Year: 2020

Well-related filly Hindaam (NZ) (Savabeel) extended her record to two wins and a second from four starts when successful at Bendigo on Wednesday over 1300m for trainers Tom Dabernig and Ben Hayes. Sporting the colours of Shadwell Stud, the three-year-old filly was ridden patiently by Daniel Stackhouse and burst clear late to score by three-quarters of a length. “I think if she didn’t win then she would have been very unlucky not to,” Hayes said. “It was a hard watch halfway down the straight but once she got out she…

Wairere Falls (NZ) (Savabeel) is loving life in Sydney and added to his record in fine style on the Kensington track at Randwick on Wednesday. The well-related Savabeel four-year-old picked up a maiden success and three placings during his time at the Victorian arm of Chris Waller’s operation and since his move to Rosehill has really blossomed. Wairere Falls came from last to win at Hawkesbury before producing an identical performance on Wednesday with jockey Tommy Berry giving the gelding plenty of time to find his feet before powering to…

Three-year-old feature races now beckon the Jamie Richards-trained Brando (NZ) (Savabeel) after his maiden victory in the Mainfreight 1400 at Te Aroha on Wednesday. The son of Savabeel had a picket fence form line at the trials prior to finishing runner-up behind $2.60 Gr.1 Barneswood Farm New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) favourite Tinker McPhee (Nostradamus) on debut at Matamata earlier this month. Punters duly backed the Te Akau runner into $1.30 favouritism for his Te Aroha assignment and he delivered for his supporters, winning by a long head over Deep…

Only a matter of days ago, trainer Kenny Rae had resigned himself to missing the Gr.1 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) with Zoltan (NZ) (Iffraaj) at Riccarton on Saturday week. On Thursday at Ashburton, Rae will saddle the talented three-year-old in the Thank You Barneswood Farm 1200, the Iffraaj gelding on trial for a start for the Guineas after a remarkable couple of days of recovery. Zoltan clipped heels turning for home in the Gr.3 Barneswood Farm Stakes (1400m) at Ashburton 10 days ago and hit…

Group One performer Platinum Invador (NZ) (Redwood) will have a last ditch effort at trying to secure a spot in the Gr.1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) when he lines-up at Flemington on Saturday. The son of Redwood will contest the Gr.3 Hotham Stakes (2500m) with the winner gaining automatic entry into the race that stops a nation next Tuesday. Having transferred from Lisa Latta to Peter Moody’s Pakenham barn earlier this spring, Platinum Invador showed a glimpse of his best when third in the Gr.2 Herbert Power Stakes (2400m) at Caulfield…

New Zealand-bred colt Ranting (NZ) (Zoustar) will face his biggest test to date when he steps out in Saturday’s Gr.1 Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) at Flemington. The Troy Corstens-trained son of Zoustar was a last-start winner of the Gr.3 Blue Sapphire Stakes (1200m) and Corstens admitted the three-year-old would have to be on his best behaviour to score in elite company. “Ranting can still do a little bit wrong,” he said. “You saw in the Blue Sapphire that he pulled extremely hard. He’s not going to be able to do…

Gr.1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) contender Verry Elleegant (NZ) (Zed) stepped out at Flemington at Breakfast with the Stars on Tuesday and trainer Chris Waller is pleased with her build-up to the race that stops the nation. “Mark Zahra said she was nice and bright and relaxed and he couldn’t have been happier,” Waller said. It will be the first time the daughter of Zed has raced beyond 2500m, though Waller felt the step up in distance would not trouble her. “The unknown is the two miles but it only looks…

Horses stepped out onto New Zealand’s first synthetic surface last week with construction of the Polytrack completed at the Cambridge Jockey Club. Construction began in January this year and nearly 10 months on, Cambridge Jockey Club chief executive Mark Fraser-Campin is more than happy with the result and enthusiastic about the benefits it will bring to New Zealand racing.   “It opened last Thursday afternoon and we had six or seven horses go around with senior riders,” Fraser-Campin said. “We opened it for slow work on Friday morning and all the…

Trent Busuttin trained Sangster (NZ) (Savabeel) to win the Gr.1 Victoria Derby (2500m) in 2011 and he thinks it’s about time he gets his hands back on the coveted mug. Together with wife Natalie Young, Busuttin will have two chances in the three-year-old feature at Flemington on Saturday – Albarado (NZ) (Savabeel) and Wertheimer (NZ) (Tavistock). Albarado finished third in the Listed Super Impose Stakes (1800m) at Flemington two starts back before winning the Gr.3 Neds Classic (2000m) at Caulfield a fortnight ago. “It was a messy race the Norman…