O'Sullivan Back on Brilliant Danroad
- Wednesday, 11 September 2002 00:00
Lance O'Sullivan renews his association
with Danroad in Saturday's Sideline Bar Hawke's Bay Guineas.Andrew Calder rode the Danehill colt when he resumed with a comprehensive win on the same track on August 24.
O'Sullivan's book of rides at Hastings also includes Distinctly Secret in the Glenmorgan Hawke's Bay Challenge Stakes, Savuka in the Highview Stakes, Zvezda, Albacore, Zahdeal, Bahira, The Player and Florida.
The Hastings penetrometer reading stands at 2.3.
PIC - Quentin
Lang.
Media Release - TNZ
Two Horse Race in Taranaki Horse of Year Award
- Tuesday, 10 September 2002 00:00
Either Grout or St Steven will be a worthy winner of the Taranaki Daily News-sponsored award.
Grout was the country's leading two-year-old with wins in the Awapuni and Ellerslie Sires' Produce Stakes, while St Steven produced outstanding steeplechase form, highlighted by victory in the Nakayama Grand Jump in Japan.
The dinner, hosted jointly by the Taranaki District Turf Club and the Taranaki branch of the NZTBA, will also feature the Taranaki Broodmare of the Year award and special awards to trainers John Wheeler and Allan Sharrock, champion apprentice Michael Walker and leading jumps jockey Clayton Chipperfireld.
Media Release - TNZ
Silver Archer Takes Paeroa Feature
- Sunday, 08 September 2002 00:00
Leading from the outset, Silver Archer and rider Finbarr Leahy never had any concerns as they strode to victory comfortably over Sir Avion and Bob Dobalino.
Silver Archer's trainer Craig Amrein is hopeful of securing a ticket to Japan next year for the world's richest jumping race, the Nakayama Grand Jump.
Media Release - TNZ
George Main Next Goal for Sunline
- Monday, 09 September 2002 00:00
In a change of plans, champion mare Sunline did
not make her scheduled flight to Melbourne this afternoon and as a result will not be
starting in the Feehan Stakes at Moonee Valley on Saturday.
Noeline McKee, wife of co-trainer and part-owner Trevor McKee, this afternoon confirmed that Sunline will remain in New Zealand longer than originally intended.
Trevor decided that he would prefer to get a couple more gallops into her here rather than send her to Melbourne, said Mrs McKee.
He just felt that she would be better off waiting a little longer before deciding on her Australian programme.
It is believed that Sunline will now have her next start in the Gr.1 George Main Stakes in Sydney on September 28, where she will come up against Lonhro.
He firmed as Cox Plate favourite with an impressive victory in the Chelmsford Stakes at Randwick on Saturday.
Last weekend also marked a return to form by Northerly, who denied Sunline a third consecutive win in last years Cox Plate.
In the hands of the champion mares regular rider Greg Childs, pinch-hitting for Damien Oliver, Northerly scored a dogged win in the Craiglee Stakes at Flemington.
PIC - Jenny
Barnes.
Media Release - TNZ
Society Beau Continues Epsom Charge
- Sunday, 08 September 2002 00:00
Society Beau has now won twice this spring following a win at Taupo last month.
He is already a major race winner in Australia having won the Group Three Chairman's Handicap in Brisbane in May.
Society Beau was ridden by Opie Bosson in today's win. A rider for the Epsom Handicap is yet to be confirmed but Sydney jockey Chris Munce is a strong possibility if he is available.
Trained by Mark Walker at Matamata, Society Beau is owned by David Ellis (Te Akau Stud), Des Ferrow, Tom and Sue Roper.
Walker also saddled up Top Spinner to win earlier at yesterday's meeting.
Top Spinner, a four-year-old mare by Danasinga, was ridden today by Cameron Lammas, a promising Matamata-based apprentice.
Media Release - TNZ
Brew Comes Through Injury Scare
- Monday, 09 September 2002 00:00
The Melbourne Cup winner Brew (NZ) (Sir Tristram) who is making a come back to the track has survived tendon injury scare.
After pulling up lame immediately after the Group 2 Nivea Visage Craiglee Stakes at Flemington on Saturday Brew then trotted satisfactorily back in the stalls. By Sunday the eight-year-old was not showing any signs of lameness.
Moroney will swim Brew today, gallop him on Tuesday and then check his condition once again.
Trainer Mike Moroney said the same thing happened after his gallop at Werribee prior to his reappearance on the racetrack. Moroney thinks the problem could be scar tissue. The riders say the Cup winners action is fine when he is running but it is just when he pulls up that the apparent lameness appears.
Moroney has sent both Auckland Blues and Gypsy Lad for short spells. Auckland Blues had been feeling the ground before Saturdays run in the Visit Us At www.vrc.net.au Hcp over 2000m where the gelding finished fourth. Part owner of Auckland Blues, Barry Neville-White, considers that Auckland Blues will be a better horse in the autumn.
