(By John Jenkins) Estefania, who could start at either Otaki or Rotorua next week, worked well on her own in a quiet session at the Hastings track this morning. Fast work was confined to the plough which provided firm footing. A penetrometer reading was t
Eight young riders took part in the Hastings edition of New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing’s special Ride To Time programme last week. Ride to Time is a joint initiative between NZTR and the New Zealand Pony Club Association and aims to teach Pony Club rid
Melody Belle, the front runner for New Zealand Horse of the Year, resumed at the Te Rapa trials on Monday with a close-up third over 900m behind stablemate Ritzy Sparkle. Ridden by Troy Harris, the performance pleased connections as the six-time Group 1 w
Apprentice jockey Tina Comignaghi picked up a double at Phar Lap Raceway on Sunday, securing her 100th career riding win. The South Island hoop recorded her 99th win aboard Miss Ricky Bobby in Race 3, the More FM Sprint (1200m). Five races later the 29-ye
Two things firmly stamped Tiger Tara as the horse to beat in next Saturday night’s $250,000 Group 1 Blacks A Fake at Albion Park. First was his ultra-impressive winning return at Menangle on Saturday night. And second was the upset win of veteran Ohok
In the moment after Self Assured’s first Albion Park win a few weeks back, Mark Purdon said the pacer “could be a bit special.” Another two wins down the track and the lightly-raced three-year-old has grabbed the tag as the most exciting pacer in A
New Zealand’s newest race caller Craig Rail cannot wait to step into the commentator’s box at Forbury Park next month. Rail, who has called harness racing meetings in country Victoria for the past 15 years, will get his first chance to show off hi
Following his impressive victory in Saturday’s Group 1 July Cup (6f) at Newmarket in England, Ten Sovereigns has put himself in the mix for The Everest (1200m) according to Coolmore Australia boss Tom Magnier. “Obviously he was very impressive las
Promising British import Buffalo River is having a short break before attention turns to a light spring campaign focusing on the inaugural $7.5 million Golden Eagle (1500m). Having won his three Australian starts in strong fashion, including city wins at
The Ciaron Maher-David Eustace training partnership will attempt to add another stakes win to their tally with a two-pronged assault on the Listed Queensland Cup (3200m) at Eagle Farm on Saturday. Maher and Eustace, who have their main stables in Victoria
Veteran trainer Bruce Purcell remains in a critical but stable condition in hospital after a freak accident at trackwork on Friday morning. Purcell was airlifted to the Alfred Hospital after the incident at the Cranbourne training complex involving one of
Top woman jockey Jamie Kah will miss the next feature race meeting at Caulfield after receiving a suspension at the venue on Saturday. Kah pleaded guilty to careless riding aboard Sukoshi in the opening two-year-old race over 1200 metres. Sukoshi shifted
The Team Hawkes-trained Spend, a $1.55 million purchase at last year’s Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale when knocked down to Spendthrift Australia, prevailed by the narrowest of margins to make a winning debut at Rosehill on Saturday. Spend, a two
New Zealand Group 1 placegetter Travimyfriend broke through for his first Australian win and gave his trainer Rachael Frost her first Melbourne Saturday city success since her move across the Tasman with victory in the Ladbrokes Info Hub Handicap (1400m)
Cambridge Stud sire Tavistock was the star of the show on Saturday, with his progeny Travimyfriend, Tavirun and Bedford all successful at Caulfield, while his six-year-old son, Curragh, was a winner in Sydney. New Zealand Group 1 placegetter Travimyfriend
Offshore interest in promising galloper Mac Attacka has intensified yet again on Saturday after the impressive three-year-old produced a powerful closing burst to take out the last race on the card at Ruakaka on Saturday. The Makfi gelding had impressed m
Te Akau Racing will be represented by more than 30 members of their potential new season line-up at tomorrow’s (Monday) Te Rapa trials, from unraced two-year-olds through to star performers such as Melody Belle and Te Akau Shark. Trainer Jamie Richards,
(By John Jenkins) Comeback jockey Matthew Gillies enjoyed another high point this winter when he steered Gagarin to victory in today’s $75,000 Grant Plumbing Wellington Steeplechase. Gillies, 33, has been one of New Zealand’s best jumps jockeys for a
(By John Jenkins) Another superb ride by top jumps jockey Aaron Kuru paved the way for a third Wellington Hurdle success for Hastings trainer Paul Nelson at Trentham today. Nelson, who is nowadays training in partnership with Corrina McDougal, had won the
(By John Jenkins) It is certainly unusual for a jumper from the Kevin Myers stable to win at odds of 46 to one but that is what So Keep Em did in the maiden hurdle race at Trentham today. The Keeper eight-year-old was one of the rank outsiders in the 13-h
Star mare Alizee is likely to make her first public appearance in a trial next week before a potential tilt at the Group 2 Missile Stakes (Gr 2, 1200m) as trainer James Cummings prepares her to impress The Everest (1200m) slot holders. “She’s a brilli
Apprentice jockey Tahlia Hope has responded well to treatment for viral meningitis and has been moved from ICU at Victoria’s Frankston Hospital. The Victorian Jockeys Association said she had improved overnight on Thursday and by yesterday afternoon
Veteran Victorian trainer Bruce Purcell has been airlifted to hospital and is in a serious condition after reportedly being kicked in the head by a horse. The incident occurred when 76-year-old Purcell was unloading the horse from a float at roughly 4am o
Brighthill Farm’s Nick King has spoken of his delight at Sacred Day’s victory in Thursday’s Listed Grafton Cup (2350m) on Thursday, with the operation having paid just $5000 at the 2012 Sydney Easter Broodmare Sale to buy the gelding’s dam Top Of
Retiring jockey Jeff Lloyd will leave behind records that could take decades to beat when he hangs up his saddle after today’s Doomben meeting. Lloyd began his career at the famous South African Academy as a 14-year-old and had his first ride in Durban
John Jenkins labels his six Best Bets for the weekend’s race meetings. RUAKAKA, SATURDAY, 13/7/19 Race 2, 1.02pm 3 Massachusetts A promising three-year-old filly by Ferlax who deserves to break through for a maiden win after four 2nds from
Perth champion jockey William Pike will ride King Louis in the $S1 million Listed Singapore Derby (1800m) on July 21. Well on his way to an 11th title (he is on 135 winners with daylight behind), Pike has been a regular hit-and-run visitor at Kranji in th
A winning double by jockey Zac Purton at Happy Valley on Wednesday took his tally of wins for the season to 166 and he now needs to kick home another five at Sunday’s last day of the season at Sha Tin to surpass Joe Moreira’s record of 170. The Austra
John Size extended his slender lead in the Hong Kong trainer’s premiership in the face of a John Moore assault at Happy Valley on Wednesday. One win separated Size and Moore at the start of the evening’s nine-race card. Moore drew level when Magic Leg
Blue Point, who was retired last month after taking Royal Ascot by storm with two Group 1 sprint victories, is to commence his stallion career at Darley’s Kildangan Stud in County Kildare next year. It had initially been stated that the son of Shama
New Zealand Bloodstock are set to add another service to their bloodstock business with the construction of a hotel, The DoubleTree by Hilton Karaka, on their Karaka property. The South Auckland business, which already offers sales, airfreight, insurance,
Waikato Stud resident Ocean Park brought up his century of winners in fine style at Avondale on Wednesday when his daughter Seductress led all the way to impressively win a maiden mile. Ocean Park has a smart winners-to-runners strike rate of 58.5 per cen
Cambridge trainer Tony Pike was not surprised that progressive stayer Sacred Day was able to handle the rise in class in yesterday’s Grafton Cup, believing the four-year-old has bigger races in store next preparation. Sacred Day, who won his previous st
Victoria’s Spring Racing Carnival will this year offer more than $100 million in prizemoney and bonuses for the first time in its decorated history. The announcement comes with today’s annual release of the feature race programme for the international
(By John Jenkins) Race 1 1 Zedace 2 Zedman 6 Kangaroo 3 Mr Enthusiastic Race 2 1 Summer Warrior 3 Zartan 11 No Need 7 Alfie Dee Race 3 3 Gallante 1 Laekeeper 5 El Corby 7 No Tip Race 4 3 Tabard 8 Paddy Bourke 5 Hartley 7 Miss Lizzie Race 5 2 Chocolate [&h
(By John Jenkins) Race 1 3 Diva Express 1 Maybeashowoff 4 Tumbleweed 5 O’Jessica Race 2 3 Massachusetts 4 Kayture 6 Lily D’Or 1 Mannering Race 3 3 Star Treasure 2 Fire Jet 7 Von Trapp 4 Time To Fly Race 4 3 Magic Of The Sun 2 Go Nicholas 6 Amazing Az
New Zealand stayer Sampson lines up in a $A75,000 2020m race at Eagle Farm this Saturday as a final lead-up to the $A200,000 Queensland Cup (3200m) at Eagle Farm the following Saturday. The Howie Mathews-trained nine-year-old has drawn barrier six in a fi
Hong Kong great Douglas Whyte will receive a lifetime achievement award at the champion awards ceremony on Sunday. The former rider-turned trainer is being honoured for his incredible career in the saddle, which saw him crowned Hong Kong’s champion jock
West Australian jockey Willie Pike broke his own Perth record of 135 city winners in a season when riding a double at Belmont yesterday. Pike brought up his landmark 136th success when partnering Black Russian to victory in race four and he made it a quic
Toby Edmonds is hoping to send retiring jockey Jeff Lloyd out a winner with two strong bookings at Doomben on Saturday. Lloyd, who turns 58 in September, will end a star-studded career that includes the past three Brisbane jockeys’ premierships with
Former Queensland trainer Ron Maund has been fined $2000 with no conviction recorded on charges of assaulting two Racing Integrity officers. In the District Court in Toowoomba yesterday, Maund, 75, pleaded guilty to one count of serious assault while arme
All-Star Mile winner Mystic Journey made her first public appearance on the path to the Group 1 Cox Plate (2040m) a winning one when she landed an 800-metre trial on the synthetic surface at Devonport yesterday. At the line, the rising four-year-old enjoy
Hong Kong-bound jockey Blake Shinn will ride at Rosehill this Saturday and Randwick on July 20 before moving to Asia to continue his career. Shinn has secured a contract to ride in the Asian racing jurisdiction from next season. The jockey had ridden succ
Tony Gollan’s unbeaten sprinter Zoustyle has returned to his Eagle Farm stables after a virus ended his winter campaign. The rising four-year-old, who has won all six starts, is set to resume in the Group 3 Concorde Stakes (1000m) at Randwick on Septemb
Emily Margaret, winner of this season’s Group Wellington Guineas (1400m), is reportedly recovering well from recent surgery. “She went up to the Cambridge Equine Clinic and had chips taken out of both knees,” her Riccarton co-trainer Pam Hughes said
Well-travelled jockey Glen Boss is reportedly poised to move to Sydney for the spring after the Group 1-winning jockey ended his Singapore stint. Boss, who has been riding in Queensland in recent weeks, is set to partner the Chris Waller-trained Seaway in
Sarah O’Reilly surprised herself by scoring the biggest success of her career when winning the New Zealand Junior Drivers Championship at Rangiora on Sunday. The 19-year-old saved her best until last to score the maximum points she needed to take out th
John and Karen Parsons were caught by surprise with the latest milestone in their training careers. When Sitarist, a Road To Rock mare part-owned by Karen Parsons, won the open 2200m at Ashburton last Wednesday she took the prizemoney tally for the Balcai
After a decade in New Zealand, Canterbury racecaller Mark McNamara has decided to move back to his homeland of Australia in the new season. McNamara will move to Sydney to be closer to family and has secured a role with Sky as a presenter and racecaller.
