STU’S CUP DAY SELECTIONS RACE 1 (5-10-8-12) Great bet to start the day. GLOBE TREKKER will have to step and think he will from perfect start point for him. Better than them if he puts best foot forward. $9.50 & $3.10 is a very genuine eachway bet. IDLE MOOSE looks favoured at 3200m, a good stayer and in the right form to win this. Must in every bet. MATUA TANA not reliable, but brilliant when caught in the mood. Win or bust type but too smart to leave out. The very genuine OVERZEALOUS will give 110% as always, she will …
Whittaker wins at Big M
WHITTAKER ADDS TO USA RECORD Former smart Mark Jones-trained pacer Whittaker notched his fifth USA win of the year with a 1:52.1 (ftfth) win at the Meadowlands, New Jersey, on Sunday afternoon (NZ time). Whittaker (6h Sportswriter-Anarchy, by Holmes Hanover-Honey Trap, by OK Bye-Precious Dina) was eased to fouth early from the ace barrier by top USA driver Tim Tetrick, but was out and running to the top at the three-quarters mark. He held in the home stretch by a length and three quarters to take out the $9000 pace for non-winners of $3500 in their last five starts. Whittaker, …
Mark Jones to drive in NZ Cup
Mark Jones doesn’t drive a whole lot these days – but as they say it’s just like riding a bike. So the call-up to drive Our Uncle Sam in next Tuesday’s $750,000 Christchurch Casino New Zealand Trotting Cup at Addington won’t be a problem for the former World Driving Champion (2003) despite being the veteran of just three race drives this season. Trainer Chris Frisby is staying with Mark on his trip across the Tasman with the gun New South Wales pacer. And though things haven’t gone right so far after two unsuccessful runs at Ashburton and Kaikoura, the white …
Skippys Delight ready for monumental task on Tuesday
Skippy goes into Sires Final with a runners chance from poor draw Barrier 14 and a whole host of quality horses in front of him makes winning next Tuesday’s $170,000 McMillan Equine Feeds Sires Stakes Final at Addington a monumental task for smart three-year-old Skippys Delight. But you can’t win if you’re not in, and after a very slick final 400m at today’s (Wednesday) Cup trials at Addington, at least there is a glimmer of hope. “It’s tough. They’re all good horses in there,” said Benny afterward. “You never know – he’s done a nice job to be in there.” …
Memphis back with lovely trial win
Ricky May made the trip from Methven to drive Stylish Memphis for Elite Racing at today’s (Wednesday) Rangiora trials and headed home suitably impressed. May, who will be kept busy once the Mark Jones and Brendon Hill stable hits top gear, gave the thumbs up after a resounding trial victory, the filly in good order heading towards her first start as a three-year-old. “She felt really good – a bit keen first up – but felt great when she went,” said the champion driver. Stylish Memphis rattled through closing sectionals in a good overall 2:30.5 for the 2000m mobile, the …
Big weekend for Mark, success spread far & wide
Four wins at Auckland, Christchurch, Forbury, and Menangle Signing off on his own account, Mark delivered in spades in his final weekend alone with four wins on the board, three in New Zealand another in partnership with Aaron Goadsby in New South Wales. Jones will join Brendon “Benny” Hill in partnership this week, and was pleased to have some good success prior to the alliance beginning. Slightly better than expected was the vibe after a winning turn from last season’s smart juvenile filly Lulu Le Mans, coming from last to power home and win the opening heat of the Alabar …
‘Bionic Mare’ thriving during comeback
By Paul Courts – National Trotguide
Cruz Bromac back to Allstars
By Jeff Scott Overport Lodge-developed Cruz Bromac is scheduled to return to the Allstars stables at Rolleston next Friday to continue his preparation for the $750,000 Christchurch Casino New Zealand Cup on November 12. Avalon (Victoria) trainer Amanda Grieve confirmed last year’s New Zealand Free-For-All winner is to return to the top Australasian stables of Mark Purdon and Natalie Rasmussen at Rolleston for the NZ Cup, the NZ Free-For-All, and the Auckalnd Inter Dominions in December. “He should arrive in Christchurch next Friday morning. The plan is for him to race at Ashburton on the Monday, so it’s all go …
Texas Terror still winning
TEXAS TERROR PACES 1:50.3 IN USA Former Overport Lodge-developed pacer Texas Terror is still a money-maker as an 11-year-old in North America. The Western Terror-Alicia Maree gelding led throughout at Mohegan Sun Pocono last weekend in a $UIS11,000 pace, winning by three lengths in 1:50.3 (fifths). Driven by Antony Napolitano for trainer Jose Godinez, Texas Terror was racking up is fifth win of the year for just over $US90,000 in stakes. He’s also picked up six seconds and three thirds. Texas Terror, who has a lifetime best mile of 1:50.2 (10ths) has now had 34 career wins from 190 career …
Cruz 3rd to Bling in Vict. Cup
BLING IT ON SETS NEW VICTORIA CUP RECORD The “perfect horse” Bling It On put in a clinical, explosive performance to win a record-smashing Pryde’s EasiFeed Victoria Cup, capping a stunning comeback story. The 2017 A. G. Hunter Cup winner has barely been seen since that career-best performance owing to a bad fall and subsequent injury, but though fresh off a 10-month “retirement” and only second up he showed he had lost none of his brilliance in rounding up the Group 1 field. “He’s such a special horse,” said reinsman Luke McCarthy. “Everyone knows his story by now and for …