Category: Meeting Previews

By Adam Hamilton  Luke McCarthy has urged fans not to judge Don Hugo too harshly for his disappointing Cambridge display. The champion horseman explained Don Hugo was found to have a virus after his tiring fourth to Leap To Fame in the $1mil Race by betcha at Cambridge on April 4. A subsequent Perth trip was aborted and Don Hugo had a short spell. “Leap To Fame was just amazing that night, he was too good. I’m not taking anything away from him, but I know we didn’t have the…

By Adam Hamilton  Rowe Cup winner Bet N Win won’t race in New Zealand before his “trip of redemption” to Queensland. Instead, co-trainer Stacey White said the five-year-old’s lone lead-up race would be in a 2300m trotting free-for-all at Menangle on June 21. “It’s the best option. The only race here was in Auckland and he’d have been off at least 30m,” she said. “He’s booked a flight to Sydney on June 17 and running on the 21st (of June) fits well before he heads up to Brisbane. “I think…

By Jonny Turner  Brett Gray’s form only needs to continue at Ascot Park on King’s Birthday. The trainer has enjoyed an outstanding past month, with his results headed by the unbeaten Miki’s Deal and his smart trotting mare, Julie Jaccka. It’s a brother-and-sister act that’s among the best of Gray’s Invercargill chances. Little brother Jaccka Henry and big sister Haley Jaccka both look like serious winning threats. Though Haley has proven form on the board, it is Henry who gets the nod as the Gray stable’s biggest chance. “Neither have…

By Mike Love  West Melton trainers Cran and Chrissie Dalgety will be looking for Group race success at Sunday’s feature Ashburton meeting.  The Dalgety team line up three runners at the meeting, consisting of The Queen’s Gambit in the Helen Pope 2YO Fillies Classic Group Three for $40,000, while Fragile and Freeze Frame line up in the $60,000 Group 2 Rakaia Seed Cleaning NZ Sapling Stakes. The Queen’s Gambit ($3.40FF) appeared to run slightly disappointingly in her first look back on South Island soil at Addington two weeks ago after…

By Michael Guerin Hayden Cullen isn’t sure the bookies have got tonight’s feature race market at Addington right. Because the Canterbury trainer and his wife Amanda train both the favourites and he says there is little between the pair. The Cullens prepare Hadron Collider (R7, No.7) and Trump Card (No.2) who dominate the market for the NZBS Weanling Sale June 26 Pace, the $20,000 main race tonight over the 1980m. TAB bookies understandably opened Hadron Collider the $1.80 favourite after his recent second to Sideshow Bruce in the Uncut Gems…

By Michael Guerin Higher Power may not be quite as good as driver Zachary Butcher’s mate but that still might be good enough to win at Alexandra Park tonight.  The three-year-old gets barrier 1 in the $35,000 TAB Metro Trotters Final, a race matched by an identical race for the pacers tonight to spice up the last Alexandra Park meeting before winter. Higher Power was too good for the older horses after leading last Friday, once again showing the benefits of Derby and age group performers dropping back into the…

By Mike Love  Trainers Steve and Amanda Telfer will be looking to continue their incredible from today at Timaru with three strong chances.  This month the Telfers have won 19 of their 56 winners this year , with seven of them coming across Addington and Auckland on Friday night, while bringing up their 400th training success in the process.  Success may come in Race 1 today, the Brosnan Transport Passing Lane Mobile Pace over 2050m, when Cheer The Captain ($1.45FF) goes around as the shortest priced favourite on the card.…