A visit to Hawke’s Bay at the end of June meant I was able to take part in the region’s annual foal walk which included a visit to six farms in the region. A large and enthusiastic group of people, all with a passion for breeding and racing, enjoyed v
Veteran jockey Jeff Lloyd is hoping he can cap his imminent retirement with one more metropolitan win at Doomben this week – a victory that would be his 400th since returning to riding after suffering a stroke. Lloyd, 58, missed nearly a year of rid
Despite kicking home a winning double at Flemington on Saturday, champion jockey Damien Oliver’s afternoon took a turn for the worse when he was handed a ten-meeting suspension. Oliver was cited for careless riding in the final 50 metres of the $A160,
The Group 3 $100,000 Winter Cup (1600m) at Riccarton on August 3 remains firmly on the agenda for promising winter galloper Herengawe after he made it five wins from only 12 starts at Awapuni on Saturday. “He’s quite an exciting horse, a good up-and-c
Clayton Chipperfield is already eyeing a Classic campaign with London Bound, who is set to step up in trip and class as a three-year-old after an impressive winning debut at Te Rapa on Saturday. “We’ve always had a big opinion of her and she did it re
(By John Jenkins) Helena Baby, the latest winter star on the New Zealand racing scene, is expected to have just one more race in this country before continuing his career in Hong Kong. The Guillotine four-year-old completed four straight wins when taking
The Mark Brooks-trained El Disparo gave his rivals a jumping lesson as he dominated proceedings from the front to take out the feature hurdle event at Te Aroha today, the Victor & Frank Matijasevich Open Hurdle (3100m). The El Hermano seven-year-old l
Former top hurdler Just Got Home made a welcome and well received return to the winner’s circle at Te Aroha today when he prevailed in a thrilling finish to the Frank & Annie Matijasevich Memorial Open Steeplechase (3500m). The rising twelve-year-ol
A potential spring campaign in Sydney awaits class mare Volpe Veloce as she eases her way back to racing trim for the new season. The 2018 Gr.1 Sistema Railway (1200m) winner is currently in pre-training before returning to the stable of Matamata trainer
A decision to place greater emphasis on the training side of the business appears to be paying dividends for former top jumps rider Clayton Chipperfield who produced a winning double on Saturday. Two-year-old Proisir filly London Bound made many sit up an
Sultan Of Swing kept his unbeaten record on the Te Rapa track intact and provided his connections with a poignant result when taking out the $35, U S Navy Flag Foxbridge Plate 17 August 1600. Winning jockey Taiki Yanagida wore a black armband over the blu
(By John Jenkins) The Listed $50,000 HS Dyke Wanganui Guineas (1340m) on September 7 will be an early new season mission for promising two-year-old Lord Bouzeron, who scored a game debut win in the $22,500 open two-year-old race at Awapuni today. The Burg
LONDON BOUND MAKES IMPRESSIVE DEBUT (By John Jenkins) Rich Hill Stud stallion Proisir was represented by another impressive debut winner when London Bound scored a dominant 7 length victory in today’s $22,500 open two-year-old race over 1200m at Te Rapa
Hong Kong’s winning-most trainer John Moore will finish his sparkling training career at the end of next season, with the jurisdiction’s Jockey Club reaffirming its rules that no trainer can train aged 70 or over. Hong Kong Jockey Club origina
Jamie Richards is pleased with the way Avantage has returned after her spell at Te Akau Stud and is excited about her credentials for the spring. “She’s coming up really well,” Richards said. “She spelled well at Te Akau Stud after Sydney. She is
Mark Currie, the father of banned trainer Ben, has also been barred from having runners in NSW after Racing NSW stewards issued a show cause notice yesterday. Currie recently took over a large portion of the family training operation from his son after Be
Racing NSW stewards yesterday announced that they had received a confirmatory test relating to a substance seized from the premises for Kembla Grange trainer Michael Tubman, revealing the substance is EPO. Last month, stewards released publicly that on Ju
Te Awamutu trainer Stephen Ralph’s stakes-winning pair Santa Monica and Speedy Meady will kick off their campaigns in the Group 2 Foxbridge Plate (1200m) at Te Rapa next month. Santa Monica won the Group 1 Railway Stakes (1200m), while Speedy Meady dead
Multiple Group 1 winner Melody Belle is nearing a return to the track. Melody Belle, who is all but assured of taking home the title of New Zealand Horse of the Year after winning five Group 1 races this season, has pleased trainer Jamie Richards with her
The New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association have opened applications for their two annual scholarships. The International Management Scholarship, sponsored by the Sunline Trust, sends the successful candidate on an all-expenses paid, bonded trip
Auckland Cup placegetter Blue Breeze will race in the Cambridge Stud colours this spring as the stayer attempts to qualify for this year’s Group 1 Melbourne Cup (3200m). Brendan and Jo Lindsay have bought a ten per cent share in the five-year-old ah
The Team Rogerson-trained Comeback has some lofty goals ahead of him, with the gelding set to kick off his campaign in Saturday’s Bonny Glen Landfill (1400m) at Awapuni. All going well, Comeback will then run in the Listed Opunake Cup (1400m) on July 20
Godolphin has expressed interest in securing the vacant slot for The Everest (1200m) which was forfeited by Damion Flower. Racing NSW announced last week that Flower’s forfeited slot would not necessarily go to the highest bidder but to “the person or
Tony Pike will aim to round-out the Brisbane Winter Carnival in style when Cyber Attack lines up in the $A80,000 QTIS Three-Year-Old Handicap (1350m) at Doomben on Saturday. A Listed winner in New Zealand, Cyber Attack finished seventh in the Listed Daybr
New Zealand-raider Simply Optimistic will be vying to make it back-to-back wins at Randwick when he contests the $A130,000 Kensington Handicap (1300m) on Saturday. The Brendon Hawtin-trained gelding won over 1200 metres at the Sydney track last month and
British import Buffalo River will face his toughest Australian assignment to date when he lines up in the $A135,000 Silver Bowl Series Final (1600m) for three-year-olds at Flemington on Saturday. The improving gelding has won both of his southern-hemisphe
New Zealand owned and trained mare Igraine will have the final start of her career in the Listed Grafton Cup (2400m) on July 11 before being sent to be covered by Coolmore stallion Fastnet Rock. The Galileo mare, trained by Robert Priscott, capped a good
Gobstopper made an impressive start to his jumping career, winning his maiden hurdle at Te Aroha by 13 lengths last month, and his connections have elected to test his talents across the Tasman. A proven galloper on the flat, Gobstopper won the Group 3 Ne
Despite fighting the after-effects of a 30-hour travel schedule during his return to New Zealand from the United Kingdom, leading South Island trainer Michael Pitman is still buzzing about his experiences over the past two months. Pitman and the owners of
Animator made the perfect start to his jumping career at Hastings on Saturday where he took out the Hawke’s Bay Hunt Maiden Hurdle (2500m). Trainer Brendon Hawtin was pleased with the victory, which adds to the gelding’s six wins on the flat. “It wa
Katrina Alexander is set to return to the training ranks after several years away caring for her son, Jackson, who lost his battle with stage three melanoma skin cancer early last month. Having died on June 6, one of Jackson’s final wishes was that his
Shaune Ritchie is aiming progressive filly Bella Mente towards the Group 1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) at Riccarton in November. The rising three-year-old has won one of her four outings, while she twice acquitted herself creditably in stakes company
Dual Group 1 winner Kenedna has returned to training with Ciaron Maher and David Eustace and the co-trainers are now weighing up whether to target the Caulfield Cup (2400m) or Cox Plate (2040m) with the rising six-year-old. “She has just gone back i
Winners of four of the nine heats feature among the nominations for the Listed Winter Championship Series Final (1600m) at Flemington on Saturday, including the former New Zealand-trained Romancer, who has earned his shot at the $160,000 contest with his
Injury-cursed Victorian jockey Jason Benbow says he will return to race-riding despite suffering another severe setback. Benbow, 33, will be sidelined for at least six months after breaking his leg in a fall at Sale last month. He said family and friends
Azuro, winner of Saturday’s Stayer’s Cup (3200m) at Rosehill, will be given another chance to win over the Melbourne Cup distance this preparation by trainers Ciaron Maher and David Eustace. Assistant Annabel Neasham said Azuro would now head north fo
Prolific Western Australian owner-breeder Bob Peters has confirmed that his Group 1-winning mare Galaxy Star would not race again and will be covered by Coolmore’s unbeaten US Triple Crown winner Justify. A rising seven-year-old, Galaxy Star bowed out a
Jockey Johnathan Parkes is just one winner away from equalling his career-best total for a season of 118 winners and is five behind premiership leader Lisa Allpress but the Central Districts jockey is not focusing on milestones or titles. “I’m really
(By John Jenkins) Impressive wins by Mohaka and Callsign Mav were among the highlights at today’s Hastings jumpouts. There were seven heats held up against the inside rail on the course proper, where the footing was slow. Mohaka took out the second of t
(By John Jenkins) Hastings thoroughbred trainer Paul Nelson claimed the most satisfying winning double of his long and illustrious career when taking out Saturday’s $50,000 Te Whangai Romneys Hawke’s Bay Hurdle with No Change and $50,000 AHD Hawke’s
A copybook ride aboard local runner Poker Face paved the way for talented rider Alysha Collett to make her long-awaited reappearance in the winner’s enclosure following an injury-enforced break from the jockey ranks. Collett sustained a serious injury t
Trackside presenter and jockey agent Darryl Anderson will head to Hong Kong in the new season where he will take up the role as Senior Racing Advisor with The Racing Club, a subsidiary of the Hong Kong Jockey Club. The Racing Club was established a decade
Michael Tubman has had his licence suspended pending an investigation after the Kembla Grange-based trainer was allegedly found in possession of substances, later determined to have contained Erythropoiesis-stimulating agent, known as EPO. Racing NSW stew
Kenny Rae and his daughter Krystal Williams-Tuhoro enjoyed a red-letter day when sending out a double at Ruakaka yesterday. The first leg of the double came when Zelenski won the Racing 13 July Whangarei Cup 2YO Handicap (1000m), and then Viola Vega follo
Coolmore’s champion sire Fastnet Rock has been earmarked as the most likely partner for yesterday’s New Zealand-trained Listed Caloundra Cup (2400m) winner Igraine. The New Zealand-owned Galileo mare, who was bred and started her career in Germany, ro
Group 1 winner Sacred Elixir returned to New Zealand from Hong Kong on Wednesday morning and a scan has revealed positive signs that the gelding could make a race-day return. Formerly trained by Tony Pike, Sacred Elixir won the Group 1 JJ Atkins Stakes (1
Fresh from landing his first Group 1 on Invincibella in the Group 1 Tattersall’s Tiara (1400m) last weekend, Jason Collett will shoot for more stakes success when he rides Nicci’s Gold in the Listed $A160,000 Civic Stakes (1350m) at Rosehill tomorrow.
As Hugh Bowman prepares to return to race riding for the first time in two months, he has admitted the emotion surrounding Winx took a mental and physical toll. The champion jockey has confirmed he will return at the Randwick meeting on Saturday week, hav
The Tony Pike-trained Terra Sancta will return to her favourite Queensland track tomorrow when she looks to get back to winning ways in the Listed Caloundra Cup (2400m) at the Sunshine Coast. Pike feels Terra Sancta was racing well enough for another tilt
Racing New South Wales will sell the forfeited slot for this year’s $14 million The Everest (1200m) previously owned by accused cocaine trafficker Damion Flower’s Jadeskye Racing. The racing authority’s board resolved to put the slot to tender for t
Vibrato will now be aimed at the Listed $50,000 Ryder Stakes (1200m) at Otaki on July 27 after the juvenile made up for a luckless debut with an impressive victory at Rotorua yesterday. Vibrato, prepared by the Cambridge partnership of Murray Baker and An
Queensland trainers and stewards have welcomed a government review of the state’s cumbersome appeals process. Racing Minister Stirling Hinchliffe hopes to have a result of the review by the end of the year. He will meet with key industry participants ne
Ten-year-olds Doukhan and Destiny’s Kiss will be out to get the better of their younger rivals when they take their chance in the Stayer’s Cup (3200m) at Rosehill on Saturday. The Joe Pride-trained Destiny’s Kiss comes into the race as a last start
Queensland jockey Luke Tarrant has been suspended for a month on betting charges despite claiming a bogus account had been set up in his name without his knowledge. Stewards opened an inquiry into a report received from corporate bookmaker Ladbrokes, rega
A review of the benchmark weight for northern hemisphere three-year-olds in feature spring races in Australia has led to a change ahead of this year’s Melbourne spring carnival. Northern hemisphere three-year-olds have won the Melbourne Cup (3200m)
Top Australian jockey Hugh Bowman is set to return to race riding next week after his manager Bryan Haskins confirmed the jockey would be in action at Randwick on July 6. Bowman has already been confirmed for three rides at the meeting, including promisin
Bloodstock agents have welcomed the Hong Kong Jockey Club’s “recalibration” of its rating eligibility for tried horses purchased to race in the Asian jurisdiction, believing the lowering of the handicap will increase the pool of horses available and
(By John Jenkins) Valante pulled off an emotionally charged win when he out toughed his rivals in last Saturday’s $40,000 Orora Kiwi Packaging Kiwifruit Cup at Tauranga. The seven-year-old gelding, trained at Cambridge by Graeme Lord, is part-owned by w
Westbury Stud has launched a pair of initiatives aimed at attracting and retaining talented industry participants. The first includes the promotion of an existing employee, or Gamechangers as they will be known, who will embark on a 12 month programme tha
Otaki trainers Johno Benner and Hollie Wynyard are hoping to ditch the bridesmaid tag occupied by the ultra-consistent Wyndspelle when he returns next season. The five-year-old recorded two runner-up performances at Group 1 level this season, in the Thorn
Exciting galloper Te Akau Shark, an impressive last-start winner of the Group 2 Coupland’s Bakeries Mile (1600m), could take his chance in the Group 1 Epsom Handicap (1600m) in Sydney in the spring on his way to a tilt at the Group 1 Cox Plate (2040
Disqualified Toowoomba trainer Ben Currie has been charged with fraud involving allegations he used performance enhancing drugs to win prize money. Currie is currently serving a seven-and-a-half year disqualification imposed by racing authorities on multi
Blue Point, who completed a rare Royal Ascot sprint double on Saturday, has been retired to stud with trainer Charlie Appleby happy to let the four-time Group 1 winner bow out on top. The five-year-old son of Shamardal claimed back-to-back wins in the Gro
Balcairn trainers John and Karen Parsons stretched their memories back 30 years when Pippi Rea extended his winning streak to five at Riccarton on Saturday. “We have to go back to Seamist to remember another horse we’ve had who has won as many in a ro
Australian mare Houtzen will remain in Britain and race at least once more. The four-year-old daughter of I Am Invincible finished eighth as a $34 chance in last Tuesday’s Group 1 King’s Stand Stakes (1006m) at Royal Ascot after slipping at the start.
(By Glenn Watson) Toby Autridge has ridden in a National but has never trained a contender. But that could change if Tommyra plays a blinder in the Te Whangai Romney Hawke’s Bay Hurdle this Saturday. Tommyra convinced Autridge he was worth the trip to
Champion mare Winx will be served by I Am Invincible during the upcoming breeding season. The owners of Winx – Peter and Patty Tighe, Richard Treweeke and Debbie Keptis – issued a statement on Monday afternoon to announce their decision to send their
This season’s star two-year-old filly Lyre is back in work, with trainer Anthony Freedman’s son and assistant Sam revealing the rising three-year-old will target the Group 1 Caulfield Guineas (1600m) in the spring. “The Thousand Guineas is her t
Multiple Group 1 winner Sunlight is back in Tony McEvoy’s Flemington stable but her route the $14 million Everest (1200m) has not yet been formulated. Sunlight won three Group 1 races this season – the Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m), Newmarket Handi
The Listed Winter Championship Series Final (1600m) at Flemington next Saturday week shapes as a logical next target for former New Zealand-trained Romancer after his victory in the Brian Beattie Handicap (1400m) at Flemington on Saturday. “I think
It might be nearly 23 years since he pulled off the Magnificent Seven, but Frankie Dettori is as much of a global superstar now than he was then, and racing’s greatest showman once again delighted his audience with a breath-taking performance on the big
Trainer Joe Pride is pleased with the form of evergreen gelding Destiny’s Kiss and as a result he is likely to have his 98th start when he runs in either the Kensei Handicap (2000m) and the Stayers Cup (3200m) at Rosehill next Saturday. The 10-year-old
The Board of NZ Thoroughbred Racing has welcomed the confirmation of the members of Racing Industry Transition Agency (RITA) by Racing Minister Winston Peters. Mr Peters announced the appointments following yesterday’s passing of the Racing Reform Bill.
