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Briefs for 30th September 2014

3 minute read

New show on Trackside;Way In back this week;Suad has right credentials;Dundeel, Silent Achiever tops.

New show on Trackside

Trackside will launch its new show, Weigh In at 7pm Monday on TAB Trackside 1.

Host Darryl Anderson will be joined by Andrew ‘Butch’ Castles, Paul Shailer and Mark McNamara for thorough analysis and in depth discussion of current racing issues.

“Viewers have told us they want to see more local stories and we’ve listened,” said TAB Executive General Manager Glenn Patrick.

“The new programmes will highlight the people and animals that make the New Zealand racing industry a success.”

The show is a continuation of wider broadcasting strategic improvements which began this year, including the re-launch of Trackside 1 and 2, the move to broadcast exclusively on SKY TV and the relocation of broadcasting operations to Auckland.

Way In back this week

Shaune Ritchie has taken a cautious approach so far with Way In, but he admits it’s now time to get serious.

“There’s nothing wrong with her, apart from an indecisive trainer!” he said. “I put her in the Gold Trail, but she drew out and I didn’t want to run into O’Marilyn, who had a good draw and that turned out to be the right decision.

“She was in the Soliloquy but the track was very sticky and I didn’t want to bottom her out.”

A two-time winner and stakes placed last season, Way In will be back on track this week to further her preparation for the Gr.1 NZB 1000 Guineas.

“There’s a three-year-old 1200 at Te Rapa for her on Friday and I’ll throw in a nomination for the Hawke’s Bay Guineas just to see how that shapes up,” Ritchie said.

Suad has right credentials

High-priced yearling Suad has a proud classic family history and she will take her first step toward a possible Gr.1 NZB 1000 Guineas start when she makes her debut at Ruakaka on Wednesday.

The O’Reilly filly is a daughter of Emerald, who won the Riccarton feature in 1996, while her grand-dam’s sister Phillipa Rush claimed the title in 1989.

Suad cost $120,000 at Karaka and trainer Richard Collett has been encouraged by her early show of ability.

“She’s trialled nicely, got back and hit the line well, and she’s a neat, athletic filly,” he said. “If she can place at Ruakaka and then win her next start at 1400 metres she’ll be a chance for Riccarton.”

Dundeel, Silent Achiever tops

Dundeel and Silent Achiever have been named joint winners of the Cambridge Horse of the Year Award.

The top-class duo also couldn’t be split for the weight-for-age and leading middle distance awards either when the Cambridge Jockey Club recognised the stars of the 2013-14 season at a function on Tuesday night.

All Group One wins were acknowledged while Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman were the Trainers of the Year and Tony Pike and Mark Donoghue (though now no longer in partnership) once again received the Outstanding Achiever of the Year. Retiring club president George Simon was presented with a contribution to Cambridge racing award.

Other awards on the night were won by Amanood Lad (jumper), Ben Foote (leading jumps trainer), Troy Harris (leading jumps rider), Kevin Leung (leading apprentice), David Wilson (leading owner-trainer), The Oaks Stud (breeder of most Cambridge-trained winners) and Trudy Thornton (leading jockey).