News
Who won the French MotoGP? – Who cares the GOAT finished second
Written by Paul Huxley | Tuesday, 22 May 2012 13:18
A rain soaked Le Mans circuit greeted the riders for Round 4 of the 2012 MotoGP World Championship. Little Dani got his usual hole shot start with soon to be retired from MotoGP and current World Champion Casey Stoner following, however it was a wet footed Lorenzo that sweep past the duo and shot off into the distance never be headed. All the action was behind Lorenzo, with Stoner moving into second followed by Little Dani and Brit Crutchlow on a charge in fourth. Rossi started well in fifth followed by Dovi sixth, with both riders moving past Crutchlow, and so the chase of the season began. Lorenzo moved away mid race to lead by around 3 seconds from Stoner and a struggling Little Dani in the wet. It wasn’t long before Rossi and the two Tech 3 Yamaha’s moved past as well. With terrible conditions afoot and with everyone…
STAR West Australian stayer Miata took her record to 15 consecutive wins when she broke the track record in a heat of the Sandown Cup over 715 metres at Sandown in Melbourne on Thursday night. She didn’t just break the old record - she smashed it to smithereens. Jumping straight to the front Miata was never in trouble and won by 8-1/4 lengths in the amazing time of 41.17 sec. The previous track record of 41.54 sec. had been set by Lady Arko last August. So Miata’s time equates to about six lengths faster than that. It was a remarkable improvement on her win at the same track a week earlier when she fell in and recorded the moderate time of 42.39 sec. The win took her overall record to 27 starst for 24 wins, a second and a third. Her only unplaced run was when she was flattened from…
IN a tragic co-incidence a third "old-time" Australian Cup winner has died within a week. Roman Arch, a 50-1 winner of the race in 2006, has died after failing victim to an infection in a hind leg. Roman Arch hadn’t finished closer than ninth in his previous five starts before he edged out Candy Vale and Our Smoking Joe to win the 2000 metre WFA classic at Flemington. Only days previously the people’s champ Vo Rogue who won the race in 1989 and 1990 passed on at the age of 28 and Northerly who won the race in 2001 and 2003 succumbed to a bout of colic shortly after. Remarkably Vo Rogue also ran second in the 1988 and 1991 Australian Cup and Northerly ran second in the 2002 event. The three gallopers were all iron horses who had lengthy careers. Roman Arch almost reached the ton with a career…
SUPER sprinter Black Caviar stands poised to conquer the world after taking her unbeaten record to 21 with an effortless victory in The Goodwood at Morphettville today. The margin wasn’t great, she scored by only 1-1/2 lengths but it could be argued that there has never been an easier Group 1 victory in the history of racing. From the moment the gates opened jockey Luke Nolen had a stranglehold on his mount and he didn’t loosen his grip at any stage of the race. Nolen was happy to let Black Caviar stroll along three wide early on with the majority of the opposition quite obviously more concerned with enhancing their chances of the $85,000 cheque for second. By the midway mark Black Caviar had started to edge ahead of the field with the longshot Streetcar Magic trying to keep in touch rounding the home turn but his efforts were in…
POPULAR father/daughter harness racing team Alan and Amy Tubbs combined for their second Group 1 success in as many weeks when Brief Glance stormed home to snatch a remarkable win in the Vicbred Super Series 4yo trotters final at Tabcorp Park in Melton on Friday. The race looked all but over when favourite Elegant Image ($1.50 fav.) kicked clear in the closing stages and not much attention was being paid to Brief Glance ($16.10) who was three back on the fence entering the home straight. At that stage even the trainer was more interested in the horse’s action than his chances of winning. Brief Glance had established a bad reputation in his three starts from a spell where he had often gone off stride when under a little bit of pressure. After the race Alan Tubbs said: "That was amazing, I was just thinking keep trotting you bugger." Keep trotting…
