Day: 18 February 2024

Ellerslie’s new StrathAyr track has certainly got the tick of approval from Daniel Nakhle and Barneswood Farm’s Sarah Green and Ger Beemsterboer, with their silks to the fore once more at the Auckland venue on Saturday. Daniel Nakhle tasted success on Karaka Millions night courtesy of Crocetti in the Gr.3 Almanzor Trophy (1200m), while Barneswood Farm’s orange and white silks were first past the post aboard Desert Lightning in the inaugural $1 million Aotearoa Classic (1600m) at the same meeting. Peter and Dawn Williams trained the latter victor and paired…

Trainer Leslie Khoo could not be happier at the winner’s circle after Auspicious King (NZ) (Per Incanto) opened his account first-up in the S$20,000 Open Maiden race (1200m) at Kranji on Saturday. The Per Incanto three-year-old showed some potential after he placed twice from two starts last year in similar races over the same trip, but unfortunately suffered from a tendon injury. Five months after his last run, Auspicious King returned and ran second in a barrier trial on 6 February. That good trial run and his previous runs had…

Ellerslie’s new StrathAyr track has certainly got the tick of approval from Daniel Nakhle and Barneswood Farm’s Sarah Green and Ger Beemsterboer, with their silks to the fore once more at the Auckland venue on Saturday. Daniel Nakhle tasted success on Karaka Millions night courtesy of Crocetti in the Gr.3 Almanzor Trophy (1200m), while Barneswood Farm’s orange and white silks were first past the post aboard Desert Lightning in the inaugural $1 million Aotearoa Classic (1600m) at the same meeting. Peter and Dawn Williams trained the latter victor and paired…

Local trainer Lisa Vaughan added to her proud record in a hometown feature when lightweight runner Lochnaberry (NZ) (Jakkalberry) scored a runaway victory in Saturday’s $60,000 Baillie & Lewis Pharmacy Invercargill Gold Cup (2600m). It was a second Invercargill Gold Cup win in the last three years for Vaughan, who saddled Asathought to take out the race in 2022. “It’s pretty cool to win the Gold Cup here for the second time in three years,” Vaughan said. “We’ve been lucky enough to have a couple of very handy stayers in…

Talented performer Ears Back (NZ) (Jakkalberry) maintained her perfect record at Invercargill when she produced a game effort to take out the Cruickshank Pryde Southland Stakes (1400m). The John Blackadder-trained five-year-old was shooting for her third victory from as many attempts at the venue but had to overcome a wide barrier (8 of 9) and a line-up that included race favourite The Radiant One who was also sporting an unbeaten two from two form-line on the track. The Radiant One set up a solid pace in front with Lisa Allpress…