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Weekend Wrap Up- 25.03.19

There were no winning results over the weekend but still plenty of Curraghmore graduates to be proud of.Unforgotten (Fastnet Rock) ran a creditable fourth in the Gr.1 Ranvet Stakes (2000m) at Rosehill on Saturday. She was very brave in holding ground and impressed jockey Hugh Bowman who remarked he was "very proud of her" following the race.Tribal Wisdom (Makfi) was resuming in the Gr.1 The Galaxy (1100m) after an 11 month layoff and put in an encouraging run to finish 6.6L off the winner Nature...

Tribal Wisdom shapes up for Rosehill test

Trainer Mike Moroney welcomes back sprinter Tribal Wisdom in the Gr.1 Galaxy (1100m) at Rosehill on Saturday.Tribal Wisdom has not raced since defeating Osborne Bulls in a Benchmark 99 class race during Randwick's autumn carnival last April.Moroney said Tribal Wisdom's long lay-off came about when he suffered a badly pulled muscle. Tribal Wisdom is an outsider and meets some quality sprinters first-up on Saturday including Redzel, Ball Of Muscle, Nature Strip and Graff and Moroney just wants to ...

Weekend Runners- 22.03.19

Good luck to connections of CM grads running this weekend including:AUSTRALIA FRIDAY Albury- Race 6 Albury Gold Cup L, A$184800 2000m Almost Court (NZ) 2012 (G. by Alamosa-Cinder Bella) (trainer: B Joseph & P & M Jones) SINGAPORE FRIDAY Race 1 Maiden S., S$20000 1200m Heart of Courage (AUS) 2014 (G. by Fastnet Rock-Myrrh) (trainer: M WALKER) AUSTRALIA SATURDAY Rosehill- Race 3 NE Manion H. Gr.3, A$161000 2400m Rodrico (AUS) 2012 (G. by High Chaparral-Truly a Beauty) (trainer: Bjorn Baker)  ...

Weekend Wrap Up- 18.03.19

Bye Bye Belle marked herself as one to watch over the weekend with trainer Mick Kent now plotting an ambitious shot at the Gr.1 Australian Oaks for the impressive Yarra Valley maiden winner. Having just her third start Bye Bye Belle charged home to break her maiden by half a length in the 1950m race on Sunday. While it is only less than four weeks until the Group One staying feature for fillies at Randwick,Kent, who won that race with Absolutely in 2011, harbours grand ambitions for the fil...

Weaponry wanting rain for Wellington test

Trainer Jamie Richards is hoping for some rain ahead of Saturday for Gr.2 Norwood Family Wellington Guineas (1400m) contender Weaponry. The three-year-old gelding, who was purchased by David Ellis out of Curraghmore's 2017 New Zealand Bloodstock draft, is fresh off a southern campaign, which included a last start victory in the Listed Southland Guineas (1600m) at Ascot Park last month. “I thought it (southern campaign) was really good,” Richards said. “He’s a little bit stiff probably no...

Weekend Wrap-Up 04.03.19

Curraghmore graduates delivered several good performances over the weekend collecting Group placings on both sides of the Tasman. Gr.1 New Zealand Derby (2400m) runner-up In A Twinkling (Fastnet Rock) is likely to head to the Queensland Winter Carnival off the back of a very brave run to finish not far off winner Crown Prosecutor in the blue riband event. “He went a super race and probably just needed a little more cover during the run,” trainer Jamie Richards said. “He’s very tough and ...

No Australian Guineas for Age Of Chivalry

As a last-start runner-up in the Gr.3 C S Hayes Stakes at Flemington, it would have been easy to assume Age Of Chivalry would progress to the Group One Australian Guineas as a genuine contender. But that is not the case, with the lightly raced three-year-old gelding instead set to run in the A$135,000 Seppelt Wines Plate (1400m) on the undercard to Saturday's A$1 million Australian Guineas (1600m) at Flemington. Age Of Chivalry was not nominated for the Guineas and connections opted not to pay a...

Weekend Runners- 02.03.19

AUSTRALIA SATURDAY Randwick- Race 2 Australian Fire Hose H., A$125000 2000m Rodrico (AUS) 2012 (G. by High Chaparral-Truly a Beauty) (trainer: Bjorn Baker)                     Race 6 Chipping Norton S. Gr.1, A$575000 1600m Unforgotten (AUS) 2014 (F. by Fastnet Rock-Memories of You) (trainer: C J Waller) Flemington- Race 5 Seppelt Wines H., A$135000 1400m Age of Chivalry (NZ) 2015 (G. by He's Remarkable...