PIC - Quentin
Lang.
Media Release - TNZ
Paeroa Meeting an Outstanding Success
- Sunday, 08 September 2002 00:00
From the time entries closed the success of the milestone event was assured. What really made the day was the spirit in which it was conducted, with competitive racing and resultant excellent betting figures more befitting a major flat meeting.
From the first race, a minor maiden hurdle event, it was obvious betting turnover was going to be solid and the final figures of $206,000 on-course and $885,000 through the TAB were the icing on the cake for the hard work and efforts that went into the day.
With a team of 25 horses running, the Browne stable not surprisingly took out the trainers' prize. Their three winners included First Country, who sealed the Brownes' trainer's title in the Morgan Furniture Novice Series.
Brendon Greig took out the jockeys' section of the Morgan Furnitire Series, while Al Burkhan and Variable, although unsuccessful, preserved their leads to take out the Morgan Furniture Novice Hurdler and Steeplechaser titles.
Media Release - TNZ
Another Accolade for Sheila Laxon
- Sunday, 08 September 2002 00:00
Sheila Laxon has added the title of New Zealand
Racing Personality Of The Year to her trophy cabinet.Laxon received the award at a function conducted by the New Zealand Racing Writers' Association in Auckland last night.
The citation which accompanied Laxon's award said it was not only her success on the racetrack that gained her popularity.
"Welsh-born Sheila Laxon was the best possible ambassador for her adopted country.
"She not only won admiration and respect for her training skills but also charmed everyone including the media on both sides of the Tasman with her natural bubbly personality, grace and modesty.
"She became a positive and identifiable face of New Zealand racing and almost certainly influenced a good many people outside the industry to take a closer interest in our sport."
PIC - Quentin
Lang.
Media Release - TNZ
Paeroa "Electric" on Eve of Huge Jumps Day
- Friday, 06 September 2002 00:00
The club is gearing itself for a large crowd at the unique fixture, with no vacancy signs outside all Paeroa motels and busloads expected from near and far.
"It's been simply amazing," says Hedley.
"The phone has been redhot all week and we don't know how big a crowd to expect on Sunday."
An informal social function will take place at the Paeroa
course on Saturday evening, from 5.30 to 9pm. All racing enthusiasts are
welcome.
Media Release - TNZ
Scott and Thornton Achieve Riding Milestones
- Sunday, 08 September 2002 00:00
Scott, who returned from Melbourne especially for the day, has been on 98 New Zealand wins since taking the Waikato Hurdles on Real Tonic in May.
His tally went to 99 on that horse's stablemate in the John Wheeler team, Wexford Bay, and the century was achieved on the Browne-trained outsider First Country. That also sealed the day's jockeys' prize for Scott.
Ironically, First Country was to have been ridden by Eddie Lamb, who won a $200 wager with Scott when he rode his 100th winner last month. Lamb was stood down today, however, after being concussed when his first mount, Old Jalopy, fell.
Thornton made his century of wins on My Willie Montague in the Morgan Furniture Novice Hurdle.
My Willie Montague started a hot favourite after winning his previous start hurdle debut. In the patient hands of his trainer he was most impressive, coming from well back to win as he liked.
Media Release - TNZ
Millennium Primed for Metric Mile
- Friday, 06 September 2002 00:00
McKee would gladly have seen an easy to firm track for the Marton Jockey Club meeting, but is quite prepared to give his smart five-year-old his chance on a track that may well be worse.
"He might have already won races on heavy ground, but his best form in good class has been on easy to firm tracks," said McKee.
"I would just as soon had a good track for this, because there are a few in this field who wont mind it wet."
"But having said that, he is very well and it will be interesting to get a line on him in this company."
If Millennium, who won his last start against moderate opposition at Ellerslie two weeks ago, races up to expectations, he could well step up another grade in Saturday weeks Glenmorgan Hawkes Bay Challenge Stakes at Hastings.
That Gr.2 weight-for-age event is now probably off the menu for McKees champion mare Sunline (NZ) (Desert Sun), their preference now being the Feehan Stakes in Melbourne on the same day.
Merial Mile acceptor Hail (NZ) (Stark South) is expected to be reserved for Hastings now that the weather has broken, but there is still abundant strength in Millenniums Awapuni opposition.
Fellow northerners Real Vision (NZ) (Vision Quest), OMalleys Boy (NZ) (Dance Floor), War Dancer (NZ) (Victory Dance) and Danzapride (NZ) (Danzalion) are all capable of winning.
However, the biggest single threat could come from Trentham gelding Irish Rover (NZ) (Kenfair), who returned to his best form with a courageous win at Hastings.
Other dangers include Miss Trust (NZ) (Corrupt), Rodin (NZ) (Masterpiece) and Ebony Boy (NZ) (Manntari), who can improve lengths on his last start effort on good ground.
Media Release - TNZ