Month: August 2024

Crocetti, one of the brightest stars in last season’s outstanding three-year-old crop, showed he was back bigger and better after he provided a display of guts and determination to take out Saturday’s Alibaba’s Flying Carpets Kerikeri Cup (1100m) at Ruakaka. Taken north by trainers Danny Walker and Arron Tata for a firmer surface to kick off his new campaign, that plan almost came unstuck as steady rain throughout the day saw stewards downgrade the official track rating to a Heavy8 before start time in the feature flat event. Walker rolled…

The opening stakes race for the season delivered an incredible finish between a trio of talented gallopers, but after a tense wait, the Gr.3 Winning Edge Presentations Winter Cup (1600m) went the way of Adrian Bull’s Jay Bee Gee. Jay Bee Gee had run in just one race since finishing back in the field in the Gr.3 New Zealand Cup (3200m) last November, with Bull returning to Riccarton to win the Amberley Cup (1600m) in June before preparing him for Saturday’s contest, concluding with a trial victory at Foxton on…

Consistent galloper Rise At Dawn was in the winner’s circle at Flemington on Saturday when leading throughout to land the VRC Season Premiere Race Day Plate (1620m). Prepared by Ben, Will and JD Hayes, the son of Almanzor has raced well through the winter months and took on older rivals for the first time after turning four this week.  The gelding has now won five of his 10 starts and been placed on a further two occasions, with his only disappointing performances coming in the autumn where he pulled up…

The new season of racing in the winterless north at Ruakaka kicked off in fitting style, with a dead-heat in the opening event between promising three-year-old’s Chicago Jack (All Too Hard) and I’m All In (NZ) (Zoustar).   I’m All In, trained by Stephen Marsh at Cambridge, was the favourite for The Homestead Bar & Bistro (1100m) after producing a win and two placings from his four career starts, while the Steven Cole-trained Chicago Jack started a $5.50 third-favourite after gaining a placing in the Listed Star Way Stakes (1200m) to…

Talented stayer Horrifying (NZ) (Shocking) caused a minor upset when defeating highly-regarded galloper Berkshire Breeze (Mastercraftsman) in the Inside Run Trophy (2530m) at Flemington on Saturday. The seven-year-old son of Shocking was having his third start for Warrnambool conditioner Lindsey Smith, having previously been trained by Mark and Levi Kavanagh. Beach life has given Horrifying a new lease on life as he made it back to back victories at Flemington after breaking a long run of outs a fortnight ago when successful over 2000m at the premier Melbourne racecourse. Horrifying…

Outstanding steeplechaser West Coast (NZ) (Mettre En Jeu) laid down the gauntlet to fellow superstar jumper The Cossack for supremacy in next weekend’s Racecourse Hotel & Motor Lodge Grand National Steeplechase (5600m) in emphatic fashion at Riccarton on Saturday.  Shooting for his second win in three attempts at the traditional lead-up event, the Racecourse Hotel & Motor Lodge Koral Steeplechase (4250m), the nine-year-old son of Mettre En Jeu never looked like he got out of third gear as he ambled around behind pacemaker Al’s Red Zed before making his bid…

Berry The Cash (NZ) (Jakkalberry), the hot favourite for the Hospitality New Zealand Canterbury Grand National Hurdles (4200m) next weekend, completed the perfect dress rehearsal for that feature when taking out the Avon City Ford Sydenham Hurdles (3100m) on Saturday, albeit with a healthy dose of racing luck.  The Mark Oulaghan-prepared eight-year-old was shooting for win number six in a row but looked likely to settle for a gallant runner-up finish under his 73kgs topweight when the Paul Nelson-trained Dictation held a clear three-length margin on his rival approaching the…