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Nashville under cloud for Otaki feature; Talented fillies entered for Matamata feature; Borntoachieve to race in HK; Kiwi legends to perform at Otaki; Flindell returns to Sydney.
Nashville under cloud for Otaki feature
Five Group One winners have been entered for Saturday's Gr.1 Haunui Farm Weight-For-Age Classic at Otaki, though one is an uncertain runner.Hong Kong Derby winner Fay Fay is joined by last-start Thorndon Mile winner Puccini, Herbie Dyke Stakes winner Soriano, 1000 Guineas winner Rollout The Carpet and the winner of the race for the past two years Nashville, among 11 entries taken on Tuesday.
However, Nashville is under a cloud after he was found to have a high temperature on Tuesday morning."Sometimes these things can go just as quickly as they arrive. We're just waiting for the results of a blood test but I'd say at this stage he's only 50-50," said Adrian Bull, who trains in partnership with his son Harry.
The other entries for the race were Natuzzi, Julinsky Prince, Iamishwara, Slice Of Class, Weregoingtogetcha and Ringo.Talented fillies entered for Matamata feature
A handy entry of 12 two-year-fillies are slated to contest Saturday's Gr.2 J Swap Contractors Matamata Breeders' Stakes (1200m).Race winners Serena Miss, Dazzling Lady, Strata Lady, Untamed Diamond, Nahema, Special Memories and Reminisce head the entries alongside maidens She Is Stryking, Platinum Express, Great Expectations, Starstripe and Fame Seeker.
There were seven entries for the Listed Reid & Harrison Slipper, headed by Karaka Million runner-up Selfie, last-start winners Link Road and Rocanto, along with promising colt Unsurpassed.The day's other feature, the Listed Marks Ewen & Associates Kaimai Stakes, has attracted Auckland Cup favourite Surpass among an entry of 15 for the 2000m open handicap.
Borntoachieve to race in HK
Borntoachieve, a winner of his last two starts for Cambridge trainers Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young, has been sold to Hong Kong interests.
The Bernadini three-year-old gelding ran out an easy maiden winner at New Plymouth before Christmas before replicating the win at Tauranga last month.Meanwhile, the stable has given the green light for promising Zabeel gelding Mabeel to race at Ellerslie over the Cup carnival.
Mabeel stumbled at the start leading to rider Opie Bosson losing his irons and being unable to ride his mount out."We've had the chiropractor and vet to him and he has worked under saddle with no issues. He'll go back to Ellerslie for a similar race on Derby day," Busuttin said.
Kiwi legends to perform at Otaki
Oncourse patrons at the Otaki racetrack will be treated to a performance by the internationally acclaimed Patea Maori Club on Saturday.
It will be the first raceday performance for the group who shot to fame with the number one hit of 1984 ‘Poi E’. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DQLUygS0IAQ“The members are really excited,” said Club spokeswoman Judy Maruera.
“Some members and their whanau have been racegoers for many years and some have been part-owners of horses, but there are others who have never been on a racetrack before.”Flindell returns to Sydney
The vacant role of Sydney metropolitan racecaller for Sky Channel and Sky Sports Radio will be filled by Darren Flindell.Flindell has signed on with TABcorp as senior metropolitan caller, replacing the recently departed Matthew Hill.
Hong Kong racing fans will recognise the name and voice of Flindell, he has been calling for the Hong Kong Jockey Club for the past 16 years."I’m really excited to be returning to the top job in my home town, which was always my dream when I started calling as a teenager,” Flindell told the South China Morning Post.
Flindell has been the senior racecaller in Hong Kong since 2006."I’m grateful for my time in Hong Kong, I’ve learned a lot and it has been a real privilege to watch some of the great jockeys and trainers at work,” he said.
Flindell’s final meeting in Hong Kong will be BMW Hong Kong Derby day at Sha Tin on March 15, which suggests that he could be back in Australia in time to call the $3.5 million Golden Slipper (1200m) at Rosehill on March 21.