Jumps jockey Stephan Karnicnik is currently in Waikato Hospital following a two-vehicle collision on Stanley Rd immediately outside the Te Aroha racecourse yesterday. Police are still investigating the cause of the accident which saw Stephan Karnicnik and
Yulong Investments Australia will once again team up with the Triple Crown Syndications-raced dual Everest (1200m) winner Redzel for this year’s edition of the $14 million race. The Peter and Paul Snowden-trained son of Snitzel will shoot for a third vi
Windsor Park shuttle stallion Charm Spirit sired his second winner in as many days when Intimidate landed the Barney Knudsen Dash 2YO Handicap (1000m) at Riccarton on Saturday, taking his total number of first-crop two-year-old winners in the southern hem
A gutsy front-running effort saw Valante defy his rivals to run him down in the Kiwifruit Cup (2100m) at Tauranga on Saturday. The Graeme Lord-trained seven-year-old was niggled at in front throughout the 2100 metre journey but refused to lie down as he f
The Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott-trained Sleeping Beauty followed up her success in the Group 3 Rotorua Stakes with another stakes win in Saturday’s Listed Tauranga Classic (1400m). Bred and owned by Sir Peter Vela, the six-year-old mare showed
Damien Oliver’s win on stayer Chouxting The Mob at Flemington on Saturday has come at a cost, with the champion jockey suspended for breaching the whip rules. Oliver was one of two riders suspended for whip breaches in yesterday’s Great Ocean Road
Blake Shinn continued in fine form ahead of his imminent departure to Hong Kong when partnering the Peter and Paul Snowden-trained Brave Song to victory in the Group 3 WJ Healy Stakes (1200m) – the final leg of a treble for the jockey at Eagle Farm
Vow And Declare confirmed himself as a stayer with significant potential when seeing out the 3000-metre trip in fine fashion to secure a first Group 3 success in the Tattersall’s Cup at Eagle Farm yesterday. Trained by Danny O’Brien, the three-year-ol
Champion trainer Chris Waller gold plated an already extraordinary season by breaking the record for the number of Australian Group 1 wins in a single campaign yesterday as Invincibella plundered a much vaunted top tier success in the $A500,000 Tattersall
(By John Jenkins) Heavy track specialist Admiral got conditions to suit at Tauranga today and returned to his best form with an all the way win in the Zest Premier, a Rating 82 race over 1600m. The Align seven-year-old was chalking up win number seven and
English Rose, who is a sister to Group 1 winner Sofia Rosa, landed her second career victory yesterday when taking out the Sunrans Spa Handicap (2100m) at Otaki in the hands of apprentice jockey Chelsea Burdan. The filly beat The Great Guru by three-quart
(By Glenn Watson) Ann Browne, who with her late husband Ken built a powerful jumping empire, has sent her last few horses to other stables to be trained, bringing down the curtain on what has been a glittering career. Raisafuasho has gone to Team Rogerson
Having been at the mercy of a wet track when 11th in Tuesday’s King’s Stand Stakes, New Zealand sprinter Enzo’s Lad could well bid for compensation in tomorrow’s Diamond Jubilee after trainer Michael Pitman opted to leave the gelding in at the fin
Trainer Nigel Tiley was impressed with Riodini’s victory in the NZB Insurance 2YO Handicap (1200m) at Pukekohe yesterday, earmarking him as a horse for the future. “He got to the line very well. I think he is a nice horse with a future, he’s really
Jockey Jeff Lloyd will be out to secure one more Group 1 win before his retirement on July 31 when he teams up with impressive last start winner Multaja in tomorrow $A500,000 Tattersall’s Tiara at Eagle Farm in Brisbane. A champion in his native South A
In a coup for the King family’s Brighthill Farm, Group One performed son of Frankel, Eminent, will retire to their Tauwhare property for the forthcoming breeding season, where he will stand for a fee of $8,000+GST. Eminent becomes the first son of the a
“The revitalisation of this industry is underway,” said Racing Minister Winston Peters as the Racing Reform Bill passed its third and final reading in Parliament on Thursday. The Bill, which comes into force on July 1, opens the starting gate for the
(By John Jenkins) A stallion that is lucky to be still living let alone standing at stud, is starting to prove a hit as a sire of winter gallopers. Fabulous, who stands at Peter McKenzie’s Strathcarron Stud near Levin, was represented by the impressive
Connections of talented three-year-old stayer Bobby Dee are looking to Randwick on Saturday as an option after the gelding was stranded on the ballot for both the Group 1 Queensland Derby (2400m) and Group 2 Brisbane Cup (2400m). The Murray Baker and Andr
Godolphin-trained horses continue to dominate the market for Saturday’s Group 1 Tattersall’s Tiara (1400m) at Eagle Farm after yesterday’s barrier draw. Pohutukawa has assumed favouritism for the $500,000 prize, being cut to $5.50 from $8 after draw
Arcadia Queen, winner of the Group 1 Kingston Town Classic (1800m) in West Australia, is the latest contender to be locked in for the third running of The Everest (1200m) at Randwick on October 19. Bob Peters has negotiated a deal with slot holders Star C
Lightly raced duo Lincoln’s Command and Lincoln Sky have joined the Randwick stable of John Sargent after transferring from the Awapuni stable of Lisa Latta. The pair have been sent to Australia with the view of targeting Sydney’s lucrative prizemoney
Jack Tims, best remembered as the owner-trainer of the top stayer Senator, has passed away. After a battle with deteriorating health, Tims died on Tuesday, just a couple of weeks after his 82nd birthday. A respected stockman and an all-round horseman, the
Australian trainer David Brideoake has been cleared of race day treatment, with Racing NSW stewards determining the charges could not be proven. The Brideoake-trained Princess Jenni was a late scratching from the Group 3 Adrian Knox Stakes (2000m) at Rand
Wet track specialist Rosewood added a 10th victory to her record at Awapuni on Saturday and if conditions suit, she will back-up in this weekend’s Listed The Ultimate Ford And Mazda Tauranga Classic (1400m). It was the ninth win on a heavy track and tra
Talented stayer Chocante is on the comeback from injury but will not race until late in the spring, according to his trainer Stephen Marsh. Chocante, winner of the 2017 Group 2 Brisbane Cup (2200m) at Doomben and third in the Group 1 Metropolitan Handicap
Yesterday’s running of the famous Group 1 King’s Stand Stakes (5f) proved virtually a carbon copy of last year with the Charlie Appleby-trained Blue Point fending off a sustained challenge from Battaash in a thrilling finish to claim the 500,000 pound
Following his victory in the Listed Grand Cup (1m5¾f) at York on Saturday, trainer Ian Williams will now aim Gold Mount at the Group 1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) in November. Having started his career in Britain with Alan King, the Excellent Art gelding was m
The hearing of Victorian trainer Jarrod McLean’s racing charges for possessing a banned electric shock device has been adjourned until September. McLean, who was disqualified trainer Darren Weir’s assistant, faced the Racing Appeals and Disciplinary B
Star sprinter Santa Ana Lane’s build-up to another crack at The Everest (1200m) is about to begin, with connections looking to make amends for his unplaced run in last year’s contest. The multiple-Group 1 winner was dominant in winning the TJ Smit
Princess Posh is reported to have done well since her late scratching from the Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) and will make her fourth outing in Group 1 company on Saturday. The Kris Lees-trained mare was considered a top lightweight hope in the Stra
Chris Waller has made five nominations for the Group 1 Tattersall’s Tiara (1400m) at Eagle Farm on Saturday as he tries to secure his 18th Group 1 success of the season in the final top tier contest of the season. Waller has already saddled a record-bre
Former New Zealand-trained Not Usual Talent scored an impressive win over 1600m at Hong Kong on Sunday. The Zacinto four-year-old, formerly trained at Cambridge by Stephen Marsh, tore down the home straight for a cosy win in the Class 2 Staunton Handicap,
Crown Prosecutor will spearhead a team of horses Cambridge trainer Stephen Mash intends basing at Ruakaka over the winter months. “I’ll be sending horses up there at the start of July to get through the winter,” Marsh said. “At this stage I haven
Talented Matamata apprentice jockey Jasmine Fawcett is expected to be sidelined for the rest of this season after suffering a broken wrist when falling from Gingee in race four at Te Awamutu on Sunday. Gingee knuckled over and fell with 800m to run in the
Following the abandonment of Sunday’s meeting at Te Awamutu NZTR advises that the Waipa RC will bring forward planned remedial work on the track. NZTR held extensive discussions with the club officials and the RIU, while an inspection of the track was d
Australian jockey Kerrin McEvoy, who is currently booked for 14 rides over the first four days at Royal Ascot, secured his first winner in Britain this year when steering the Charlie Appleby-trained Sacred Dance to victory in a fillies’ novice stakes (7
Australian-based John Allen will return home to Ireland to refresh ahead of the spring, with the leading jockey set to begin a lengthy stint on the sideline having been suspended from yesterday evening. Allen took his season tally to 111 Victorian wins at
New Zealand stayer Sampson will back up from his Listed Ipswich Cup (2150m) second into the Group 3 Tattersall’s Cup (3000m) at Eagle Farm on Saturday. Trained by Howie Matthews, the nine-year-old finished a length and a quarter behind Bergerac in S
A colt by emerging New Zealand-bred stallion Dundeel fetched the top price of $A250,000 at yesterday’s first day of the Inglis’ Great Southern Weanling Sale in Melbourne. The Glastonbury Farms-consigned colt was one of three weanlings to make more tha
Victorian trainer Jarrod McLean is expected to fight racing charges for possessing a banned electric-shock device found during the police raids that led to trainer Darren Weir’s disqualification. McLean, who was Weir’s assistant and ran his st
Jim Byrne produced a vintage Ipswich ride to score his first win since returning from injury in the $125,000 Provincial Stayers Final (2500m) on Saturday aboard the Desleigh Forster-trained It Ain’t All Honey. “That is exactly the way we plann
Central Districts raider Lucyinrio produced a gritty effort at Ruakaka on Saturday to take out the main race of the day, the $35,000 Trigg Construction Open (1200m). The stakes placed seven-year-old raced away in the closing stages of the contest after si
An inch-perfect ride from in-form jockey Ryan Elliot saw progressive five-year-old Hanger return to the winner’s enclosure when successful over 1400 metres at Ruakaka on Saturday. The gelding had been in indifferent form since winning first-up over 1200
(By John Jenkins) Comeback jockey Mathew Gillies achieved a dream double when taking out both the $50,000 Manawatu ITM Awapuni Hurdles and $50,000 L J Hooker Manawatu Steeplechase at Awapuni on Saturday. Gillies, 33, was born in Palmerston North and has h
Ballarat Turf Club chief executive Lachlan McKenzie has defended the performance of the club’s new synthetic racecourse, which began racing last month, but admitted the organisation was working to improve the surface. “Obviously the firmer the tra
Tasmanian trainer Barry Campbell has been banned for three years over the race day treatment of talented stayer Eastender. Eastender was withdrawn by order of Stewards at approximately 10:55 on the morning of Adelaide Cup day, while Campbell was found gui
Toowoomba trainer Ben Currie’s time on the sidelines continues to grow after another three-year disqualification, taking his total punishment to seven and a half years. The combined sentence is the largest imposed on any trainer who has not been warned
Australian jockey Nash Rawiller has ridden trackwork at Rosehill as he starts on the road back to reclaiming his career after serving a lengthy disqualification. The multiple Group 1-winning jockey was banned in April last year for 15 months by Hong Kong
High profile West Australian owner Bob Peters is hoping to know in the coming weeks whether he will have at least one runner in The Everest (1200m). Peters recently announced two of his best horses, Arcadia Queen and Enticing Star, would be transferred to
Australian Bloodstock co-director Jamie Lovett has released a positive bulletin on Torcedor as he prepares to begin his path towards the Group 1 Melbourne Cup (3200m). Now trained by Andreas Wohler, Torcedor missed last year’s race after experiencin
New Zealand sprinter Enzo’s Lad will be ridden by David Egan when he contests the Group 1 King’s Stand Stakes (5 furlongs) at Royal Ascot on Tuesday. Egan is rated a rising star amongst the Britain jockey’s ranks and expected to become a familiar na
Co-trainer Robert Wellwood is expecting New Zealand three-year-old Hypnos to bounce back from his last-start defeat in the Grunt Standing at Yulong Handicap (1440m) earlier in the month when he takes his chance in the $A80,000 Ladbrokes Odds Boost Handica
After running a disappointing seventh in the Listed Bright Shadow Handicap (1200m) at her last start, Tony Pike is expecting a better performance from Indecision when she takes her chance in tomorrow’s Listed Gai Waterhouse Classic (1350m) at Ipswich.
Talented gelding Te Akau Shark is back in work but his future plans remain at the mercy of the weather as connections consider an Australian spring assault. Jamie Richards said that Te Akau Shark’s spring could be dictated by track conditions, with
Corey Brown has no plans to retire despite revealing how close he came to not being able to walk again following his fall from Lord Arthur in the Group 1 Queensland Derby (2400m) last weekend. Brown underwent surgery in Brisbane on Sunday to repair an uns
The Group 1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) has received a funding injection and will be run for a record $A8million on November 5 this year. The total prize money, including trophies, for the Lexus Melbourne Cup will increase to $8 million, up from $7.3 m
Royal Ascot-bound Australian-trained sprinter Houtzen stretched her legs over 800 metres on Newmarket’s Rowley Mile track yesterday as the finishing touches are applied to her Group 1 King’s Stand Stakes (5f) preparation. “Usually we would
New Zealand trainer Michael Pitman has issued an upbeat bulletin on dual Group 1 winning sprinter Enzo’s Lad as the gelding prepares for an audacious tilt at Royal Ascot’s Group 1 King’s Stand Stakes (5f) and Group 1 Diamond Jubilee Stakes (6f) next
Queensland jockeys are set to get a riding fee increase which will see their basic rate rise by $40 over a three year period. Jockey fees were increased from $180 to $200 per ride in 2018 and from July this year it will go to $205. That will be followed b
Craig Williams has extended his lead in the Melbourne jockeys premiership after riding three winners at Mornington yesterday. Williams guided Fight and Infallybelle to their respective maiden victories before registering his second city win inside three m
Trainer Greg Hickman has issued an encouraging update on star sprinter Pierata, with the last start Group 1 All Aged Stakes (1400m) winner set to return to his Warwick Farm stables today to begin preparation for his spring assault on The Everest (1200m).
