FOG CAUSES HEADACHES FOR JEWELS VISITORS By Garrick Knight The relentless overnight fog which plagued Christchurch on Friday night and Saturday morning has affected the visiting contingent for next Saturday’s Harness Jewels. Three of the six Australian invitees landed in Auckland on Saturday night but were unable to continue on to Christchurch as planned. A further two Aussie hopes, plus three northern runners were also grounded, including the second favourite for the 3YO Ruby, Tickle Me Pink. It is a setback of at least 48 hours for the horses with the next flight due to depart Auckland in the early …
Jewels Diamond stablemates trial solidly
STYLISH MEMPHIS OUTSPRINTS MISS RUBY SUNSHINE Stylish Memphis and Miss Ruby Sunshine hit out solidly in their Addington “pre-Jewels” trial on Saturday, May 25. The Overport Lodge stablemates have front row draws for the $150,000 Terror To Love ‘Jewels Winner’ 2YO Diamond next Saturday, but will require luck in a hot juvenile fillies field. Lulu Le Mans, back from New South Wales for the Australian partnership of Mark Jones and Aaron Goadsby, is a third stable runner for the Diamond. Stylish Memphis, a lightly-raced sister to former stable stand-out Delightful Memphis, trailed Miss Ruby Sunshine in Saturday’s three-horse trial and …
NZ METRO-RANGIORA-TAMWORTH, May 24-26
NZ METRO TC, Friday, May 24 Race 1: IMMORTAL CHANGE (13, Warren Rich), mob. 1980m: “Having tie-up issues so take on trust.” Race 3: SIOUX PRINCESS (SCR). RANGIORA HRC, Sunday, May 26 Race 2: IMMORTAL CHANGE (2, Warren Rich), mob. 2600m: “Looking to see how she races on Friday.” Race 10: QUEENOFDANCE (3, Sheree Tomlinson) & NAIYA FRANCO (13, Samantha Ottley), mob. 2000m: “Queenofdance put in a good run last start and is improving so an upset hope.” “Naiya Franco has had no luck with draws and needs luck.” TAMWORTH (NSW), Sunday, May 26 Race 7: GETARATTLEON (10, Guy Chappie), …
TAMWORTH (NSW)-NZ METRO TC, May 16-17
TAMWORTH (NSW), Thursday, May 16 Race 4: A GIFT FROM HEAVEN (6, Guy Chappie), mob. 1980m: “Keeps improving. Drawn bad but still hard to beat.” Race 7: ROCK N JOY (4, Guy Chappie), mob. 1980m: “Should lead and be winning.” Race 8: GETARATTLEON (2, Guy Chappie), mob. 1980m: “The four horse looks the winner but he can place behind him.” NZ METRO TC, Friday, May 17 Race 1: EYRE I GO (1, Mark), mob. 1980m: “Out of grade a bit in that.” Race 6: SIMONE DE BEAUVOIR (4, Sheree Tomlinaon), mob. 1980m: “Inexperienced and outclassed but paid up for series so …
Upbeat Memphis weekend for breeder
STYLISH MEMPHIS 7th WINNER FOR DAM Delightfulmemphisn, at the Meadowlands in the USA , couldn’t match the NZ win of younger sister Stylish Memphis at Winton less than 24 hours earlier, but it was a good weekend for Christchurch breeder, Wayne Higgs. Stylish Memphis, raced by Mr Higgs from the Overport Lodge stable of Mark Jones, was a 2YO winner, second-up, in 1:58.7, adding to the growing record of her dam, Memphis Melody. Former flagship Mark Jones-prepared mare Delightful Memphis was however race-timed in 1:50.4 with her third in a $US30,000 mares pace for the Nifty Norman stable. Late …
Miss Ruby Sunshine firms for Jewels spot
MISS RUBY SUNSHINE 7th IN JEWELS RANKING Miss Ruby Sunshine should be safely assured of a Harness Jewels Diamond start at Addington on June 1 after winning at Forbury on Thursday, May 9. The daughter of Sunshine Beach moved to seventh spot among the eligibles for the $150,000 2YO fillies diamond with her deserved maiden win. Overport Lodge junior reinswoman Sheree Tomlinson drove a cool race behind Miss Sunshine, bringing her home from three back on the markers. She moved one off to find racing room turning for home, then angled back to the inside. Miss Ruby Sunshine, full of …
FORB-NZ METRO-WINTON-TIMARU HRC, May 9-12
FORBURY PARK, Thursday, May 9 Race 3: MISS RUBY SUNSHINE (10, Sheree Tomlinson), mob. 2200m: “Fresh-up and Mitch Kerr runner has drawn one, but she shouldn’t be far away.” Race 5: ROCKAHULA JOE (6, Sheree Tomlinson), mob. 2700m: “Has been a disapointment but gets no better chance than this.” Race 7: QUEENOFDANCE (5, Sheree Tomlinson), mob. 2200m: “Providing she steps safe, she is an each-way chance.” NZ METRO TC, Friday, May 10 Race 1: UPTOWN LADY (3, Sheree Tomlinson), mob. 1980m: “Looking for luck.” Race 2: NAIYA FRANCO (10, Sheree Tomlinson), mob. 1980m: “Needs luck from draw.” Race 3: SIOUX …
Further Aus. Jewels invites
Further IRT Harness Jewels Australian invitations issued Following last week’s announcement of the first two Australian invites for the IRT Harness Jewels (Lulu Le Mans and Major Occasion), Harness Racing New Zealand and Addington Raceway are thrilled to now confirm our three latest Australian competitors. Pete’s Big Jim (3yo Emerald), Falcon Stride (4yo Emerald) and Majestic Player (4yo Ruby) will represent their homeland in this year’s edition of the Jewels. Shane and Lauren Tritton will bring back Pete’s Big Jim, who was a gallant second beaten just a neck by Another Masterpiece last year, and talented four-year-old gelding Falcon Stride …
Catch drive provides Sam with big win
SAM OTTLEY GAINS RICH WIN WITH ONE CHANGE Samantha Ottley made the most of a catch drive behind an All Stars runner to the land the richest win of her career in the $161,000 PGG Wrightson NZ Yearling Sales 2YO Pace at Addington on Friday, May 3. The Overport Lodge reinswoman, and a determined One Change (Bettor’s Delight-Changedown, by Falcon Seelster-Chaangerr), charged home to snatch a nose win over the favourite and All Stars stablemate, Smooth Deal (Tim Williams). It was another win for Sam in the Lone Star colours of co-owner Trevor Casey, and one of three wins on …
AUCK-NZ METRO-NEWCASTLE, Friday, May 3
AUCKLAND TC, Friday, May 3 Race 4: PLUTONIUM LADY (5, Maurice McKendry) & LULU LE MANS (SCR), mob. 1700m: “Plutonium Lady is going to make a nice filly next season but from draw has very little show with the Purdon fillies drawn two and three.” NZ METRO TC, Friday, May 3 Race 1: EYRE I GO (4, Mark), mob. 1980m: “No luck at Timaru and strong each-way chance.” Race 2: ROCKAHULA JOE (5, Mark) & IMMORTAL CHANGE (12, Samantha Ottley), mob. 1980m: “Rockahula Joe has been disappointing so gets a chance to improve.” “The draw might not be a bad …