Things to know today
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A new establishment board met for the first time last week to drive structural reform of New Zealand racing, chaired independently by Dean McKenzie, with New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing’s Paul Humphries and Dean Lawrence and TAB NZ’s Wendie Harvey, Jason Fleming and Greg Tomlinson alongside him. It is weighing a merger of the NZTR and Harness Racing New Zealand administrations, a property vehicle to hold racing infrastructure, and the venue exits proposed in the Project Stamina masterplan, which named Trentham and Rotorua among the racecourses recommended to leave the network. Its recommendations go to TAB NZ, NZTR and HRNZ for approval. “Our focus now is on the analysis, engagement and planning needed to ensure decisions are well-informed and evidence-based, and on moving through that work at pace,” McKenzie said (The Straight, Thoroughbred Daily News) |
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Ninja is the first horse into the TAB Everest over 1200 metres at Royal Randwick on 17 October, taken up by John Camilleri’s Fairway Thoroughbreds. The Michael Freedman four-year-old came back from a break to win the Missile Stakes over the same trip, and is raced by about 1,700 part-owners through My Racehorse alongside Camilleri, who bred him and kept a share. “I have had my heart set on him for a few months now. I’ve always thought he was more a sprinter rather than a mile,” Camilleri said. Freedman said the slot brought clarity and that the Sydney Stakes had been the alternative (RSN, Just Horse Racing) |
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Evaporate returned to his best in the $200,000 Ranvet So You Think Stakes over 1500 metres at Sandown Hillside, the Per Incanto five-year-old beating Pinstriped and Zambardo in 1:33.66 on a soft seven for Ben, Will and JD Hayes and Blake Shinn. It was his first win in almost a year and gave him back to back editions of the race, and takes him to seven wins and ten placings from 25 starts for $3.3 million. Shinn said he has “really been knocking on the door at the top level, and he was so well placed today” (Breednet) |
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Lord Remlap stayed unbeaten with a fourth win from four starts, the Star Turn four-year-old taking a TAB Highway over 1200 metres at Royal Randwick by half a length in 1:10.18 on a good four for Scott Singleton and Mikayla Weir. He cost $80,000 at the Inglis Classic yearling sale from Fairview Park Stud and has earned close to $170,000. The $2 million Kosciuszko at Randwick on 17 October is still the aim, though Singleton wants “a little bit more race smarts into him if I can” first (Breednet) |
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Prince Turbo won the Tararua Steeplechase over 4800 metres at Woodville on Sunday by a length and a half from Saint Bernard, with Uncle Charlie third, the Kevin Myers twelve-year-old ridden by Kylan Wiles for a sixth win from 52 starts and close to $250,000. New Zealand’s mandatory retirement rule for twelve-year-old jumpers takes effect after 31 December, and Jason Myers said “he is a 12-year-old now, so that could be his last one … that could be him going out on top”. The Great New Zealand Steeplechase at Te Aroha in a fortnight is a possible final start (LOVERACING.NZ) |
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In A Pickle took the NZB Airfreight Road To The Jericho over 3210 metres at New Plymouth by a head from Slick Chick, with Early Times third, the Preferment eight-year-old winning on a heavy nine for Ralph Manning and Rihaan Goyaram. The race carries automatic entry to the A$304,000 Jericho Cup in Victoria and a $5,000 airfreight credit, but Manning was frank that his horse “can be pretty quirky and isn’t a great traveller”. Bought for $5,000 at Karaka in 2020, he has six wins from 37 starts and more than $127,000 (LOVERACING.NZ) |
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Pounce landed the Group 3 Sunline Vase over 1200 metres at Ellerslie, the Almanzor filly beating Silhouette and Dream Roca in 1:12.40 on a soft five for Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott and Craig Grylls. A $110,000 Karaka Book 1 purchase for Wexford Stables, she is nominated for both the Group 1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas and the Group 1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas at Riccarton in November. Scott put the win down to conditions, saying “we got her back on quick ground, aided by a beautiful ride by Craig today” (Breednet) |
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