High Hopes for Blueblood

24 April 2016

Tony Pike has particularly high hopes for the beautifully-bred WS four-year-old Snowdrop. The Cambridge trainer produced her for a first-up victory at Ellerslie on Saturday and is expecting her to continue on a path to the top.

“She’s a very progressive mare. She sweated up a bit in the back parade ring before the race, so this will bring her along nicely and she’ll improve for the run,” Pike said.

“The biggest barrier for her is tracks. She needs good ground. It would be nice if we could give her another run or two in this campaign before the tracks get too wet, but she’ll be a lovely mare next season. Hopefully, we can pick up a really nice sprint race with her.”

By Pins out of the multiple Group One winner Daffodil, Snowdrop collected the fifth win of her 10-start career in the hands of apprentice Ryan Elliot. “Ryan rode her perfectly, and with his claim taking her weight down to 51.5 kilograms that made her pretty hard to beat,” Pike said.

David Hayes’ Absolute Awakened wins at Sha Tin

With Hong Kong’s new season just two weeks in, it wasn’t long before the progeny of Ardrossan stepped into the winners’ circle and at the second Sha Tin race meeting of the season, it was David Hayes’ Absolute Awakened who won by a length over 1400m.

13 September 2026

Four-winner weekend for Ocean Park

Every reliable, Ocean Park had another winning weekend, producing four winners in New Zealand and across the Tasman in Australia thanks to Rip Tide (ex Hurry), Moana Nui, Liberty Park and With Grace.