Weekend of top Australasian racing

Media Release
30 January 2009

Weekend of top Australasian racing

This weekend sees a raft of top Australasian racing to entertain punters with plenty of class horses gracing the tracks.

The action starts with the Otago Racing Club Thoroughbred meeting at Wingatui on Saturday. Borninthestates (1) is likely to be all the rage in the 137th Dunedin Casino Gold Cup after his impressive run in the Wellington Cup where he finished runner-up to another South Islander Megapins. He is paying Fixed Odds of $3.80.

Coup Align (1) will be out to continue his great form in the Western Pacific Dunedin Guineas (Race 8) having won his last six starts in a row. He is hot favourite to win the race paying Fixed Odds of $1.65 compared to $9.00 for his nearest rival – Metropolitan (8).

Meanwhile, in the day’s other feature, the Group 3 White Robe Lodge Stakes (Race 10), it will be a closely fought race with The Pearler (12) at Fixed Odds of $4.50, Titsgittin (3) at $5.50, Eel Win (4) at $6.50, and Tipulater (2) at $7.00 all fighting for glory.љ

The leading contenders for the upcoming $2.2m Telecom New Zealand Derby will contest the $75,000 Group 3 HS Dyke Waikato Guineas at Te Rapa (Race 7). After an impressive win last start, Jungle Boots (5) (currently paying Fixed Odds $4.60 on the New Zealand TAB) will be out to cement his Derby claims as he takes on a quality field that includes The Meista (3) and Heza Karma Karzi (1).

Addington also hosts a Premier Harness meeting on Saturday afternoon where superstar Auckland Reactor (hot favourite at Fixed Odds of $1.10) lines up in the United Fisheries Summer Cup. He will be looking to get back to his winning ways after an unlucky defeat last time out at Cambridge on 16 January to All Tiger. Monkey King and Awesome Ambro (both paying Fixed Odds of $8) look the likely Quinella candidates and should push the champ again.љљ

The trotters are also in action with current champion Stig (paying Fixed Odds of $1.70), Sovereignty ($4.50) and Springback Richard ($7.50) lining up in Race 5 in what will be a pointer to some bigger races to come.

Across the Tasman, Australian Horse of the Year Weekend Hussler (2) starts a new campaign in the Group 1 Lightening Stakes at Flemington that will also feature Apache Cat (1) in what will be an intriguing battle. Weekend Hussler hasn't raced since missing a place when favourite in the Caulfield Cup last October.

Saturday also sees the first night of the Interdominion Trotters Championship from Ballerat where multiple Group 1 winner One Over Kenny will be out to continue her top New Zealand form in the first round of heats. She was a beaten favourite in last year's final. The New Zealand TAB currently has her as favourite, paying Fixed Odds of $3.00, to win the grand final in March.

For the latest New Zealand TAB odds visit www.tab.co.nz

ENDS

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