One punter was all smiles after having a successful $500 win bet on Dinkydi Asset at Warragul on Friday, in what proved to be one of the shrewdest investments with TAB in recent times. Exiting Box 5 as an $8.50 chance, the Jason Nibbs-trained greyhound capitalised on some interference out in front, sweeping to the lead along the rail and scoring an easy seventh length victory (replay below). It was Dinkydi Asset’s first win in start number three, and equated to a $4,250 collect for the punter. A day earlier,…
Author: Editor BOAY
Ellis humbled by Queen’s Birthday Honour
Te Akau principal David Ellis, who received the Outstanding Contribution to Racing Award in 2017, has added further distinction to his lifetime of work within New Zealand’s thoroughbred racing industry with his appointment as a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit (CNZM) in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List. Ellis received letters of notification from the Prime Minister and Governor General that he had this honour confirmed by Her Majesty the Queen in recognition of his services to the thoroughbred industry. “It’s very humbling and somewhat overwhelming to be…
McDonald pleased with top Kiwi jumper
Trainer Amy McDonald with husband Lee Horner and impressive hurdle winner Flying Agent Photo: Brett Holburt – Racing Photos Ballarat trainer Amy McDonald is convinced that one of New Zealand’s best jumpers has what it takes to win on the biggest stage in Australia. McDonald is currently preparing 2018 Grand National Steeplechase (5500m) winner Shamal (NZ) (Zabeel) for his syndicate of owners that includes his New Zealand trainer Ken Duncan. Duncan had intended to take Shamal and 2019 Grand National Hurdle (4200m) winner Alfie Dee (NZ) (Zed) to Australia for a two-pronged…
Young apprentice making waves in tough environment
Talented ex-pat Kiwi apprentice Lewis German aboard Heptagon after their victory at Caulfield Photo: Reg Ryan – Racing Photos One of the hottest prospects amongst the ultra-competitive Victorian riding ranks continued to put his name in the headlines when he guided the Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr-trained Heptagon to victory at Caulfield on Saturday. New Zealand born and raised apprentice rider Lewis German has taken the opportunities that have come his way of late with four winners in metropolitan Melbourne during the month including a double at Caulfield three…
Clayton chipper about Catalyst
Star New Zealand three-year-old Catalyst (outer) battles with Alligator Blood in the Gr.3 CS Hayes Stakes (1400m) at Flemington Photo: Reg Ryan – Racing Photos Te Awamutu trainer Clayton Chipperfield is looking forward to welcoming back a beefed-up Catalyst (NZ) (Darci Brahma) in the coming days, with this season’s Gr.1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) winner being readied for a spring campaign. The winner of six of his seven starts in New Zealand, Catalyst finished second to Alligator Blood in the Gr.3 CS Hayes Stakes (1400m) in an enthralling clash at…
Warrnambool life agreeing with Heptagon
Heptagon back in winning form at Caulfield. Photo: Reg Ryan/Racing Photos Honest six-year-old Heptagon (NZ) (Jimmy Choux) completed a red-letter day for Caulfield trainers Mick Price and Michael Kent (Jnr) on their home course. The duo sent out a treble of winners, with Heptagon following earlier wins by stablemates Right You Are and Tavisan. The son of Jimmy Choux took out the Vale Kevin O’Brien Handicap (1400m) and was aided by a perfect ride by three-kilo claiming apprentice Lewis German. It had been more than 12 months since Heptagon had…
Shalwa wins Listed Helen Coughlan Stakes
Shalwa on her way to winning the Listed Helen Coughlan Fillies and Mares Plate at Doomben. Photo: Grant Peters Five-year-old mare Shalwa (NZ) (O’Reilly) has led in a stable quinella for Brisbane’s premier trainer Tony Gollan with her first stakes victory in the Listed Helen Coughlan Stakes (1350m) at Doomben. The 1350m race for fillies and mares offered a ballot exemption to the winner into next Saturday’s Stradbroke Handicap but Shalwa is not among the nominations for the Group One race. Gollan had pinpointed the Helen Coughlan Stakes as a…
Julius builds towards another campaign
Group One Sistema Railway (1200m) winner Julius Photo: Trish Dunell Cambridge trainer John Bell is delighted with the condition of his stable star Julius (NZ) (Swiss Ace), who again has summer sprint features firmly in his sights. The lightly raced eight-year-old has won nine of his 17 starts, placing in another six and never finishing further back than fourth. Last summer marked a triumphant comeback from injury and semi-retirement for the big gelding, scoring brilliant wins in the Gr.1 Sistema Railway (1200m) and Gr.3 J Swap Sprint (1400m) before finishing…
Tavistock speedster tenacious at Caulfield
Tavisan recorded the fifth win of his career at Caulfield on Saturday Photo: Ross Holburt/Racing Photos Handy sprinter Tavisan (NZ) (Tavistock) recorded the fifth win of his career when successful in the Le Pine Funerals Handicap (1100m) at Caulfield on Saturday under a controlled Ben Melham ride. Having begged to get more rides from the Mick Price and Michael Kent Jr stable, jockey Ben Melham produced a peach aboard the son of Tavistock, who has now won A$326,351 in prizemoney. “He basically pleaded his case,” Price said of Melham. “I…
Coveted stallion service on offer to support spinal cord reserach
A service to Darley’s exciting stallion Microphone will be sold to raise funds for the CatWalk Trust via online auction Gavelhouse Plus. Photo: Supplied A service to one of Australia’s most sought-after stallions will be on offer in the 2020 edition of the New Zealand Bloodstock Weanling Sale. The annual auction, this year operated online due to restrictions of the COVID-19 pandemic, will include a service to Darley stallion Microphone to be sold on behalf of the CatWalk Trust. A son of Exceed and Excel, Microphone was Champion two-year-old of…