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
Two-time Singapore champion trainer Mark Walker came up trumps at Kranji on Sunday when he produced former European galloper Elite Invincible to take out the rich S$1.35 million Singapore Gold Cup (2000m). Superbly handled by Benny Woodworth, the four-yea
The Shark is quoted at $1.50, Hillis’ Livin’g On A Prayer is offering $6. “Wish I had got him at 14s,”: said trainer Hillis.. While Hillis has a healthy respect for the Shark, he feels his teeth aren’t as sharp they
Bookies aren’t taking any chances with star trotter Speeding Spur in tomorrow’s Group 1 $100,000 New Zealand Trotting Free For All at Addington. He’s a $1.65 shot and punters seem happy to lap that price up. One who isn’t, though, is Ross Paynter,
Johnathan Parkes, 5 wins clear on the Jockeys’ Premiership, won’t be riding at Riccarton on Cup Day. “His rides were too light. so he’ll be going to Tauranga and ride for Fraser Auret instead,” said Parkes’ agent Bev
Taranaki trainer Bryce Revell has got his man – Chris Johnson will ride his stayer Duellicious in Saturday’s NZ Cup. Johnson, back from Melbourne and two unsuccessful rides on Savvy Coup, starts a week’s suspension after Saturday
If you put a picture of the Melbourne Cup finish on a white background and asked anyone in racing where the race was run, they would almost certainly say somewhere in Europe. The colours of the first five across the line are more familiar to Europe than A
Robert Dunn, pictured below, feels like he has already won going into harness racing’s biggest day of the year. Because taking 17 horses to New Zealand Cup day at Addington on Tuesday, five of them for the $800,000 holy grail itself, is beyond what Du
A gear adjustment and a positive ride from jockey Lynsey Satherley paved the way for the locally trained Maybeashowoff to open his winning account with a victory at Te Rapa on Saturday. The Showcasing two-year-old looked a natural improver following a tid
Nestled near the small township of Walton resides Rich Hill Stud on 320-acres of prime luscious Waikato land. Having bred one Melbourne Cup winner, the stud this year imported a new stallion from Japan in the hopes of continuing their proud legacy. Rich
The new training partnership of Kirstin Barclay (pictured) and Paul Ellis has made a flying start to the season and they hope to further crank up the momentum during cup week Their training operation, the southern-most in the country, has already put seve
Outsider Dee And Gee, pictured, stunned the Riccarton crowd on Saturday as she registered her biggest career victory when winning the Listed Redwood Metropolitan Trophy (2500m). The five-year-old Darci Brahma mare defied her rivals all the way down the lo
New Zealand Bloodstock’s Ready To Run Sale Of Two-Year-Olds at Karaka on November 21 and 22 provides the perfect opportunity to invest in the next generation of fillies. It’s not only the New Zealand colts and geldings taking top honours in Austra
#Guineas: Opie Bosson was quizzed about the performance of Sword of Osman. He said the gelding was unable to quicken in the conditions. #Amanda Morgan was suspended for careless riding. #Irish Call bled in race one and won’t race again for th
Experienced Cambridge trainer Murray Baker won his first 2000 Guineas in five years at Riccarton today. Madison County’s dominant win gave rider Matthew Cameron renewed confidence in his judgment after he took the wrong option in two previous editio
A bold front-running performance saw the Tony Pike-trained Indecision add further valuable black-type to her career record when she scored in the Listed Legacy Lodge Sprint (1200m) at Te Rapa. Narrowly beaten at her last start in the Gr.3 Sweynesse Stakes
Smart Cambridge mare Rondinella returned to the racing scene with a vengeance with a last-gasp win at Te Rapa today. “The 1400m was short of her best but great to see her back in winning style,” said co-trainer Robert Wellwood. “She hit
Cambridge jockey Lynsey Satherley was in dominant form with three winners at today’s Te Rapa meeting. Satherley, pictured, was successful aboard Maybeashowoff, Sahar and Polzeath at the Waikato Racing Club’s meeting. The mother of two is noted
Colin Cromarty didn’t need a second invitation when good mate Alex Kelly asked him to train Skarloey, an emphatic winner on debut at Otaki Thursday. Nine years ago the horse’s mother Cachette won with Cromarty at the helm. It was the Wanga
Wanganui apprentice Sarah Macnab has fully recovered from the serious head knock she suffered in a fall in September but she has no plans to make a hasty return to raceday. After several days in hospital Macnab was transferred to the ABI Rehabilitation
The Frank Ritchie-trained Dawn Patrol is a notable shortener on fixed odds for Saturday’s 2000 Guineas. He has come in from 7s to 6s. Madison County has eased to $2.90 while there is good money for The Chosen One and Sword of Osman. King Louis h
Te Akau has stakes hopes for Pinultimate, who pocketed the Pearls series race at Otaki Thursday. “I’m pleased for the horse, the owners, and the team at the main stable. She’s not the easiest of fillies and I’m sure with a bit of a freshen-u
Aristia outstayed her rivals in today’s VRC Oaks at Flemington to give training duo Simon Zahra and Matt Ellerton their first group 1 success since 2011. The three-year-old backed up her win in the Wakeful Stakes on Saturday with a burst of speed at
By Phillip Quay The 2018 renewal of New Zealand Cup week marks a milestone for ace commentator Mark McNamara. “It’s my 10th New Zealand Cup week and I’m very excited about what it will bring,” says the 40-year-old. “It only s
A Proper Lady (I Am Invincible) broke her maiden when successful in the City 1200 at Avondale yesterday. The Brendan and Jo Lindsay-owned filly was having her third start off the back of a runner-up finish at Tauranga last month. “She’s just taken a l
Adrian Bott and Gai Waterhouse had already enjoyed a marvellous Melbourne spring with their two-year-olds Unite And Conquer and Espaaniyah winning at Flemington and at The Valley, on Cox Plate Day, respectively. And they added a third string to their juv
Veteran trainer Frank Ritchie is looking to land his first Gr.1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) with lightly-raced gelding Dawn Patrol, who tackles the Al Basti Equiworld sponsored feature at Riccarton on Saturday. The 74-year-old trainer believes Dawn P
Some exciting young talent was unearthed at Otaki today. Sentimental Miss and Atlanta Peach looked a pair with bright futures. His apprentice days behind him, Tim Johnson (pictured) rode like an old pro to get Sentimental Miss home with a whirlwind fini
The occasion surrounding the Gr.1 Cox Plate (2040m) with glamour mare Winx got too much for Kiwi galloper Savvy Coup according to her connections, but they believe she is primed to contest her major Melbourne target on Saturday, the Gr.2 Matriarch Stakes
Rotorua trainer Craig Phelan has a taste for Aussie country cups success after his bold frontrunning stayer Big Mike took third in yesterday’s Kyneton Cup. “The money’s too good not to keep having a go,” said Phelan. “They pa
Tiger Tara’s incredible run to the New Zealand Trotting Cup hit some serious turbulence yesterday that has seen the Aussie star almost double in price for next week’s great race. Tiger Tara has already placed in two New Zealand Cups and an amazing ser