Champion racehorse Black Caviar has drawn gate eight in this weekends $500,000 The Goodwood in Morphettville in Adelaide. With 20 wins in a row, Black Caviar is seeking to extend that streak to an incredible 21 wins in a row. 30 horses entered the signature sprint with only nine starters left when the final barriers were drawn on Tuesday. Mark Kavangh has two runners in the race with We're Gonna Rock (6) and Catapulted (2) in the 1200m Group 1 sprint race. Black Caviar will carry the top weight of 57kg which is only half a kilo above Catapulted. Three other runners, Weholdtheace (1), Stanzout (5) and Stirling Grove (4) on the limit of 54.5kg. Trainer of Black Caviar Peter Moody gave the green light for the champion to start in Adelaide following a satisfactory work-out at Caufield earlier on Tuesday morning. Following this weekends race, Black Caviar will continue…
Stoner Wins at Estoril - Completes his MotoGP Calendar
Written by Paul Huxley | Monday, 07 May 2012 10:27
Casey Stoner started from yesterday's Estori Moto GP from pole with usual rivals Little Dani and Lorenzo close by. Once again young Brit Cal Crutchlow qualified well in fourth and looked good to upset a few of the regulars. As the lights turned green it was Little Dani that got the hole shot – although it would only last until the exit of the first turn, where a cold tyre caused a little sideways action and lack of drive, Stoner and Lorenzo shot by. Incredibly Stoner developed a gap on the field in just the first lap; over a second and kept pulling away. At one point in time, It really did look like he was going to ride off into the sunset. But the director still had a few scenes that needed playing out. Would Stoner's mysterious arm pump return or would his tyre management skills be good enough. …
KICK out your corgi, toss away your terrier, pack away your poodle and discard your daschund. If you are going to have a dog in your backyard you had better make it a greyhound. Interest in the speedy pooches is booming again as prizemoney for feasture races continues to soar. Just this week the Sandown Greyhound Racing Club announced that prizemoney for the 2012 Melbourne Cup has been lifted to a record breaking $500,000 in prize money with a first prize of $350,000. Regarded as Australia’s most prestigious greyhound race, the 2012 Melbourne Cup will be the richest greyhound race ever run. "The Melbourne Cup is our flagship event, and we are proud to elevate its prize money to a level never before seen in greyhound racing," said SGRC Chairman Geoff Dawson."With over $1,000,000 in prize money on offer throughout the November Superdogs series, this year’s edition of the Melbourne…
STICK that up your arse! That is almost certainly the call from the supporters of the game to the anti jumps brigade after a spectacular running of the Grand Annual Steeplechase at Warrnambool on Thursday. Unlike last year when there were squeals of protest after only two horses finished, 12 horses started this year and 12 finished. Partly ironically Awakening Dream, who finished second of the two to finish last year went one better this time although all of his 11 rivals completed the course. In front of a massive crowd that braved the wet weather, Awakening Dream was taken to the front midway by top jumps jockey Steve Pateman and he was always traveling like a winner. When the real racing started with about 1000 metres of the 5500 metres to travel Awakening Dreams stretched out in style and taking the last three of the 33 jumps beautifully, he…
BLACK and Bent’s record equaling win the Galleywood Hurdle at Warrnambool on Wednesday did more than equal the record for successive jumps victories, it probably also created a new record for trainer Robert Smerdon. It was Smerdon’s fourth win from as many jumps races to date at the Warrnambool Carnival after he scored a perfect three from three on Tuesday. He won the first two races on Tuesday with maiden hurdlers Brungle Cry and Kirribilly Gold then won the Brierley Steeple with Fareer. Historiajns were scratching their heads trying to think of any better performance on the first two days of the jumps festival. Unfortunately for Smerdon he will not have a chance to improve on that tally as he does not have a starter in Thursday’s feature event the Grand Annual. That could well prove a costly situation for Smerdon as the Warrnambool Club has an offer a mercedes…
