Ken Duncan

Eion sends warning to Great Northern rivals

Posted on September 20, 2021
in New Zealand Horse Racing News

Lightly raced jumper Eion provided an ominous warning to his potential ARC Great Northern Steeplechase (6400m) rivals when he took out an action packed CLC Pakuranga Hunt Cup (4200m) at Te Aroha on Sunday. The Pakuranga Hunt Cup is the major lead-up race to the Great Northern and the Ken Duncan-trained Eion looked spot on[...]

Posted on August 13, 2021
in New Zealand Horse Racing News

With names like Jumbo, Riccarton's steeplechase fences are renowned for their size but Hunterville trainer Ken Duncan said the biggest obstacle facing Shamal in Saturday's Racecourse Hotel Grand National Steeplechase (5600m) doesn't need to be jumped. Duncan is referring to last Saturday's 16-length Koral Steeplechase (4250m) winner Tallyho Twinkletoe, the Kevin Myers-trained 11-year-old unbeaten in[...]

Posted on June 7, 2021
in New Zealand Horse Racing News

There were handshakes and salutes all around after the running of the feature event at Ellerslie, New Zealand, on Monday, the McGregor Grant Steeplechase (4150m). Underrated jumps jockey Hamish McNeill guided outsider Eion to a memorable victory in the race first run in 1901 as the Winter Steeplechase before being renamed in 1957 in honour[...]

Posted on August 22, 2020
in Australian Horse Racing News

Ballarat trainer Amy McDonald is excited to have her first runner in a Grand National Steeplechase but realises Shamal faces a herculean challenge taking on benchmark jumper Ablaze. The Ciaron Maher and David Eustace-trained Ablaze has taken all before him this jumps season. He will capture an historic trio of wins if he can secure[...]

Posted on June 29, 2020
in New Zealand Horse Racing News

Leading Kiwi jumper Shamal took the next step on his path to the Australian Grand National Steeplechase (4500m) at Ballarat in August with a gritty victory at Casterton on Saturday. Carrying clear topweight of 74kgs, the former New Zealand Grand National Steeplechase (5600m) and Waikato Steeplechase (3900m) winner had to call on all his noted[...]

Posted on June 1, 2020
in Australian Horse Racing News

Ballarat trainer Amy McDonald is convinced that one of New Zealand's best jumpers has what it takes to win on the biggest stage in Australia. McDonald is currently preparing 2018 Grand National Steeplechase (5500m) winner Shamal for his syndicate of owners that includes his New Zealand trainer Ken Duncan. Duncan had intended to take Shamal[...]

Posted on May 16, 2020
in New Zealand Horse Racing News

With COVID-19 curtailing the jumps season in New Zealand, Hunterville trainer Ken Duncan has elected to send two of his stable stars across the Tasman to try and nab some Australian spoils. Grand National Steeplechase (5600m) winner Shamal and Grand National Hurdles (4200m) winner Alfie Dee arrived in Australia last week where they joined the[...]

Posted on August 20, 2019
in Australian Horse Racing News, New Zealand Horse Racing News

Hunterville trainer Ken Duncan has stepped into new territory with his fine steeplechaser Shamal set to race at Ballarat on Sunday. Duncan will start the nine-year-old Zabeel gelding in the Grand National Steeplechase (4500m) with regular rider Buddy Lammas in the saddle. “It's the first time I've had one over here in Australia so it[...]

Posted on August 7, 2019
in New Zealand Horse Racing News

It has been a meteoric rise in jumps racing for Alfie Dee. The Ken Duncan-trained gelding won his maiden hurdle just weeks ago and at Riccarton on Wednesday he took out one of the biggest prizes in the jumps racing calendar, the Hospitality New Zealand Canterbury 130th Grand National Hurdles (4200m). In a daring ride[...]

Posted on June 27, 2019
in New Zealand Horse Racing News

Only Ken Duncan really knows just how tough Shamal is. And that's not just the courage the Zabeel eight-year-old gelding showed during his recovery from a tendon injury that threatened his career as a four-year-old. Or the tenacity he displayed in grinding out a win over subsequent Manawatu Steeplechase (4200m) winner Gagarin when he claimed[...]

Posted on May 18, 2019
in New Zealand Horse Racing News

Topweight and race favourite Shamal added a second prestige steeplechase victory to his career record when he prevailed in a nail-biting finish to the Signature Homes Waikato Steeplechase (3900m) at Te Rapa. The 2018 Grand National Steeplechase winner had cemented his favouritism for Saturday's contest when successful in the Ken and Roger Browne Memorial Steeplechase[...]

Posted on May 5, 2019
in New Zealand Horse Racing News

Last year's Grand National Steeplechase (5500m) winner, Shamal, looks like he is right on track to add another coveted jumping prize to his locker after he took out the Ken & Roger Browne Memorial Steeplechase (3900m) at Te Rapa on Saturday. The Te Rapa event is the traditional lead-up to the Signature Homes Waikato Steeplechase[...]

Eion sends warning to Great Northern rivals

Shamal ready for National challenge

Hamish McNeill takes feature jumping double at Ellerslie

Shamal Faces Stiff Task To Outjump Ablaze

Kiwi chaser on target for Australian Grand National

McDonald pleased with top Kiwi jumper

Duncan jumping pair to tackle Aussie features

Duncan chasing immediate success in Australia

Grand ride secures National honours

How tough is Shamal?

Shamal takes Waikato Steeplechase in nail-biting finish

Shamal on track for Waikato Steeplechase

What are you really gambling with?