Author: Editor BOAY

Following a meeting between NZTR, stewards and club representatives it has been decided that Wednesday’s meeting at Taupo and Friday’s at Waverley will be closed-door events. This is based on the government’s announcement of a return to alert level 3 in the Auckland Super-City region and alert level 2 for the remainder of the country from midday today until midnight on Friday.  While gatherings of up to 100 people are permitted under alert level 2, the short lead in time to allow for preparations led to the decision to return…

Shaune Ritchie has resisted the temptation to campaign last season’s Gr.1 New Zealand Oaks (2400m) winner Jennifer Eccles (NZ) (Rip Van Winkle) in Sydney, despite receiving a travel exemption to do so. Ritchie, who trains in partnership with Colm Murray at Cambridge, has elected to target Group One assignments at the Hawke’s Bay Spring Carnival instead. “We have elected not to campaign Jennifer Eccles in Sydney,” Ritchie said. “We would need to get into Victoria, which is not open anyway. “I had a meeting with Adrian (Clark, syndicate manager) last…

A solid showing in his 1100m trial at Taupo on Wednesday has Catalyst’s (NZ) (Darci Brahma) connections excited ahead of his Sydney spring campaign. The Group One winner jumped well from the gates and went up to sit outside leader Aretha before hitting the lead turning for home and ran away to a comfortable 1-3/4 length win. Trainer Clayton Chipperfield was pleased with what he saw and he said the exciting thing is there is plenty of improvement to come from the son of Darci Brahma. “To see him bounce…

Te Akau trainer Jamie Richards had a strong contingent at the Taupo trials on Wednesday and he came away pleased with how his team performed. Multiple Group One winner Avantage (Fastnet Rock) won her 1100m heat in the hands of Opie Bosson and Richards said she is on target for the Gr.2 Valachi Downs Foxbridge Plate (1200m) at Te Rapa next month. “She is coming up really nicely,” he said. “She is a good mare. Opie was really pleased with how she felt and she is on track to head…

In light of the government announcement on Tuesday night regarding the country returning to a combination of alert levels 2 and 3 from midday Wednesday, New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing has decided to postpone the Regional Roadshows scheduled for the South Island this week. NZTR will be monitoring the situation and will make an announcement regarding the meetings to be held during the week commencing August 24 in the North Island closer to the time. “While we understand that stakeholders and participants may find this disappointing our focus currently must remain…

Kevin Pratt’s death on Wednesday morning has left behind a racing legacy which mushroomed within just nine years to include a major investment. Pratt (67), who passed away after a short illness, may have been a late starter in horse racing, but he immediately developed a love of the industry and his horses, one which saw him establish the showplace Kamada Park, an elaborate pre-training, agistment and training property on the outskirts of Palmerston North. Pratt was so proud of Kamada Park, which he established after purchasing the land off…

Andrew Bensley talks with The Oaks Studs’ general manager Rick Williams on Wednesday after Catalyst’s trial win at Taupo.

Andrew Bensley speaks with New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing chief executive Bernard Saundry following government announcements regarding COVID-19.

The Whangarei meeting at Ruakaka, which had been re-scheduled to Sunday, 16 August, has been cancelled. The travel restrictions and differing COVID-19 levels in place have raised doubts as to whether TAB NZ would be able to service the meeting and whether all participants would be able to attend. However, New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing is planning to continue racing where possible, with strict measures in place to minimise the spread of COVID-19, and is looking at scheduling a replacement meeting in the northern region next week. In the meantime, the…