Race 1
1 3 2 4
1 – Jewel of the Clan Super impressive on debut. Very speedy and hard to run down here.
3 – Reason to Smile – Placed both runs to date. And solid effort in closing at Qbn. Extra trip suits.
2 – Black Magnum – Both city trials have been on heavy tracks. Watch market.
4 – Onsettling Down – Place chance.
Race 2
The hottest hoop on the NSW picnic circuit is back riding with the professionals.
Canberra’s Billy Owen is better known more recently as the travelling foreman for Nick Olive, where he was tasked with trackwork for, and the care and attention of, recently retired Group 1 winner Single Gaze.
When he mounted High Tail It in the first race at Young on May 19, it had been six years since Owen had competed away from amateur ranks.
Owen (26) has always had a rap and this season at the picnics was riding at a strike rate of 60% and a profit on turnover of 45%.
The Canberra Racing Club has announced the pending retirement of its longstanding CEO Peter Stubbs.
Stubbs will bow out on 16 October 2018, which coincides with the Club’s Annual General Meeting.
Stubbs has served in racing administration for thirty years and has been Canberra CEO for the last 12 years.
Canberra Racing Club Chairman Paul Meiklejohn said Stubbs was a fine administrator and that his leadership and professionalism would be greatly missed.
Today, the Canberra Racing Club announced the retirement of the organisation’s long serving Chief Executive, Peter Stubbs. His retirement will be effective from 16 October 2018, which coincides with the Club’s Annual General Meeting.
Belle Ready Canberra filly Sizzling Belle is in “terrific order” heading into tomorrow’s Moet & Chandon Champagne Classic at Doomben.
Trainer Nick Olive says Sizzling Belle has settled in well at the Gold Coast and appears is as good as ever; both in condition and under saddle.
“She has to do it out of a Golden Slipper campaign, but she’s in great order and we are expecting a big run tomorrow,” he says.
Olive says he’s not fazed by the prospect of a damp track.
Thirty years ago today (Tuesday) Canberra was graced by royalty and witnessed an extraordinary racing occasion.
Queen Elizabeth II was track side in the capital to attend the one-off running of the Queen Elizabeth II Bicentennial Stakes and to open a new grandstand named in her honour.
The Queen was principally in Australia for the bicentennial celebrations and to open new Parliament House.
Prime Minister Bob Hawke was instrumental in organising the race meeting in her honour and accompanied the Queen.
On the 8th May 2018 the Canberra Racing Club celebrates a significant day in its long history with the 30th anniversary of the opening of the aptly name Queen Elizabeth II grandstand.
On this day in 1988 Queen Elizabeth II officially opened of the purpose built grandstand on course. She also witnessed the clash in her namesake race, the QEII Bicenennial Stakes, between NZ performer Bonecrusher and Beau Zam trained by Bart Cummings being the victor. The race day itself was attended by 16,000.
The Wagga carnival kick off tomorrow (Thursday) with Canberra stables positioned to win plenty of prizemoney.
Race 1
The powerful Matt Dale yard can get off to a winning start with LANSALA (1) resuming off two promising placings. Nick Heywood rides from the perfect gate and he strikes at 35% with the stable.
The Barbara Joseph-Paul Jones trained HAVELAKA (5) also presents as a leading hope, but is cruelled by a wide gate. The booking of Matt Cahill suggests she’s pleasing.
With winter around the corner, the Canberra Racing Club has completed surface renovations of the all-weather Acton surface.
Club CEO Peter Stubbs says 300 tonnes of material have been laid on the track in readiness for racing on May 25.
A barrier trial will be held on the Acton before the first race on May 9 to ensure levels are 100% across the surface.
This will be the second winter utilizing the new Acton which was developed ‘in-house’ by the club using fibres imported from Germany.
Canberra’s Barbara Joseph–Paul Jones training partnership continues to enjoy its best-ever season.
With three and a half months of the 2017/18 racing year remaining, the stable has now racked-up 40 winners, one more that its 2016-2017 full-year total.
Its best-ever winning year was 2014 with 40 winners.
And its prizemoney earnings have also taken a leap rising from $875,000 last year to (currently) $1,170,453, in 2017/18.