A hold up with a visa to ride in Britain meant jockey Kerrin McEvoy stayed in Australia and claimed two Group 1 victories at Eagle Farm on Saturday – the JJ Atkins Plate on Prince Fawaz and the Stradbroke Handicap on Trekking. But the star jockey, w
Five-time champion Brisbane jockey Jim Byrne is looking to make a successful late appearance at the winter carnival on his favourite track, Ipswich. He will make his return to race riding at Doomben on Wednesday and then hopes to have close to a full book
The Queensland government will deliver an additional $10.5 million in funding to the state’s racing industry from next week, a move welcomed by Racing Queensland. The funding comes on the back of $18 million announced last November for thoroughbred raci
The Waimate Racing Club said farewell to its idyllic racecourse yesterday, with the committee celebrating the occasion rather than feeling bitter about the decision to not be granted a race date next season for its once-a-year meeting. “While we are
High profile jockey Corey Brown has had successful surgery to correct an unstable fracture in his back following a fall at Eagle Farm last Saturday. Brown was taken to a Brisbane hospital after his mount, Lord Arthur, broke a hind leg and fell in the Quee
Cambridge-based trainer Brendon Hawtin achieved one of his career goals when lightly raced four-year-old Simply Optimistic scored a decisive victory over 1200m at Royal Randwick on Saturday. After spending a good part of his youth in Sydney where his fath
Talented colt Prince Fawaz is likely to be given the chance to emulate past winners of the Group 1 J J Atkins Plate (1600m) after the juvenile scored the biggest success of his short career at Eagle Farm yesterday. The Anthony Cummings-trained Prince Fawa
Mr Quickie made up for a luckless South Australian Derby (2500m) tilt with a breakthrough victory in yesterday’s Queensland Group 1 equivalent ( 2400m). Trainer Phillip Stokes believes Mr Quickie, who started his career with Darren Weir, had the potenti
A meticulous plan laid out by Godolphin Australia’s head trainer James Cummings paid off in spades when exciting sprinter Trekking produced a peak performance to land his maiden Group 1 success in yesterday’s Group 1 $A1.5million Stradbroke Handicap (
Toowoomba trainer Ben Currie faces four and a half years on the sidelines after being disqualified for a further two years for raceday treatment. Currie was already disqualified for four years on two charges involving text messages but he was partly succe
Having a runner at Royal Ascot is special for any trainer, but for Michael Pitman it has taken on a new significance after he was given the all clear from cancer while travelling to Britain for the meeting. The New Zealand-based trainer received the news
(By John Jenkins) Despite a massive betting drift class galloper Sultan of Swing returned to winning form with a vengeance when he dealt to his open-class rivals in the $35,000 open 1600m race at Te Rapa today. The Shaune Ritchie-trained six-year-old wa
(By John Jenkins) Being in or near the lead was imperative at today’s Waikato meeting at Te Rapa and jockey Matthew Cameron certainly adopted those tactics to a nicety when steering the well bred Birdsong to an all the way win in the maiden two-year
(By John Jenkins) An outstanding training performance by Sylvia Kay and an equally game ride from rookie apprentice jockey Bridie Ansell saw Dr Watson score an upset win in the $35,000 Platinum Homes Taranaki 1200, feature flat race at today’s Wellingto
(By John Jenkins) The new training partnership of Paul Nelson and Corrina McDougal celebrated their first success when No Tip scored a strong win in the maiden hurdle at Trentham today. Nelson has been one of Hawke’s Bay’s top trainers for many years,
Multiple Grade 1-winning filly Almond Eye was among the 11 invitees for the 2019 Group 1 Cox Plate (2040m), which is due to take place at Moonee Valley on October 26. Group 1 winners Aerolithe, Indy Champ and Kiseki have also been invited from Japan, alon
The sale record $850,000 Dundeel colt and a $330,000 son of the late champion sire Redoute’s Choice look set to head into training with Michael, Wayne and John Hawkes after the trio purchased the pair at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale yeste
Tony Pike, who will saddle the hat-trick seeking The Bostonian and Endless Drama in tomorrow’s Group 1 $A1.5million Stradbroke Handicap (1400m), has issued a damning criticism of the New Zealand racing industry and suggested he could contemplate a mov
The latest gavelhouse.com fortnightly New Zealand auction features a special consignment with six-time New Zealand breeder of the year winners Waikato Stud offering a draft of 27 unreserved weanlings for sale. The stud will be hosting three on-farm parade
Tough and durable stayer Libran was euthanised on Tuesday after suffering a fatal injury in Queensland. The Chris Waller-trained gelding broke down while working at the Gold Coast in preparation for Saturday’s Group 2 Brisbane Cup (2400m). Owned by High
In-form jockey Tommy Berry is poised to keep his winning momentum rolling when he heads to Eagle Farm this Saturday. Berry booted home a double at the track two weeks ago then returned to Sydney last Saturday and made it an afternoon to remember with a fo
Coolmore Australia sire Adelaide sired his first winner yesterday when Funstar scored an emphatic win in the All Too Hard at Vinery Maiden Handicap (1250m) at Canterbury. The Chris Waller-trained juvenile justified favouritism when scooting 3-1/4 lengths
Coolmore’s three-time Group 1 winner U.S. Navy Flag will shuttle to New Zealand’s Valachi Downs Stud at Matamata this year. The former Aidan O’Brien-trained entire, who was Europe’s champion two-year-old in 2017, won five of his 19 starts, includi
The Moonee Valley Racing Club has unveiled an international bonus attached to the Group 1 Cox Plate (2040m), with the winners of selected top-level overseas races eligible for an even bigger pay-day should they win Australasia’s weight-for-age showp
Ben Currie has been found guilty on a further five charges, this time involving positive swabs. Currie is already serving a four year disqualification over text messages which stewards found indicated the use of an electrical device, known as jiggers. He
Unbeaten gelding Zoustyle will take no further part in the Queensland winter carnival after contracting a low-grade virus. The Tony Gollan three-year-old was scheduled to run in Saturday’s Listed Daybreak Lover Plate (1200m) but, after the problem s
Leading Perth owner Bob Peters has put prize money ahead of prestige in selecting the Sydney Spring Carnival for his outstanding performer Arcadia Queen. Champion Sydney trainer Chris Waller will take over the preparation of the rising four-year-old, who
New Zealand jockey Alysha Collett and Australia’s Joseph Azzopardi have both been granted licenses by the Singapore Turf Club for the remainder of the 2019 season, running from July 1 to December 31 inclusive. Collett, 25, will make her second Singapore
Jockey Larry Cassidy was suspended for nine days for shifting in on Mrs Madrid and causing Sampson to be checked near the 1600 metres of the P J O’Shea Stakes at Doomben on Saturday. Cassidy’s ban begins next Sunday after he rides Princess Posh in
Group 1 C F Orr Stakes (1400m) winner Manuel. Group 1 The Goodwood ( 1200m) winner Despatch and Dollar For Dollar will provide trainer Tony McEvoy with a three-pronged tilt at the Stradbroke Handicap. McEvoy’s son and assistant trainer Calvin said Manue
Chris Waller’s Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) hopes could rest with Tom Melbourne but he hopes two stablemates could join him in the race. The champion trainer still has Ringerdingding and Star Of The Seas in the mix for next Saturday’s Group 1 r
The Hawke’s Bay Hurdles on June 29 will be the next assignment for promising jumper Tommyra following his mistake free winning performance in today’s $50,000 K S Browne Hurdle at Ellerslie. The Toby Autridge-trained seven-year-old produced an impec
Hardy Central Districts jumper Max made it two wins from two starts over the testing Ellerslie hill when he and the familiar combination of trainer Raymond Connors and jockey Isaac Lupton claimed today’s $50,000 McGregor Grant Steeplechase. The Connors-
Exciting two-year-old Shoshone credited Waikato Stud stallion Sacred Falls with his first win as a sire when she led all the way for an impressive victory in today’s maiden two-year-old race at Ellerslie. The Ken and Bev Kelso-trained two-year-old ha
(By John Jenkins) Tauranga trainer Mark Blackie hinted at a possible Sydney spring campaign for unbeaten Blood Warrior after the big four-year-old took out the $22,500 Rating 65 Barfoot & Thompson 1200 at Ellerslie today. The Makfi gelding was having
Three-year-old filly Pretty In Pink downed her elders in a thrilling finish to the Group 2 Moreton Cup (1200m) at Doomben yesterday, securing her place in next week’s Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) at Eagle Farm with a maiden Group 2 success. Train
Both the Group 1 Cox Plate (2040m) and Group 1 Caulfield Cup (2400m) were mooted as potential spring targets for progressive mare Kenedna after she capped off her finest campaign to date with an authoritative victory in yesterday’s Group 2 P J O’Shea
The result might not have been one the market predicted, but the outcome was certainly the one racing wanted as the colours of the late Paul Makin were carried to success by Winning Ways in an emotional renewal of the Group 1 Queensland Oaks (2200m) at Do
Tough as teak Dolcetto shrugged off his bridesmaid tag as he prevailed in a thrilling four-way finish to the second of the feature events at Wanganui today, the Listed $50,000 AG Challenge Stakes (1600m). The Sylvia Kay-trained six-year-old had been there
(By John Jenkins) Jockey Michael Coleman brought up another milestone in his illustrious race-riding career when recording back-to-back wins aboard Elle Eye Are and Youwantmore at today’s Auckland meeting at Ellerslie. Coleman, 49, went into the meeting
(By John Jenkins) An inspired betting plunge on Te Rapa-trained filly Flaunting proved right on the mark when the Showcasing filly out-toughed her rivals in today’s Listed $50,000 John Turkington Forestry Castletown Stakes at Wanganui. TAB bookmaker Tha
(By John Jenkins) Yorkshire Dales continued on his winning way with another dominant performance in today’s $35,000 Barfoot & Thompson’s Chairman’s Trophy at Ellerslie. The seven-year-old European-bred gelding made it two victories from two appe
Champion jockey Jeff Lloyd has confirmed he will retire in the middle of next month. The 57-year-old has the Brisbane metropolitan premiership safely in his keeping for a fourth time and indicated last year he would retire this season. “I can confir
Three-time Group 2 winner Ocean Emperor has been retired from racing and is set to stand at stud. “He’s not going to race again and now I’m looking for a home for him to stand at stud,” trainer and part-owner Gary Hennessy said. Successful in nine
The Tony and Lyn Prendergast-trained Who Dares Wins recorded a hat-trick of wins at Riccarton when taking out the Christchurch Casino Open (1600m) there yesterday. The six-year-old recorded stakes victories in the Listed Easter Cup (1600m) and Group 3 Can
Auction house Inglis have locked in dual Group 1 winner In Her Time for the third running of The Everest (1200m) at Randwick on October 19. The Kris Lees-trained mare finished a creditable seventh in last year’s renewal of the world’s richest turf fac
Multiple stakes winner and former Singapore Horse of the Year Debt Collector is set to head to Australia where he will join Jim Conlan’s Pinecliff barn. The former Cliff Brown-trained gelding finished fourth behind Hong Kong raider Southern Legend i
High-profile racehorse owner Damion Flower has been refused bail by a magistrate who said the strong drug smuggling case against him appeared to show he had a “supervision” role in the scheme. Flower, whose stakes in a suite of racehorses incl
Highly Recommended’s talented son Waldorf completed a hat-trick of wins in Hong Kong on Wednesday night and in doing so, aided jockey Joao Moreira to four wins on the Happy Valley race card. “When we turned for home and I gave him two whacks I kne
Group 1 winner Miss Wilson was sold for $A900,000 at yesterday’s Magic Millions Broodmare Sale in Queensland. The daughter of Stratum, bred and owned by Hawke’s Bay couple Richard and Liz Wood, was offered by Greg and Jo Griffin’s New South Wales pr
Leading jockey Opie Bosson won’t ride for at least a month after suffering concussion in a race fall at Te Rapa on Wednesday. X-rays and scans cleared Bosson of any serious injury after he fell from the Jamie Richards-trained Cicciolina after clippi
Damien Oliver will be granted the chance to snare one of the few domestic Group 1s that still eludes him when he gets the leg up on Princess Jenni in Saturday’s Queensland Oaks (2200m) at Doomben. The David Brideoake-trained filly arrived by plane from
High profile Australian racehorse owner Damion Flower used coded messages to let a baggage handler know where to find bags of cocaine coming into Sydney Airport, a court has been told. But prosecutors have no proof the man best-known for his stake in Aust
Our Big Mike had a successful summer campaign in Australia late last year and his connections are hoping to replicate those results in the coming month. The Craig and Shaun Phelan-trained gelding placed in two runs in Melbourne before winning the Listed
Cambridge Stud has closed the 2019 book for their freshman sire Roaring Lion. “From the moment the horse was released to the market, the response from breeders in both New Zealand and Australia was immediate and we are now closing his book,” Cambridge
Chris Waller is set to train Group 1-placed mare Eckstein for the remainder of the Queensland Winter Carnival before she is retired, after she was purchased by Coolmore at yesterday’s Magic Millions Broodmare Sale Coolmore went to $750,000 to secure the
Dual Group 1 winning mare Savvy Coup was sold for $A1million at the Magic Millions Gold Coast National Broodmare Sale in Queensland yesterday. The daughter of Savabeel was offered by Attunga Stud on behalf of her New Zealand owners, Ray Coupland and Jim B
Jockey Jason Waddell is already eyeing a return to the saddle on August 1 after undergoing a successful surgery on his leg on Monday morning. Waddell missed parts of the season through the impact of compartment syndrome, which limited the supply of blood
Champion reinsman Tony Herlihy is willing to swap one of the greatest milestones in New Zealand racing history for a Harness Jewels win this weekend. But he admits he might struggle to get either. Herlihy took his record total of domestic driving wins to
Matthew Williamson won his first race on Swedish soil and surged towards the top of the leader board on day three of the World Driving Championships on Tuesday morning (New Zealand time). Williamson plotted a perfect path from last for Ior Tooma to get up
Disqualified trainer Sam Kavanagh will be in a position to re-apply for a trainer’s licence later this year after successfully reducing his penalty on appeal. Kavanagh, the eldest son of Flemington trainer Mark, was initially given a nine-year and t
Former New Zealand-trained Romancer will have his first start for new trainer Grahame Begg in the third heat of the VRC-CRV Winter Championship Series (1400m) on Saturday, which has its final – the Listed VRC Winter Championships (1600m) – at
Smart Cambridge three-year-old Hypnos is set to embark on a delayed Australian campaign, but with a change of direction. The Grroup 1 Levin Classic (1600m) runner-up is booked to leave New Zealand on Wednesday bound for Melbourne to make his Australi
Clearview Park Stud in Timaru have announced they have secured Group 1 winner Jon Snow ahead of the forthcoming breeding season where he will stand for a fee of $6000 + GST. Aaron Tapper and his partner Lacy Stewart are delighted to welcome the good-looki
Shadai Farm flagbearer Deep Impact continued his dominance over the Japanese Classics when the Katsuhiko Sumii-trained Roger Barows landed the Group 1 Japanese Derby (2400m) at Tokyo on Sunday – the 42nd Group / Grade 1 winner for his sire. Danon Ki
Westbury Stud resident Swiss Ace sired his 12th individual stakes winner when Little Giant landed the Group 3 Sha Tin Vase (1200m) in Hong Kong on Sunday. Carrying a testing weight of 60 kilograms, Little Giant settled in sixth place in the nine-horse fie
Progressive mare Inscription will head to the spelling paddock this week after completing an impressive hat-trick of wins for Cambridge trainer Ross McCarroll when taking out the Open 1600m race at Ellerslie last Saturday. The five-year-old showed her cus
Lawyers for Australian trainer Ben Currie, who has already been disqualified for four years, are likely to argue precedent cases indicate a fine would be within sentencing range for the his latest convictions. Currie is unlikely to be sentenced for at lea
Our Intrigue will be out to give Cambridge trainer Tony Pike another Group 1 in Queensland when she lines up in next Saturday’s Group 1 $A500,000 Queensland Oaks (2200m) at Doomben on Saturday. Pike continued his great winter when The Bostonian complete
Having flopped in the Group 1 New Zealand Derby (2400m) in March, Nobu could attempt to make amends in next month’s Group 1 Queensland Derby (2400m). Since returning from New Zealand, the Chris Waller-trained gelding has had three starts for a second an
