Michael and Matthew Pitman have made the journey from Canterbury to Trentham for many years with an abundance of success along the way, a trend they hope to continue on Saturday with Mystic Park (NZ) (Ocean Park) taking on the Listed Bill Tito Book Repair Specialist Lightning Handicap (1200m). The father-son training partnership won the Lightning back in 2020 with Enzo’s Lad, a galloper that also won two editions of the Gr.1 Telegraph (1200m) at the champagne turf before campaigning in Hong Kong and England. Mystic Park is the newest…
Month: March 2025
Smart 3YO Following Path of Star Performer
Promising three-year-old Sought After (NZ) (Tivaci) is to head down a familiar route for Waikato Stud and continue his career in Australia. The homebred and raced son of Tivaci will cross the Tasman next week to join the Pakenham stable of Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman. Sought After will be following in the footsteps of the Matamata farm’s star galloper I Wish I Win (NZ) (Savabeel), who was recently retired following a glittering career. He was a two-time Group One winner, claimed the Golden Eagle (1500m), posted multiple top-flight placings…
Improving Gelding Set for First Open Test
Improving four-year-old First Five (NZ) (Almanzor) will step into open company for the first time in Friday’s Nikau Contractors (1400m) at Pukekohe Park. The son of Almanzor was tried over middle-distance trips as a three-year-old and in the recent spring, but has found his sweet spot back over the sprint trips, winning twice and placing in the remainder of his last four starts. David Greene, who prepares First Five out of Te Rapa, had hoped to continue his momentum into the $350,000 Wairere Falls Classic (1500m) at Matamata earlier this…
Alexandra Stakes
Odds Bookmakers News Field Past Winners Alexandra Stakes Group Three Betting Guide Date: Saturday, March 22, 2025 Location: Moonee Valley Racecourse – Melbourne, Victoria Prize Money: $200,000 Distance: 1600m The Alexandra Stakes is a Group 3 race for three-year-old fillies, run over 1600m under set weights with penalties at Moonee Valley. First held in 1983, the Alexandra Stakes was originally run on W.S. Cox Plate day before shifting to the autumn carnival in 2013. The Alexandra Stakes held Listed status from 1983 until 2015 before being upgraded to Group 3…
Golden Century on Derby trial in Tulloch Stakes
Golden Century (left) will contest next Saturday’s Group 2 Tulloch Stakes (2000m) at Rosehill Gardens. Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images) Derby placegetter Golden Century will travel to Sydney next week to contest the Group 2 Tulloch Stakes (2000m) at Rosehill, ahead of a possible tilt at the A$2 million Group 1 Australian Derby (2400m). While still a maiden after seven starts, Golden Century has shown promise from his debut and only narrowly missed the top honours in the Listed Gingernuts Salver (2100m) in January. He continued on to the $1.25…
Sunline Stakes
Odds Bookmakers News Field Past Winners Sunline Stakes Group Two Betting Guide Date: Saturday, March 22, 2025 Location: Moonee Valley Racecourse – Melbourne, Victoria Prize Money: $300,000 Distance: 1600m The Sunline Stakes is a Group 2 race for fillies and mares, run over 1600m under weight-for-age conditions at Moonee Valley. First held in 1977 as the Diamond Jubilee Stakes, the Sunline Stakes became a weight-for-age race in 1988 and was renamed in 2001 to honour champion mare Sunline. Originally a Listed race from 1981, the Sunline Stakes was upgraded to…
Pitmans hoping Lightning strikes again at Trentham
Canterbury sprinter Mystic Park will travel north to contest Saturday’s Listed Lightning Handicap (1200m). Photo: Race Images South Michael and Matthew Pitman have made the journey from Canterbury to Trentham for many years with an abundance of success along the way, a trend they hope to continue on Saturday with Mystic Park taking on the Listed Lightning Handicap (1200m). The father-son training partnership won the Lightning back in 2020 with Enzo’s Lad, a galloper that also won two editions of the Group 1 Telegraph (1200m) at the champagne turf before…
Smart 3YO following in footsteps of star performer
Sought After will continue his racing career in Australia with Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman. Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images) Promising three-year-old Sought After is to head down a familiar route for Waikato Stud and continue his career in Australia. The homebred and raced son of Tivaci will cross the Tasman next week to join the Pakenham stable of Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman. Sought After will be following in the footsteps of the Matamata farm’s star galloper I Wish I Win, who was recently retired following a glittering career.…
First open test for improving gelding
First Five will take his place in Friday’s Nikau Contractors (1400m) at Pukekohe Park. Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images) Improving four-year-old First Five will step into open company for the first time in Friday’s Nikau Contractors (1400m) at Pukekohe Park. The son of Almanzor was tried over middle-distance trips as a three-year-old and in the recent spring, but has found his sweet spot back over the sprint trips, winning twice and placing in the remainder of his last four starts. David Greene, who prepares First Five out of Te Rapa,…
Group 1 Galaxy attracts capacity field at Rosehill
The Galaxy favourite, Private Harry. Photo: Bradleyphotos.com.au A capacity field of 14 talented sprinters are set to scorch the turf in the Group 1 Galaxy (1100m) at Rosehill on Saturday afternoon, with the $1 million handicap bringing together a stack of live chances. It’s the Nathan Doyle-trained Private Harry that continues to firm with horse racing bookmakers, however, with the undefeated colt the clear $3.00 favourite post-barrier draw. The unexposed three-year-old will only carry 53kg into the event, with Ashley Morgan set to gain the ideal run in transit from…