Month: March 2021

Warwick Farm trainer Bjorn Baker sent out the quinella in the Gr.3 Sharp Extensive IT Aspiration Quality (1600m), with six-year-old mare Missybeel (NZ) (Savabeel), a $61 chance, narrowly prevailing from more fancied stablemate ($5) She’s Ideel (Dundeel). Already the winner of last season’s Gr.3 Epona Stakes (1900m) last season, Missybeel is now the winner of seven of her 43 starts, with a further nine placings. “I tell you what, she wasn’t a 60/1 shot, I don’t know who’s framing the markets,” Baker said. “She’s already a Group Three winner, that…

John O’Shea has celebrated his first elite level victory since departing Godolphin in 2017 courtesy of Lion’s Roar (NZ) (Contributer) in the Gr.1 Randwick Guineas (1600m), who defeated fellow Kiwi bred Mo’unga (NZ) (Savabeel). The victory provided emerging Mapperley Stud stallion Contributer, whose eldest are just three, with his first Group One winner just days after Llanacord became her sire’s first Group winner taking out the Gr.2 Little Avondale Stud Lowland Stakes (2100m) at Hastings on Wednesday. Randwick-based O’Shea is no stranger to success at the highest level with 28…

Talented three-year-old The Gift proved too tough for her age group rivals at Wingatui on Saturday as she collected her first black-type success in the Listed NZB Insurance Stakes (1400m). The Robert Dennis-trained daughter of Power had to settle for the runner-up position behind Showemhowitsdone in both the Listed Gore Guineas (1355m) and the Listed Dunedin Guineas (1500m) before battling into sixth off a wide run in the Listed Southland Guineas (1600m) at her last three starts. Despite drawing handily in gate five for Saturday’s feature, rider Jacob Lowry found…

Prominent breeder and racehorse owner Daniel Nakhle was a bundle of nerves as he waited for Saturday’s two-year-old race at Wingatui to get underway. Nakhle, who admits he can get a bit keyed up before one of his runners is set to perform, was not overly worried about the performance of well-bred filly Sorrento for himself, moreover his thoughts were with his long-term Byerley Park employee Carol Walker who shares in the ownership of the Iffraaj filly with him. Bred by Nakhle from well performed O’Reilly mare Needlly, Sorrento had…

Leading Central Districts rider Johnathan Parkes continued his winning roll aboard Jamie Richards-trained two-year-olds when he guided well related Savabeel youngster I Wish I Win to a comfortable victory in the opening race at Awapuni. Parkes has been the regular rider of Karaka Million 2YO (1200m) winner On The Bubbles for Richards and continued his successful association with the Te Akau Racing mentor by producing a copybook effort aboard the warm $1.40 favourite on Saturday. Expected to make a winning debut off the back of two eye-catching trial victories, I…