JUST days after super sprinter Black Caviar busted the record for successive wins another long standing Australian record is under threat at Warrnambool on Wednesday, although in a completely different genre. In the Galleywood Hurdle, race six, champion jumper Black And Bent is shooting for his ninth successive win over the obstacles which would equal the record set nearly 40 years ago by Lots Of Time. Black And Bent’s winning run started when he scored by a half head over Grizz in the Fiscom Hurdle at Sandown Lakeside on April 21, 2010 with his latest success a five length win in a field of four at Sandown Hillside nearly two years later on April 12, this year. In comparison Lots Of Time put his record together in rapid succession from March to June before he finished second in the 1969 Grand National Hurdle behind Brother Bart. If stable form is…
World Series Of Poker Asia - Crown Casino To Host WSOP APAC 2013
Written by Rob Huxley | Tuesday, 01 May 2012 11:24
Crown Casino have announced an exciting partnership with the worlds largest poker brand, the World Series Of Poker. Set to take place at Crown Casino in Melbourne from April 4-15 2013, the World Series of poker Asia-Pacific (WSOP APAC) is a natural extension in the worlds largest gaming market. WSOP Executive Director Ty Stewart said, “Our goal is to establish the worldwide grand slam of poker and use our platform to elevate the game through a series of major championships,” “With WSOP Las Vegas growing annually and WSOP Europe poised for long-term success after five years, the time is right to turn our attention to the dynamic poker scene in Asia and Australia. Given Crown’s success with the ‘Aussie Millions Poker Championship’, we couldn’t ask for a better partner than Crown to establish the Asia-Pacific’s definitive poker festival.” Crown Casino in Melbourne already plays host to the worlds largest tournament…
MotoGP Round 2 April 29th 2012 Three days of inclement weather in Spain caused havoc on the MotoGP field. Dry, patchy and wet conditions were experienced during free practice and qualifying. Local favourite Jorge Lorenzo took a thrilling pole position as the track dried dramatically in the last few minutes of qualifying from Little Dani. The surprise packet of qualifying was Ducati rider Nicky Hayden in 3rd, surprising since the other factory Ducati or Rossi could only manage a lowly 13th position on the grid. Brit Cal Crutchlow managed to secure the forth fastest time to start from the second row. Aussie world champ Casey Stoner was relegated to the second row after qualifying 5th fastest on his Honda. Race day and with the skies clearing and the track still drying the lights turned green with Little Dani taking the holeshot from Lorenzo and a fast starting Crutchlow. A tense…
VICTORIAN iron horse Smoken Up collected his third Len Smith Mile, holding on to win in his usual never say die style in a blanket finish at Menangle on Saturday night.Forced to work early to hold the lead and put under pressure rounding the home turn Smoken Up was a sitting duck for his rivals in the home straight, but as he has so often shown this ain't no ordinary little duck.As a handful of runners issued their challenge the now eight-year-old Smoken Up kept finding sometrhing extra and at the end he held them off by the narrowest of margins.After enjoying the run of the race Captain Joy was the last one to have a crack at the leader but he fell a nose short.Jaccka Clive, who scored a shock win over Smoken Up at Melton last week was a close up third.The winner clocked a smart 1:52.4 sec.…
RACING in Australia is just over 160 years old but in the space of 15 minutes racegoers in seperate states and perhaps millions more watching on television were privileged to watch two of the greatest racehorses in the history of the nation add wins to their records.First up at Randwick in NSW champion mare More Joyous cast aside doubts that she could run out a solid 2000 metres when she led throughout to beat a quality field in Group 1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes.Her jockey Nash Rawiller said later he hoped to take a sit and make a late run at his rivals but he had no option when he was left alone in front.After winnng at her last three starts More Joyous looked in trouble as the field of eight compacted into a tight bunch approaching the home turn but like the superstar she is More Joyous responded and kicked…