Jason Collett’s winning treble at Randwick on Saturday has been tempered by a suspension which rules him out of Brisbane’s premier race day on June 8. Collett rode three winners for Chris Waller on Saturday, including Nobu, but was outed for h
Emerging stayer Steel Prince made it five wins from five starts this campaign and earned himself a start in this year’s Melbourne Cup with another game performance in Saturday’s $A400,000 Andrew Ramsden Stakes (2800m) at Flemington. Steel Prince’s t
Ex-pat New Zealand trainer Brian Smith now faces an anxious wait to see whether Order Again can gain a start in the Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) on June 8 after the gelding showcased his credentials for the Group 1 with victory Saturday’s Group 3
Strasbourg scored an important Group 2 BRC Sires’ Stakes (1400m) win at Eagle Farm on Saturday, earning the high-priced colt a shot at next month’s Group 1 J J Atkins Plate (1600m), two months after an intended maiden tilt at a Group 1 race. The Peter
Leading Australian thoroughbred owner Paul Makin has died at the age of 82. A truly international figure, Makin’s silks were carried to success by Starcraft, winner of the 2004 Group 1 Australian Derby (2400m) in Sydney and two Group 1 races at that yea
The Cambridge training partnership of Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman have trained two Karaka yearling purchases in the white, red and green colours of the Zame family from Gisborne, and both of them are now black-type winners. The $65,000 Select Sale pur
Tony Pike’s judgment was proved to be correct after The Bostonian backed up his long-shot Doomben 10,000 (1200m) victory by again downing the Australian sprinters in Saturday’s Group 1 $A700,000 Kingsford-Smith Cup (1300m) at Eagle Farm. The New Zeala
(By John Jenkins) It takes a tough horse to win five races in a row and Comeback showed just how tough he is when he prevailed again in today’s $35,000 Roaring Lion North Island Challenge Stakes over 1400m at Trentham. Carrying equal topweight of 59.5kg
Valuable fillies owned by high-flying thoroughbred investor Damion Flower remain catalogued for next week’s Magic Millions Gold Coast National Broodmare Sale despite the prominent racing identity yesterday facing serious drug importation charges in a Sy
Glen Boss will participate in his final Singapore meeting as a contracted rider this Saturday. Boss has seven rides on the 10-race card at Kranji racecourse which includes three Group 1 races. He’ll partner horses trained by Michael Clements in each
Dual Group 1 winner Savvy Coup has been added to the Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale next week. The Savabeel mare, who won the Group 1 New Zealand Oaks (2400m) as a three-year-old and the Group 1 Livamol Classic (2040m) at Hastings last spring, wil
Caulfield is to gain a second inside turf track to be used primarily for night racing as part of a $300 million redevelopment. The Melbourne Racing Club plans also include a new grandstand as well as new horse stalls and parade rings, with work potentiall
Tony Gollan has ruled out the Stradbroke Handicap for his unbeaten three-year-old Zoustyle. The gelding, who returned from a spell to win the JRA 3YO Plate (1200m) at Doomben last Saturday, will instead target the Listed $A125,000 Daybreak Lover (1200m) a
Tony Gollan will be hoping Outback Barbie can have a change in fortune when she takes her chance in Saturday’s Group 1 Kingsford-Smith Cup (1300m) at Eagle Farm on Saturday. The filly has had 12 career starts for two wins and has endured luckless passag
Despite drawing barrier 14 in Saturday’s Group 1 $A700,000 Kingsford Smith Cup, co-trainer Ciaron Maher has not written off the chances of Dubious in the 1300-metre feature. Dubious comes into the race off the back of a last-start success in the Gro
Godolphin will be attempting to win back-to-back Group 1 Kingsford-Smith Cups at Eagle Farm on Saturday with the operation hoping Home Of The Brave, Trekking or Encryption can emulate last year’s winner Impending in the feature. James Cummings is hoping
Hawke’s Bay Racing has announced that the winner and runner-up in the Group 2 Lisa Chittick Foxbridge Plate (1200m) at Te Rapa will be provided ballot free exemptions into the Group 1 Tarzino Trophy (1400m) at Hastings at the end of August. Last year
Central Districts jockey Leah Hemi will sit out a decent chunk of the winter after she broke her leg at Hastings yesterday. Returning to scale after the seventh race, Hemi’s mount Eisenhower shied and dislodged her. “It was really innocuous. H
(By John Jenkins) The owners of The Puketapu Lad, who broke through for a maiden win at Otaki on Thursday of last week, are so devoted to their horse that they have even invited him in for a drink at their local pub. Sean O’Connor, who manages the See Y
Trainer Stephen Marsh is Melbourne-bound in search of a golden ticket. The Cambridge trainer will saddle progressive stayer Felaar in the Listed Andrew Ramsden Stakes (2800m) at Flemington on Saturday, with the winner guaranteed a start in the Gr.1 Melb
(By John Jenkins) Mark down Loire as a three-year-old to follow next season after the daughter of Redoute’s Choice produced an outstanding winning performance in the maiden two-year-old event at Hastings today. The Tony Pike-trained filly came from seco
Kiwi harness racing fans will see a seriously talented mare when Major Occasion tackles Saturday week’s Harness Jewels at Addington. Make no mistake, the Bathurst-based mare has improved so much this season she is a massive winning chance – especially
Jockey Samantha Spratt was suspended for seven national riding days after admitting a charge of careless riding aboard second placed Yatima in the Kerr & Ladbrook Caterers 1600 at last Saturday’s Waikato meeting at Te Rapa. Spratt directed her mount
Jockeys Troy Harris and Ryan Elliot were both suspended following separate charges of careless riding in the Dunstan Feeds 2100 at last Saturday’s Waikato meeting at Te Rapa. Harris admitted a charge of careless riding in that he permitted his mount, Gi
Co-trainer Roger James has issued a positive bulletin on Sydney Cup fourth placegetter Rondinella as the four-year-old has resumed canter exercise at the Cambridge stable he and training partner Robert Wellwood operate from. “We’ve already got Rondine
New South Wales trainer Ben Smith has been found guilty of all charges against him relating to elevated cobalt levels, race day treatments and giving false evidence to stewards. Stewards raided his Newcastle stable on September 11, 2018, after swab result
Injured jockey Michael Hackett is continuing his slow recovery after suffering a head injury in a fall at the Tomingley Cup picnic race meeting. Hackett was one of three riders to fall in a race at the central western NSW track on April 27 with Ricky Blew
Toowoomba trainer Ben Currie has been found guilty of a further 12 charges relating to race day administration and has been asked to make submissions on sentence. Currie had already been disqualified for four years after being found guilty of two charges
Despatch, winner of last Saturday’s Group 1 The Goodwood (1200m) is expected to continue his brilliant autumn campaign in the Group 1 $A1.5million Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) in Brisbane next month. Trainer Tony McEvoy yesterday confirmed the in-form fo
An impressive debut jumps win for Woodsman at Te Rapa on Saturday marked the first leg of a special double for rider Michael Roustoby and his twin brother, Adam. A winner of eight races on the flat, Woodsman lived up to the expectations of his connecti
Kenedna enhanced her reputation as arguably one of Australia’s most valuable racemares after adding a second elite-level victory to her growing record when landing yesterday’s Group 1 Doomben Cup (2000m). The five-year-old was the beneficiary of a pat
(By John Jenkins) Diminutive jockey Robert Hannam probably had his arms stretched by a few centimetres during the running of today’s Listed $50,000 James Bull Rangitikei Gold Cup but it didn’t stop him from getting the big mare Hinerangi home first in
(By John Jenkins) Today’s $50,000 Signature Homes Waikato Steeplechase at Te Rapa came down to a two-horse war over the final stages with the Central Districts pair of Shamal and Gagarin going head-to-head in a desperate finish to the 3900m feature. Sha
(By John Jenkins) Iffitel caused a minor upset when she led most of the way for a convincing win in today’s $50,000 Fairview Motors Waikato Hurdles (3200m) at Te Rapa. Despite being the winner of two of her only three previous hurdle starts, Iffitel was
(By John Jenkins) Big Mike earned a probable trip back to Australia with a dominant all the way win in the $35,000 Dunstan Feeds 2100 at today’s Waikato meeting at Te Rapa. The Don Eduardo six-year-old pulled off one of the richest wins by a New Zealand
Demand for the progeny of first season sires proved the order of the day as a filly by Waikato Stud resident Tivaci realised equal-top billing during the weanling section of yesterday’s Karaka May Sale. In a one-day run that compared favourably with las
Apprentice jockey Zinjete Moki had one of her most memorable days at Otaki on Thursday, riding a treble and recording her 50th career win in the process. Moki’s first victory of the day came aboard the Robbie Patterson-trained Dezella in the Gardner Hom
Tony McEvoy has called for sackings within the South Australian government over the lack of support shown to racing in the state. Just a day after announcing he will be moving a major part of his training business to a new facility in Ballarat, McEvoy sai
Star sprinter Santa Ana Lane has been confirmed as TAB’s representative for the third renewal of The Everest (1200m) after a deal was struck between the $14 million race sponsor and the William Street Syndicate who own the Anthony Freedman-trained six-y
Racing Minister Winston Peters has announced a repeal of the betting levy (racing totalisator duty) currently paid by the racing industry to the Crown. Peters made the pre-Budget announcement when opening the New Zealand Bloodstock Karaka May Sale in Auck
Gary and Mary West, owners of Maximum Security, have filed a lawsuit seeking to have the Group 1 Kentucky Derby disqualification of their horse overturned in court. Maximum Security was first past the post at Churchill Downs, but the stewards found him to
Queensland trainer Ben Currie has failed in an application to the Supreme Court for a temporary order preventing Racing Queensland from refusing his nominations. RQ invoked a recently revamped Australian Racing rule AR55 which it says allows it to refuse
Glen Boss has confirmed he is returning to Australia permanently after three years riding in Singapore. Boss has made sporadic trips back to Australia to ride at the major carnivals, including the Sydney autumn when he won his seventh Group 1 Doncaster Mi
Eleven-time Group 1 winning trainer Tony McEvoy is set to expand his training operation, acquiring a new 100-box facility at Ballarat. McEvoy has purchased one of the few remaining sites available on course at Ballarat, but confirmed he would be retaining
Mapperley Stud has added Snitzel’s Group 1 winning son, Summer Passage, to their five-strong stallion roster ahead of the 2019 breeding season, where he will stand for a fee of $8000+GST. An $A800,000 yearling, Summer Passage was a high-class juvenile
Exciting galloper Julius was retired last year after a scan revealed he had a hole in his near fore tendon, but the John Bell-trained gelding is now on the comeback trail. The dual Group Three-winning son of Swiss Ace looked to be in imposing form headi
Balmerino, who ranks alongside Sunline as the greatest New Zealand horse to perform overseas, is a worthy inductee into this year’s Australian Racing Hall Of Fame. Balmerino took on the best in six countries in the mid to late 1970s and achieved results
Jager Bombed provided Windsor Stud shuttle stallion Charm Spirit with his second first crop winner in New Zealand – and 40th winner overall – when he landed the Lion Red 2YO Maiden Stakes (1000m) at Whangarei yesterday. Trained by Tony Pike, J
James McDonald rode his 100th Sydney metropolitan winner for the season when steering the John Thompson-trained Primitivo to success at Warwick Farm yesterday. In reaching his century, McDonald became the first jockey since Darren Beadman in 2006-07 to ri
Pukekohe trainer Nigel Tiley, who is campaigning a team in Queensland this winter, saddled debutante Carrera To The Max to a first-up success in a 1000m maiden race at the Sunshine Coast yesterday. The victory provided New Zealand jockey Leith Innes with
New Zealand-bred Arrogant, runner up in the Group 1 Rosehill Guineas (2000m), has become the latest three-year-old sold to Hong Kong, joining the stable of Caspar Fownes for an undisclosed seven-figure sum. The Michael Moroney-trained colt had been keenly
Six-time Group 1 winner Vo Rogue, who thrilled crowds in the late 1980s with his front-running exploits, is among ten inductees into the Australian Racing Hall Of Fame. Dual hemisphere champion So You Think, multiple Group 1 winner Balmerino and 1933 Melb
Cambridge Stud has recognised the wider industry’s move to provide support to breeders, with the announcement of their 2019 stud fees. A number of studs have reduced fees to enable breeders the opportunity to make greater commercial returns. Cambridge S
Three minor changes have been made to the NZTR handicapping policy, following the annual meeting of the NZTR Handicap Review Committee. The maximum re-rating for winning non-black type open races and benchmark races has been reduced from 12 points to 10 p
Driver Jonny Cox enjoyed a memorable moment while also helping his former training partner Amber Hoffman score her 200th career win with Imran Khan at Winton on Saturday. Cox took out the race named in his family’s honour – The Cox Family Celebration
Plans are underway to have Jackfrost, last year’s top hurdler, in Melbourne for a possible tilt at a couple of feature steeplechase races. Jackfrost ended last season with a hat-trick of wins and notably completed the Grand National Hurdles (4200m) –
Queensland stewards have opened an inquiry into how two horses, including the winner, carried the wrong saddle cloths in a race at Toowoomba. Number five saddlecloth was first across the line in a race on Saturday night, but instead of being carried by Un
Promising stayer Verry Flash, the brother of star filly Verry Elleegant, returned to winning form with a victory in a Rating 82 race over 1560m at Rotorua on Saturday. “He is a really good horse, he’s no Verry Elleegant, but he’s a really good horse
First-up specialist The Bostonian maintained his unbeaten Queensland record and caused a major upset when he won Saturday’s Group 1 $A800,000 Doomben 10,000 (1200m). In a race of sensations, the favourite Nature Strip was slow to jump and went around th
(By John Jenkins) The all conquering training partnership of Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman brought up their 100th win for the season in style today when they produced Zacada to win the Group 3 $75,000 Campbell Infrastructure Rotorua Cup. The success cre
(By John Jenkins) New Plymouth apprentice Hazel Schofer made a dream start to her riding career by kicking home two winners on her home track today, including one at her very first race-ride. Schofer, 20, is attached to the stable of Allan Sharrock and bo
(By John Jenkins) Catalyst set tongues wagging when he second-rated the opposition in the maiden two-year-old race at New Plymouth today. The Darci Brahma youngster scored by 5-1/2 lengths in the 1200m event, with winning rider Michael McNab taking severa
One of New Zealand’s most exciting gallopers is back in work after his season was cut short through soreness issues late last year. Te Akau Shark, who has won five of his six career starts, had a stellar spring, winning all three starts including the Gr
Cambridge trainer Tony Pike has had to farewell two talented gallopers in the last week. Exciting two-year-old Subpoena has crossed the Tasman after a sale was finalised following her impressive debut victory at Te Rapa last month. “Subpoena has been so
The Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman stable will be hoping to reach the magical 100 wins in a season this weekend and, with five runners at New Plymouth and 10 at Rotorua, the prospects of reaching three figures again look bright. The partnership presently
After an inspection of the steeplechase course at Hastings involving the Hawke’s Bay Racing CEO, Hawke’s Bay Racing Track Manager and local jumping trainer Paul Nelson, the Open Entry Steeplechase 4000m programmed for Hastings on Wednesday, May 22, h
New Plymouth trainer Allan Sharrock has plenty of talent to unleash on his home track on Saturday, including the return of stakes performers Art Deco and Tutta La Classe. However, the most exciting talent produced from his stable at the meeting could be
Lance Noble scored a double with his only two runners at Matamata yesterday, with Vera Drake winning over 1600 metres before two-year-old filly Avadane cleared maiden company when taking out the J P Wills Bloodstock (1200m). “The draw obviously helped a
White Robe Lodge have announced a slight fee increase for exciting young sire Ghibellines, who will stand for a fee of $6000+GST for the forthcoming breeding season. The Group Two-winning son of Shamardal has made a promising start to his stud career, w
