Guineas test for colt; Vale Ron Nolan; Society coffers boosted; Chelmsford return for leading stayer

Guineas test for colt

Promising three-year-old Mr Conductor is ready to kick off his season this weekend.

“He goes to the Wanganui Guineas on Saturday – we’re very happy with him,” said Johno Benner, who trains the colt with his partner Hollie Wynyard.

Mr Conductor won at his second start at Awapuni as a two-year-old and he was turned out after finishing fourth in the Listed Castletown Stakes.

He has had trial outings at Foxton and Taupo to ready him for this weekend’s test.

“He still does a bit wrong, but he’s a talented horse with any amount of ability and he’s already showed he can get around Wanganui,” Benner said.

Vale Ron Nolan

Respected Hawera horseman Ron Nolan has passed away aged 82.

An amateur rider in his younger days, Nolan subsequently enjoyed success as an owner and trainer and was associated with a number of quality performers, including his Rotorua Cup winner Arigna. He also stood the successful stallion Allgrit at stud.

Nolan was to the fore in the standardbred code as well as the co-owner of the Interdominion Championship and New Zealand Trotting Cup winner Yulestar, who was trained by his wife Lorraine.

Society coffers boosted

The tipping skills of Hawke’s Bay Racing’s general manager Andrew Castles benefitted the Cancer Society to the tune of $3000 at the weekend.

The TAB donated $1000 for each of Castles’ winning selections on Daffodil Day, which was expected to raise about $20,000, with Sacred Master, The Bold One and Kawi collecting the cash.

The Raffles Dancers Syndicate, which races Sacred Master, also donated $1000, Kawi’s jockey Leith Innes did likewise and David and Angela Paykel donated $3000 after the win of their filly Serious Satire.

Chelmsford return for leading stayer

Top New Zealand-bred and owned stayer Who Shot Thebarman is likely to kick off his spring campaign at Randwick this Saturday.

The Gr.1 Melbourne Cup placegetter is one of 11 horses trainer Chris Waller will nominate for the Gr.2 Chelmsford Stakes.

Who Shot Thebarman hasn’t raced since he finished runner-up to stablemate Grand Marshal in the Gr.1 Sydney Cup. The Yamanin Vital gelding has trialled three times since his return from a winter spell.