RANGIORA HRC, Thursday, November 3 Race 9: REAL TORQUE (7, Laura McKay), mob. 2600m: “She’s on the way up again and has had a workout and a trial. With the right luck can place.” Race 11: ZENA MAC (1, Samantha Ottley), 2600m std: “If she settles handy and does no work, could be an outside place show.” Outside drive Race 10: HARD DAYS NIGHT (10), 2000m std: “Has been racing solid overall. A place chance providing she begins good from wide on the front row.” AUCKLAND TC, Friday, November 4 Race 4: ROCKER BAND (6, Samantha Ottley), mob. 1700m: “Has …
RIVERTON TC & KAIKOURA TC, Oct. 29-31
RIVERTON TC, Saturday, October 29 Race 5: ARIADNE LAVRA (6, Samantha Ottley), mob. 1700m: “I am pretty happy with her and Barron’s horse (Terracotta) from one over 1700m will be very hard to beat but I do have bit of time for my filly and think she is a big show.” KAIKOURA TC, Sunday, October 30 Race 3: ZENA MAC (1, Samantha Ottley), mob. 1900m: “Drawn to take the shortest way round and an upset place chance.” Race 6: RUTHLESS SUCCESS (3, Laura McKay), mob. 1900m: “Drawn to go forward, lead and be an each-way chance.” KAIKOURA TC, Monday, October …
ASHBURTON TC, Monday, October 24
ASHBURTON TC, Monday, October 24 Race 3: RUTHLESS SUCCESS (2, Laura McKay), 2400m std: “Upset place probably best if she stays handy.” Race 9: PERISSA (12, Samantha Ottley), mob. 1609m: “Have freshened her for the mile but looking for luck from the draw.”
Delightful Memphis jogs to Sires Heat win
DELIGHTFUL MEMPHIS TO FRESHEN AFTER EASY SIRES HEAT WIN Delightful Memphis will have the luxury of seven-10 days off to freshen after winning the opening $22,000 Alabar Sires Stakes 3YO Fillies Heat in a jog at Addington on Friday, October 21. The smart daughter of champion sire Bettor’s Delight and Memphis Melody will be back for the third heat at Addington on November 25, then head to Auckland to fine tune for the final on December 31. There is also another heat of the series at Alexandra Park on December 9. Last season’s experience of racing well right-handed at Auckland …
Overport Lodge moves to 10 wins for season
KOWHAI WHIZ BRINGS UP 10TH SEASONAL WIN FOR STABLE Overport Lodge trainer Mark Jones has hit double training figure wins for the new term after Kowhai Whiz took out the C2-6 Fergus Matheson Memorial Trot at Forbury on Thursday, October 20. Mark moved to 10 wins from 51 starters for the term and outright fourth on this season’s trainers premiership. Stable driver Sam Ottley is now fifth on the drivers premiership, after moving to 11 wins for the season, with a near perfect steer behind Kowhai Whiz. Even though they were off 40m, Sam found a sweet one out trail …
FORBURY PARK-NZ METRO TC, Oct 20-21
FORBURY PARK TC, Thursday, October 20 Race 6: KOWHAI WHIZ (7, Samantha Ottley), 2, 40m, 2700m std: “Its another good race for him and definite top three chance.” Race 7: ZENA MAC (4, Samantha Ottley), 2200m std: “She ran on very good on Sunday at Methven and can place.” NZ METRO TC, Friday, October 21 Race 4: DELIGHTFUL MEMPHIS (1, Blair Orange), mob. 1950m: “I’m happy with her work this week. She’s drawn to go forward and be hard to beat.” Race 8: RUTHLESS SUCCESS (4, Laura McKay), mob. 1950m: “Has freshened up good with a week off racing …
Ariadne Lavra builds towards Southland Oaks
GORE WINNER ARIADNE LAVRA EARNS SOUTHLAND OAKS POINTS Ariadne Lavra, untroubled to justify her warm favouritism with a 4 3/4 lengths maiden win at Gore on Sunday, October 16, has made a good early start to qualify for the $45,000 Southland Oaks on April 30. Horses must start in at least two race in southern races to be eligible for the Oaks. “We took her down there to earn money for Southland Oaks qualifying. All going well, we will head back for the Riverton meeting there in two weeks with her,” said Burnham trainer Mark Jones. “After Riverton, we will …
AUCK-ADD-METHVEN-GORE HRC, Oct. 14-16
AUCKLAND TC, Friday, October 16 Race 8: ROCKER BAND (3, Samantha Ottley), 2700m std: “Good first-up run up there and Barry (Purdon) seems happy with her, so an each-way chance.” NZ METRO TC, Friday, October 16 Mark’s outside drives Race 4: FLYINGMASTERWILLIAMS (11) mob. 2600m: “Fought solidly first-up (4th) on the grass at Motukarara. Outside place if he keeps improving.” Race 6: DREAMY DAMIEN (2), mob. 1950m: “Drawn to go forward and an upset chance.” METHVEN TC, Sunday, October 16 Race 2: MANINTHEMIRROR (4, Samantha Ottley), mob. 2300m: “Good run first-up but this is a step up for him. Drawn …
Ex-Overport Lodge pacers shine in Aust.
GOOD WEEKEND FOR EX-OVERPORT LODGE PACERS IN AUSTRALIA Ex-Overport Lodge pacers, Champagne Dreams, Northern Velocity and I Get Around, furthered their Australian careers with wins at various venues last weekend. Champagne Dreams, the 5YO older half-sister to NZ Cup favourite Lazarus (1:52.9, 16 wins from 19 starts for $924,914), is now a stablemate of top Grand Circuit pacers, Lennytheshark and Hectorjayjay in the David Aiken stable. She settled three back on the markers from the inside of the second row at Melton last Saturday, October 8. The Art Major-Bethany (Christian Cullen-Spirit Of Beth) mare finished best for Josh Aiken to …
NZ METRO TC, Friday, October 7
NZ METRO TC, Friday, October 7 Race 9: RUTHLESS SUCCESS (4, Mark), 2600m std: “She went close last week. Providing she steps good has an each-way chance.” Outside drives Race 3: C’EST L’HEURE (9), mob. 2600m: “His grandmother is Blossom Lady so hopefully that will stand to him as he’ll have to work from the outside gate. Is racing good and is a good race for him being a C2 in a C0-2 race.” Race 4: RUMMAGE (12), 1, 20m, 2600m std: “He’s been in good form from standing starts. Not easy off 20m but an each-way chance again with …