Year: 2020

Avantage (Fastnet Rock) has had to play bridesmaid to stablemate Melody Belle (NZ) (Commands) in her last two starts and will now head for a short break before preparing for some summer Group One targets. The Jamie Richards-trained mare came close to dethroning Melody Belle in the Gr.1 Windsor Park Plate (1600m), however, she was comfortably beaten by 2-3/4 lengths in the Gr.1 Livamol Classic (2040m) on Saturday. Richards has been pleased with her campaign, which also included a third-placing in the Gr.1 Tarzino Trophy (1400m), and victory in the…

What a difference a year makes. This time last year Te Akau trainer Jamie Richards was devastated after drawing the outside barrier with Te Akau Shark (NZ) (Rip Van Winkle) in the A$5 million Gr.1 Cox Plate (2040m), while this year he was overjoyed when drawing gate two for Group One-winning mare Probabeel (NZ) (Savabeel). “It is such a big help that Brendan (Lindsay, owner) was able to secure barrier two,” Richards said. “It means we can ride a nice positive race and have her up in the first half…

Star Kiwi mare Melody Belle (NZ) (Commands) will be making a hit-and-run raid to Melbourne for the Gr.1 $A2 million Mackinnon Stakes (2000m) at Flemington on November 7. The 12-time Group One winner has been in imperious form since returning to her homeland following two inconclusive runs in Sydney earlier this preparation, and trainer Jamie Richards, in consultation with her owners, is keen to have another tilt at the Mackinnon. The six-year-old mare won last year’s Gr.1 Empire Rose Stakes (1600m) at Flemington before a luckless second in the Mackinnon…

The Peter and Dawn Williams-trained Helsinki (NZ) (Savabeel) is on a less conventional path to the Gr.1 Barneswood Farm New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) at Riccarton Park next month. The South Auckland trainers have elected to bypass the three-year-old features at Te Rapa this weekend in favour of a 1400m maiden at Matamata on Wednesday. The daughter of Savabeel finished runner-up behind Mega Bourbon (NZ) (El Roca) at Te Rapa last month, but her trainers believe a softer assignment is a better option for the three-year-old. “We have chosen to…

For the second time within a month family and many friends will be gathering in Christchurch to celebrate the life and achievements of successful trainer and former top jumps jockey Neill Ridley. Ridley (67) passed away peacefully at his home last Friday after a courageous battle with cancer, his death coming 13 days after he had his last two starters from his Riccarton stable. His funeral will be held on Friday ending with a final farewell at Riccarton racecourse. As a result of deteriorating health, Ridley had decided to close…

Just days after winning his first Gr.1 Caulfield Cup (2400m) with a mare who came to Australia after starting her career in New Zealand, Chris Waller has been confirmed as the soon-to-be trainer of another classy Kiwi female. Leading Gr.1 Barneswood Farm 48th New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) prospect Tinker Mcphee (Nostradamus) will remain in New Zealand for her current campaign before transferring to the Waller stable after the November 14 Classic. Prepared in Matamata by Simon and Katrina Alexander for Australian owner Richard Boyd, the daughter of Nostradamus made…

Six-time Group One-winning mare Verry Elleegant (NZ) (Zed) has been penalised 0.5kg for her win in the Gr.1 Caulfield Cup on Saturday, taking her weight in the Gr.1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) to 55.5kg. “Saturday’s Caulfield Cup was an outstanding edition of the 2400m handicap and it was fought out by two world class horses with Verry Elleegant strong on the line and safely holding Gr.1 Epsom Derby (2400m) winner Anthony Van Dyck,” Racing Victoria Executive General Manager – Racing, Greg Carpenter said. “Verry Elleegant carried the second highest weight for…

The performance of dainty New Zealand-bred mare Verry Elleegant (NZ) (Zed) fending off Epsom Derby-winning blueblood Anthony Van Dyck (Galileo) in Saturday’s Gr.1 Caulfield Cup (2400m) is a triumph for all who dare to dream in the sport of thoroughbred racing and breeding. From humble beginnings, the daughter of unheralded Grangewilliam Stud sire Zed has amassed the best part of A$7 million in prizemoney and will provide her owners with the thrill of a lifetime when she competes in the Gr.1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) on the first Tuesday in November.…

Richard Collett has a big rap on four-year-olds Super Strike (NZ) (Super Easy) and Super Pursuit (NZ) (Proisir) and he believes they have a bright future after recording a winning double for the Pukekohe trainer at Ellerslie on Saturday. Super Strike extended his impressive form line to three wins and two placings from just the five career starts when winning the Otakiri Reserve 1400. “His form line relates to his ability, he is very smart. He is a good galloper,” Collett said. “There won’t be much stopping him until he…

The Gr.2 Coupland’s Bakeries Mile (1600m) is quickly coming upon us and no one is more excited than Riverton trainers Kelvin and Aimee Tyler. The father-daughter team could have three horses contesting the race with dual stakes winner Lightning Jack (NZ) (Per Incanto) securing his spot with victory in the Paul Brand Pendene Farm Open 1600 at Ashburton on Sunday. The son of Per Incanto raced midfield before coming off the hot pace to run home to a 1-1/4 length victory over Upperhand, with a further 2-1/4 lengths back to…