Horse Racing: Auckland Cup

Along with the gloss and glamour, there's a soundtrack that's part of the buzz of the racetrack during Auckland Cup Week, writes Seven Sharp reporter Mary-Jane Aggett. The constant hum of the commentary rises to a huge crescendo at the end of each race. And being a maestro behind the mic like veteran race caller George Simon takes as much craft and…

Ex-pat Kiwi jockey Jason Collett well and truly paid for a flying visit home from his Sydney base when he guided promising stayer Trust In You to a gritty victory in the Gr.3 Queen Elizabeth II Cup (2400m) on New Year's Day. On his old stomping ground at Pukekohe, Collett produced an inch perfect effort to bring the Bruce Wallace and Grant…

Metservice predicts it will be bucketing down in Pukekohe today. The biggest threat to Platinum Invador's chances in Monday's $220000 QEII Cup at Pukekohe is the weather. For the first time this campaign, Platinum Invador steps up to his favoured 2400 metres, and his opposition is down a rung or two on previous years, but he is now at the mercy of…

Akuta (right) won the Auckland Cup. Photo / Trish Dunell Rarely do big races that go so wrong end as right as the Auckland Cup did for the All Stars at Alexandra Park on Friday night. New Zealand's greatest harness racing stable, under its latest version of father and son trainers Mark and Nathan Purdon, quinellaed the iconic race with Akuta and…

By Brigette Solomon, Harness News Desk This country's two biggest studs, Alabar and Woodlands, will be offering more than 100 of the 123 lots at the NZB Standardbred National Weanling Sales, which will be held at Karaka this Thursday (May 25). Sales newcomers Macca Lodge and Tardina Stud are other key players, with 14 and six. Of Alabar Stud's 52…

The Big Lebowski distances his rivals at Alexandra Park tonight. PHOTO: Megan Liefting/Race Images. Last month a rating 48 to 61 sprint at Invercargill, next week the $180000 Auckland Cup over 3200 metres. That's the remarkable transition which The Big Lebowski looks like making after his 11-length demolition at Alexandra Park tonight. In one of…

The 2023 edition of the Group 2 Auckland Cup over 3200m is the headline act for the 10-race program out of Pukekohe on Saturday afternoon. Alongside the Cup, the Group 1 Sistema Stakes and Group 1 New Zealand Stakes feature on the program, which is set to be run on a Good 4 with the rail in the true position throughout. Racing is scheduled to get…

The Woodlands Stud flagship Bettor's Delight is the leading stakemoney sire in four different countries - Australia, New Zealand, USA and Canada - for the fifth consecutive season. The mighty son of Cam's Card Shark headed the Australian sires list for a record eleventh season on end with progeny earnings of $13424115, more than $4 million ahead of…

Trainer Stephen Marsh is hoping lightning can strike twice when he lines up Lincoln King and Starrybeel in Sunday's Group 2 Barfoot & Thompson Auckland Cup (3200m) at Ellerslie. The pair quinellaed the Group 3 Wellington Cup (3200m) at Trentham in January and after impressing Marsh with their final lead-up efforts in last week's Nathans Memorial…

Summer's last hurrah is fast approaching, so don't pack away those sunnies or strappy heels just yet. The greatest wrap party - Auckland Cup Week - will be celebrated at Ellerslie Racecourse March 3 and March 10. There's nothing quite like it... For more than 160 years, crowds have flocked to the iconic location. This season, Auckland Racing Club…

Sound, runner up in the race last year, is favourite with Sportsbet.com.au to go one better this afternoon in the Auckland Cup (3200m) at Ellerslie. The Moroney/Gerard trained galloper comes into this off the back of a second in the Avondale Cup when back in the run and closing off strongly late. He heads the market at $3.50. Platinum Invader,…

Media Release - Sunday October 16 Veteran stayer Roger That took out the Listed Staphanos Classic (1950m) at Rotorua on Sunday under a perfect ride by Lynsey Satherley. The ten-year-old son of Shinko King was an impressive winner of the Gr.1 Auckland Cup (3200m) in 2020 for Tauranga trainer Antony Fuller, with Sunday's success the second stakes…

Rider Sam Collett is fast becoming the darling of the Group 1 Barfoot & Thompson Auckland Cup (3200m) after making it back-to-back wins in the premier two-mile feature when guiding outsider Roger That to a boilover victory on Saturday. Collett claimed her first Cup, and first Group 1 title, when she scored aboard race favourite Glory Days in 2019,…