Weaponry aimed at Wellington Guineas

Last-start Listed Southland Guineas (1600m) winner Weaponry is being set to add another Guineas scalp to his record. The Jamie Richards-trained runner, who was purchased out of Curraghmore's 2017 New Zealand Bloodstock draft, will head for a light freshen-up before lining up in the Gr.2 Wellington Guineas (1400m) at Trentham next month. “He might have a little freshen-up now and if we are pleased with him he could well be aimed at the Wellington Guineas on the way back to Te Akau,” he said. ...

Weekend wrap-up 18.02.19

Curraghmore graduates produced some strong performances over the weekend, indicating there should be bigger things in store for those horses continuing on to bigger targets over the coming months. Weaponry’s win in the Listed Southland Guineas (1600m) was a credit to Te Akau Racing’s Jamie Richards having sent the three-year-old gelding south following wins in his first two career starts. The $140,000 New Zealand Bloodstock graduate looks to be a progressive horse learning his craft and the ...

Weaponry scores in Southland Guineas

Curraghmore graduate Weaponry (Declaration of War) made up for some bad luck at his last start when he stormed to victory in Saturday’s Listed ILT Ascot Park Hotel Southland Guineas (1600m) at Invercargill. The Jamie Richards-trained gelding, who was purchased by David Ellis for $140,000 out of Curraghmore's 2017 New Zealand Bloodstock draft, had looked unlucky not to finish closer than fourth in the Listed Dunedin Guineas (1500m) when failing to find racing room at a vital stage that day. Thi...

Stable to learn more about Age Of Chivalry

After successive midweek Sandown victories, the time has come for Age Of Chivalry (He's Remarkable) to be tested against some of Victoria's best three-year-olds. Simon Zahra, who trains in partnership with his cousin Mathew Ellerton, said Saturday's Gr.3 C S Hayes Stakes (1400m) at Flemington was the opportunity to find out where of Age Of Chivalry sits. His opposition includes Victoria Derby winner Extra Brut, Sandown Guineas winner Ringerdingding and Carbine Club Stakes winner Rainier. While S...

Weekend Runners- 16.02.19

AUSTRALIA SATURDAY Randwick- Race 6 Apollo S. Gr.2, A$243500 1400m Unforgotten (AUS) 2014 (F. by Fastnet Rock-Memories of You) (trainer: C J Waller)                     Race 9 Chinese Festival of Racing H., A$125000 1600m Almost Court (NZ) 2012 (G. by Alamosa-Cinder Bella) (trainer: B Joseph & P & M Jones) Flemington- Race 7 CS Hayes S. Gr.3, A$161500 1400m Age of Chivalry (NZ) 2015 (G. by He's Remarka...

Unforgotten ready to resume in the Apollo

Expat New Zealand trainer Chris Waller will have six runners in the Gr.2 The Star Apollo Stakes (1400m) at Randwick on Saturday, including glamour mare Winx and Group One winners Patrick Erin and Unforgotten.While Winx is expected to continue her winning ways on Saturday, Waller said the race is also a good stepping stone for his other runners including Curraghmore's New Zealand Bloodstock graduate Unforgotten. “She has come back very well and should be in for a good autumn and in normal year...

Curraghmore connection to Blue Diamond hopeful

Loving Gaby's impressive debut win in the Gr.3 Chairman's Stakes (1000m) at Caulfield on the weekend has set her up for a tilt at the Gr.1 Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m) on February 23. The win has brought back memories for Curraghmore's Gordon Cunningham who sold the dam of Loving Gaby, Maastricht, as a yearling. "It was interesting listening to Ciaron Maher the other day describing Loving Gaby as a big raw filly with a huge stride because he could have been describing her mother Maastricht," Cunn...

Mighty Boss finishes fifth in trial

Mighty Boss’ (Not A Single Doubt) regular pilot Michael Walker believes the Group One winner can put a disappointing year behind him and return to the kind of form that saw him land the Gr.1 Caulfield Guineas (1600m) in 2017. The Mick Price-trained entire has not made the frame in eight subsequent starts, but Walker is confident he saw enough in Mighty Boss’ eighth place finish in a Geelong trial (1000m) yesterday to suggest he is well within himself.  "I have never seen him look b...

Local upsets in Timaru Stakes

Local galloper He Kin Fly (Darci Brahma) upset the applecart when he stormed to a comprehensive victory in the Listed Speight’s Timaru Stakes (1400m) at Riccarton. The win emphasised the up and down nature of thoroughbred racing as the Darci Brahma gelding had failed to take any part in the race at his last start after knuckling badly out of the barrier and dislodging rider Terry Moseley. Moseley stuck with the ship and produced a gem on the Neill Ridley-trained six-year-old to land the winner...

