NZTR handicapping appointment; Moochi Me progressing well; McDonald, Donaldson appeal

NZTR handicapping appointment

Dennis Quirke has been appointed as New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing’s senior handicapper and race planner.

He was previously part of the Racing Club Partnership Programme with a focus on the financial analysis of race meetings and club accounts.

“Dennis has conducted extensive form analysis and rating of New Zealand thoroughbred racing over a long period of time,” said Matthew Hall, General Manager of Racing and Chief Handicapper (Acting).

“Dennis will also be involved in the process of reviewing ANZ ratings and monitoring the performance of New Zealand horses, both domestically and in Australia, in preparation for the 2014-15 Pattern Committee meeting in August.”

Moochi Me progressing well

A midweek exhibition gallop has brought stakes performer Moochi Me’s return to racing a step closer.

She was given an outing at the Te Awamutu races on Wednesday ahead of her resuming run at Ellerslie on May 30 followed by a start in the Listed Team Wealleans Classic at Tauranga on June 20.

The winner of three of her six starts, Moochi Me hasn’t raced since she bled when runner-up in the Gr.2 Auckland Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes in November.

“She started work early in February and hopefully she can get back to the same level,” trainer Darryl Lang said. “I couldn’t be happier with her at the moment.”

McDonald, Donaldson appeal

Brett McDonald and Tanya Donaldson have appealed against their suspensions after they were found guilty last month of breaching drug rules.

The Cambridge trainer was banned for two and a half years and his partner Donaldson for a year for administering phenylbutazone, commonly known as bute, to stable runners at the Ruakaka trials in December.

The appeal will be heard in Wellington on June 15