Month: August 2023

Group 1 commitments for Opie Bosson in New Zealand have opened the door for Michael Dee to ride star Kiwi mare Imperatriz in next Saturday’s Group 2 McEwen Stakes at The Valley. Bosson has ridden the mare in nine of her past 10 starts, during which the duo has scored three G1 triumphs including in the William Reid Stakes in March. Bosson confirmed to Racing.com he will be required to ride at the Hastings meeting next Saturday, which includes the G1 Tarzino Trophy, with fellow Kiwi Dee the beneficiary. The…

Kiwi galloper Aegon (NZ) (Sacred Falls) will return to Caulfield on Saturday where he will contest the Gr.1 Memsie Stakes (1400m). The six-year-old gelding put in an eye-catching run for third when first-up in the Gr.2 PB Lawrence Stakes (1400m) earlier this month and trainer Andrew Forsman believes heading back to the Melbourne track this weekend is the next logical step. The trans-Tasman conditioner had initially earmarked the Gr.2 Feehan Stakes (1600m) at The Valley on Saturday-week as his next assignment but has had a change of heart. “”I think we…

Stakes winner Illicit Dreams (NZ) (Vancover) will kick-off her preparation toward the Gr.1 Barneswood Farm New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) in November when she heads to Riccarton on Saturday to contest the NZ Cup Meeting Tickets On Sale Now Three-Year-Old (1000m). The daughter of Vancouver had a pleasing juvenile season for trainers Ken Rae and Krystal Williams, winning two of her five starts, including the Listed Champagne Stakes (1200m) in May, and her conditioners are hoping she can pick up where she left off this weekend. Originally earmarked to contest the…

Shaun and Emma Clotworthy are hoping the addition of headgear may enable Quirky Habits (NZ) (Belardo) to avenge a last start defeat when he runs in Saturday’s Listed HS Dyke Wanganui Guineas (1200m). The Byerley Park-trained son of Belardo was narrowly beaten when runner-up behind Itza Charmdeel (NZ) (Charm Spirit), a race rival again, when they met in the Listed Castletown Stakes (1200m) at Otaki at the end of last season. “He hasn’t done anything wrong and he was very close last time out, he just got bombed right on the…

Take The Crown (NZ) (Ten Sovereigns) has done everything asked of him by trainer Shaun Phelan ahead of his debut at Wanganui on Saturday in the opening juvenile contest of the season. The youngster has won both of his lead-up trials and the booking of rider Lisa Allpress in the Wanganui Chronicle 2YO (800m) is another major plus. “I looked at last year’s result and saw that she won it (aboard Rubicon Crossing) so I thought I would get in early and get her on, she’s a natural two-year-old rider,” the…