Runner-up Marmelo and beaten favourite Yucatan were found to be lame following Tuesday’s $7 million Melbourne Cup.. The $6 favourite was found to be “two out of five lame” after finishing 11th, as did Hughie Morrison’s second placegetter. “He
Pentathon, second in last year’s NZ Cup, is out of this year’s race. He has a fractured split bone. “We will be put him in a paddock for a while and see what happens’,’ said co-owner Linda Wheeler, wife of trainer John Whee
Ardmore trainer Nick Bishara could experience his biggest moment in racing at Flemington on Thursday, but he won’t be on course to witness it. He shares in the ownership of talented three-year-old filly Verry Elleegant who will contest the Gr.1 Kennedy
Local apprentice rider Corey Campbell was the star of the show at Wingatui on Tuesday where he bagged four winners and a pair of minor placings from his nine rides on the day. Based out of the Brian and Shane Anderton stable, Campbell made good use of his
Irish visitor The Cliffsofmoher has been put down after a mishap passing the winning post the first time in the Melbourne Cup. The Caulfield Cup placegetter, trained by Aidan O’Brien, fractured a shoulder as he was approaching the turn out of the st
Sheikh Mohammed has broken his 30-year Melbourne Cup drought with the victory in Australia’s greatest race of lightly-weighted three year old Cross Counter (pictured), trained at Newmarket in England by Charlie Appleby and ridden by Sydney-based joc
The tens of thousands of frocked-up punters heading to the Melbourne Cup tomorrow can bet on grey and drizzly conditions. To avoid a wardrobe malfunction of feathered fascinators wet and limp from rain, the Bureau of Meteorology is urging revellers to pac
Yucatan’s Cup price has fallen from $151 to $4.50 Five of the 24 runners have shortened significantly since the Aussie TAB opened betting on the race 362-days ago, most notably the favourite Yucatan. The Aidan O’Brien-trained international r
The O’Leary brothers won’t be the only New Zealand farmers cheering on a horse they own in Tuesday’s A$7 million Gr.1 Lexus Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington. Dan, Humphrey, Michael and Shaun O’Leary have become well-known as the owners of the w
Flash flooding warnings have been issued for Melbourne, but Flemington track manager Liam O’Keeffe says Melbourne Cup day will probably start on a track rated soft at worst. The weather bureau has warned Melburnians that up to 30mm of rain could fal
Tips for the 2018 Melbourne Cup on Tuesday from our experts: Phillip Quay Yucatan Avilius Magic Circle Cross Counter Glenn Watson Yucatan Mamelo Magic Circle Avilius
Major Tom’s $12 price for the New Zealand Cup is under siege after his fabulous win in the Banks Peninsula Cup today. Within an hour of his impressive win, it had been cut already from $12 to $10. Carrying a whopping 62.5kg, he edged roughie Taxihom
If New Zealand jockey James McDonald is going to win his first Melbourne Cup, he’s going to need to work some magic. The Cambridge-born jockey will ride Cup favourite Yucatan, trained by Irishman Aidan O’Brien, in Tuesday’s A$7.3 million
A sparkling work-out at Flemington on Sunday morning has confirmed kiwi galloper Sir Charles Road is ready to tackle his greatest challenge at Flemington on Tuesday. The Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott trained five-year-old had his place confirmed in
International raider Red Verdon is out of Tuesday’s Melbourne Cup but rider Damien Oliver, pictured, has quickly found another ride. Red Verdon had been a $51 chance in Tuesday’s Cup. However, the Ed Dunlop-trained galloper suffered a setback
Shillelagh has returned to Flemington to claim a second Group One race on the opening day of the Melbourne Cup four-day carnival. The Chris Waller-trained mare won the Gr.1 Kennedy Mile (1600m) on the same program last year before capturing Saturday’
A power failure in the photo finish booth caused a delay to the Group III Lexus Stakes but a print wasn’t required as A Prince of Arran (Michael Walker) booked his Melbourne Cup position with victory in the Lexus Stakes today. A Prince Of Arran, pictu
The price was staggering, so was the run. Ocean Emperor returned to his top form when winning the open sprint at Awapuni today. How he paid $10 is anyone’s guess. Rosie Myers, who landed a winning treble, produced an inch-perfect ride, darting the
Talented mare Sleeping Beauty, pictured, proved too slick for her rivals when she led all the way to take out the day’s open sprint contest over 1300m at Tauranga. The lightly raced six-year-old was registering her eighth victory from just 17 career sta
Aristia (pictured) is now favourite for the Group 1 Kennedy Victoria Oaks (2500m) following her tough win in Saturday’s Wakeful Stakes (2000m) at Flemington. The Oaks market has had a massive reshuffle over the past week. The announcement of Amphitr
Tauranga selections (by Phillip Quay) Cavallo Veloce, Superstatic, Simply Sacred. Our Craftsman, Marija, Yamuna. Raspberry Secret, El Coolio, Matuzalem Uabasso, Charli Rose, Prodigal Son. Meteoric Lass, Le Castile, Aileen Grace. Embellish, Sleeping Beauty
The Melbourne Cup picture just got a lot murkier with Racing Victoria vets to re-examine four hopefuls on Saturday morning before they are permitted to accept for Tuesday’s big race. The four horses under the RV microscope are Prize Money (Saeed bin Sur
The Victoria Derby has thrown up its share of surprise results of late, but one model that has stood the test of time in relation to trying to find the winner is focussing on in-form horses. In the past 30 years, not one winner of Australia’s oldest
The Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman-trained Zacada is currently 24th in order of entry for the Gr.1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) on Tuesday, but he will be relying on results to go his way at Flemington on Saturday in order to retain his spot in the field. The G
Haunui Farm shuttle stallion Iffraaj was represented by his 64th stakes winner yesterday courtesy of the Roger Varian-trained Rasima’s victory in the Fleur De Lys Fillies’ Stakes (Listed, 1600m) at Lingfield in the UK. The three-year-old stole
Trainer Chris Waller believes he holds a strong hand in Saturday’s Gr.1 Empire Rose Stakes (1600m) with stablemates Invincibella and former Kiwi Shillelagh. “I expect both horses to be very hard to beat,” Waller said. “Shillelagh won on this day l
Cameron Lammas will rest sore ribs instead of riding at Tauranga Saturday. Lammas was pinned in the gates at the Te Aroha trials Thursday.’ Apart from aching ribs he fortunately didn’t suffer any major injury. He wants to ensure he’s ful
South Australian jockey Jamie Kah (pictured) could have her first ride in the Melbourne Cup – if Lindsay Park stayer Jaameh collects a golden ticket into the race by winning Saturday’s Lexus Stakes (2500m) at Flemington. The Adelaide Advertise
Gobstopper won’t be defending his New Zealand Cup crown tomorrow fortnight. He is well out of form and a shocker in the Te Awamutu Cup Wednesday convinced trainer Andrew Campbell to pull the pin. “He’s just not going well enough,”
