Month: March 2021

Already armed with an imposing BMW Hong Kong Derby (2000m) arsenal, John Size could add to an impressive fleet of Classic contenders when Savaquin (NZ) (Savabeel) contests the first section of Class 3 Canal Handicap (1650m) at Happy Valley on Wednesday night. With a handicap rating of 80, the proven city circuit performer could advance aspirations for the 21 March Derby with a third successive win as Size continues a familiar mid-season surge. Zac Purton retains the Savaquin ride with Joao Moreira suspended and is upbeat over the son of…

High-class mare Levante (NZ) (Proisir) ran out a ready winner of her 1230m heat at the Rotorua trials on Tuesday and most importantly jumped away cleanly from the starting gates and will be seen back at the races on Saturday week. The Ken and Bev Kelso-trained four-year-old missed a place for the first time in her nine-start career when bombing the start at Te Rapa in the Gr.1 BCD Sprint (1400m) last month, but still charged home for fifth. The daughter of Proisir jumped well from an inside draw under…

Talented three-year-olds Unition (Fastnet Rock) and Suffused (Choisir) have been sold and will do their future racing in Hong Kong. The Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman-trained pair had footed it with the best of New Zealand’s three-year-old crop and were both owned by the China Horse Club. Unition, a well-bred son of Fastnet Rock and Diademe, was a Listed winner on debut at two and went on to be Group placed on two occasions, while winning Choisir gelding Suffused was Listed placed and finished just 0.7 lengths from Aegon when…

Star mare Melody Belle (NZ) (Commands) showed she was on track for the Gr.1 Bonecrusher New Zealand Stakes (2000m) with a solid hit-out at the Rotorua trials on Tuesday. The Jamie Richards-trained six-year-old beat just one runner home when not having all favours in the Gr.1 Herbie Dyke Stakes (2000m) at Te Rapa last month but seemed her sparkling self on Tuesday. The 13-time Group One winner relished the strong tempo set by Rhaegar (Pluck) in the 1230m heat and got the better of that rival late to win the…

Punters should disregard Fleetwood Maca’s (NZ) (Rock ‘n’ Pop) last two runs when assessing her chances in the Gr.2 Little Avondale Stud Lowland Stakes (2100m) at Hastings on Wednesday according to co-trainer Pam Gerard. Fleetwood Maca has shown plenty of ability to date, most notably when pushing boom filly Amarelinha (NZ) (Savabeel) to 1-1/4 lengths in the Gr.2 Eight Carat Classic (1600m) at Ellerslie on Boxing Day. Her two runs since don’t look encouraging on paper — seventh in the Gr.2 Royal Stakes (2000m) at Ellerslie on New Year’s Day,…

Warwick Farm trainer Annabel Neesham is looking forward to lining up New Zealand-bred colt Mo’unga (NZ) (Savabeel) in the Gr.1 Randwick Guineas (1600m) on Saturday. The Savabeel three-year-old has just had the one start for Neesham, running third behind Tagaloa and Aysar in the Gr.3 CS Hayes Stakes (1400m) at Flemington last month. Mo’unga was previously trained by leading Sydney conditioner Chris Waller, for whom he won three of his four starts, including the Listed Dulcify Stakes (1500m) last September. Neesham was pleased with his first outing for her, particularly…

Cambridge trainer Stephen Marsh is heading to Hastings on Wednesday to try and record more Group honours with Zee Falls (NZ) (Sacred Falls), but he could be back in Hawke’s Bay in just a matter of days in search of bigger spoils. Hastings has been included in New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing and Auckland Racing Club’s contingency plan for the Gr.1 Vodafone New Zealand Derby (2400m) meeting if the Auckland region remains in COVID-19 Alert Level 3 on Sunday. Marsh is set to contest the $1 million Classic with stakes winner…