Gallops, Horse Racing, John Tapp Racing, Racing History, Racing NSW, Sky Racing
John Tapp
1976 - A MELBOURNE CUP TO REMEMBER

There were 78,500 people at Flemington on Melbourne Cup day 1976. Those still living, hold indelible memories of their visit to the historic course on the day mother nature threw a tantrum.

1976 - A MELBOURNE CUP TO REMEMBER

Sky Racing

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ANDREW GIBBONS WAS A SPORTS MAD KID WHO CHOSE A LIFE IN RACING

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ANDREW GIBBONS WAS A SPORTS MAD KID WHO CHOSE A LIFE IN RACING

Two things stood out in the BM 64 at Newcastle on Saturday. Firstly the winner Salina Dreaming is obviously better than average judging on her dominant front running display, and the sharp ‘kick’ she produced approaching the 200m.

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FROM HAWKESBURY TO THE HUNTER - SCOTT SINGLETON PULLED THE RIGHT REIN

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FROM HAWKESBURY TO THE HUNTER - SCOTT SINGLETON PULLED THE RIGHT REIN

Scone trainer Scott Singleton was in high spirits when he loaded three horses onto his float on Sunday morning to embark on the 340km trip to Coonamble. . He was still firmly ensconced on cloud nine, less than twenty four hours after his fleet footed gelding Partners had run the opposition ragged in the TAB Highway at Royal Randwick.

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TRACEY BARTLEY’S SNAP DECISION PAYS OFF

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TRACEY BARTLEY’S SNAP DECISION PAYS OFF

In Good Time looked more like a short priced favourite than a despised outsider during the running of Saturday’s Ascot Hcp at Eagle Farm. The $56.00 “pop” bounded straight into the box seat in the Listed sprint, and was coasting behind Boomtown Lass and Emerald Kingdom approaching the hometurn.

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DAMIEN LANE PUT THE HAMMER AND SAW ASIDE TO TRAIN RACEHORSES

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DAMIEN LANE PUT THE HAMMER AND SAW ASIDE TO TRAIN RACEHORSES

Damien Lane can’t wait to win a metropolitan race by a decent margin. The popular Wyong trainer has greeted the judge three times on city tracks in recent weeks, but on each occasion has had to sweat it out in nail biting photo finishes.

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HENRY’S IN HORSE HEAVEN

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HENRY’S IN HORSE HEAVEN

My thanks to Sean Driver who took the trouble to email me last week after having listened to our recent podcast with jockey Brad Pengelly. Sean was hoping Carael Boy would figure among Brad’s list of favourite horses, and he certainly wasn’t disappointed.

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JAY’S IN THE RIGHT ZONE AT THE MOMENT

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JAY’S IN THE RIGHT ZONE AT THE MOMENT

Almost fourteen years have passed since Jay Ford first thundered over the hallowed turf of Royal Ascot and Newmarket on the back of the celebrated sprinter Takeover Target - the first of his four trips to the UK.

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IT TOOK A WINNER TO BRING A SMILE TO JIM LEE’S FACE

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IT TOOK A WINNER TO BRING A SMILE TO JIM LEE’S FACE

Jim Lee didn’t go to Kembla Grange on Saturday, opting to stay home and watch his four stable runners on Sky Racing. The popular Randwick horseman has been staying home a lot these last seven months.

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TEJORI REPAYS NICK’S PATIENCE AT LAST

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TEJORI REPAYS NICK’S PATIENCE AT LAST

There’s something about Tejori that suggests it’s all ahead of the athletic three year old filly. We catch up with trainer Nick Olive who found her at the 2018 Inglis Classic Sale. He says it’s been a case of waiting for Tejori to get over a few growing pains.

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RICHARD LITT AND LIFE AFTER CASTELVECCHIO

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RICHARD LITT AND LIFE AFTER CASTELVECCHIO

Lancaster Bomber’s win in the last at Newcastle on Saturday rounded off a very pleasing few weeks for the Richard Litt stable. It was especially pleasing for the expatriate Kiwi horseman, because the Denman gelding is the very first horse he actually purchased and syndicated.

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GOSFORD DOUBLE PUTS A SMILE ON MITCH NEWMAN’S FACE

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GOSFORD DOUBLE PUTS A SMILE ON MITCH NEWMAN’S FACE

When Mitch Newman is around horses, the smile on his face tells you everything you need to know about the former jockey turned trainer. That smile was very evident when Diva Bella swamped the leaders to win the opening race at Gosford on Saturday.

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PIERATA ALMOST GOT THERE FOR HIS GREATEST FAN

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PIERATA ALMOST GOT THERE FOR HIS GREATEST FAN

It’s hard to believe Pierata has a greater fan than his popular part owner and trainer Greg Hickman, but there is one such devotee. “Give Tim Payne a ring. He’s clocked every gallop the horse has ever had,” said Hickman.

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JEFF PENZA’S HIGH FIVE

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JEFF PENZA’S HIGH FIVE

The evergreen Glen Boss stole most of the Australian riding limelight on Saturday when he dominated day 2 of The Championships at Royal Randwick. While all this was going on, Jeff Penza was minding his own business at the Newcastle meeting, where his book of seven rides brought a dazzling five win haul.

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JAMES INNES JUNIOR’S DAY OF DAYS

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JAMES INNES JUNIOR’S DAY OF DAYS

Racing needs the occasional fairy-tale story. At home and overseas it’s an accepted fact that most races at the elite level are won by horses from major stables. Those stables traditionally have the best bloodstock to work with and often increase their chances by having multiple runners.

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PERSISTENCE PAID OFF FOR ADAM HYERONIMUS

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PERSISTENCE PAID OFF FOR ADAM HYERONIMUS

The first time Adam Hyeronimus asked Gai Waterhouse to apprentice him the answer was an emphatic “no!”. It was 2011 and Adam was just beginning the final year of his indentureship to Grafton trainer John Shelton, who fully supported the young jockey’s wish to join a major Sydney stable.

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THE THEATRE WAS EMPTY BUT FOR DAVID PFIEFFER THE SHOW ROLLED ON

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THE THEATRE WAS EMPTY BUT FOR DAVID PFIEFFER THE SHOW ROLLED ON

Not even the eerie emptiness of the Rosehill Gardens racecourse could detract from David Pfieffer’s elation as I Am Excited gave him a maiden Group 1 win in Saturday’s Galaxy.

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JOE’S JOURNEY HAS JUST BEGUN

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JOE’S JOURNEY HAS JUST BEGUN

The further they got into Saturday’s Iron Jack Hcp (1900m) at Rosehill Gardens, the more trainer Joe Ible’s confidence grew. He and jockey Sam Clipperton had planned to go forward from a wide gate, in the hope Zoffany’s Lad could pop into a spot one horse off the fence.

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NETTOYER CLEANS ‘EM UP AGAIN

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NETTOYER CLEANS ‘EM UP AGAIN

It’s far too late for race callers and form analysts to change the pronunciation of the name of the big mare who staged a “Winx like” finish to win on Saturday. For commentators and listeners it shall remain as it appears - Nettoyer.