New Zealand Cup (3200m) aspirant Major Tom will have one more run in the C S Stevens Memorial Banks Peninsula Cup (2200m) at Motukarara on Sunday before he contests the two-mile Riccarton feature later this month. The Ken Rae and Krystal Williams-Tuhoro-t
Group One winning mare Consensus will have the first run of her seven-year-old season in the Chesters Plumbing & Bathroom (1300m) at Tauranga on Saturday. The Stephen McKee-trained mare last raced in May when she ended a three start Australian campai
Long Leaf’s (Fastnet Rock) family features a host of classy sprinters and connections of the talented colt believe a decision to save him for the stallion-making Gr.1 Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) can be rewarded at Flemington. “We’ve com
Group One winning mare Consensus will have the first run of her seven-year-old season in the Chesters Plumbing & Bathroom (1300m) at Tauranga on Saturday. The Stephen McKee-trained mare last raced in May when she ended a three start Australian campai
The New Zealand Racing Board has announced an operating profit result of $154.9 million for the year ending 31 July 2018, up $6.9 million (4.7%) on last year. Including the investment in its strategic initiatives, reported net profit was $145.9 million, $
Former Haunui Farm shuttle stallion Showcasing was represented by Gr.3 Prix Miesque (1400m) winner Devant in France on Wednesday. The two-year-old filly was last seen winning at Caron and was runner-up in the Gr.3 Prix Six Perfections (1400m) in July, but
Kiwi (Sir) Charles Road is now 24th and tenuously holding the final position on the list of entry for the Melbourne Cup after British stayer Duretto, the fourth-placed finisher in the Caulfield Cup, was pulled out. The Andrew Balding-trained stayer had be
Ralph Manning apprentice Ashvin Goindasamy, 20, was knocked out in a fall from a maiden at Te Awamutu, Wednesday. His mount in the seventh, Castlereigh, blundered and clipped heels, unseating Goindasamy. He now faces a lengthy break from action, the stand
Te Akau jockey Shafiq Rusof is heading home Thursday to Malaysia to catch up with family. Rusof, pictured, will miss Awapuni Saturday and the Feilding Cup ride on Nymph Monte, on whom he won last start. He hopes to be back Thursday week. He has had 22 win
Victorian jockey Ben Melham will be aboard popular stayer Who Shot Thebarman when the 10-year-old runs in his fourth Melbourne Cup next Tuesday. Melham replaces Tye Angland, who’s committed to Ace High. NZ-owned Who Shot Thebarman bounced back to form l
The first Melbourne Cup was run in 1861, and the winner was the horse Archer (see list of winners). At the next day’s meeting, Archer won a second race over two miles, the Melbourne Town Plate. Archer also won the Melbourne Cup the following year. T
Standout three-year-old filly Verry Elleegant will head to Flemington on Saturday to contest the Gr.2 Wakeful Stakes (2000m) in preparation for next week’s Gr.1 VRC Oaks (2500m). The New Zealand-bred and part-owned filly has impressed in her two starts
Kiwi trainer Mike Moroney will partner with compatriot James McDonald on Saturday as he attempts to win his third Gr.1 VRC Derby (2500m). The Flemington trainer will saddle the lightly-raced Chapada in the three-year-old Classic and Moroney believes the s
Ace sprinter Julius has been retired. A scan has revealed the Swiss Ace gelding has a hole in his near fore tendon, leaving Cambridge trainer John Bell no choice but to call time on the seven-year-old’s career. “He’s
Lance O’Sullivan’s Charles Road is one defection away from gaining a start in next Tuesday’s Melbourne Cup. He is 25th in the line of entry, one behind Murray Baker’s Zacada A total of 47 remain in the race for the 24 places. Fi
Te Akau has made a couple of big decisions on its team for the Cup Week. It has withdrawn the talented but inconsistent Wide Awake from the Cup, Swing Note from the Coupland’s Mile and Our Flying Ace from the 2000 Guineas. Swing Note will be focused
Three-time Group One winner Humidor will take no further part in the Melbourne spring carnival after pulling up with an injury after running third behind Winx in the Gr.1 Cox Plate (2040m) at Moonee Valley on Saturday. The New Zealand-bred and part-owned
Failure to gain a place in the Melbourne Cup may put Darren Weir-trained Yogi on a plane to Christchurch and an assault on the New Zealand Cup on Saturday fortnight. Yogi has his last chance to gain a Melbourne Cup spot in Saturday’s Lexus at Flemin
Ladies First will have one further throw of the dice in Melbourne before returning home to be set to defend her Gr.1 Auckland Cup (3200m) crown. The six-year-old daughter of Dylan Thomas finished eighth in the Gr.2 Moonee Valley Gold Cup (2500m) at Moonee
Tiger Tara’s New Zealand Trotting Cup raid is bang on target despite a narrow defeat in last night’s A$50,000 Group 2 Cranbourne Cup. The recent Victoria Cup winner did all the work outside the leader – the emerging San Carlo – and went down b
Cambridge Stud’s Brendan and Jo Lindsay enjoyed a red-letter day with three individual winners at Ellerslie and a Gr.3 victory for a member of their broodmare band at Trentham on Saturday. The day began with two-year-old homebred Bavella (Snitzel) frank
By Phillip Quay Kiwi racemare Savvy Coup, pictured, will remain in Melbourne for further racing despite finishing second last in yesterday’s Cox Plate. Co-trainer Michael Pitman confirmed the four-year-old mare will start next in the A$300,000 Matri
Media Sensation (I Am Invincible) stepped up to stakes level for the first time in Saturday’s $70,000 Group 3 Partners Life Soliloquy Stakes (1400m) at Ellerslie, and scored a stylish win to put herself on track for a Group 1 target. The race was the fe
Stephen Marsh trained first starter Exuberant made a winning debut with a gritty victory in the Listed Hanley Formula Wellesley Stakes (1000m). Sporting the familiar colours of syndication specialist, Go Racing, the Savabeel colt was a $160,000 purchase b
Progressive mare Dark Princess continued her rise up the ranks with her first victory at stakes level when successful in Saturday’s Gr.3 Gee & Hickton Thompson Handicap (1600m) at Trentham. The Cape Blanco five-year-old caught the eye with a barnsto
THE QUEEN of the turf has a fourth Cox Plate jewel in her crown. Winx, pictured, has claimed a fourth-straight Cox Plate at Moonee Valley today and her place in the history books as the first racehorse to win the time-honoured classic on four occasions
Unbeaten Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman-trained The Chosen One burst into calculations for next month’s Gr. 1 Equiworld Two Thousand Guineas (1600m) at Riccarton after an emphatic win in the Zacinto Stakes on the same course today. The Chosen One m
Two harness racing drivers charged after a police investigation into race fixing can return to competitive racing. The pair had been excluded from driving in totalisator races by the Racing Integrity Unit pending the hearing of criminal charges against th
The ageing Dennis brothers only have a few in work these days. But who needs to train them when you part-own one as exciting as The Chosen One, who races in the Zacinto Stakes at Riccarton today. It will be the last step on the way to the 2000 Guineas f