VETERAN staying pair Niwot and Efficient combined for a tight Sydney Cup quinella that left egg on the face of a few veterinary surgeons.The lighly raced seven-year-old Niwot, ridden by Dwayne Dunn, ran on down the outside to grab a late lead and kicked on strongly to hold off an even later challenge from 2007 Melbourne Cup winner Efficient, whose jokcey Michael Rodd weaved a page through th efield in the closing stages.The win was a training triumph for team Hawkes - father John and sons Michael and Watne who have perservered with Niwot after vets had told them years ago he would never race again.Shortly after winning the Winter Cup at Rosehill in June 2009, Niwot shattered a knee and not one, but three vets suggested that was the end of his racing career.But after a very long spell Niwot has long since proved them wrong.He won the Lexus…
PUNTERS who took the short odds about unbeaten filly Atlantic Jewel had their hearts in their mouth in the final stages of the All Aged Stakes at Randwick today.Taking on the open age sprinters for the first time the race certainly didn't end up as easy as it looked beforehand.After trailing the early leader Rain Affair until well into the home straight she barely grabbed the lead 100 metres out before going on to a hard fought win.A winner at 11 of his previous 14 race starts, Rain Affair had set a smart pace and rounding the home turn he had a four length break on the favourite.Things started getting a little bit scary around the 300 metre mark where Atlantic Jewel hadn't eaten much into the lead and her jockey Michael Rodd reached for the persuader.Gradually at first then with longer strides Atlantic Jewel bridged the gap and edged…
STAR youngster Pierro joined an illustrious list of horses when he became the sixth one to win the Triple Crown of Sydney’s feature two-year-old events. Having won the Golden Slipper over 1200 metres at Rosehill on April 7, he followed up a week later to take out the Sires’ Produce over 1400 metres at Randwick and today, for the third time this month he left his rivals in his wake by taking out the Champagne Stakes over 1600 metres at Randwick. It was his sixth win from as many starts and he has now earned just under $3,000,000 in stakes.After his initial winner in the Breeders' Stakes last October his trainer Gai Waterhouse declared that he would win the Golden Slipper.As confident as she always is it is doubtful even she dreamed of scoring the big three.A long odds-on favourite Pierro jumped with the leaders and his jockey Nash Rawiller…
The National Poker League (NPL) Quarterly Final was wrapped up this weekend at the Parramatta Leagues Club in Sydney with local player Lagi Leota Tupua being crowned the eventual champion. Lagi takes home $21,500 along with a ticket into the NPL 500 event which is set to take place in August this year at The Star Casino. In addition to the cash and ticket, Lagi earned herself a massive 20,000 points towards the National Poker Leagues Player Of The Year race. The NPL Quarterly Final featured 291(282 + 9 NPL Masters Team Members) players and a $550 buy-in creating a massive prize pool of $141,000. Action began on Saturday morning with all players taking their seats in the Parramatta Leagues Club Ball room. The action began at 11am and play ended at 11:30pm with 63 players remaining in the field. Sunday was day 2 and Lagi held a massive chip…
STAR mare More Joyous staked her claim as one of the best mares in the world with a gutsy win in toda's Doncaster Handicap at Randwick. Lugging the huge weight of 57.kg., More Joyous ground down her rivals in a blanket finish to edge out Victorian representative Yosei with Sincero a top run to gain the minor placing. It seems a shame that More Joyous has been forced to race in the shadow of Black Caviar because at any other period in history she would be regalled as a marvel herself. Taken a handy sit early in the race More Joyous was given the run of the race by Nash Rawiller and it took all of his strength to lift the champ to the line. Yosei looked to have stolen the race when she raced through along the rails but she was run down in the final 50 metres while…
LONG odds-on favourite Streama has cliaimed the Australian Oaks at Randwick but not before giving her supporters a giant scare. After travelling easy midfield to the turn Streama looked set for an easy win when jockey Hugh Bowman eased her to the outside and set her out after the leaders. But instead of gathering them in, Streama took a long time to stretch out and only claimed Aliyana Tide in the shadows of the post. That pair drew clear in the last 100 metres with Thy hanging on for third. It was Streama's sixth win from 13 starts and the $330,000 first prize eased her just past $1,000,000 in stake earnings.
