The Golden Slipper fate of Kiwi gun Sword Of State will be decided on Monday with Te Akau Racing relying on the weather gods to help determine what path to take with several of its high profile stars this autumn.
A flight has been booked across the Tasman for Sword Of State however trainer Jamie Richards confirmed on Sunday that the talented colt is no guarantee to line up at Rosehill this Saturday.
Richards is concerned about the amount of rain predicted in Sydney this week and is reluctant to send his emerging colt over for the $3.5 million feature to run on a heavy track.
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Champion mare Melody Belle created a piece of New Zealand racing history at Ellerslie on Saturday when she strode to victory in the Group 1 Bonecrusher NZ Stakes (2000m), her 14th win at the elite level, to surpass the mighty Sunline for the most G1 wins in the modern era for a NZ-trained galloper.
The six-year-old daughter of Commands had attracted her share of doubters as to whether she could produce another G1 victory after being beaten at Te Rapa over the same distance in the Herbie Dyke Stakes (2000m) last month.
Never a truer word has been spoken than the age-old adage that form is temporary and class is permanent as the dual NZ Horse of The Year gave her seven rivals, including runner-up and stablemate Avantage, a galloping lesson as she stormed home for rider Troy Harris to win going away by a length and spark some emotional scenes in the Ellerslie birdcage.
Punters post-race: Australian Guineas day in review by James Lamb, Luke Sheehan & David Hocking Lunar Fox caused a boilover in the Guineas Image: Getty
Verry Elleegant displayed all of her fighting qualities once again, while Lunar Fox became the longest-priced Australian G1 winner in history with victory in the Guineas. Star Performer
Verry Elleegant in the Chipping Norton Stakes (Randwick R7)
Her seventh Group One win was a customary tough display as the Caulfield Cup champion staved off a quartet of horses in a five-way go to claim the G1 feature at Randwick. James McDonald had to bustle along the daughter of Zed out of the gates as she was tardy away, and then got going before the corner as she went eye-to-eye with main market rival Colette. To the inside of the Godolphin mare was Waller s other pair Funstar and Kolding, while it looked as though Avilius was going to end his winning drought of 500+ days when he travelled into it beautifully off the backs
Racing: Waipukurau couple back in the winning groove
7 Jan, 2021 08:33 PM
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Hastings-trained Pablo Esk completed a winning double on his home track when beating the grey Motivation in the main race at the Hawke s Bay New Year s Day meeting.
Hawkes Bay Today
By: John Jenkins
It has been a long time between celebratory drinks for Waipukurau thoroughbred owner-breeders Peter and Ann Evans but they were back in the winners circle at Hastings on New Year s Day.
The couple bred and share in the ownership of Bold Iris, who capped off two good minor placings with a deserved maiden success in a 3-year-old maiden race over 1200m.
Opie Bosson adds another G1 to his tally Posted by: Graham Potter+ at 11:36am on 2/1/2021
Star New Zealand jockey Opie Bosson added another Group 1 to his name when he piloted Avantage to victory in the Railway at Ellerslie but, while the glory was there, it was not all plain sailing for the rider when it came to interaction with the race meeting stewards.
Bosson came off second best with stewards in both races three and four, picking up two careless riding suspensions for his rides on Sword Of State (suspended from January 5 to January 15) and Illusion Of Paris (from January 15 to January 28).