New Zealand-bred and owned warhorse Who Shot Thebarman will be vying to make it back-to-back wins in the Gr.2 Moonee Valley Gold Cup (2500m) when he lines up on Saturday. The Gr.1 Sydney Cup (3200m) winner has been unplaced in all of his three starts this
Spring Champion Stakes runner-up Aramayo is the new favourite for the Group Two Vase at Moonee Valley following the scratching of last-start Caulfield winner Verry Elleegant. Verry Elleegant heads betting on the VRC Oaks after an impressive victory in las
New Zealand-owned galloper Patrick Erin currently sits in 47th position in the order of entry for the Gr.1 Melbourne Cup (3200m), but regardless of whether he makes the final field co-owner Janice Smith and her daughters will be at Flemington to mark a sp
English-born jockey Eilish McCall will keep her date with group winner Close Up at Ellerslie Saturday. Claimer McCall, 25, was to ride him a month or so back to take some weight off his ageing back but the horse suffered a stone bruise and was scratched
Masa Tanaka has had his riding contract in Korea extended by six months. He has won nine up there in this stint but suffered the heartbreak of being demoted after a group win. Meanwhile Awapuni apprentice Tim Johnson is out of his time and will now free
Chris Waller has hit back at English racing commentator Matt Chapman, who on Tuesday questioned the form of legendary Australian mare Winx. At Tuesday morning’s Cox Plate barrier draw, ITV host Chapman mounted a case for Godolphin raider Benbatl, su
Unbeaten three-year-old gelding Dawn Patrol will now head to Riccarton next month to contest the Gr.1 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) after pleasing trainer Frank Ritchie in his 1200m trial at Te Aroha on Thursday. “We’ve had
Multiple Group One winner Humidor pushed Winx close in last year’s Gr.1 Cox Plate (2040m) and his connections are hoping he can go one better this year. The New Zealand-bred and part-owned gelding has had a solid preparation leading into Saturday’s fe
A cautiously excited Michael Pitman has been given the green light from his surgeon to travel to Melbourne on Friday to watch Savvy Coup contest the Gr.1 Cox Plate (2040m) at Moonee Valley. “I get out of the hospital this afternoon and I’m on a
A trials meeting will be held at Otaki next Tuesday to again the test the surface of the upgraded track. Last Sunday’s meet was abandoned after race three when a horse slipped. It was the first meeting in almost 8 months at Otaki. Jockeys gave it th
Allan Sharrock is stretching his resources like never before but is hoping for a landmark weekend of success as he produces runners in stakes races at three different venues for the first time in his career this weekend. The New Plymouth trainer is
Feelar’s NZ Cup odds were trimmed to $6 after another round of withdrawals Wednesday. Stephen Marsh-trained Feelar will have first run since early October at Ellerslie Saturday. John Wheeler’s Pentathlon’s Cup quote is down to $10 from
Caulfield trainer Mick Price has elected to bypass the Gr.1 VRC Oaks (2500m) in favour of the Gr.1 Myer Classic (1600m) at Flemington on Saturday-week with three-year-old filly Seabrook. It will be three weeks between runs for the New Zealand-bred filly w
The Melbourne Cup is the most loved and anticipated horse race in Australasia. While other prestigious racing events also take place throughout the racing season, the Melbourne Cup attracts the attention of the public like no other. Here are a number of
The Aidan O’Brien stable would be as surprised as the rest of the racing world if Rostropovich, pictured, pulled off an upset win over Winx in Saturday’s Group 1 Cox Plate. The Australian TAB has Rostropovich at $31 in its latest Cox Plate market wh
Kiwi eventers Jesse Campbell (pictured), Tim Price, Andy Daines and Caroline Powell are chasing CCI4* glory this week at the Les 4 Etoiles de Pau in France. Jesse will ride Cleveland, Andy is aboard Spring Panorama, Caroline is on Spice Sensation and Tim
Lynsey Satherley would rather be a stay at home mum. But riding horses is a living she can’t do without. Travelling long distances to race meetings is not her thing but on Saturday she will leave her Cambridge home to fly to Wellington to ri
Cody Cole’s rise in the training ranks could include a Group One contender next month. After being a successful weight-lifter whose highlight was representing New Zealand at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Scotland, Cole (28) has followed in the race hor
New Zealand trainer Stephen Marsh’s long-range plan to campaign a couple of promising mares off-carnival in New South Wales steps up a notch this week with Campari and Mark Two tackling city assignments. The lightly raced but well performed pair scored
Jon Snow’s Melbourne spring campaign has come to an end after he tailed the field home in Saturday’s Gr.1 Caulfield Cup (2400m). Nothing went to plan for the Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman-trained five-year-old and the decision has been made by his c
Classy New Zealand racemare Savvy Coup, pictured, will start from barrier five in Saturday’s Cox Plate, one inside champion racemare Winx. A total of eight starters will contest the A$5m Group One race. At today’s draw, connections of each of
Stipe Neil Goodwin will tomorrow attempt to unravel the reason why a horse slipped, ending race meeting early on Sunday. It was the Otaki-Maori Racing Club’s first meeting for several months, during which repairs were made to improve the track sur
For years the O’Leary brothers have stood side by side barracking for their wonderful stayer, Who Shot Thebarman, as he racked up $4 million in stake earnings. He was fifth in the 2016 Melbourne Cup, took the Moonee Valley Cup in 2017 and also
When Wanganui owner-trainer Raymond Connors sent Prince Oz to the South to further his career little he think the horse would be a Gr 3 Stewards Stakes contender less than 12 months later. On Saturday Prince Oz won his fourth race on end, all from the Ric
Champion galloper Debt Collector left no doubt in anybody’s mind who is currently the middle-distance kingpin in Singapore after he raced away to an emphatic win in the S$1 million Queen Elizabeth II Cup (2000m) on Sunday in Singapore. While that 10th w
Following the Otaki RC abandonment, an extra race has been added to the Wellington RC meeting at Trentham on Saturday 27 October. The additional race will be a Rating 72 1400m race worth $30,000. NZTR and the Club may look to divide a race at Trentham i
By Phillip Quay Te Akau three-year-old Sword Of Osman clinched a trip to Riccarton for the Gr. 1 Dubai 46th Two Thousand Guineas on November 10 with his narrow win in the Gr. 2 James & Annie Sarten Memorial at Te Rapa today. “He will have to go
By Phillip Quay The decision by the Sunday Star-Times newspaper to change to a “compact” format for yesterday’s issue is another sign that the demise of newspapers is near. There was no racing coverage in yesterday’s Sunday Star-Ti
By Grace Willougby Maija (right) and I have been friends for about 10-11 years now. We rode together in New Zealand and then I moved to Australia and not long after she came too. She’s one of my oldest and best friends. The reason I decided to start
North Island raider Xpression underlined why she is the favourite to take out next month’s Gr.1 Gavelhouse.com New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) when she handed out a beating to her age group rivals at Ashburton on Saturday. The stylish Showcasing filly
