Trainer Stephen Autridge saddled two runners at Avondale on Wednesday, with Savabeel three-year-old Prosperous making a good impression when winning by five lengths on debut, while well-bred colt Kurt was narrowly beaten into second. The Kevin Hickman-owned duo both pleased Autridge, with Prosperous one of the few runners to make up significant ground on the day. “She worked really well on Saturday morning on a wet track so we thought given she handles it she was a chance,” Autridge said. “She is certainly going to improve with it but it…
Author: Editor BOAY
International investors celebrating Bourbon triumph
Good looking gelding All Black Bourbon (NZ) (Highly Recommended) made a winning debut at Avondale on Wednesday for trainer Stephen Marsh. The two-year-old son of Highly Recommended had been placed in all three of his trials and rallied under a strong Danielle Johnson ride to defeat well-bred three-year-old Kurt (NZ) (Kingman) in an 1100m maiden. Purchased for $110,000 as a yearling at the 2019 Karaka Select Sale by Bourbon Lane Stable LLC, the youngster was identified by bloodstock agents Mike McMahon and Jamie Hill on behalf of American investor Dennis…
Time called for Justa Charlie
Talented jumper Justa Charlie (NZ) (Shinko King) has been retired due to soundness concerns following his second placing in the Ken & Roger Browne Memorial Steeplechase (3900m) at Te Rapa last Saturday. That race was the Harvey Wilson-trained gelding’s first jumps start since winning the 2018 Hawke’s Bay Steeplechase (4800m). He was then sidelined with a tendon problem and returned to competition almost two years later with a close second on the flat at Wanganui late last month. “He came through his first-up run with no issues, but the day…
Mystery Shot out to continue winning roll
Unbeaten three-year-old Mystery Shot (Shooting To Win) will be out to keep his picket fence formline intact when he lines up at Caulfield on Saturday. Bred by Inglewood Stud, Mystery Shot trialled on four occasions in New Zealand and was identified by syndicator Brad Spicer and bloodstock agent Gary Carvell as a private purchase horse. The son of Shooting To Win has since won each of his four starts and will have what is likely his final run of this campaign this weekend in the Super Vobis 3YO (1400m). “He…
Gelagotis looks towards the spring with gelding
Moe trainer Peter Gelagotis is now eyeing some spring targets for Blandford Lad (NZ) (Savabeel) after he made it back-to-back wins at Sandown on Wednesday. “He’s starting to live up to the big ticket I put on him early doors,” Gelagotis said. “In his last prep he had two wins in a row and he ran second to Double You Tee. I then put him away because I thought he’s a serious horse and has got the pedigree to boot, being a full-brother to Lucia Valentina. “He had shown me…
Progressive Travest chasing Rosehill win
Talented three-year-old Travest (NZ) (Tavistock) will step up to 1400m on Saturday when he contests the TAB Handicap at Rosehill. Trainer Greg Hickman is pleased with the son of Tavistock, who made up good ground when finishing third at Randwick last start after getting too far back over 1300m on a testing track. “It won’t be an easy race on Saturday, there is plenty in there that have won a race and done a bit so we will still want to be on our merit,” Hickman said. “He did get…
Megeve primed for Avondale resumption
South Auckland trainers Peter and Dawn Williams will take just one runner to Avondale on Wednesday, but they believe that is enough to pick up a cheque. Three-year-old filly Megeve (NZ) (Wandjina) will contest the AJC Members (1100m) and will be looking to keep her undefeated record at the Auckland track intact. The Sir Peter Vela-owned filly won on debut over 1200m at Avondale last October before placing at Tauranga a month later. Her connections have taken a patient approach with her and it looks to be paying off with…
Coleman officially calls it a day
Michael Coleman has officially made the call to retire from race riding following the serious injuries he suffered at the Rotorua trials on June 30. Coleman, one of New Zealand’s leading jockeys for many years, suffered a broken femur and serious pelvic injuries when the horse he was riding to the start for the 18th heat reared up and went over backwards when leaving the birdcage. Coleman was rushed to Rotorua Hospital then airlifted to Waikato Hospital, where he underwent major surgery on his leg the following day. A pelvic…
Switched on Ali Baba shapes as exciting jumper
Talented galloper Ali Baba (NZ) (Savabeel) is a more motivated horse this preparation and turned in an impressive performance to win the Fiber Fresh Stables BBQ Hurdle (2800m) at Te Rapa on Saturday. The Michael Moroney and Pam Gerard-trained seven-year-old won a 2000m flat race earlier in the month and broke his hurdling duck with a comfortable six-length win. A winner of five races on the flat, Ali Baba footed it with the best of his generation at three, finishing fourth in the Gr.2 James & Annie Sarten Memorial (1400m)…
National tilt for Bee Tee Junior
Talented New Zealand jumper Tallyho Twinkletoe (NZ) (St Reims) will be be vying for back-to-back wins in the Grand National Hurdle (4200m) next month, but trainer Rachael Cunningham is hoping to spoil his party with compatriot Bee Tee Junior (NZ) (Nom Du Jeu). The former Kiwi galloper was narrowly beaten into second by Tallyho Twinkletoe in Sunday’s Brendan Drechsler Hurdle (3500m), which has given Cunningham the confidence to press on to the National with her gelding. “We are going to go to the National, we might as well aim high,”…