Long Leaf scores in Karaka Million

The victory of Curraghmore's New Zealand Bloodstock graduate Long Leaf (Fastnet Rock) in the Listed Karaka 3YO Classic (1600m) at Ellerslie on Saturday capped off a brilliant night for the horse’s shareholder and New Zealand Bloodstock owner Sir Peter Vela who used the occasion to savour the success of the sales company’s twilight race meeting. The talented yet enigmatic Long Leaf, who was twice a Listed winner as a juvenile, also provided a winning homecoming for expatriate New Zealand...

Manolo Blahniq has improved again: Noonan

Trainer Tony Noonan is confident sprinter-miler Manolo Blahniq will only improve after scoring his first Australian stakes victory earlier this month. Noonan is hoping the recent Listed Chester Manifold Stakes (1400m) winner gets enough votes to earn a spot in the A$5 million All-Star Mile (1600m) at Flemington in March, but before that is another Listed race assignment in Saturday's John Dillon Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield. Manolo Blahniq won a Group Three race in New Zealand at his second caree...

Weekend Runners- 25.01.19

SINGAPORE FRIDAY Race 2 Kranji S., S$38000 1400m Cloudburst (NZ) 2014 (G. by Pour Moi-November Rain) (trainer: M WALKER) AUSTRALIA SATURDAY Randwick R8 Theraces H., A$125000 1400m Only Tiger (NZ) 2013 (G. by Rip Van Winkle-Sitting on a Hill) (trainer: J G Sargent)                   Race 9 Rise Up at the Championship H., A$125000 1600m Rodrico (AUS) 2012 (G. by High Chaparral-Truly a Beauty) (trainer: Bjorn Baker...

Long Leaf set for million dollar challenge

Lindsay Park Racing have their sights set on the Million dollar prize at Ellerslie on Saturday when they contest the Karaka Million 3YO Classic (1600m) with dual stakes winner Long Leaf. The three-year-old colt, who was purchased out of Curraghmore’s 2017 New Zealand Bloodstock Premier Yearling Sale draft for $750,000, was favoured in Melbourne over the spring and David Hayes, who trains in partnership with son Ben and Tom Dabernig, said Saturday’s contest has been in the pipeline for some t...

Weekend Runners- 19.01.19

Good luck to the connections of CM grads running this weekend including:AUSTRALIA SATURDAYFlemington-  Race 9 Victorian Owner Gold Card H., A$125000 1200m Ruettiger (NZ) 2011 (G. by Duporth-Be Inspired) (trainer: C Maher & D Eustace) New Zealand Saturday Trentham- Race 5 Thorndon Mile Gr.1, NZ$2000001600m Belle du Nord (NZ) 2014 (F. by Reliable Man-Bankside Belle) (trainer: E & D Browne)Gore RC- Race 7 Gore Guineas L, NZ$50000 1335m Weaponry (NZ) 2015 (G. by Declaration of War-Cat Shme...

Manolo Blahniq scores in Chester Manifold

Trainer Tony Noonan is hoping the first Australian stakes win for Manolo Blahniq in the Listed Chester Manifold Stakes (1400m) at Flemington can go some way to garnering the gelding some votes for the rich All-Star Mile at the same track. Five-year-old Manolo Blahniq was a Group Three winner at his second start in New Zealand as a two-year-old and he added his first Australian stakes win in Saturday's 1400m race at his 24th career start. Noonan plans to chase more stakes wins with Manolo Blahniq...

Manolo's All-Star mission

Manolo Blahniq will have the chance to advertise his All Star Mile (1600m) credentials in Saturday's Listed Chester Manifold Stakes (1400m) at Flemington.The Tony Noonona trained son of Jimmy Choux was a fast-finishing second to Native Soldier in the Listed Christmas Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield at his last start and Noonan is hoping the gelding can put his head in front and attract the attention of voters for the lucrative A$5 million contest. “On paper it looks a good race for him,’’...

Long Leaf on target for Karaka Million

Long Leaf will head to New Zealand's richest race day to run in the Karaka Million 3YO Classic at Ellerslie later this month. The meeting for graduates of New Zealand Bloodstock's Karaka yearling sale features theKaraka Million for two-year-olds and the 3YO Classic which will be run for $1million for the second time. In his lead-up to his New Zealand assignment, Long Leaf finished second in a 1400m-race at Flemington on January 1 when he was chased down by Social Spin. "The race is on the 26th (...