New Zealand-trained two-year-old Banquo is set to make his race debut in Australia this, with Stephen Marsh saying the low prize money in New Zealand has forced him to travel across the Tasman and seek the better riches. The unraced colt was purchased by
Multiple Group 1 winner Melody Belle has returned to Jamie Richards’ stable, with her trainer pencilling in the Group 2 Foxbridge Plate (1200m) at Te Rapa in August as the mare’s early target. “She got back on the truck at Te Akau Stud on Monday mor
The annual Timaru Mother’s Day race meeting this Sunday will see the sixth edition of the club’s lady drivers races held at Phar Lap Raceway. Two penalty free lady driver races are programmed to be held at the race meeting, which will be sponsored onc
New Zealand bred champion pacer Lazarus will stand his first season at stud in the Southern Hemisphere, this spring, under a landmark deal in New South Wales. Industry rumours were confirmed on Tuesday, when it was announced the two-time New Zealand Cup
Injured jockey Michael Hackett is continuing to take small steps on his road to recovery. Hackett was one of three riders to fall at the Tomingley Cup picnic race meeting in central western NSW last Saturday week. He was transferred to Liverpool Hospital
Queensland stewards have allowed 26 horses to be moved from Ben Currie’s stables to other trainers with some nominated for upcoming races. Currie is barred from nominating horses for meetings after Racing Queensland invoked Australian Racing Rule AR
(By John Jenkins) Promising Hastings apprentice jockey Hunter Durrant is enjoying a busy lifestyle in Australia, where he is on loan to Victorian trainer Patrick Payne. Durrant, 18, is apprenticed to the partnership of Guy Lowry and Grant Cullen and left
New Zealand-born Luke McDonald, who spent the past three years with Darley, has been appointed as Gerry Harvey’s racing manager. McDonald, the brother to prominent Sydney-based jockey James McDonald, will oversee Harvey’s bloodstock portfolio of more
A winning treble at today’s Wellington meeting took jockey Johnathan Parkes to 101 wins since August 1, the third time he has reached the magical 100 wins in a season. Parkes, 30, started the meeting on 98 wins but was instantly in the winner’s stall
Former Haunui Farm shuttle stallion Showcasing brought his tally of stakes winners to 35 yesterday following the successes of Rainbow Dash in the Listed Waikato Equine Vet Centre Two-year-old (1100m) at Te Rapa and All About Magic in the Listed Champagne
Well-travelled gelding He Kin Fly continued his recent purple patch of form when he notched his fourth consecutive win in the Listed Daphne Bannan Memorial Great Easter Stakes (1400m) at Riccarton yesterday. Settled in a handy position by rider Lee Callaw
Champion trainer Chris Waller believes he has the Group 1 Doomben Cup (2000m) almost at his mercy following the dominant victory of Life Less Ordinary in the Group 2 Hollindale Stakes (1800m) and the eye-catching performances of two stablemates in the sam
(By John Jenkins) Jumps jockey Mathew Gillies made a welcome return to the winner’s stall after an absence of more than two years when he guided Wilijonmcbride to victory in today’s Signature Homes Hurdle at Te Rapa. Gillies, 33, won the jumps jockeys
Tommy Berry dedicated his Wagga Wagga Gold Cup win aboard Abdon on Friday to Tye Angland, who landed the contest last year in the same colours belonging to Richard Pegum. Angland won the 2018 renewal on the Chris Waller-trained Life Less Ordinary (Thewayy
(By John Jenkins) Maestro jumps trainer Kevin Myers unleashed another potential jumping star when Duffers Creek scored a dominant debut win over hurdles at Te Rapa today. The nine-year-old Gold Centre gelding, winner of 12 races on the flat, was well scho
Pukekohe trainer Nigel Tiley has experienced plenty of success in Queensland over the last few years and he is returning to the Sunshine State in a bid to collect some more winter spoils. Tiley had a successful campaign last year, spearheaded by grey ga
Roz Southey couldn’t resist a tongue-in-cheek comment when describing the thrill of Zed Em’s amazing win under 70kgs when leading home a New Zealand-bred trifecta in the Grand Annual Steeplechase (5500m) at Warrnambool on Thursday. Southey and her hus
Multiple stakes-winning filly Melt has returned to the Pukekohe stable of Nigel Tiley after a disappointing stint with leading Sydney trainer Chris Waller. The daughter of Iffraaj was unplaced in all three of her Australian starts and has returned to Ne
The 2011 Melbourne Cup winner Dunaden has died after a paddock accident at Overbury Stud in England aged 13. Owned by Qatar Racing, Dunaden won the Group 1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) for Sheikh Fahad Al Thani and returned to Australia the next year to claim th
Auckland trainer Stephen McKee has given rise to Consensus’ chances in Saturday’s Group 2 Hollindale Stakes (1800m) at the Gold Coast, describing her condition as much superior to how she fronted for last year’s race. The Postponed mare
House Of Cartier, who has shown a solid level of form since moving across the Tasman from Nigel Tiley to John Sargent, will take her place in Saturday’s Group 1 Schweppes Oaks (2000m) at Morphettville. The Alamosa filly ran sixth in the Group 3 Kembla G
Ex-pat New Zealand trainer John Sargent will be in Queensland on Saturday with Luvaluva set to line up in the Group 2 Hollindale Stakes (1800m) at the Gold Coast. The four-year-old mare returns from a one-race campaign in New Zealand where she finished th
Champion Sydney trainer Chris Waller heads the nominations for the Group 1 races at the Brisbane Winter Carnival after entries closed yesterday. The Waller-trained duo Nature Strip and Zousain are among 29 nominations for the Doomben 10,000 (1200m) on May
Queensland-based jockey Damian Browne has announced his retirement from the saddle after a string of health issues. “Thank you, racing. I have had my last ride,” he posted on Twitter yesterday. “My heart and soul wants to get back on the hor
Group 3-winning sprinter Ardrossan, a son of champion stallion Redoute’s Choice, has been retired and will stand at Waikato Stud in New Zealand for a fee of $8000 (plus GST) this year. A winner of four of his nine starts and placed at Group 1 level, Ard
Just over six months since his racing career came crashing down; superstar pacer Chicago Bull is poised for a comeback at Gloucester Park on Friday night. And that comeback is built around an Auckland Inter Dominion raid at the end of the year. Now all tr
New Zealand-bred galloper Beauty Generation showed why he is the world’s highest rated active racehorse when he trounced his opposition in Sunday’s Group 1 Champions Mile (1600m) at Sha Tin. It was the six-year-old geldings ninth straight win and ei
The New Zealand influence was heavily stamped all over the result of the Group 1 Chairman’s Sprint Prize (1200m) at Sha Tin on Sunday. The John Size-trained Beat The Clock claimed his second elite level success when he wore down Savabeel’s son Ra
Ex-pat New Zealand jockey Michael Dee brought up one of the biggest prizemoney wins of his career when he steered Prince Of Sussex to a decisive 1-3/4 length win in the $A1million “The Showdown”, feature race at yesterday’s Caulfield meeting. Dee, 2
The Patrick Payne-trained Widgee Turf, who was bought for $A4500 as a weanling, took his career earnings past $A1.1 million mark after his length and a quarter victory over Kazio in the VOBIS Gold Mile (1600m) at Caulfield yesterday. “To have now wo
Bronte Beach, who overcame severe difficulties in the running to win yesterday’s two-year-old race at Hastings, is now likely to back up in next Saturday’s Listed $50,000 Waikato Equine Veterinary Centre Stakes (1100m) at Te Rapa. The Reliable Man fil
(By John Jenkins) Bronte Beach produced an outstanding performance to win the maiden two-year-old race at today’s Hawke’s Bay meeting, recovering remarkably after almost falling on the point of the home turn. The Reliable Man filly settled second last
(By John Jenkins) An impressive debut win by Subpoena in a 1200-metre two-year-old race at Te Rapa today has trainer Tony Pike already eyeing feature three-year-old races with the filly next season. The daughter of Rip Van Winkle scored with authority, co
(By John Jenkins) Matamata trainer Ken Kelso paid Supera the ultimate compliment after her dominant win in today’s Group 2 $100,000 Travis Stakes at Te Rapa when he said she was right up with the best mares he has prepared. Kelso, who nowadays operate
(By John Jenkins) Today’s Group 3 Inglis Sales Cambridge Breeders Stakes brought about one of the most unusual finishes of any black type race run in New Zealand this season. In a desperately close three-way finish to the 1400m feature Vigor Winner and
The star of Arrowfield Stud resident Dundeel, who was this week confirmed to be standing the forthcoming breeding season at an increased fee of $66,000, continued to shine yesterday as Transact became his eighth individual stakes winner when landing the V
Former champion Australasian three-year-old and five-time Group 1 winner Jimmy Choux has been sold to prominent Western Australian owner-breeder Alan MacAlister and will stand next season at Wayne and Tracy Rodwell’s Rosalee Park Stud in Serpentine. Mac
Yarraman Park Stud sire I Am Invincible will stand for an increased fee of $A247,500 (inc GST) in 2019, making him the most expensive advertised sire in Australia. The son of Invincible Spirit I Am invincible looks poised to break that record with over th
Trainer Greg Hickman has been fined $5000 after Braces returned a positive swab to the prohibited anti-inflammatory meloxicam following his run at Rosehill on February 27. While stewards could not determine the cause of the low-level of meloxicam, Hickman
Progressive four-year-old Rock On Wood remains unbeaten in his current campaign after scoring his biggest career victory in Thursday’s Listed Manawatu ITM Anzac Mile (1600m) at Awapuni. The Leanne Elliot-trained gelding made full use of a seven
Westbury Stud have released the fees for their 2019 stallion line-up with Reliable Man and Tarzino heading the roster at $15,000 + GST. Reliable Man has sired several stakes winners over the past twelve months headed by his daughter Sentimental Miss winni
Emerging Arrowfield Stud stallion Dundeel, who sired his third individual Group 1 winner at the weekend courtesy of Castelvecchio’s stunning Champagne Stakes (1600m) victory, has had his fee increased markedly to $A66,000 (inc GST) for the 2019 breeding
Problems continue to dog trainer Australian trainer Ben Currie after stewards disqualified his last winner at Toowoomba, Pieridae, when his jockey weighed in light. The Currie trained Pieridae led all the way to win Monday’s Class Three Handicap (12
Canterbury junior driver Ben Hope scored a career highlight when he drove Muscle Mountain to victory in the group 3 New Zealand Trotting Stakes at Addington on Saturday. Hope produced a cool tactical drive to win the first Group race of his career with th
(By John Jenkins) The Group 3 $70,000 ISCL Rotorua Stakes on May 11 will now be the next assignment for exciting winter galloper Back In A Flash after she trounced her rivals on the Rotorua track today. The Ekraar four-year-old made it five wins from only
(By John Jenkins) Cambridge Trainer John Bell looks to have a couple of exciting winter gallopers worth following in the coming months in Helena Baby and Yorkshire Dales, two impressive winners at today’s Rotorua meeting. Helena Baby blitzed his maiden
Six-year-old stayer Rock On has arrived in Victoria and has joined the stable of Peter Gelagotis at his Moe base. The last start winner of the Te Aroha Cup (2200m) has been sent over by his New Zealand trainer Gary Vile, who also shares in the ownership
(By John Jenkins) Cambridge trainer Tony Pike achieved one of the most satisfying wins of his career when former Australian galloper Endless Drama gave weight and a beating to his rivals in today’s Group 2 $100,000 Manco Easter Handicap at Ellerslie. Ca
(By John Jenkins) Australian-born jockey Jake Bayliss picked up a perfect going away present when he piloted Lord Arthur to victory in today’s Group 2 $100,000 Valachi Downs Championship Stakes at Ellerslie. Bayliss wasn’t originally booked to ride Lo
(By John Jenkins) Expect to see Quick Thinker contesting major three-year-old races in Australia next season after the two-year-old colt scored an impressive win in today’s Listed $50,000 Buffalo & Co Champagne Stakes at Ellerslie. The son of So You
(By John Jenkins) The Group 1 New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders Stakes at Te Aroha in 12 months time is a long range goal for Marzemino who proved a class above her rivals again in a Rating 82 race over 1200m at Ellerslie today. The Per Incanto four-yea
Victorian jockey Linda Meech is expected to be out of the saddle for about a month after suffering a fractured collarbone in a race fall at Geelong. Meech was dislodged from La Lova just after the start of the final race on Wednesday’s programme whe
Mark Zahra has failed in his appeal against the severity of a lengthy careless riding suspension incurred at Randwick last Saturday. Zahra was banned for 25 meetings and fined $3800 for careless riding aboard the winner, Power Scheme, in the Listed Fernhi
In an act of generosity, Valachi Downs principals Kevin and Jo Hickman have gifted a regally bred filly to the CatWalk Spinal Cord Injury Research Trust, founded by Little Avondale Stud’s Catriona Williams. The weanling filly is by Darley stallion Bra
Three-year-old filly Avantage is being sent for a spell following two good performances in Sydney and will likely be sent back across the Tasman in spring. The Jamie Richards-trained filly won the Group 3 Birthday Card Stakes (1200m) at Rosehill in her fi
(By John Jenkins) Little known Hawke’s Bay-based thoroughbred stallion Playmaker was represented with his first winner when Rekohu Diva scored a three-quarter length victory over 1200m at Otaki last week. Rekohu Diva is owned by her breeder Sarah Gregor
The young Fastnet Rock stallion, Highly Recommended, has been relocated to the South Island nursery, Berkley Stud, for the 2019 stud season. Following discussions between Berkley and Cambridge Stud CEO, Henry Plumptre, it was felt that the stallion woul
Haunui Farm has announced Iffraaj and Belardo will be returning to New Zealand for the 2019 breeding season. Iffraaj is the sire of 68 stakes winners worldwide and is the sire of nine individual Group 1 winners, including four-time Group 1 winner Ribche
Racing Minister Winston Peters says the Government will introduce two new pieces of legislation this year to revitalise the domestic racing industry. Cabinet this week considered its response to the ‘Messara Review of the Racing Industry’ as well as a
Recently-retired pacer Ultimate Machete has been purchased for stallion duties in a partnership deal between two New Zealand stud farms. South Auckland’s Alabar Stud and Christchurch’s Nevele R Stud have acquired the son of Bettor’s Delight after he
Bobby Dee will be on trial for a trip to Queensland this winter when he contests the Group 2 $100,000 Valachi Downs Championship Stakes (2000m) at Ellerslie on Saturday. The three-year-old gelding, prepared by the Cambridge partnership of Murray Baker and
Quality New Zealand juvenile Probabeel will not contest next Saturday’s Group 1 Champagne Stakes (1600m) at Randwick, in Sydney, and will instead return home to New Zealand and go out for a spell. “We’re going to give her a break. She has done a ter
Chris Waller’s record breaking training achievements reached dizzying heights at Randwick yesterday as Shraaoh landed the $A2million Sydney Cup (3200m) to give the him success in three of the four Group 1 events on the second day of The Championships. T
New Zealand-bred and part-owned Verry Elleegant vindicated her short-priced favouritism when she showed a searing turn of foot to sprint clear of her rivals in yesterday’s Group 1 $A1million Australian Oaks (2400m), under the urgings of ex-pat Kiwi
It could not have been scripted any better. Champion mare Winx bowed out in the most fitting of styles at her beloved Randwick racetrack yesterday, winning her third Group 1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) and bringing up a magical 100 Group 1 victories fo
Classy three-year-old Beyond The Fort franked her gritty runner-up effort in the Group 1 New Zealand Oaks (2400m) last month with a comprehensive victory in Saturday’s Listed New Zealand Bloodstock Warstep Stakes (2000m) at Riccarton. The Bill Thurlow-t
(By John Jenkins) Cambridge trainer Stephen Marsh picked up one of the most satisfying wins of his career when Felaar got up for a last stride victory in today’s Listed $75,000 Royston Hospital Hawke’s Bay Cup at Hastings. Marsh, 37, said it was a hug
(By John Jenkins) Matamata trainer Graham Richardson has a huge opinion of La Mia Stella but says she is still far from being the finished product. The four-year-old mare brought up her fifth win from 18 starts with a dominant three-quarter length victory
(By John Jenkins) Promising jumper Macklemore rounded off his preparation for a two-race Australian raid at the end of this month with another good performance on the flat at today’s Hawke’s Bay meeting at Hastings. The Edenwold seven-year-old dead-he
(By John Jenkins) Mark down Kali as a horse to follow in the early months of next season after her hugely impressive win in the $22,500 two-year-old race at today’s Hawke’s Bay meeting. The Darci Brahma filly’s winning margin of 2-1/4 lengths flatte
