Veteran Tavis Court Keeps Winning Streak Alive

Media Release - Tuesday July 15

Evergreen galloper Tavis Court had won a race in every season of his career since he debuted as a three-year-old, and at the tail end of his nine-year-old year, he kept that remarkable streak alive at Hawera on Tuesday.

Lining up in a compact field of just four runners, Tavis Court was the $13.50 outsider, with the lightly tried Lazio backed as though nearly unbeatable, closing at $1.20.

Tavis Court winning the Property Management @ Metcalfe Real Estate (1200m) at Hawera on Tuesday.  Photo: Peter Rubery (Race Images Palmerston North)

In the hands of Kate Hercock, Tavis Court was the quickest out of the barriers and full of running early, taking a clear lead and travelled comfortably through the mid-stages.

Lazio came up to draw level with Tavis Court turning for home and looked to have the upper hand in the straight, but the son of Tavistock fought back on the inside, powering through late to score by a length.

The victory took Tavis Court’s tally up to 11, and over the $315,000 mark in earnings for his breeder-owners, Graham and Annette Hill.

Right from the start, he has been trained locally by Anna Clement, and she was delighted to see him back in the winner’s circle.

“He fought really hard, I thought Allan Sharrock’s horse (Lazio) was going to beat us but he put his head down and fought even harder,” she said. “It’s always nice to see the older horses have a win, so we’re very happy.

Advertisement

“He doesn’t think he’s rising ten, he thinks he’s a two-year-old. He’s always honest, whenever you put a saddle on him he grows an extra hand and he knows he’s here to do a job.

“He’s had four starts here now for two wins and two placings, so being his home track, he seems to go well.”

The Hawera meeting was initially set to be run on Saturday, but severe weather in the region caused for the rescheduled running on Tuesday. Chajaba and Old Town Road, who were third and fourth in the race, both hold nominations for Saturday’s Listed Sinclair Electrical and Refrigeration Opunake Cup (1400m), but Clement won’t be putting in a late entry for her charge.

“I think he’s more of a 1200m horse, so we opted to go for this race instead,” she said.

“Plus, his owners live locally and they don’t travel anywhere now, so it was nice to have a decent Saturday meeting at their home track, where they can come and watch all of their horses racing.

“He’s a good old campaigner and he’s done us proud, as with the owners too.” – LOVERACING.NZ News Desk

Advertisment

Race Result - Property Management Specialist @ Metcalfe Real Estate Hcp 1200m

Hawera Track: Heavy(10) Time: 1:17.23
1
Tavis Court
- 9g Tavistock (NZ) x Keep Her Free (NZ) (Keeper (AUS))
Tnr: A M Clement Rdr: K R Hercock 54
2
1
Lazio
- 5g Per Incanto (USA) x Madonna Mia (NZ) (Red Clubs (IRE))
Tnr: S A Sharrock Rdr: K A Myers 55.5
3
3.8
Chajaba
- 8g Keano (NZ) x Hostage (NZ) (Handsome Ransom (AUS))
Tnr: Ms T Egan Rdr: Frankie Barrett 57
4
4.6
Old Town Road
- 7g El Roca (AUS) x Malaya (NZ) (Towkay (AUS))
Tnr: Ms L Latta Rdr: A K Riddell 57
More Reading...
Henry Dwyer Secures Top Lot on Day 4 Tattersalls Autumn HIT Sale
Promising Wootton Bassett two-year-old SKIATHOS topped the fourth day of the Tattersalls Autumn Horses in Training Sale at 150,000 guineas with robust trade resulting in a clearance rate of 90% for the session. Turnover for the sale exceeded 33,000,000 guineas for only the fourth time in its history with a fifth and final session still to come on Friday, followed immediately by the Tattersalls Aut
Juvenile Trial Watch – Warwick Farm
Four heats for juveniles run at Warwick Farm on Friday and we saw winners by Trapeze Artist, Tassort, Exceed and Excel and first season sire Wild Ruler, while from a pedigree perspective a Godolphin filly that ran second was the obvious highlight.
Sires With Winners - Thursday October 30
Here is the full list of 30 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Yulong Purchase into Star Kiwi Trained Filly
Yulong has purchased a 50 percent share in outstanding prospect Well Written with welcome news that she will remain in the care of Cambridge trainer Stephen Marsh for the rest of her racing career.
VRC Oaks contender headlines November (Early) Online Sale
An exciting opportunity is presented in the Inglis Digital November (Early) Online Sale next week when a share in a runner bound for Thursday’s $1m G1 VRC Oaks is offered.
Breeding To Win - 2025 G1 VRC Coolmore Stud Stakes
Derby Day! It's the race day for purists, when the biggest and best pedigrees tend to be on show, and their merits are tested over all distances.
Go Racing Hoping for Big Day at Randwick
New Zealand syndicator Go Racing will be out to plunder the riches on offer at Randwick on Saturday, with their silks to be represented in two of the meeting’s key races.
Tabitha Ridley-Thomas Joins Magic Millions Bloodstock Team
Australia's leading thoroughbred auctioneer Magic Millions has boosted it's impressive Bloodstock Team with news Tabitha Ridley-Thomas has this week joined the company.
MRC locks in leadership as Tanya Fullarton named CEO and Jonathan Munz joins as Vice Chairman
The Melbourne Racing Club (MRC) has confirmed two major leadership appointments, naming Tanya Fullarton as Chief Executive Officer and leading business person, owner, and breeder Jonathan Munz as Vice Chairman.
First Foal of Melody Belle a Winner!
Two time NZ Horse of the Year and a 14-time G1 winner, Melody Belle was a big ticket purchase for Yulong at the 2021 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale when  they paid $2.6million for the daughter of Commands and she produced her first winner for them at Cranbourne on Friday night.