Month: February 2024

Group One winner Jon Snow got off the mark as a sire on Thursday when his son King Of The North took out the Farewell Dave Bradford (1400m) at Matamata. It was the Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott-trained gelding’s third start, having run fourth on debut over 1200m at the Waikato track in January before placing over 1300m at Te Rapa a fortnight later. Jon Snow stands at Clearview Park, near Timaru, and farm principal Aaron Tapper was rapt to see King Of The North get his sire on the…

Wexford Stables look to have a strong hand in the Gr.3 Haunui Farm King’s Plate (1200m) at Ellerslie on Saturday where they will be represented by Group One winner Waitak and Group One performer Dragon Leap. Waitak will be seeking to return to his winning ways for trainers Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott, having finished eighth in the Gr.1 BCD Group Sprint (1400m) at Te Rapa earlier this month having posted back-to-back wins in his previous outings, including the Gr.1 Railway (1200m) at Pukekohe on New Year’s Day. “Waitak is…

Cambridge trainer Andrew Forsman will be looking to secure his first Gr.1 New Zealand Derby (2400m) in his own right at Ellerslie on Saturday when First Innings contests the Trackside-sponsored feature. Forsman has won the Classic on two previous occasions when training in partnership with Murray Baker, securing his first NZ Derby with Mongolian Khan in 2015, while Vin De Dance was victorious in the race three years later. First Innings has shown plenty of potential in his four career starts to date, capped by his last start victory over…

Dual Guineas winner Aberlour’s (NZ) (Mongolian Falcon) racing future lies in Australia, following her majority sale to clients of Warwick Farm trainer Joe Pride. The daughter of Mongolian Falcon was trained in New Zealand by Riverton horseman Kelvin Tyler, for whom she won three and placed in two of her six starts, including victories in the Listed Gore Guineas (1335m) and Listed Southland Guineas (1600m). Her performances piqued the interest of a number of potential buyers, but it was Pride who came out in top, with Tyler retaining 30 percent…

While Kelvin Tyler was pleased to take out the Listed Southland Guineas (1600m) with Aberlour (NZ) (Mongolian Falcon) at Ascot Park earlier this month, the Riverton trainer was left scratching his head after stablemate Lady Sass (NZ) (Staphanos) refused to jump from the gates and took no part in the race. She was duly required to participate in a barrier trial to the satisfaction of the stewards, which she carried out with aplomb earlier this week, and Tyler is hoping she can replicate those manners in Saturday’s Listed NZB Airfreight…

Stephen Autridge has already made one smart move this week, which has set him up with a stronger hand to play in Saturday’s fillies’ feature at Ellerslie. The Matamata trainer had fortunately withdrawn Livid Sky (NZ) (Proisir) from Wednesday’s Gr.2 Lowland Stakes (2100m) at Hastings, which subsequently fell foul of the weather and was abandoned. Livid Sky will now line up the pre-post favourite in the Gr.3 McKee Family Sunline Vase (2100m), in which she will be joined by her talented stablemate Still Bangon (NZ) (Satono Aladdin). “Both my fillies…

Matamata trainer Cody Cole will be more than happy to let his Gr.1 New Zealand Derby (2400m) contender Renegade Rebel (NZ) (El Roca) do what he does best on Saturday. He isn’t overthinking tactics ahead of the Trackside-sponsored feature at Ellerslie and, with regular rider Matthew Cameron, will be taking a simpler is better approach to give his charge his best possible chance of an upset. “It’s pretty obvious that’s his pattern and he likes to get into his own rhythm off the front,” Cole said. “He can run good…