Year: 2020

A delighted Daniel Nakhle and Darren Brady are reaching for the stallion register tonight before popping corks, having managed to ward off strong international competition to buy out shareholders in Spanish Whisper (Lope De Vega) for an online record-setting AU$1,202,500. “We’ve bred and raced her, fallen in love with her and I have a big grin on my face from having been able to secure her tonight,” Nakhle said. “We looked around the international market for mares with similar credentials and at the price I think we’ve got great value.…

The Jamie Richards-trained Miss Aotearoa (NZ) (Per Incanto) will not contest the Gr.1 Barneswood Farm 48th New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m). The filly has suffered a setback that will require minor surgery and rehabilitation will rule her out of the feature event for three year old fillies, for which she was $5.50 favourite.   A classy last start winner of the Gr.3 Hawke’s Bay Breeders’ Gold Trail Stakes (1200m) on the first day of the Hastings Spring Carnival, Miss Aotearoa has won both of her starts as a three year…

Matamata trainer Stephanie Tierney produced one for the black book at Tauranga on Wednesday when first-starter Mistress Minx (NZ) (Reliable Man) showed a dazzling turn of foot to come from last when breaking maiden ranks over 1200m. The daughter of Reliable Man was sent out an $18 chance and was ridden patiently to instruction by apprentice jockey Chelsea Burdan. Mistress Minx had been good in two trials, including a close-up fourth to highly-rated galloper Brando at Te Aroha. “We had kept her reasonably settled in her trials and it was…

Karis Teetan scored an on-pace victory aboard Here Comes Ted (NZ) (Per Incanto) for trainer David Ferraris at Happy Valley on Wednesday night. The New Zealand-bred rolled forward under the Mauritian ace from the wide draw but was caught three-wide early on. Teetan kept his cool and chose to roll forward and take the lead at the 650m mark and was involved in a battle to the line with his mount prevailing by a neck.  “I came out and I didn’t want to lead and I was forced to keep…

Track conditions at Hastings are currently rated a Slow8 ahead of the final day of the Hawke’s Bay Spring Carnival on Saturday, where the feature race is the Gr.1 Livamol Classic (2040m). The rain this week was welcomed by farmers but rued by Hawke’s Bay track manager Richard Fenwick as he prepares the course for the 10 race card. “We had 10.5mls on Tuesday and then we had 14mls on Wednesday night,” Fenwick said. “It has helped the farmers out but hasn’t helped me out. “They are talking rain or…

Hawke’s Bay Hurdle (3100m) winner The Midnight Shift (NZ) (He’s Remarkable) will do his future racing in Australia. The Paul Mirabelli-trained gelding has been sold to Australian interests after his 5-1/2 length win in the jumping feature last month and will join Clayton Douglas’ Sale barn. It was just the second jumping victory for the son of He’s Remarkable and Mirabelli said he was more hopeful than confident heading into the race. “I went there with a very open mind,” Mirabelli said. “He had only won the maiden (hurdle) the…

Trainer Stephen McKee brought up a winning double for syndicators Go Racing at Tauranga on Wednesday with Lord Ardmore (NZ) (Reliable Man) and Savappiel (NZ) (Savabeel). Three-year-old colt Lord Ardmore was having this third career start after placing at Tauranga last month. Under a positive ride from Sam Spratt, Lord Ardmore travelled in a handy position for the trip before letting down in the straight to win by a neck from consistent mare Always Sacred, who is yet to run out of the money in each of her five starts.…

Trackside’s Aidan Rodley caught up with trainer Graham Richardson about the chances Tiptronic in the weekend’s Gr.1 Livamol Classic (2040m) at Hastings.

Trackside’s Aidan Rodley caught up with jockey Danielle Johnson to discuss her chances on Avantage in this weekend’s Gr.1 Livamol Classic (2040m) at Hastings.

Rick Williams is presented with the NZTBA’s 2019/2020 Personality of the Year Award.