Year: 2020

Through friendships forged in the tight-knit jumping community, a number of Kiwi horses have crossed the Tasman this year and joined the Mornington stable of Brett Scott. The latest addition to that list is the dual Group Two winner Imelda Mary, who will make her first start for the former star jumps jockey in Sunday’s Listed Sale Cup (1600m). The daughter of Ferlax has followed the path previously taken this year by Irish Flame, formerly trained by John Wheeler, and Craig and Shaun Phelan’s stable star (Our) Big Mike. Trained…

The pride of Levin, Dolcetto, is facing an uphill task when he lines-up in the Gee & Hickton Funeral Directors Thompson Handicap (1600m) at Trentham on Sunday. The Sylvia Kay-trained eight-year-old has been lumbered with 60kg for the race, giving his nearest rival, Gr.1 Auckland Cup (3200m) winner Ladies First, a 4.5kg advantage. “It is a big disadvantage,” Kay said. “I know he is a big, strong horse but there are a lot of other big, strong horses that aren’t carrying a lot of weight. “It’s a big ask, but…

Saturday’s Listed Christchurch Casino Spring Classic (2000m) at Riccarton will be the first black-type test for a horse in the form of his life. Five Princes (NZ) (Red Giant) has flown through the grades with four wins in his last five starts, from maiden grade right through to a Rating 99 handicap. Saturday’s contest is the next big step along the road towards his main goal – the Gr.3 Christchurch Casino New Zealand Cup (3200m) on November 14. “He’s very, very well heading into the race this weekend,” said Centaine…

Injured jockey Rosie Myers has shown significant improvement on Thursday with husband William Fell saying she was talking to family and understanding what was happening around her. Rosie was injured following a fall at the Foxton trials on 6 October and was initially flown to Wellington hospital in an induced coma. The popular Central Districts jockey was moved out of ICU last weekend and then on to Lower Hutt hospital where she had undergone facial surgery on Tuesday.  Until yesterday morning, the 33-year-old had not communicated verbally with family members.…

Andrew Bensley catches up with Brendan Lindsay ahead of Probabeel’s tilt at the Gr.1 Cox Plate (2040m) on Saturday.

Dual Hong Kong Horse of the Year Werther (NZ) (Tavistock) and Hong Kong Derby (2000m) winner Ping Hai Star (NZ) (Nom du Jeu) will add another feather to their cap this season. The pair, who are living out their retirement at Highden Park near Palmerston North, have become New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing Welfare Ambassadors and will start to visit New Zealand race tracks from next Sunday to promote horse welfare post-racing. “It is a new concept through NZTR,” said Libby Bleakley, who owns Highden Park with husband Sam. “Welfare has…