It’s a week of farewells for expat New Zealand trainer Chris Waller. The leading Sydney horseman will say goodbye to the best horse in the world, Winx, after Saturday’s Group 1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m), while another stable star in The Autumn Su
(By John Jenkins) Dick Bothwell, one of the true gentlemen of New Zealand thoroughbred racing, died yesterday aged 72. Bothwell, who always had a beaming smile and loved to socialise with his peers, trained from his Stratford base for more than 40 years b
Central Districts jockey Jonathan Parkes continued his great run of form by winning five of the eight races at yesterday’s Otaki meeting. Parkes, 30, started his winning run in the opening race, riding hot favourite Te Akau Dragon to an easy 2-1/2 lengt
Last year’s Te Whangai Romneys Hawke’s Bay Hurdle winner Monarch Chimes had to be euthanized after breaking down on the flat in a 2800m steeplechase trial at Cranbourne, in Victoria, last Friday. Monarch Chimes was trained by the Cambridge husband and
(By John Jenkins) Hastings-based Paul Nelson has achieved some amazing things as an owner and trainer of thoroughbreds but he brought up a first when No Change dead-heated for a win in a jumpers’ highweight at Wanganui on Thursday of last week. “That
Despite being in the twilight of his career, Speeding Spur’s future possibilities have been left wide open. The grand trotter willed his way back in to group 1 winning form with a determined effort to take out the New Zealand Trotting Championship a
Harness Racing New Zealand is excited to announce the launch of a newly redesigned website which will happen on Wednesday, May 1. Following feedback from the industry, HRNZ wanted to move with the times and give our users a website with a clean new look,
New Zealand-bred gallopers have once again dominated Sunday’s Sha Tin programme, winning five of the ten races, including both of the day’s features. Road To Rock’s son Beauty Generation notched his eighth successive victory when he led all the way
Robbie Close’s first training win at Rangiora on Sunday was memorable on more than one level. The diminutive horseman, noted as an accomplished freelance driver to this point in his career, recorded win number one as a trainer when Majestic Mannequin st
New Zealand jumper Zed Em created history when winning the A$100,000 Von Doussa Steeplechase (3250m) at Oakbank in South Australia on Sunday in the hands of Steve Pateman. The Patrick Payne-trained son of Zed became just the second horse in the race’s r
Nicoletta became the second Group 1 winner produced from Palmerston North’s Goodwood Stud when she led all the way in Saturday’s New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders Stakes at Te Aroha. The win also provided Goodwood Stud principal William Fell with a be
The New Zealand Racehorse Owners Federation is to conduct a special escorted tour to New Caledonia, with a horse racing focus, in October this year. Billed as “The French paradise on New Zealand’s doorstep” New Caledonia is less than three hours fli
Four-time Group 1 winner Trapeze Artist has been retired after suffering a shoulder injury in his attempted defence of the Group 1 T J Smith Stakes (1200m) at Randwick on Saturday. The four-year-old came out of the race with a large haematoma after finish
Who Dares Wins upset the favourites when he produced a bold finishing burst to capture his first stakes win in the Listed Easter Cup (1600m) at Riccarton on Saturday becoming Haunui Farm’s shuttle stallion Iffraaj’s 66th stakes winner. Having his 47th
The Waikato Stud-based Savabeel sired his 18th Group 1 winner when Nicoletta headed home a quinella for the stallion in Saturday’s New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders Stakes at Te Aroha. The five-year-old mare led all the way to beat Supera by a head with
Canterbury trainer Lance Robinson has suffered a major loss after stable star Boots ‘N’ All passed away last week after suffering an adverse reaction to an antibiotic. The ten-race winner was undergoing a routine treatment from Robinson’s stable vet
(By John Jenkins) Nicoletta provided trainer Andrew Forsman with his 100th New Zealand stakes winner when she led all the way for a game win in today’s Group 1 $200,000 Fiber Fresh NZ Thoroughbred Breeders Stakes at Te Aroha. The Savabeel five-year-old
(By John Jenkins) The Group 2 $100,000 Travis Stakes at Te Rapa on April 27 is now likely to be the target for Hastings-trained mare Atlanta Peach after she demolished a Rating 72 field over 1800m at Riccarton today. Relishing the heavy track conditions,
(By John Jenkins) Promising three-year-old Riding The Wave is now likely to be campaigned in Queensland after scoring a dominant win in the $25,000 Pyramid Trucking Three-year-old at today’s Te Aroha meeting. Pukekohe trainer Nigel Tiley has already rev
(By John Jenkins) A late decision by Cambridge trainer Frank Ritchie to take Fiscal Fantasy south for today’s Group 3 $70,000 Arohanui Hospice Manawatu Breeders Stakes at Awapuni paid handsome dividends when the mare came from near last on the home turn
Trevor McKee, one of the icons of New Zealand thoroughbred racing, died today after a lengthy illness. He was 81. McKee was born in the Thames Valley area and was a successful jockey before increasing weight saw him take up training. Proud Chief is said t
Per Incanto will stand at an increased service fee of $17,500 (plus GST) at Little Avondale Stud this year, having stood last season for $15,000 (plus GST). The fee increase comes off the back of a fantastic season for the son of Street Cry, which saw him
Experienced racing administrator and chief executive Cameron George is to join the New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing Board. George was appointed following interviews with the NZTR Members’ Council yesterday and will take up the role with effect from May 1
Hours after Ben Currie received another stay of proceedings on Wednesday, Queensland Racing Integrity Commission stewards laid two additional charges against the Toowoomba trainer. The latest two charges against Currie allege jigger usage, bringing the to
Australian Group 1 winning trainer John McNair, who was best-known for star sprinter Hay List (Statue Of Liberty), has died after a short illness. His wife Sue and extended family issued a statement saying McNair had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer
Kerrin McEvoy will ride speedy Queensland mare Houtzen in the Group 1 King’s Stand Stakes (5 furlongs) at Royal Ascot in June. The 2017 Magic Millions Two-year-old Classic (1200m) winner arrived in England last week and has taken the journey in her stri
A holiday in Rarotonga has Awapuni jockey Tim Johnson keen to resume his riding career. Johnson ended his apprenticeship last October and continued to kick home winners with his total standing at 74, of which 12 have come this season. But he hasn’t ri
Injured jockey Tony Allan will have a better idea of a possible return to race riding after a specialist appointment on April 15. Allan suffered a broken arm in a fall at New Plymouth on December 6 and since undergoing surgery he has been making steady
Perth jockey Mitchell Pateman suffered a fractured T12 vertebrae in a horrific race fall at Ascot on Saturday. Pateman posted on his Twitter account The extent of his injury, which is set to keep him sidelined indefinitely. “I’m pretty devastated, it
The Queensland Racing Integrity Commission’s internal reviewer Kane Ashby has published reasons for rejecting an application on penalty from jockey Beau Appo on sexual harassment charges. Appo was disqualified for six months with three months suspen
Trainer Leanne Elliot believes her patience with talented four-year-old Rock On Wood is set to pay off after he made it two wins from as many starts this preparation at Awapuni on Saturday. Rock On Wood, who was given an extended spell after finishing six
Flashy two-year-old Yourdeel put his name firmly in the reckoning for the title of New Zealand Champion Two-year-old of the Year when producing another outstanding performance to take out Saturday’s Group 1 Courtesy Ford $225,000 Manawatu Sires’ Produ
(By John Jenkins) The stock of Wanganui-based stallion Zed have been in outstanding form in the past three days with four Australasian winners produced by the sire, including one at Group 1 level and one at Group 2. Verry Elleegant became the stallion’s
(By John Jenkins) Foxton trainer Emma Haworth got special satisfaction from Toms win in Thursday’s $20,000 Best Travel Waipukurau Cup. Haworth owns and trains the Towkay five-year-old in partnership with her father David and he is the first horse she bo
(By John Jenkins) New Plymouth trainer Emma Davies is fast building an impressive strike-rate of winners to starters. The talented horsewoman picked up her third winner from just seven runners when That’s Incranibull took out a $10,000 maiden 1350m race
(By John Jenkins) Jockey Jonathan Parkes was the toast of the crowd at Thursday’s Waipukurau meeting, kicking home half the winners on the eight race card. Parkes started the ball rolling when getting Road To Reign home first in the opening event and th
Waikato’s Novara Park Stud has added Staphanos, a Group 1-performing son of global sire-sensation Deep Impact (Sunday Silence), to their stallion roster for the 2019 southern hemisphere breeding season. A winner as a juvenile, Staphanos went on to recor
Pukekohe trainer Nigel Tiley intends campaigning a team of at least six horses in Queensland this winter. Tiley said today those he will take will include the proven performers Megablast, Demonetization and Standing Ovation as well as a couple of maidens.
Racing Victoria stewards have charged trainer Clive Balfour with alleged raceday treatment of a runner at Moe in November last year. Stewards charged Balfour with breaching the raceday treatment rule when he allegedly administered or caused to be administ
Multiple Group 1-winning trainer Karen Zimmerman will take up the position of stable foreman for Pukekohe trainer Nigel Tiley. Zimmerman won four Group 1 races in her training career, with Barinka (Shinko King) recording the last of them in the 2011 NZ Th
Jockey Grant Cooksley is to enter a training partnership with Bruce Wallace while continuing to ride. As well as his native New Zealand, Cooksley has ridden with success in Sydney and Asia. Known as ‘The Iceman’ for his cool demeanour, Cooksley has co
Champion Australian sire Redoute’s Choice died at Arrowfield Stud yesterday aged 22. The stallion had suffered a traumatic loss of mobility which could not be restored. He was euthanised following intensive veterinary care. With three champion sire titl
Saturday’s Golden Slipper result was not only a domination by Godolphin but also provided a huge boost for Telemon Thoroughbreds, the Australian stud where the sire of race winner Kiamichi now stands. Sidestep, a son of Exceed And Excel, stood his first
Class mare Volpe Veloce maintained her unbeaten record at Tauranga when she cruised to victory in the Group 2 $100,000 Windsor Park Stud Japan NZ International Trophy (1600m) on Saturday. The five-year-old Foxwedge mare looked all at sea on the puggy trac
New Zealand-trained three-year-old Madison County was a late scratching from today’s Group 1 $A600,000 Rosehill Guineas in Sydney after being injured whilst being floated from his Warwick Farm base to the Rosehill racecourse. The horse’s co-trainer
Riccarton-based trainer Lance Robinson picked up an early double on his home track today when he produced Khimar War and Live Drama to take out races two and three on the programme. Robinson, a former top jockey, is building a great winning strike-rate wi
Canterbury jockey Samantha Wynne made a return to the winner’s circle at Riccarton today after a long enforced injury break when getting Diorissimo home first in the opening event at the Canterbury meeting. Irish-born Wynne, 30, suffered severe injuries
Punters were finally rewarded when Monkey Shoulder prevailed in a 1400m maiden race at New Plymouth today. The Savabeel three-year-old has always been held in high regard by trainer Allan Sharrock, who touted him as a “Derby horse” earlier this season
Mark down Pinched as a filly who should go right through the grades in time. The Pins three-year-old scored an impressive 2-1/2 length debut win over 1300m at Hastings at the end of last month and followed that up with another dominant 1-3/4 length victor
New Plymouth owner-trainer Warren Bolton predicted a big future for Jazamour after the mare resumed from a lengthy spell with a decisive win in a 1600m maiden race at New Plymouth today. Bolton, who has never raced a big team but has always had a good hor
(By John Jenkins) Waipukurau couple Trevor and Debbie Walters have been “living a dream” as the major shareholders in outstanding mare Melody Belle, winner of five Group 1 races this season and seemingly assured of the title of New Zealand Horse of th
New Zealand Bloodstock’s National Yearling Sales Series heads south to showcase the South Island session with the 61-lot catalogue available online now and arriving in the post from late March. The Canterbury Agricultural Park in Christchurch will host
David Leyonhjelm, lead candidate for the Liberal Democrats, has announced he will push to abolish gambling taxes if successful in winning the balance of power at the NSW election. “Abolishing gambling taxes in NSW would be a $2.7 billion annual tax cu
The Frankie Lor-trained Furore continued New Zealand’s stellar record in the HK$18million Hong Kong Derby (2000m) when he took out the Classic race at Sha Tin on Sunday. Bred in New Zealand by Jonathan Munz under his GSA Bloodstock banner, Furore was bo
Randwick-based Ron Quinton continued his magnificent association with the Group 1 Coolmore Classic (1500m) when he won the race for the fourth time as a trainer courtesy of Dixie Blossoms’ success at Rosehill on Saturday. Quinton, who also landed the co
Emily Margaret will be out to cement the title of Southern Three-year-old Filly of the Year when she contests the Listed $50,000 BZB Airfreight Stakes (1600m) at Riccarton on April 6. The Pins three-year-old, prepared on the Riccarton track by the husband
Lisa Allpress rode the perfect race aboard the Lisa Latta-trained Sentimental Miss to win Saturday’s Group 1 $400,000 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai New Zealand Oaks but coming to the home bend she had her doubts whether she was in the right spot to take out
Imelda Mary and Queen Of Diamonds will share this season’s New Zealand Bloodstock Filly of the Year title following the running of the last event in the 10 race series, Saturday’s Group 1 New Zealand Oaks. The two fillies went in to the 2400m Trentham
Former top jockey David Walsh returned to the venue where he holds the record for the most wins when he turned up on Lowland Stakes day at Hastings on Wednesday February 27. Walsh, in his capacity as a licensing, training and welfare advisor for New Zeala
Hall of Fame Kiwi jockey Jim Cassidy has revealed how close he came to death after being involved in a horror head-on car accident in Australia. Cassidy, 53, suffered bleeding on the brain and bruising to his body on Saturday after a car allegedly veered
Waverley trainer Bill Thurlow has experienced a stellar season with his talented galloper Glory Days and he is hoping she can continue her good run of form in the Gr.1 Barfoot & Thompson Auckland Cup (3200m) at Ellerslie on Saturday. The six-year-old
Hong Kong favourite and dual Group One winner Pakistan Star has joined Expat New Zealand trainer Paul O’Sullivan’s Hong Kong stable. The erratic galloper has been transferred from Tony Cruz’s stable, along with Pakistan Friend, following a decision
Triple Group One winning sprinter Start Wondering has been retired after suffering a minor tendon strain. Prepared in Wanganui by Evan and JJ Rayner, the eight-year-old won 11 of 29 starts, including back to back editions of the Gr.1 Waikato Sprint (1400m
Bargain buy Imelda Mary added a second Group Two victory to her burgeoning record when she downed her three-year-old female rivals in the Gr.2 Cambridge Stud Sir Tristram Fillies Classic (2000m) at Te Rapa. Trainer Wayne Hillis paid just $3,500 for Imelda
Matamata galloper On The Rocks provided rider Jake Bayliss with his second New Zealand Group One prize when he stormed to victory in the Gr.1 Herbie Dyke Stakes (2000m) on Saturday. Australian-born Bayliss, who is enjoying his second extended riding stint
Cambridge jockey Troy Harris completed a dream day at Te Rapa on Saturday when he guided sprinting sensation Melody Belle to victory in the Gr.1 BCD Group Sprint (1400m). Harris was “Johnny on the spot” to replace an ill Michael Coleman on Sponge Bob
Dual stakes winner Miss Federer was set to head to the spelling paddock after Saturday’s Gr.3 Woburn Farm 2YO Classic (1200m), but her brave victory in the race altered those plans. It was a great result for trainer Andrew Carston, who entered his filly
A new Member’s Bill will clarify the law around BYO alcohol areas at race meetings and allow families and communities to carry on the tradition of chilly bin and a hamper at the races, MP for Hutt South Chris Bishop said. “Race meetings are important
Smart racemare Indecision gave her rivals weight and a comprehensive beating when she led all the way to win the Listed Hallmark Stud Handicap (1200m) at Ellerslie. The Per Incanto five-year-old was the clear topweight in the day’s sprint feature, carry