Darren Weir has strengthened his hand in the VRC Oaks after Verry Elleegant scored a brave win in the Gr.3 Ethereal Stakes (2000m) at Caulfield. Verry Elleegant jumped to the top of Oaks betting at $2.50 following her win in Saturday’s 2000m race fo
Caulfield Cup-winning jockey Pat Cosgrave heads to the Melbourne Cup full of confidence he can help break Godolphin’s curse in the race after declaring that everything went wrong for his winning mount Best Solution during Saturday’s $5 million
A year ago Peso, pictured, won a $23,000 R65 race at Rotorua. Twelve months later he returned to Arawa Park today to win the $50,000 Jakkalberry Classic. That’s what you call progress. From the one gate, Rosie Myers gave Peso a calm ride, made h
Dawn and Peter Williams-trained Media Sensation cemented her claims for a trip south next month with an impressive win the opening event at today’s Rotorua meeting. The I Am Invincible filly three-year-old filly produced an undeniable finish to beat
Injured jockey Alysha Collett underwent successful surgery to her fractured vertebra on Thursday. The New Zealand-born 25-year-old rider had a 10cm rod screwed onto her L1 lumbar vertebra during a five-hour long surgery performed at the Singapore General
New Zealand-owned stayer Patrick Erin looks likely to miss a run in Saturday’s Gr.1 Caulfield Cup (2400m), for which he is first emergency. Trainer Chris Waller reported the last start Gr.1 Metropolitan Handicap (2400m) winner has arrived safely into th
Hollie Wynyard says the Otaki track should be in perfect nick for the first meet there for several months Sunday. The training partner of Johno Benner said they galloped a couple of their team this week and left impressed. “It’s rated a de
The spirit of co-operation in pursuit of spring riches on foreign soil has been obvious. But it’s time for Japanese thoroughbreds Chestnut Coat and Sole Impact to go from travelling companions and training track workmates to 2018 Caulfield Cup rivals. C
“We just nominated her for just about everything. She’s had a freshen-up since Hastings and will be set for the Captain Cook (Trentham December),” said trainer Jamie Richards. “I’d like to think she could win a weight-for-age or
Cambridge trainer Martin Da Cruz is taking a cautious approach with his talented sprinters Packing Eagle and Elusive Treasure going into Saturday’s Gr.3 Sweynesse Stakes (1215m) at Rotorua. Da Cruz is happy with his duo but wasn’t exuding conf
A bright and content Charles Road is poised to enhance his Gr.1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) claims with a bold run in Saturday’s Gr.3 Coongy Cup (2000m), according to Matamata trainer Lance O’Sullivan. O’Sullivan, who trains the five-year-old
I Am A Star (NZ) (I Am Invincible) is continuing to live up to her name on the racetrack with a string of feature race wins against her own sex in Melbourne. The Shane Nichols-trained mare notched another feature win at Caulfield on Wednesday in the Gr.3
Group Two-winning filly Xpression will have one final hit-out at Ashburton on Saturday before she contests her main target of the spring, next month’s Gr.1 Gavelhouse.com New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m). The Guy Lowry and Grant Cullen-trained three-yea
Five-year-old gelding Excalibur heads into Saturday’s Listed Jakkalberry Classic (1950m) at Rotorua in fine fettle according to trainer Shaune Ritchie, but the wide draw of barrier 11 will ensure he is ridden conservatively once again. The winner of six
Racing Minister Winston Peters, pictured, has announced the next steps to promote new investment in the horse bloodstock industry. “Quality breeding is the life blood of the New Zealand racing industry. Better tax rules will encourage new investment in
Unbeaten three-year-old Dawn Patrol, pictured, pleased trainer Frank Ritchie with his last-start victory over 1400m at Matamata on Saturday but his path towards the Gr.1 Al Basti Equiworld New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) is currently undecided. The Dawn
Bryce Revell gets serious about a shot at the NZ Cup with Duellicious at Woodville tomorrow. It will be his first Cup runner. As usual the Riccarton examination of a horse’s stamina has drawn a patchwork quilt bunch of lower graded gallope
A year ago it was boom times for Kiwi Cory Parish. He had just won the $6 million Caulfield Cup on Boom Time. Not bad for a jock who couldn’t buy a decent ride in New Zealand, But it’s now back to square one. He has no ride this year and is un
She may be royally bred but don’t expect too much from Giammetti at Te Aroha, says co-trainer Julia Ritchie. The mare out of Telegraph winner Guiseppina starts her racing life in the 6th. Her trials showings have been anything but stunning and will
Group One winner Aloisia will be looking to recapture her form of last spring when she lines-up in the Gr.2 Tristarc Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on Saturday. The daughter of Azamour won the Gr.1 Thousand Guineas (1600m) and Gr.2 Moonee Valley Vase (2040m)
European import Igraine has hardly put a foot wrong since joining Robert Priscott’s Te Awamutu barn earlier this year and she is set to tackle stakes company for the first time in the Listed Jakkalberry Classic (1950m) at Rotorua on Saturday. &nb
There’s still a slim chance of Darren Weir being represented in next month’s NZ Cup. Yogi and Orminto are nominated but Orminto won’t make the trip. The German bred isn’t good enough, said a stable rep. Yogi has to win the Geelon
Jockey Alysha Collett suffered a fractured lower backbone and right heel after a race fall at Kranji on Sunday. The New Zealander is currently warded in Singapore General Hospital awaiting further tests to ascertain if she is clear of any other injury. Co
A fourth attempt at the Gr.1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) will hang in the balance at Moonee Valley on October 27 for Who Shot Thebarman. The Gr.1 Sydney Cup (3200m) winner will line-up in the Gr.2 Moonee Valley Gold Cup (2500m) off the back of a disappointing n
Adrian Bull has pulled the pin on his two-pronged attack on the New Zealand Cup at Riccarton next month Galway Lil and Tipping Pin, both well beaten in racing at Hawera last Saturday , will bypass the 3200m test. Darren Weir-trained Yogi also looks anothe
Ashvin Goindasamy has swapped tailor-made miniature jockey’s colours for the real item and he’s now living a childhood dream. The Cambridge apprentice celebrated his best day in the saddle when from four rides at Matamata on Saturday he kicked home tw
Taranaki trainer John Wheeler hasn’t given up hope of getting Pentathlon into next month’s Gr.1 A$7 million Melbourne Cup, but he has come up with a left-field alternative if the talented stayer misses a start in the 3200m Flemington feature. Pentathl
Veteran Wanganui trainer Evan Rayner, pictured, wasn’t going to renew his trainer’s licence this season. But there he was at the track today, doing what he’s done for decades, applying the spit and polish to his team. Meanwhile, traini
Saturday was another bumper day for star stallion Dubawi, who was represented by Group One winners in both hemispheres. The Darley stallion operates off an incredible 15.3% stakes winners to runners and has sired 38 individual Group One winners. In Austra
