Year: 2024

Taranaki mare Hi Yo Sass Bomb already has a Group One placing next to her name, and owner-trainer Kim Reid is hoping to improve on that in the coming months. The daughter of Complacent was runner-up to Snazzytavi in the Gr.1 Livamol Classic (2040m) at Te Rapa in October, and she will return to the Hamilton venue on Saturday to try and turn the tables on her nemesis in the Gr.2 Cal Isuzu Stakes (1400m). In-between runs, Hi Yo Sass Bomb finished a creditable fourth in the Gr.2 Auckland Thoroughbred…

The rise of Gr.2 The Ingham (1600m) favourite Gringotts (NZ) (Per Incanto) hasn’t come as a surprise to jockey Tommy Berry, but he admits the manner in which the gelding has been achieving it has been a welcome revelation. Gringotts has captured the Listed Big Dance (1600m) and Gr.3 The Gong (1600m) at his past two starts, both times carting big weights and overcoming outside barriers. Berry has been impressed by the nature of both performances, and evidently, so has Gringotts. “I think he has surprised everyone because he is winning with plenty of authority and he has gained…

The countdown to the inaugural $3.5 million NZB Kiwi (1500m) will move up a notch at Te Rapa on Saturday when Waikato Stud’s runner Sought After lines up in the Wentwood Grange 3YO (1200m). Sought After scored a highly impressive two-length win on debut at Taupo in September, and a month later he was selected to represent his owner-breeders Waikato Stud’s slot in the NZB Kiwi on Champions Day at Ellerslie on March 8. The Tivaci gelding earned himself a place in New Zealand racing history as the first confirmed…

Otaki trainer Howie Mathews is in high spirits ahead of heading to Trentham on Sunday where he will be represented by stable stalwart Free Spirit and newcomer Gee Force. Eight-year-old mare Free Spirit has been a consistent performer for Mathews, particularly in the latter stages of her current preparation, with the seven-win mare having finished runner-up in three of her last four starts. Despite performing on all surfaces, Mathews said Free Spirit prefers rain-affected going but has elected to continue racing her into summer because of her pleasing run of…

Stephen Marsh has endured a frustrating run of bad luck with barrier draws leading into Waikato Cup Day at Te Rapa on Saturday, but the Cambridge trainer still expects his team to make their presence felt. Of the 10 runners Marsh entered across the nine-race card, Mercurial and Provence landed gates 11 and 15 respectively for the Gr.3 J Swap Sprint (1400m), Merchant Queen drew gate 19 in the Pathways The Immigrations Specialists (1200m), Billy Lincoln picked up barrier 12 for the See You @ Te Rapa Tavern (1500m), and…

Talented juvenile Yaldi will make his first Kiwi appearance as a three-year-old at Te Rapa on Saturday, with plenty of exciting prospects on the horizon. The son of Ardrossan made a big impression when winning on debut in April, giving trainer Andrew Forsman enough confidence to send him across the Tasman for a shot at the Listed ANZAC Day Stakes (1400m), where he lost no admirers when finishing third to Epimeles. After a spell, Yaldi returned to Australia to contest the Gr.3 McNeil Stakes (1200m) in late August and despite…