After a luckless last-start defeat as favourite, Philipsburg has atoned with a stylish performance to claim the TAB Highway Handicap at Kembla Grange, setting himself up for loftier goals. The four-year-old struggled to find clear running from an inside draw when unplaced behind Commando Hunt at the same track last month but… Read More »
The Racing NSW Newhaven Park Country Championships continues to achieve its goal of promoting country racing. In the process it provides an acknowledgement of the value of its country participants to the industry as well as offering those very participants a big financial carrot and an all-around highly enjoyable and… Read More »
The first qualifier for the Country Championships Final at Randwick on April 3 has been contested at Coffs Harbour with Baileys and Tara Jasmine locking in their spots. Despite finishing second to Baileys, Tara Jasmine has shortened as favourite for the Country Championships final from $9 to $8 now that… Read More »
The 2021 Newhaven Park Country Championships, a concept which was launched by Racing NSW in 2015 to ‘support and promote NSW racing in country areas,’ kicks off at Coffs Harbour on Saturday with the race, not surprisingly, attracting a full field. The John Shelton trained Tara Jasmine is a clear… Read More »
Notation has opened an $8 favourite with TAB to win the $500,000 Newhaven Park Country Championships Final at Royal Randwick on Saturday April 4. Prepared by Canberra trainer Matthew Dale, Notation has won two races at Randwick, both on heavy tracks, but last start finished six lengths off Handle The… Read More »
On a day of recognition for NSW country areas, two Highway Handicaps at Randwick have given connections something to cheer about. Saturday was dedicated to Racing for the Bushfires, comprising fund raising efforts to help livestock and other animals affected by the long-term drought and fires in the state over… Read More »
Part-time teacher Danielle Seib looks to have a genuine Country Championships contender on her hands in Assault’N’Bathory who has surprised the trainer with a first-up win at Randwick. Seib, who combines high school teaching with training a small team of horses at Goulburn, expected the six-year-old to improve from the… Read More »
Dubbo trainer Kody Nestor has declared Sneak Preview a perfect Country Championships contender horse after his Highway Handicap win at Kembla Grange. Sent out at $4.80 in Saturda’s 1600m-race, the four-year-old, ridden by by Tim Clark, bolted to the lead at the 300m and held off a late charge from… Read More »
Given up ON by Australian billionaire Gerry Harvey, Hit The Target has repaid the faith of trainer and part-owner Stephen Jones. The Scone horseman sTuck fat with the Hit The Target and got his reward with a hard-fought Highway Handicap (1500m) victory at Rosehill. Jones stepped up to fill the… Read More »
Port Macquarie trainer Marc Quinn is already looking a long way into the future with Randwick winner Gumshoe who he believes can be a genuine Country Championship contender. The $500,000 final of the Country Championship series is not until next April and Quinn has to decide the right path to… Read More »
He’s only had his trainer’s licence for 18 months but as of Saturday Todd Blowes has a win at Royal Randwick under his belt. Blowes’ four-year-old gelding Noble Boy snatched victory in the final stretch of the $500,000, 1400m Country Championships in a thrilling ride by star jockey Hugh Bowman…. Read More »
Country Championship favourite Noble Boy has been given a clean bill of health after throwing a scare into the camp. Trainer Todd Blowes told stewards Noble Boy had been unusually keen when he galloped him on Tuesday and he ordered blood tests. The tests came back clear on Tuesday afternoon… Read More »
Noble Boy has been the ruling favourite to win the Country Championship final since before the series began but it has taken him until the last moment to get into the field. Trained by Todd Blowes at Queanbeyan, Noble Boy won his first four starts but faltered when fourth in… Read More »
A nine race program has been assembled for Muswellbrook this Sunday, where we will see the Wildcard for the Country Championships. The weather is fine, the track is heavy (8) and the rail is in the true position for the entire circuit. Race One: 3 Highly Desired Race Two: 9… Read More »
Stakes-placed mare La Scopa has stamped her class on the Country Championship qualifying heat at Grafton and is now the favourite for the final at Randwick. La Scopa is trained by Matt Dunn at Murwillumbah and gave him his fifth winner on Sunday’s program with Jason Collett riding four including… Read More »
An eight race program has been assembled for Grafton this Sunday, where we will see a Qualifier for the Country Championships. The weather is fine, the track is good (4) and the rail is in the true position for the entire circuit. Race One: 3 Homeland Security Race Two: 6… Read More »
Queanbeyan trainer Todd Blowes is daring to dream of a fruitful Autumn with his promising galloper Noble Boy, who kicks off his Country Championships prep in the TAB Highway (1200m) at Warwick Farm on Saturday. The son of Bon Hoffa hasn’t raced since scoring an impressive Highway win at Rosehill… Read More »
Gordon’s Leap has come from behind to give Port Macquarie trainer Lisa Sheppard one of the biggest wins of her two-decade training career at Randwick. The five-year-old gelding, who started at $17, shot through a gap to score by a short neck in the Highway Handicap (1400m) on Saturday from… Read More »
Cosmologist will be a surprise starter in the $500,000 Country Championship at Randwick after his win in the qualifying heat in atrocious conditions at Mudgee. Sent out at $51 in Sunday’s heat, Cosmologist went straight to the front with his jockey Eleanor Webster-Hawes unable to see the other runners because… Read More »
Brett Cavanough isn’t sure if Star Boy is a Country Championships prospect this year despite winning the Highway Handicap at Warwick Farm. Star Boy ($6.50) was on speed throughout, kicked on the turn and held off the fast-finishing Under The Thumb ($14) to score by a short neck. Cavanough said… Read More »