With less than a week until the gates open for this years A$5m Caulfield Cup (2400m), Kiwi contender Jon Snow is ready to tackle the slew of international raiders set to contest the event. The Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman prepared five-year-old has mad
A Cox Plate clash with champion stablemate Winx remains on the table for The Autumn Sun, pictured, after he confirmed his star status with a four-and-a-half length demolition job of his rivals in Saturday’s Group 1 Caulfield Guineas (1600m). Chris
Redzel (pictured) clinched a stunning back-to-back triumph in The Everest, shutting out race favourite Shoals to claim the huge A$6 million first prize at Randwick in Sydney yesterday. The defending victor shot out of barrier one and blasted in front of t
The Victorian-based Gelagotis stable has sprung another Randwick raid with Moss ‘N’ Dale scoring in the Group Three Craven Plate. The Peter Gelagotis-trained wet-tracker was virtually unchallenged on heavy turf with the six-year-old streaking
By Glenn Watson Grant Nicholson has a few options but no obvious target for today’s Egmont Cup winner, Nymph Monte, pictured, in the coming weeks. “There’s the Feilding Cup …. we’ll see.” Using her impressive turn of fo
By Phillip Quay The highest-rated runner in the field, Deals In Heels, duly obliged in the $50,000 Listed Team Wealleans Matamata Cup to score her first black-type win. Trained by Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman, Deals In Heels scored nicely by half-a-len
By Glenn Watson Bill Thurlow didn’t need any more convincing after Glory Days won over a mile today. The Waverley horseman will now study the calendar for a suitable launching pad for a staying career. “She’s much stronger and tractabl
By Phillip Quay Cambridge-trained 3yo Dawn Patrol, pictured, maintained his unbeaten record in fine style in the Fairview Motors 3yo at Matamata today. Ridden by comeback jockey Opie Bosson, Dawn Patrol outfinished his rivals in the 1400m event. “It
Breeze Ups for New Zealand Bloodstock’s Ready to Run Sale of Two-Year-Olds will take place next week on Monday 15 and Tuesday 16 October with each day commencing at 10am. View the Breeze Ups schedule here. Held at Te Rapa Racecourse over two days, there
Cambridge Stud-based sire Highly Recommended, pictured, has registered three winners since last Friday. Paving the way in Australia, his son The Wild Cat struck over 1450m at Kyneton last weekend. The sire’s Ross Beckett-trained 4YO daughter Benefic
Amongst the great line up of races at Caulfield today is the $A500,000 Toorak Handicap – one of the hardest handicaps in Australia to win each year. This year 18 runners will line up for the judge, all hoping to etch their name into the hi
By Phillip Quay Selections for today’s Hawera meeting: (1) Kirkland, Lovetokeephim, Ave Maria (2) Quaff, Surrey, Herengawe. (3) Glory Days, Manhattan Street, Tinkalicious. (4) Beauden, King’s Cross, Miss Lizzie. (5) Cyclops, Wafer, Hundyamonth
Phillip Quay’s selections for today’s Matamata Racing Club meeting: (1) Vername, Grand Eagle, Harbourside. (2) Charli Rose, Adis Sounds Work, Adis. (3) Sistabeel, La Mia Stella, Paint The Town (4) Dawn Patrol, Notabadidea, Elate. (5) Ulumpjump
A decision taken just on eighteen months ago to try and establish themselves in the competitive world of thoroughbred breeding is on the cusp of paying some serious dividends for Cambridge couple Craig and Steph Dunphy. Originally from King Country, and b
Consistent mare Shillelagh will attempt to double her career Group One tally when she tackles the Toorak Handicap (1600m) at Caulfield on Saturday. The Chris Waller trained seven-year-old finished an eye-catching fourth at her last run in the Gr.1 Epsom H
ew Zealand filly Peaceful steps up to Group One level on Saturday in the Thousand Guineas (1600m) at Caulfield. Peaceful, who is trained by Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman, was an unlucky sixth over 1400m at Flemington last Saturday. “If she got a decen
Former New Zealand-trained gallopers Night’s Watch and Humidor form two of a three-pronged attack champion trainer Darren Weir will have on Saturday’s Gr.1 Caulfield Stakes (2000m), with Japanese import Tosen Basil the other member of the team. Rising
By Phillip Quay Don’t be surprised if regally-bred Darscape Princess, pictured, runs a bold race in the Gr. 3 $80,000 Rich Hill Stud Taranaki Breeders’ Stakes (1400m) at Hawera on Saturday. She was one of the big improvers in the Central Distr
It’s less than a month to go to the biggest sporting event in Australasia – the eight million dollar Melbourne Cup. The “race that stops a nation” attracts the best horses from right around the world and is becoming harder and hard
Talented sprinter Julius prepared for a return to racing in the Gr.3 Sweynesse Stakes (1215m) at Rotorua on Saturday week with an exhibition gallop at Taupo on Wednesday under regular rider Jason Waddell. “He feels good,” Waddell said. “He is a bit
Well, we’ve come to the end of another Hawkes Bay Carnival and boy, wasn’t it a doozy! The whole carnival is a credit to Andrew (Butch) Castles. I had the utmost privilege to continue my partnership with Te Akau’s Avantage. What an incredible little
James McDonald has turned his back on a chance to win Saturday’s A$13 million The Everest (1200m) in Sydney for a chance to scale even greater heights in Melbourne. The Sydney-based Kiwi hoop is the form jockey in Sydney, riding five winners at Warw
Allan Sharrock says he has nobody but himself to blame after missing the first acceptance payment for next month’s A$7 million Gr.1 Melbourne Cup (3200m), rendering Gr.1 Auckland Cup (3200m) winner Ladies First ineligible to start. The New Pl
Waikato Stud has won the race to purchase the two-time New Zealand Horse of the Year and multiple Group One winner Bonneval. The Matamata nursery acted quickly when her retirement was announced last week and dug deep to secure the daughter of Makfi. “Sh
Grunt will miss the Gr.1 Cox Plate (2040m) after his disappointing display behind Winx in the Turnbull Stakes at Flemington. Trainer Mick Price said he had not paid up for the four-year-old son of O’Reilly in the Cox Plate at Moonee Valley on October 27
Jamie Richards has enjoyed a strong start to his solo training career and the head trainer for the powerful Te Akau Racing operation saddled a further two winners and three placegetters at Riccarton on Tuesday. Richards, who until this season trained in p
Kiwi stayer Sir Charles Road spiked a temperature after finishing fourth in the Gr.3 MRC Foundation Cup (2000m) at Caulfield last month, but is back on track according to co-trainer Lance O’Sullivan. The David Archer-owned five-year-old was only an outs
Early indications are positive for Riccarton trainer Michael Pitman, who underwent surgery for bowel cancer on Monday. The 63-year-old, who trains in partnership with his son Matthew, prepared Savvy Coup to win last Saturday’s Gr.1 Livamol
Matamata-trained filly Puysegur living up to his family reputation when she scored nicely on debut at Riccarton today. Ridden by Jason Laking (pictured) and trained by Jamie Richards, Puysegur started from barrier five in the $22,500 2YO 800 metres event.
