It’s not too often you hear two miles is short of a horse’s best distance, but that will be the case for quality New Zealand-bred stayer Ablaze (NZ) (Raise The Flag) when he contests the Stayer’s Cup (3200m) at Rosehill on Saturday. The eight-year-old gelding has been in hot form in Australia for trainers Ciaron Maher and David Eustace, winning his last five races, including The Jericho Cup (4600m) and Grand Annual Steeplechase (5500m). The Stayer’s Cup will be his first run since his winning effort in the marathon Warrnambool…
Author: Editor BOAY
Date set for Singapore’s return to racing
Racing will return to the Singapore Turf Club on Saturday, July 11 with the government granting approval for the sport to recommence after ceasing in April due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Meetings will be conducted under strict biosecurity measures with crowds not permitted. “With Singapore moving into Phase Two of the post-circuit breaker period on June 19 the Club has received approval from the Government to resume racing behind closed doors on July 11 with strict health and safe management measures in place,” the Singapore Turf Club said. “We thank…
Sully set to thrive in wet conditions
Group One performer Sully (NZ) (Reliable Man) will be vying to nab an elusive stakes victory when he contests the Listed WJ McKell Cup (2000m) at Rosehill on Saturday. The five-year-old son of Reliable Man has placed at stakes level on five occasions, including the Gr.1 Victoria Derby (2500m), Gr.1 Spring Champion Stakes (2000m), and Gr.2 Herbert Power Stakes (2400m). The gelding has been hampered by a few issues, but trainers Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young are excited to send their horse north to Sydney to contest the 2000m race…
Talented jumper to resume at Wanganui
Tallyho Twinkletoe (NZ) (St Reims) summitted the peak of Australasian jumps racing last year when taking out the Grand National Hurdle (4200m) and Steeplechase (4500m) double. The New Zealand jumper became the first horse to win the races in the same year since Mosstrooper in 1930 and his connections are keen for the nine-year-old to defend his crown. Co-owner Jo Rathbone said it was a massive thrill to go over to Australia and experience the high of winning the two feature races. “It is a huge thrill and definitely sharing…
Consistent Sansom to chase Caulfield win
Trainer Phillip Stokes expects a slight step up in distance to suit stakes-placed sprinter Sansom (NZ) (Charm Spirit) when he runs second-up at Caulfield with added fitness on his side. Stokes has runners nominated in five of the nine Caulfield races on Saturday with Sansom aiming to go one better in the 1100m benchmark-84 handicap after finishing second to Iconic Star (Brazen Beau) over 1000m at The Valley first-up on June 13. “I was very happy with his return under a big weight (60kg),” Stokes said. “He just found it…
No Limits for classy colt
New Zealand Bloodstock sales topping colt No Limits continued his strong trials record at Te Rapa on Tuesday when taking out his 900m heat. The son of Savabeel has now posted two trial wins and a placing from just the three attempts and could have a lucrative spring preparation ahead of him. Trainer Jamie Richards was pleased with No Limits’ Tuesday hitout and believes he will be well suited over a mile. Trainer Jamie Richards with No Limits after his trial win.Photo: Trish Dunell“I thought that he trialled well over…
Lupton eager to get back in the saddle
It’s been more than nine months since Isaac Lupton last rode at a race meeting and he is looking forward to breaking that dry spell at Wanganui on Thursday. The jumps jockey has been kept busy on his South Taranaki dairy farm but he said it will be great to get back out on the track after such a long hiatus. “My last ride was in the Great Northern (Hurdle), that was in early September, so it’s been nearly 10 months since I last had a race ride,” he said.…
Success breeds ‘Succeed’
Training stalwart Noel Massina is no stranger to success in the sport. And he’s ‘bound to succeed’ yet again – this time at Shepparton tomorrow afternoon. Based at Golden Square, Massina has the aptly named Bound To Succeed in the Slips To Boxes Challenge final (385m). Bound To Succeed qualified for the $1650-to-the-winner event by winning his Slips To Boxes 3 race at Longwood’s coursing meeting on July 5. (Ironically, Massina was the racecaller on the program.) And Massina is complimentary of a concept that melds coursing with racing on…
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Hooked On Scotch steps up in distance
Hooked On Scotch is one of the fastest greyhounds we’ve ever seen and he steps up to 595m for the first time this Thursday night.