Day: 25 February 2024

Te Akau Racing’s elite females continued on their winning way at Caulfield on Saturday and the trend could continue on to next week with one of the stable’s star fillies to race in Saturday’s Gr.1 Australian Guineas (1600m) at Flemington. Just a week after Imperatriz scored another famous Group One win in the Black Caviar Lightning Stakes (1000m) at Flemington, six-year-old mare Campionessa (NZ) (Contributer) scored narrowly in the Gr.2 Peter Young Stakes (1800m) over the likes of Melbourne Cup winners Vow And Declare and Gold Trip. Trainer Mark Walker…

With Singapore Turf Club’s impending closure, there a more people exiting than entering the racing jurisdiction, but New Zealand-based jockey Darren Danis will be one of the few going against the tide. Danis will make a dream come true in the coming months when he heads back to his homeland to take up a riding contract at the Singapore Turf Club, the place where he began his riding career. The son of former jockey Luke Danis, Darren first got hooked on racing when he went to help at his father’s…

Up-and-coming stayer The Underbelly (NZ) (The Bold One) continued his rapid rise with a dominant front-running performance in Saturday’s New World Otaki New Zealand St Leger Trial (2300m) at Otaki, booking himself a ticket to a time-honoured feature at Trentham next month. The Robbie Patterson-trained five-year-old has now won seven of his 14 career starts, and he has been unbeaten and increasingly impressive in his last four appearances dating back to a 2100m Rating 75 at Otaki on Boxing Day. He later won a 2200m Rating 75 on Telegraph Day…

A patient ride by Jonathan Riddell was the key to a much improved performance from talented galloper Solidify (NZ) (Redwood) as he returned to winning form in the opening event at Otaki on Saturday, the Cavallo Farm Chris Rutten Bloodstock 3YO (1600m). Riddell, who was having his first ride on the son of Redwood with regular pilot Ryan Elliot unavailable on the day, sat back in the five-horse field before looming into contention approaching the home corner. The Team Rogerson-prepared galloper moved clear of his rivals halfway down the straight…

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It was hard to think of a more fitting victory on Saturday than when Karman Line (NZ) (Myboycharlie) dashed home out wide to take out the Lisa Chittick Plate (1400m). The race is named in honour of the late Lisa Chittick (nee O’Sullivan), the sister of former champion jockey Lance O’Sullivan who now trains in partnership with Andrew Scott, with the pair producing the five-year-old daughter of Myboycharlie from their Matamata-based Wexford Stables operation. Carrying the well-known yellow and blue Wexford colours, Karman Line settled near the rear of the…

Respected racing journalist and administrator Dave Bradford passed away peacefully in Auckland on Thursday, aged 91. Having started out as a cadet reporter with the Thames Star, Bradford moved onto the Rotorua Daily Post before later becoming racing editor of the Auckland Star/8 O’Clock. A committee member of Auckland Racing Club and Matamata Racing Club, Bradford was the first editor of the New Zealand Racing Annual from early 1970s for MOA Publications. He managed Whitford agistment property Lone Oak Lodge, then established Glen Orchard Stud Matamata in partnership with ARC…