Johnathan Parkes (pictured) will have his second ride on NZ Cup winner Gobstopper in Saturday’s Egmont Cup. Parkes’ only other ride was in July 2017 when they finished sixth. Trainer Andrew Campbell said Parkes would not be aboard when Gobstop
Hot favourite The Autumn Sun, pictured left, has come up with barrier five in a field of 15 for Saturday’s $2 million Caulfield Guineas (1600m). The Chris Waller-trained colt is rated an even-money chance with Sportsbet following the favourable dr
Champion mare Enable became just the eighth horse to claim Europe’s premier weight-for-age race twice when winning the Gr.1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (2400m) on Sunday in the hands of Frankie Dettori. In front of Paris-Longchamp’s new €140 million
Last season’s champion two-year-old Avantage is likely to step out over 1400m at Matamata on Saturday as she continues her build-up towards the Gr.1 gavelhouse.com New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) at Riccarton in November. The daughter of Fastnet Rock r
A poor performance in a lead-up race has not deterred Vassilator’s trainer Colin Little from pressing ahead to the Caulfield Guineas with the colt. The three-year-old finished last in the Caulfield Guineas Prelude on September 30 and after undergoin
The central location of Aspen Manor Motel, on Grey Street in Hamilton East makes leading accommodation Provider Aspen Manor Motel the perfect place to base yourself while exploring the great little towns of the Waikato. Located in Grey Street in Hamilton
By Ciaran Warner It’s that time again – Christmas is coming. For many of us, Christmas is spent with loved ones. But it also offers a unique opportunity for the travel lovers amongst us to experience festivals and events held around the world in cel
Australian entertainers The Crackup Sisters will be coming to New Zealand for the first time to host one of the well-known Equidays Nightshows, the Equitainment Extravaganza, at both Mystery Creek and Christchurch. Equidays features a line-up of education
Royally bred three-year-old Langkawi took the first step on a path towards some of the feature age group events later in the summer when he landed his first victory at Hastings on the weekend. The Helmet gelding is out of handy broodmare Shortblackmini, w
While many may consider the task of beating Winx in the Gr.1 Cox Plate (2040m) in three weeks to be a monumental challenge, for Michael Pitman, trainer of rival Savvy Coup, it is nowhere near as daunting as the personal battle he is about to undertake. Pi
By Phillip Quay Matamata trainer Stephanie Tierney, pictured below, was back in the winners’ circle in the second of only two races run at today’s Waipa Racing Club meeting at Te Awamutu. Tierney tasted success with the ultra-consistent, Gobon
The ladies reigned supreme at Addington on Friday night, the fairer sex winning both feature races on the card. Dream About Me scored her second consecutive group race victory in a nail-biting finish to the Gr.2 $50,000 Canterbury Classic. An hour earlier
Hastings racegoers got to witness something special on Saturday when exciting four-year-old Te Akau Shark scorched to victory in the Gr.3 Red Badge Sprint (1400m) at Hastings. Touted as a star of the future following an impressive first-up win on the firs
The well-known colours of the powerful China Horse Club were to the fore at Hastings on Saturday when Madison County produced a devastating sprint to capture the Gr.2 Sacred Falls Hawke’s Bay Guineas (1400m). The stylish Pins gelding made it two wins fr
Pre-post favourite Savvy Coup left no room for excuses when she dominated her rivals in the Gr.1 Livamol Classic (2040m) at Hastings. The Savabeel mare had been backed into microscopic odds on the Fixed Odds markets after she put a flashing light on her L
Sacred Sea’s (NZ) (Sea The Stars) fighting win on Friday might have come in a modest Class 4 Non Premier race, but Ryan Curatolo’s wide smile at the weigh-in spoke volumes about why it meant so much to the French jockey. Curatolo was riding on a crest
Gr.1 Australian Guineas-winner Ferlax (NZ) (Pentire) has sired his first winner, Rare Episode, who won as he liked on debut at Gosford yesterday with a tilt at the Karaka Million 3YO Mile a possibility. The highest priced yearling for his ill-fated sire a
Riccarton-trained three-year-old Emily Margaret will take another step towards the Gr.1 gavelhouse.com New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) when she tackles the Inglewood Stud Guineas Trial (1400m) on her home track on Saturday. Prepared by Kevin and Pam Hugh
The curtain has come down on the outstanding racing career of dual New Zealand Horse of the Year Bonneval and a change in ownership looks likely in the near future. The Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman-trained mare has given her owners Alastair Lawrence, T
Champion Victorian trainer Darren Weir has little expectation of recent stable addition Verry Elleegant. The winner of two of her three starts in New Zealand for trainer Nick Bishara, Weir is pleased with the daughter of Zed and is hoping to get a guide a
Cambridge trainer Stephen Marsh will be hoping that Ugo Foscolo can recapture his black-type form in the Gr.3 Red Badge Sprint (1400m) at Hastings on Saturday. The Group One-winning son of Zacinto ran third fresh-up over 1200m at Ruakaka last month before
Cambridge trainer Stephen Marsh made a flying visit to Gosford, just outside of Sydney, on Thursday to saddle a pair of maiden gallopers and walked away with the lion’s share of prizemoney. Four-year-old mare Campari was successful over 1100m, wi
Johno Benner has no doubt he is taking a horse to the races capable of winning Saturday’s Gr.1 Livamol Classic (2040m) at Hastings. Benner and his partner Holly Wynyard will saddle Scott Base and Wyndspelle for the weight-for-age feature, confident the
Everything’s apples with Opie Bosson ahead of his comeback to race-riding at Hastings on Saturday. The champion hoop had just finished his daily workout and was munching on an apple when New Zealand Racing Desk caught up with him on Thursday. ItR
National Harness Racing Awards for 2018 were presented on both sides of the Tasman over the last week and it was great to see that the Breckon Farms team featured prominently on both occasions. The Harness Racing Australia Awards were the first to be anno
Trainer Nigel Tiley is pleased with high class three-year-old Melt and is looking forward to the challenge in Saturday’s Gr.2 Sacred Falls Hawke’s Bay Guineas (1400m), which has attracted a strong field of 16 runners. Group One-placed at two, Melt has
Two-year-old Showcasing filly Last Sight made the perfect start to her racing career with a debut win in the Burgundy @ Cambridge Stud 2YO (900m) at Ruakaka on Wednesday. The Roger James and Robert Wellwood-trained juvenile finished runner-up in her 630m
Byerley Park trainers Peter and Dawn Williams will take three horses north to Ruakaka on Wednesday in the hope of recording their maiden victories. Promising three-year-old debutant Jip Jip Rock has pleased her trainers with her three trials to dat
Trainer Stephen McKee is weighing up his options as to how progressive three-year-old Hasabro proceeds to the Gr.1 VRC Derby (2500m) on November 3. The son of Savabeel finished a luckless second at Geelong on Monday in a maiden 1755m, where
Talented Te Awamutu trainer Joe Waldron is set to relocate to Victoria at the end of the month. The 26-year-old has made a favourable impression in his 18 months training in his own right, sending out seven winners from his small team, while enjoyi
Chris Gibbs is keeping an eye on the Hawke’s Bay weather reports leading up to his stable’s two-pronged attack on the Gr.1 Livamol Classic (2040m) on Saturday. Gibbs and his Ruakaka training partner, Michelle Bradley, have Danzdanzdance and Hello It
Éclair Calling, a son of Tartan Bearer that created a buzz when selling as a yearling for a record $525,000 at the New Zealand Bloodstock Select Sale, has won his fourth race when successful over 1400m at Caulfield on Sunday. Raced by Thomas Li, the Phil
Enigmatic galloper Stratocaster booked his ticket for a crack at the riches of the Melbourne spring carnival when he cruised to victory at New Plymouth on the weekend. The lightly raced seven-year-old had hinted at a return to his best form when a fast fi
After being denied by centimetres in two Group One races on Epsom Handicap day, Sydney’s premier trainer Chris Waller has celebrated a big-race win with Patrick Erin (NZ) (Gallant Guru) in The Metropolitan. Leading home a one-two finish for the Wall
Windsor Park shuttler Charm Spirit was represented by the 24th individual winner from his first northern hemisphere crop on Thursday when Kick On was victorious in the Bonhams EBF Maiden Stakes (1600m) by two and a half lengths. From his first northern he
Australian jockey Michael Rodd capped a memorable week with a third winning treble on Friday night, including a Group 1 win for good measure. The Rodd rampage began last Friday with King Zoustar, Cracking Tottie and Ottawa, followed by an identical haul t
Michael Hawkes was in tears and Tommy Berry choked up as Chautauqua received a rousing farewell from The Valley crowd after a grand career ended on Friday night. In a scene which proved there aren’t too many fairytale endings in sport, the great grey st
The Racing Amendment Bill, better known as the ‘race fields’ legislation was withdrawn from Parliament on Thursday. Racing Minister Winston Peters confirmed the move when speaking at the annual New Zealand Harness Racing Conference, being held in Auck
Riverton trainer Ashley Frye secured her first training win at Gore on Friday when Boyslightup was victorious in the Gore Town and Country Restaurant (1200m). The win was made even more special for Frye because her fiancé, apprentice jockey
Gr.1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) hopeful Ladies First’s trip to contest the Gr.1 Livamol Classic (2040m) at Hastings next week is doubtful. Last season’s Gr.1 Auckland Cup (3200m) winner finished unplaced in her two starts at Hastings this month and
New Zealand syndicator Albert Bosma is acutely aware of the lucrative prizemoney on offer in Australia and hopes to have an increasing presence in the lucky country with both visiting raiders and permanently domiciled runners. The Stephen McKee-trained th
Group One performer Hiflyer will go for a spell following his sixth placing in last Saturday’s Gr.1 Windsor Park Plate (1600m). Trainer Peter Lock confirmed the son of Tavistock would enjoy a decent break before being set for summer target
Group One winner Sofia Rosa may be an even better mum than she was a racehorse. That was the quip from bloodstock agent Bruce Perry after the Gr.1 Australian Oaks (2400m) winner produced a Savabeel filly on Thursday. “She foaled this morning at Waik
Beauty Generation will step out for his first run of this campaign in the Gr.3 Celebration Cup Handicap on Monday, 1 October, with trainer John Moore pointing his stable star along the same route that led to last season’s Horse of the Year title. That p
Respected bloodstock expert Steve Brem has passed away at 69, following a long-term illness Brem was a former racing journalist, bloodstock adviser and stud manager in New Zealand before being recruited by Gai Waterhouse to bring more stud-owned ra
Vencedora has been eliminated from Saturday’s greys only race at New Plymouth after failing to meet the conditions of the race. In other words this grey, trained by John Wheeler, is not grey enough. The NZTR says: “After consulting the guideli
A wide gate could delay the return of unbeaten filly Media Sensation. South Auckland trainer Peter Williams has labelled the filly a doubtful starter for Saturday’s The Auckland Alarms 3YO (1200m) at Avondale after she drew the outside barrier of 11
Former New Zealand galloper Patrick Erin will be tested at Group One level for the second time in Australia on Saturday and his trainer Chris Waller believes the distance and track conditions should suit the Gallant Guru seven-year-old down to the ground.
