A pair of bargain buys at the New Zealand Bloodstock May Sale in 2014 could lead to the biggest day in racing for Ashburton trainers Sarah and Matthew Smith.
Sitting on the reserves bench was the key for success in the $6,500 Outback Trading Co. Manawatu Cup. Monday’s bold winner of the 457m decider Emgrand Park contested the final wearing the green and white racing stripes for his conditioner Angela Turnwald.
With an eye on next year’s autumn carnival, trainer John Thompson has brought promising three-year-old Battenburg (NZ) (Reliable Man) from Sydney to Melbourne for a feature race and trip away to help season the colt.
There was fist-pumping and whooping, high-fives and firm clasps for all hands within reach of the Rise High camp; deflation and ‘brave face’ acceptance from the Beauty Generation team.
Danny Shum is counting down the days to the G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint on 8 December after Seasons Bloom (125lb) swooped under Grant van Niekerk to snare a thrilling victory in the G2 Premier Bowl Handicap (1200m) at Sha Tin on Sunday.
Joao Moreira expects improvement from the talented Waikuku (113lb) in Sunday’s G2 Oriental Watch Sha Tin Trophy Handicap (1600m) and he knows the four-year-old will need to show it if he is to trouble Beauty Generation (133lb).
Immediately following the Kikuka Sho (Japanese St. Leger), the spotlight turns imperial. With the enthronement of the new emperor this week, what better timing than this coming Sunday for one of Japanese racing’s most prestigious races – the Grade 1 Tenno Sho (Autumn).
Blue Chipper has arrived at Seoul Racecourse, the first stop-off on his journey to Santa Anita where he will aim to become the first ever Korea-trained horse to take part in a Breeders’ Cup race.
The Singapore Turf Club has granted a one-day visiting jockey’s licence to Australian jockey William Pike to ride at the Queen Elizabeth II Cup meeting on October 20.
