Category: Gallops

Racing returned to Hastings Racecourse for the first time in 20 months on Thursday, with the track given a green tick of approval following a successful six-race card. Local racing fans flocked to the course to take in the returning meeting, the first since the second day of the 2024 Spring Carnival, which was abandoned following a slip in the first race. Subsequent remedial work took place to bring the track up to a safe racing standard, and after fulfilling its return to racing protocol obligations, including a successful set…

Comeback mare Bellatrix Star (Star Witness) took a step closer to a return to racing when stepping out in a track gallop between races at Seymour on Thursday. The Mark Walker-trained mare is preparing for the Listed Bel Esprit Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield on May 30 after only one start in 18 months. In January last year Bellatrix Star suffered a potentially career threatening injury when she reared up when walking back to her stable, fell over, and fractured vertebrae in her neck. The multiple Group winner and Group One…

There was a new training partnership in racebooks at Cambridge’s synthetic meeting on Wednesday, with Clinton Isdale recently teaming up with husband-and-wife duo Graeme and Debbie Rogerson. Following a couple of placings early on the card, the trio got their partnership off to a winning start when Skymax blitz her rivals in the Jumps Racing @ Te Rapa 24 May (2000m) to win by eight lengths. “It was good to kick it off and get the monkey off the back straight away,” Isdale said. “It was quite frustrating until Skymax…

Cambridge trainer Andrew Forsman is pleased with the condition of talented three-year-old Single Red heading in to Saturday’s Gr.2 The Roses (2000m) at Doomben. Placed in the Gr.1 New Zealand Oaks (2400m) won by Ohope Wins, the daughter of Vanbrugh enjoyed a freshen up before a good resuming win over a mile at Te Rapa last month. She then travelled to Queensland and ran well when second to Nightline in the Listed Gold Coast Bracelet (1800m), run-down over the concluding stages after dashing to the lead early in the straight.…

Matamata hoop Jasmine Fawcett has been itching to get back in the saddle on raceday after spending two months on the sidelines following a trackwork accident, and she made a winning return when given the opportunity at Cambridge on Wednesday. Fawcett suffered serious injuries in the incident, including a brain bleed and fractured neck, but she is pleased to have made a quick recovery. “I was galloping a horse in trackwork and another rider and horse walked out in front of me and I practically t-boned them, flipped and hit…

Well-bred mare Superfabulistic continued her rise through the grades at Warwick Farm on Wednesday, making it back-to-back victories with a strong performance in the Precise Air Handicap (1600m). Sporting the colours of Waikato Stud, the progressive daughter of Super Seth has now won three of her seven starts for trainers Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott. “I thought at her last two runs she has been very strong through the line,” Bott said. “I think in time she will get over a bit further. I think it is was her fifth…

Hall of Fame trainer Graeme Rogerson and his wife Debbie have been joined in a training partnership by Clint Isdale, with the new entity off to a winning start on day one when talented staying mare Skymax ran out a strong winner of a Rating 72 event over 2000m at the Cambridge Synthetic on Wednesday. “It was a great way to start of the new partnership with Clint,” Debbie Rogerson said. “She needed that kill today and she has had no luck in her races. As a three-year-old she ran…

Novara Park has announced its 2026 service fees, with owner Luigi Muollo reinforcing the stud’s commitment to offering breeders quality bloodlines and genuine value across its stallion roster. Sweynesse continues to build momentum following another strong season headlined by Wigmore’s Gr.1 South Australian Derby (2500m) victory. The stallion has also been represented by consistent filly Miss Starlight, now crowned NZB Southern Filly of the Year, while Group-performed sprinter Sweynesday will step out in Queensland for the first time when contesting Saturday’s Gr.3 BRC Sprint (1350m) en route to the Gr.1…

Terry Kennedy has the firepower to strike a possible winning blow or two at his home meeting on Friday. The Wingatui trainer will be represented by half a-dozen runners and tipped Proudtobehere and Generation Joy as his leading lights on the program. Belardo mare Proudtobehere will be chasing two wins on the bounce when she steps out in the More FM Handicap (1600m) with Mereana Hudson to guide the last-start course and distance victor. “She would be one of my best chances, she was very good last time and just…

Saturday’s Gr.1 Doomben Cup (2000m) was reduced to just seven runners at final acceptances on Tuesday in a scenario that might best suit the thrilling front-running mare Pride Of Jenni (Pride Of Dubai). The first four home in Pride Of Jenni’s Gr.2 Hollindale Stakes (1800m) win all accepted, including the Cups champion Half Yours, but there were only a handful of new players on the scene for Saturday’s $1 million race at final acceptance after 39 horses were originally nominated for the race. Vauban takes his chance back to 2000…