Business

Andrew Carston is closing in on his highest tally of winners in a season and on another front, he has already set a record total.

Ken Duncan has a pair of Wellington features on his mantelpiece and he will return with Izymydaad on Saturday to chase top honours in the Grant Plumbing Wellington Steeplechase (5500m).

Pippy has been a sprinting revelation this preparation and has convinced connections to aim higher on her home course at Ruakaka.

Trentham’s feature jumps races have been a happy hunting ground for Paul Nelson and Corrina McDougal in recent seasons, and the Hastings trainers are heading into the 2024 edition on Saturday with the firepower to continue that trend. 

Despite the absence of an unbeaten three-year-old who has lit up the last two Ruakaka racedays, the local father-daughter duo of Kenny Rae and Krystal Williams are set to play a big role again during Saturday’s ITM/Gib Winter Championship Finals Day.

Saturday’s ITM/Gib Sprinters’ Winter Championship Final (1400m) at Ruakaka will give Turn The Ace an opportunity to complete a double that has not previously been achieved in the midwinter fixture. 

A lucrative target is now in the crosshairs for Hamilton trainer David Greene with his polytrack specialist Branciforti following her win in the D & A Diesel 1300 at Cambridge’s Synthetic meeting on Wednesday.

The finalists for the inaugural Industry Excellence Awards powered by Entain, have been named after more than 100 high-quality entries were received for the awards that recognises the future leaders and rising stars of the New Zealand racing industry.

Cambridge trainer Shelley Hale will head north to Ruakaka on Saturday to try and plunder some of the lucrative prizemoney on offer in the Winter Championship Finals.

Cimarron has made a smooth transition to middle distance racing and he looks well-placed to further his record at Ruakaka on Saturday.

Local trainer Jo Rathbone will be represented by two of her well-performed gallopers in Billy Boy and Mr Twinkletoes at Wanganui’s Thursday meeting.

Frank Ritchie was thrilled to collect a winning double on the Cambridge Synthetic on Wednesday, mostly due to whom he was able to share the success with.