Expat New Zealand trainer Chris Waller will be looking for improvement from Gr.1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) hopeful Who Shot Thebarman when he lines-up in Saturday’s Gr.2 Yulong Australia Hills Stakes (2000m) at Randwick. The Group One winner initially disap
Matamata trainer Glenn Old will have solid chances at two separate venues on Saturday, but he will head to New Plymouth to watch Our King Sway in the battle of the Greys. The Shinko King eight-year-old will line-up in the Powerworx Greys (14
If you spend ten minutes talking with Matamata-based apprentice jockey Jasmine Fawcett you will soon learn that her success is no fluke. The 25-year-old takes a positive psychological approach to her profession and draws heavily on several mentors.
Last-start Group One winner Grunt will be aiming for a third win at elite level when he lines-up in the Gr.1 Underwood Stakes (1800m) on his hometrack on Sunday. Trained at Caulfield by Mick Price, Grunt won the Gr.1 Australian Guineas (1600m) last
Caulfield Cup second favourite Night’s Watch is free of any lameness issues that may have derailed his spring campaign. Night’s Watch earned a ballot exemption into the Caulfield Cup with his win in Saturday’s MRC Foundation Cup at Caulf
Group Three-winner Lanciato will head into Saturday’s Gr.1 Epsom Handicap (1600m) at Randwick in good order in what has been a carefully laid out plan. “I’m really happy with him,” trainer Mark Newnham said. “It has taken a while for his coat to
One-time Caulfield Guineas favourite Brutal will miss the race in favour of another Group One race later in the spring. Co-trainer Wayne Hawkes said connections had decided to target the Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) at Flemington on November 3 instead of
TRIALS TUNE-UP FOR VOLPE VELOCE Group One winning mare Volpe Veloce stepped out at the Te Teko trials on Tuesday and was an impressive winner over 1010m. The Graham Richardson and Gavin Parker-trained mare is not far away from resuming and has benefited f
Following a successful test on its course proper on Monday, the Auckland Racing Club have confirmed racing will resume at Ellerslie Racecourse on Saturday Ocotber 27. Ellerslie has not hosted any race meetings since Auckland Cup Week in March, to allow fo
Lazarus fends off McWicked to win Hoosier Derby Lazarus N and driver Yannick Gingras winning the Hoosier Park Pacing Derby Dean Gilette photo ANDERSON, IN – It was billed as Round Three of a budding rivalry between two superstar harness racing pa
Kevin Myers apprentice Sarah MacNab remains in hospital 10 days after crashing heavily in a race at Woodville. Partner Shaun Fannin said she remained under observation for the effects of head trauma. “She just needs to rest,” said Fannin. MacN
Speedy filly Beauty Diva proved too quick for her juvenile rivals in the opening event at Pukekohe on Sunday. The Clinton Isdale trained two-year-old had impressed when winning a 620m trial at Te Teko last month after blundering badly out of the barrier t
By Phillip Quay Despite her emphatic win in the $200,000 Windsor Park Plate (1600m) at Hastings today star racemare Melody Belle won’t attempt to complete the Hawke’s Bay Triple Crown. Melody Belle followed up on her impressive Gr. 1 Tarzino T
Hardy sprinter Amarula, pictured, returned to the scene of his biggest victory when he took out the open sprint at Hastings on Saturday. The Peter McKay trained six-year-old caused a major upset as a three-year-old when successful in the 2015 edition of t
By Candice Gollan Pukekohe-trained Melt, pictured, once again put her talent and professionalism on display when she was victorious in the Group Three Cambridge Stud Northland Breeders’ Stakes (1200m) at Ruakaka on Saturday. The Nigel Tiley-trained daug
Promising galloper King Cougar delivered an emphatic statement to those who questioned his credentials on firmer ground when he stormed to victory on his home turf on Saturday. The Awapuni local has fashioned a more than useful record to date on mainly we
Regally-bred Echoes Of Heaven, pictured, is to stand at stud this spring in Cambridge, New Zealand. Newmarket Stud is the new home of regally-bred stallion Echoes Of Heaven, a stakes-winning Encosta de Lago half-brother to champion Australian sire Redoute
When you’re done relaxing at the recently revitalised Crusoe’s Retreat in Fiji, there are no shortage of ways to stay active and entertained, with a bounty of activities and amenities on offer. Water lovers will have endless opportunities to experienc
Ardmore Lodge trainer Nick Bishara has fielded some big offers for talented Zed filly Verry Ellegant and they were justified on Wednesday with an easy win in the NZB Insurance Pearl Series Race (1400m) at Matamata. Bishara was receiving offers as late as
Three-time Group One winner and equine cult-hero Gingernuts has been officially retired. The chestnut son of Iffraaj captured the imagination of the racing public, thanks to his catchy name, his enthusiastic ownership group and his heroics on the track.
Recently crowned New Zealand Champion Stayer for 2017-18, Charles Road, showed he was ready for some big spring assignments when he downed a talented field over 1600m at Hastings on Saturday. The Gr.1 Sydney Cup (3200m) placegetter made an emphatic stat
At 51, Terry Moseley won’t get many more chances to win a Stewards. He’s run second in the race twice and today seeks a breakthrough win on a transformed Prince Oz. Moseley has been atop in five of Prince Oz’s seven wins, five of which h
Who can forget last year’s dramatic finish to the Coupland’s Mile? In the public stand, Michael Pitman was thinking he had won with Son of Maher. .A few metres away in front of the members stand, Mark Oulaghan was sure he was second with Sha