Lightly-raced filly Pinmedown caused an upset when winning the Gr.2 Cambridge Stud Eight Carat Classic (1600m) at Ellerslie on Boxing Day, paying $33.40 for the win. Prepared at Matamata by Michael Moroney and Pam Gerard, Pinmedown was having just her fou
Local runner Rock On returned to winning form after a long lay-off with a storming victory in the Gr.3 Hotel Coachman Manawatu Cup (2200m) at Awapuni. The six-year-old Road To Rock gelding went amiss last season shortly before contesting the Gr.3 Wellingt
It was a day for the locals at Awapuni on Saturday when classy sprinter-miler Shadows Cast upset predictions in the Gr.2 Kamada Park Manawatu Challenge Stakes (1400m). Just thirty minutes earlier Awapuni galloper Rock On had scored at outside odds in the
John Costello, doyen of racing journalists and a member of the New Zealand Racing Hall of Fame, passed away in the early hours of Friday morning. Costello’s more than six-decade life in journalism began in his late teens, when fresh out of high school h
Group One performer Xpression will contest the Hyslop Plumbing 3YO Premier (1400m) at Awapuni on Saturday ahead of a tilt at Group One glory next month. The Guy Lowry and Grant Cullen-trained filly ran third last-start in the Gr.1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas
The Australian Turf Club will again be offering bonuses to the winner and placegetters of the Sydney Cup. Owners and trainers of the winner, second and third placed horses in several key staying races across Australia and New Zealand will be eligible for
First season sire Ghibellines is on the board with his first winner coming at Wingatui on Friday. The John and Karen Parsons-trained El Gladiador showed good speed to sit off the leader over the 820 metres and fought bravely to hold off some strong late f
When trainer Murray Baker tells you he has a filly with a touch of class about her, it pays to take notice. Baker holds that opinion of the royally-bred Savabeel three-year-old Queen Of Diamonds who gave a glimpse of that potential when she crushed her ri
The Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman trained Mongolian Marshal exacted a measure of revenge when he turned the tables on his last-start conqueror in Saturday’s Gr.3 SkyCity Hamilton Waikato Cup (2400m). The promising High Chaparral four-year-old had been
Te Akau trainer Jamie Richards unleashed another live Karaka Million prospect at Te Rapa on Saturday, when debutante Yourdeel cruised clear to win the Wentwood Grange Premier 2YO (1200m). Te Akau runners dominated the 2017 edition of the Ellerslie $1 mill
The powerful Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman operation wrapped up a highly satisfying weekend when Cutadeel triumphed in the Listed Barfoot & Thompson Three Year Old Salver (2100m) at Ellerslie on Sunday. The stable had scored a stakes double 24 hours
Stuart Hale’s annual Auckland/Waikato Yearling Inspection Tour will take place from Sunday 6th January to Friday 11th January. The tour enables prospective purchasers to inspect yearlings catalogued for the New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling S
Wayne Hillis has regrouped his main players after the New Zealand Cup meeting and is preparing to target further major races over the next few months. Livin’ On A Prayer, Watch This Space, Bit Lippy and Imelda Mary all raced at the three-day New Zealand
Triple Group One winner Melody Belle pleased her connections with her 1000m trial win at Te Aroha on Tuesday. It was the second trial this preparation for the four-year-old daughter of Commands who was freshened after an undefeated spring campaign, where
Expat New Zealand trainer Chris Waller has been nominated for Buddle Findlay Coach of the Year at February’s 56th ISPS Handa Halberg Awards in Auckland. The Hall of Fame trainer, who is among 14 nominees for the award, has won the last seven trainers’
Group One-winning filly Media Sensation will head to Ellerslie on Sunday for an exhibition gallop ahead of her next black-type assignment at the Auckland racecourse on Boxing Day. The Peter and Dawn Williams-trained runner has pleased her connections sinc
John Moore has already produced one star miler to grace the highest reaches of the LONGINES World’s Best Racehorse Rankings in Able Friend but the trainer was left with no hesitation in proclaiming Beauty Generation (NZ) (Road to Rock) superior, after Z
In a remarkable repeat of the 2017 edition, Mr Stunning not only again won the G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint (1200m) but also secured the win at the expense of the same horse in a landmark success for his trainer and jockey. However the similarities do not
Four-year-old mare Danzdanzdance made light-work of her rivals in Saturday’s Gr.1 Rydges Wellington Captain Cook Stakes (1600m) at Trentham and could be New Zealand Racing’s next weight-for-age star. The Chris Gibbs and Michelle Bradley-trained mare w
The record-breaking run by (Our) Big Mike to win Saturday’s rich Listed Pakenham Cup (2500m) has provided a watershed moment for trainer Craig Phelan and his family. Speaking on behalf of his father, son Shaun was still trying to come to terms with what
Undefeated three-year-old Total Excess is being set for his first tilt at stakes company in the Gr.3 Bonecrusher Stakes (1400m) at Ellerslie on Saturday. Trainer Jamie Richards has been pleased with his runner since his last start win over 1300m at Awapun
Persistent rain has forced the withdrawal of quality galloper Wyndspelle from Saturday’s Gr.1 Rydges Wellington Captain Cook Stakes (1600m) at Trentham, but co-trainer Johno Benner said there are a multitude of options throughout the summer for the son
Three-time Group One winner Werther has been withdrawn from the Longines Hong Kong Cup (2000m) on Sunday after succumbing to a suspensory injury. The 2015-16 Hong Kong Horse of the Year underwent a pre-race veterinary check which found that he had a sligh
Cambridge trainer Stephen Marsh is in no hurry with talented galloper Ardrossan, who has returned to his stable after an unsuccessful stint racing in Victoria. Ardrossan won both is starts as a two-year-old for Marsh, culminating in a 3 3/4-length win in
New Zealand’s representatives were to the fore on the first night of the Inter Dominion Series in Victoria on Saturday night, winning three of the five heats across both divisions. Wins from Spankem and Cruz Bromac gave New Zealand’s tiny pacing conti
Connections of dual Group Two winner Our Abbadean are hoping their runner can breakthrough for her maiden Group One victory at Trentham on Saturday. The six-year-old daughter of Lookin At Lucky had a solid spring, contesting all three legs of the Hawke’
Exciting two-year-old Probabeel gave racegoers a glimpse of her undoubted ability when she blitzed her rivals over 1100m at Ellerslie on Saturday. Narrowly defeated over 1000m at Te Rapa on debut, the Brendan and Jo Lindsay owned Savabeel filly put that e
She was then thwarted by bad weather when scratched from last week’s Gr.2 Auckland Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1400m) at Pukekohe before finally getting conditions to suit today. “It was a good effort,” co-trainer Andrew Forsman said. “Th
Progressive filly My Pendant has backed up a maiden city win at Sandown with another fast-finishing victory at Moonee Valley. My Pendant broke her maiden at her third start last Wednesday week and trainer Danny O’Brien opted to back the three-year-o
Waverley mare Glory Days maintained her picket fence form-line with a dominant victory in the Listed Cambridge Thoroughbred Lodge Wanganui Cup (2040m) on Saturday. It was the fourth victory in succession for the six-year-old mare, who is quickly becoming
Tony Pike has a strong team entered for Friday’s Otaki meeting, with two prospective runners also acceptors at Saturday’s Ellerslie meeting and the Cambridge trainer will be guided by track conditions and weather before deciding where they start. “W
Shaun Clotworthy was quick to recognise Annie Okay’s potential – now he’s hoping she’s swift enough to claim a stakes win at Ellerslie on Saturday. The Byerley Park trainer will produce Battle Paint filly Annie Okay as one of the l
James McDonald is looking a safe proposition to win the Sydney jockeys’ premiership in his first full season of racing since a long ban. McDonald extended his lead in the 2018-19 title with a winning treble at a rain-soaked Warwick Farm meeting on W
Multiple stakes-winning filly Melt will continue her immediate racing future with expat Kiwi trainer Chris Waller in Sydney. The daughter of Iffraaj is currently spelling in Christchurch after a successful spring campaign that resulted in two wins and a p
Speeding Spur was the big winner among the New Zealand Inter Dominion contingent when the barrier draws were announced for the opening heats of the series on Monday. The John and Josh Dickie-trained square-gaiter has drawn perfectly in barrier two in the
Starrybeel and King’s Cross emerged on Saturday as exciting replacements to help fill the void in Stephen Marsh’s stable with the loss of his top-rated horses. The stable’s Group One winner Thee Auld Floozie has been retired to stud, Gr.2 Brisbane C
Promising two-year-old filly Bavella destroyed her rivals in the Listed Splice Construction Stakes (1100m). The Snitzel youngster had impressed when winning on debut at Ellerslie last month and was installed a warm favourite for the event. An awkward barr
One of the best of last season’s three-year-old crop showed he was back in no uncertain terms with a dashing victory in the Listed Haunui Farm Counties Bowl (1100m) at Pukekohe. Jimmy Choux gelding Bostonian rounded off his three-year-old campaign with
Imported mare Igraine rubber-stamped her quality as a stayer of note when she downed a handy line-up in Saturday’s Gr.3 Ssangyong Counties Cup (2100m) at Pukekohe. Carrying the famous Trelawney Stud colours of owners Brent and Cherry Taylor, the impecca
Under-rated mare Bisou Bisou pulled off a major upset when she produced a powerful finishing burst to claim victory in the Gr.2 Dunstan Feeds Auckland Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1400m) at Pukekohe. The seven-year-old mare continued her unbeaten run
Matamata trainers Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott will thrust in-form mare Sleeping Beauty into the deep end at Pukekohe on Saturday when she contests the Gr.2 Dunstan Feeds Auckland Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1400m). The Sir Peter Vela-
Local trainer Roydon Bergerson is quietly confident with six-year-old gelding Beefeater heading into the John Turkington Forestry Limited/Wai Pine Ltd Bulls Country Cup (1500m) at Awapuni on Saturday. The Group Three winner has been in top form of late, p
Trainer Donna Logan boarded her plane to Singapore on Friday morning with a spring in her step after a successful hit and run mission to the New Zealand Bloodstock Ready To Run Sale of two-year-olds at Karaka this week. Logan, who has really started to hi
Waikato Stud recorded a standout session on Day One of New Zealand Bloodstock’s Ready to Run sale on Wednesday, selling four of the five top lots. The quartet were prepared by Jamie Beatson under his Ohukia Lodge banner and the result was made sweeter b
Group One-winning entire Embellish has been retired after an ongoing knee issue and is set to join Cambridge Stud’s stallion roster next year. “He arrived at Te Akau Stud yesterday where he will let down,” Te Akau principal David Ellis
Top Te Aroha galloper Hiflyer will take an unorthodox path to the Gr.1 Sistema Railway (1200m) at Ellerslie on New Year’s Day. Hiflyer has been set for the major sprint since being put aside for a spell following his sixth to Melody Belle and Savvy Coup
Outsider Silver Joy handed Kiwi trainer Bruce Marsh his 400th winner in Singapore after he won the S$85,000 Restricted Maiden race over 1600m on Sunday. The affable former jockey was all smiles as he headed down to the winner’s circle to toast to the n
Just twelve months ago rider Sam Spratt was the toast of Riccarton after securing her first New Zealand Cup (3200m) with a daring front-running ride on outsider Gobstopper. Fast forward to the 2018 edition of the Christchurch Casino sponsored, Group Three
Visiting northern filly Media Sensation shrugged off a chequered trip to Christchurch to claim her maiden Group One victory in Saturday’s Gavelhouse.com New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m). Prevented from travelling south earlier in the week due to fog in
Oops, they did it again. West Melton’s Ford family took out New Zealand’s richest trotting race at Addington on Friday afternoon when Marcoola scored a sensational victory, 12 months after his stablemate Amaretto Sun scored at upset odds. Ken Ford tra
Cruz Bromac made it short-course Group 1 wins on either side of the Tasman in 2018 when victorious in Friday’s $200,000 Group 1 New Zealand Free For All at Addington. The New Zealand-bred pacer, who won Sydney’s Len Smith Mile in July, landed a sustai
Leading Gr.1 Gavelhouse.com New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) contenders Xpression and Melt once shared a paddock at Haunui Farm, but there will be no love lost between the star three-year-old fillies when they contest the Riccarton feature on Saturday. Th
It may be an afterthought but Grahame Begg believes Our Libretto is primed to perform in Saturday’s Gr.2 Quayside Zipping Classic (2400m). Our Libretto suffered her first Australian defeat when seventh as a $9.50 chance in last Saturday’s Gr.2
John Bary will refocus on next year’s Gr.3 NZ Campus For Innovation & Sport Wellington Cup (3200m) at Trentham after having to scratch emerging stayer High Spirits from Saturday’s Gr.3 Christchurch Casino New Zealand Cup (3200m) at Riccart
Group One performer Wyndspelle picked up his first win in nearly two years when victorious in the Humphries Construction 1550 at Awapuni on Thursday. The Johno Benner and Hollie Wynyard-trained runner settled midfield under in-form hoop Jason Waddell who
Pukekohe jockey Alysha Collett won’t need further surgery to help mend her fractured heel. Collett was relieved to learn she would avoid extra surgery, which could have meant inserting screws into her heel, after visiting a specialist on Wednesday.
Gerard O’Reilly is hardly a name synonymous with big trotting races but he gets a realistic chance to win the biggest one of all this week when he partners Ronald J in Friday’s $300,000 Dominion Handicap. O’Reilly is best known in more recent times
Nigel Tiley has star filly Melt in perfect order for Saturday’s Gr.1 Gavelhouse.com New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) at Riccarton. Now he just needs nature to play its part. The Pukekohe trainer made his way down to Christchurch to be on hand for Me
The John And Karen Parsons-owned and trained galloper Kiwi Ida added a second stakes win to her tally when she took out the Gr.3 Valachi Downs Canterbury Breeders’ Stakes (1400m) at Riccarton on Wednesday. The four-year-old mare, who was purchased by he
Graeme Rogerson said More Wonder was on the market after beating an assortment of maidens.and one-win horses. “For $600,000 he would a good horse for someone in Hong Kong or Australia,” he said. Johnathan Parkes gave the 3yo a swe
Oz-some win in Stewards ” I don’t know what I’ve done but it suited.” Canterbury trainer Neil Ridley was talking after winning the Stewards. with the remarkable Prince Oz. It was the horse’s sixth win for Ridley, who received
Opie Bosson summed up Te Akau Shark’s turbocharged win in today’s Coupland’s Mile when he said “I haven’t had feeling on a horse like that for a long time”. Watched by part-owner, Cronulla Sharks league strongm
Savvy Coup is the latest star New Zealand galloper to join Chris Waller’s stable. Co-trainer Matt Pitman confirmed the decision today. “Chris Waller is a friend of our’s and it made sense to send the horse to him for the racing. There
First Addington, then Aussie. Next? The World. That’s the tentative six-month plan for champion trotter Speeding Spur after a courageous win the New Zealand Trotting Free For All on Tuesday. Managing owner Andrew Grierson, the head of Woodlands Stud, ma
Champion reinswoman Natalie Rasmussen has added another jewel to her crown with a first driving win in New Zealand Cup behind Thefixer. Under Rasmussen’s urgings, Thefixer determinedly wore down the tenacious Australian runner-up Tiger Tara in the last
Five-year-old mare Dee And Gee surprised both her trainers and punters alike when scoring a three-length victory in last Saturday’s Listed Metropolitan Trophy Handicap (2500m) at Riccarton. The $51 chance never looked like being caught and no doubt punt
Michael Pitman may be laid up in hospital, but it hasn’t stopped him making plans for his stable star Savvy Coup. The Riccarton trainer fulfilled a dream when he got to Moonee Valley to watch Savvy Coup contest the Gr.1 Cox Plate (2040m) on November 27,
Byerley Park trainer Dawn Williams reached a mammoth milestone at Te Aroha on Tuesday when she picked up her 1000th win as a trainer courtesy of Jip Jip Rock in the Waikato & BOP Harness 12th January 2019 (1400m). It was the third win of the day for W
If Barry Purdon is right and logic plays its part Jack’s Legend could be the best each way bet in Tuesday’s New Zealand Trotting Cup. The one-time Jewels winner goes into the great race rated a $16 chance on the TAB, even though he ran second in it la
