Group One performer Kiwi Ida (Squamosa) is set to fly the South Island flag in the Gr.2 Valachi Downs Foxbridge Plate (1200m) at Te Rapa on September 5. Owned and trained by John and Karen Parsons, the high-class mare has been off the scene since February, but she warmed up for her return with impressive trial wins at Rangiora on July 14 and August 18. Karen Parsons, who has spent recent weeks in the North Island with well-performed jumper Delacroix (NZ) (Zabeel), reported that Kiwi Ida has made pleasing progress…
Author: Editor BOAY
NZTR Chairman to step down
NZTR Chairman Dr Alan Jackson has today signaled his intention to retire from the Board at the AGM on 17 November. A “change chair” who presided over a period of significant upheaval, Dr Jackson brought the benefit of more than 30 years of international business experience across a wide spectrum of industries and organizations to the role. Under his chairmanship he guided the industry through the introduction of the Health & Safety in the Workplace Act; saw through the progression of the Messara Review and the introduction of the Racing…
Zero Cool to ice Snow Queen
Owner Brandon Nolan was faced with a tough decision when unraced Zero Cool was diagnosed with chips in her hock; premature retirement or surgery that would cost almost as much as the bargain buy’s purchase price. Nolan, whose mother Michelle now trains Zero Cool, and fellow owners Jesse Lamont and Jamie Oliver, former school mates, opted for the operation and after just ten starts their gamble has already paid off handsomely. After a belated start to her career, Zero Cool has won six of her 10 starts, banking $21,905 in…
Damsel’s Day at Bendigo tomorrow
Recent increases to the racing program in Victoria has required some creative scheduling by GRV and Clubs especially when the same class of meeting is run at the same venue in quick succession. With Melbourne Metropolitan regions placed under a Covid19 curfew the BGRA’s race meeting on Saturday August 29 was shifted to the premium Saturday night time slight and converted to a full provincial race meeting meaning back to back provincial meetings on consecutive days amongst an already packed racing calendar. The BGRA approached GRV regarding a potential “bitches…
Shaw creates coursing history
This weekend will see Victoria Shaw become the first female in the sport of coursing’s 147-year history to call the Waterloo Cup. The Melbourne based race caller is ecstatic over the huge honour and cannot wait to see how the event unfolds. “Coursing is a very important part of building a racing dog and as a race caller it’s a very important part of building your own capacity to deliver a race at a TAB level,” Victoria explains. This has been Victoria’s first coursing season and she has relished the…
‘Hot August Month’
Ballarat Greyhound Racing Club’s ‘Hot August Month’ was a forward-thinking extravaganza! And it reached a month-long climax tonight with four feature races – Enduro Series final (545m), Enduro Series final (660m), Tier 3 Enduro Cup final (545m) and Tier 3 Enduro Cup Consolation (545m). The progressive approach was designed to foster middle-distance and staying racing in a four-week series rather than one-off special events. And the exciting and proactive initiative resulted in a gala night of racing. In-form stayer Euro Bro (Oct ’17 My Bro Fabio x Broadway Miss) landed…
Jakkal ready to pounce at Tauranga
Promising three-year-old Sheza Jakkal will contest Saturday’s Dobson’s Refrigeration And Electrical 3yo (1300m) at Tauranga and trainer Gavin Opie senses a gilt-edged opportunity. The Te Aroha horseman is expecting the daughter of Jakkalberry to relish the rise in distance, having closed well for second over 1100m behind Only Words at Taupo last week and with two three-year-old stakes races a week later there he hopes Saturday’s contest will be a softer option. “I think stepping up to the 1300m will be ideal,” Opie said. “She hasn’t had much luck with…
Brighthill launch Pearl Series bonus
Brighthill Farm have announced an initiative to support the marketing and racing of fillies by their resident son of Frankel, Eminent. For all resulting fillies off a paying 2020 cover by Eminent, the Eminent Syndicate will provide a complimentary entry to the NZB Insurance Pearl Series (for terms and conditions please contact Brighthill Farm). The NZB Insurance Pearl Series, which is administered by the NZTBA and sponsored by New Zealand Bloodstock Insurance, continues to successfully nurture the racing of fillies and mares in New Zealand, with nominated candidates being eligible…
Bittersweet weekend for Newman
The joy of achieving a winning double at Matamata on Saturday was tempered slightly for apprentice Tegan Newman when she copped a week’s suspension for a whip infraction at the Te Aroha meeting on Sunday. Newman had been cock-a-hoop after piloting the Daniel Miller-trained React and the Stephen Ralph-trained New York Jazz to victory at Matamata but was quickly brought back to earth a day later with the ill-timed suspension coming after making her best start to a racing season with four winners in the first month. “I finally got…
Dragon ready to leap the Tasman
Talented four-year-old Dragon Leap (Pierro) will travel to Sydney on Monday as he looks to target spring riches. The Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott-trained galloper won twice at Group Two level as a three-year-old and finished fourth in the Gr.1 New Zealand Derby (2400m). The lightly-tried gelding is expected to be best suited to a mile as an older horse and topped off his preparations with an exhibition gallop between races at Matamata last Saturday. “We were happy with him,” O’Sullivan said. “It was testing conditions (heavy10) and he ran…