Day: 20 September 2024

Auckland Thoroughbred Racing (ATR) has today announced a significant $4.07 million contribution to stake money for the current season, including a notable $100,000 increase to the Group 1 Sistema Railway, taking the total stake to $700,000. This increase highlights ATR’s continued commitment to bolstering New Zealand’s racing industry and supporting its participants. In addition to the stakes enhancement, ATR has introduced measures aimed at reducing costs for owners. One such initiative involves moving the nomination dates for some of the Club’s most prestigious races closer to the raceday. Nominations for…

Prisca capped a consistent and improving formline with a commanding maiden victory in Friday’s Taupo Vet Centre (1800m). The Puccini mare kicked off her career with an unplaced finish over 1400m at Matamata in May, which she followed up with sixth placings over the same distance at Taupo and Te Rapa. A strong-finishing second at Tauranga in early July prompted an increase in distance, running fifth over 1600m, third over 1800m and second over 1600m. Prisca stepped back up to 1800m on Friday and produced her best performance yet, racing…

Andrew Bobbin has zero qualms about testing Off His Roca (NZ) (El Roca) in city grade, with the in-form galloper and regular hoop Tom Prebble to head to Flemington on Sunday. The son of El Roca has improved dramatically this campaign, kicking off with a third placing in 0-58 grade and dominantly winning a Benchmark 64 just three starts later. It is the form page of a horse who is relishing his racing and Bobbin is delighted to see him hit his straps over the longer distances this time in.…

Sunday’s Thomas Green Handicap (1600m) at Oamaru could put Southland trainer Lisa Vaughan on a path towards saddling her second Gr.3 New Zealand Cup (3200m) runner in the last three years. Vaughan ran accomplished mare Asathought in the time-honoured Riccarton staying showpiece in 2022, finishing a creditable seventh. This year’s edition of the $400,000 New Zealand Cup is looming large on the horizon for Lochnaberry, who Vaughan bought for just $1,400 on Gavelhouse.com in 2019. Lochnaberry has won four of her 21 starts, and she rose to a new level…

Last weekend’s New Plymouth abandonment has forced Allan Sharrock into a change of plans with his Group One winner Ladies Man, who is entered to kick off his seven-year-old season in the H&T Agronomics/Agricom Open (1200m) at Wanganui on Saturday. The Seaton Park (1400m) at New Plymouth was intended to be Ladies Man’s first step along the road to a defence of his title in the Gr.1 Livamol Classic (2040m) at Hastings on October 12. With that race washed away and a week lost from the build-up, Sharrock is now…

Saturday will mark the return of racing to Ellerslie Racecourse and last season’s New Zealand Champion Three-Year-Old Orchestral. The now four-year-old mare is unbeaten at the Auckland track in three starts, winning the TAB Karaka Millions 3YO (1600m), Gr.2 Avondale Guineas (1600m), and Gr.1 New Zealand Derby (2400m). She subsequently went on to win the Gr.1 Vinery Stud Stakes (2000m) at Rosehill and finished third in the Gr.1 Australian Oaks (2400m). Trainers Roger James and Robert Wellwood have been pleased with the way she has returned, and have given her…

There have been few horses with the consistency of Bradman over the past 12 months, and the versatile galloper will aim to continue that vein of form in Saturday’s Gr.3 Hunterville Vet Club Metric Mile (1600m). Since winning the Listed Flying Handicap (1400m) in April, the son of Pins has placed in the Listed City Of Napier Sprint (1200m), Listed AGC Training Stakes (1600m) and the Gr.3 Winter Cup (1600m), demanding respect in the Wanganui feature. Trained and co-owned by Roydon Bergerson, Bradman will be ridden by a very in-form…