Saturday, September 6, 2025 First Race 11:58am AEST Visit Dabble Racing in Queensland returns to Doomben on Saturday with a competitive nine-race meeting scheduled. With perfect conditions forecast, the track will likely be a Good 4 come the opening affair, despite it being a Soft 5 at the time of acceptances. The rail comes out 2.5m the entire circuit, with the opening event scheduled to commence at 11:58am AEST. Best Bet at Doomben: Bunker Hut Sydney…
Tangerine army out in force at Ellerslie
Te Akau Racing will hold a strong hand on Proisir Plate Day at Ellerslie on Saturday, particularly in the age group features. Exciting three-year-old Hostility will kick-off his spring preparation in the Listed Sir Colin Meads Trophy (1200m), for which he is a $2.70 favourite with TAB bookmakers. A $1.65 million New Zealand Bloodstock Ready to Run Sale purchase by Te Akau Racing principal David Ellis, the son of I Am Invincible impressed as a juvenile, finishing runner-up in both of his starts, including the Gr.1 Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes…
Ceolwulf barking up the right tree in Chelmsford
Controversy marred Ceolwulf’s (NZ) (Tavistock) return in the Gr.1 Winx Stakes (1400m) but trainer Joe Pride has taken a philosophical view of Chad Schofield’s ride, backing horse and jockey to make amends at Randwick. Schofield was criticised on social media for scouting wide on Ceolwulf around the home turn as eventual winner and runner-up, Via Sistina (Fastnet Rock) and Aeliana (NZ) (Castelvecchio), saved ground closer to the inside. Ceolwulf flashed home to finish fourth, beaten 2-1/2 lengths, and while Pride said Schofield may have taken a different option if given his time again, he was equally adamant it was…
Cox Plate not off the table for Linebacker
Co-trainer Tom Charlton has a novel take on Linebacker (NZ) (Super Seth) being dealt an early slice of bad luck by drawing an outside gate for his Gr.2 Tramway Stakes (1400m) return at Randwick. “One way of looking at it is we’d rather get it out of the way early,” Charlton said. “It’s his first-up run and it’s a run that is going to get him to his next couple of runs so it’s not the end of the world by any means. “He’s got good improvement from Saturday.” As is the case for many of…
Oak Hill set to rebound at The Valley
The Lindsay Park team of Ben, Will and J D Hayes concede the Gr.1 Moir Stakes (1000m) will not be an easy assignment for Oak Hill (NZ) (Per Incanto), but the stable is confident the sprinter can turn around his form. A first-up winner over the 1000m journey at Moonee Valley last month, Oak Hill returns to the track and trip for Saturday’s Group One contest looking to put behind him a disappointing fifth of seven when sent out favourite at his most recent outing. That was in the Listed Carlyon Stakes (1000m) and Ben Hayes said the stable had subsequently…