Day: 3 May 2025

Oak Hill winning at Caulfield. (Photo: Bruno Cannatelli) A smart win by the New Zealand-bred Oak Hill at Caulfield on Saturday marked a changing of the guard. Oak Hill was guided through the early stages of his promising career by New Zealand Racing Hall of Fame inductee Mike Moroney, who passed away in February. Moroney’s partner Karen chose Lindsay Park trainers Ben, Will and JD Hayes to take over Ballymore Stables’ Flemington operation. Moroney’s former training partner Glen Thompson is now training in his own right and won last Saturday’s…

Immediacy kicked clear at Caulfield. (Photo: Bruno Cannatelli) Emerging stayer Immediacy backed up his last-start victory at Mornington on April 19 with a repeat result at Caulfield on Saturday. The New Zealand-bred Immediacy is trained by Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young and has now had 12 starts for five wins and $479,790 in stakes. Immediacy made an exciting start to his career with wins in all of his first three starts including the Group 2 Autumn Classic (1800m) at Caulfield in February of 2024, but then the Tarzino gelding’s form…

Rogan tough to the line at Caulfield. (Photo: Bruno Cannatelli) A pair of New Zealand-breds drew clear to fight out a thrilling finish at Caulfield on Saturday, with Rogan edging out Stylish Secret to score an upset win. The Cliff Brown-trained Rogan went into the three-year-old race under the radar, having recorded one win and one placing from his eight career starts beforehand. His maiden win came over 1600m at Kilmore on April 5, and he followed that up with close fourth under 61kg in a Benchmark 58 handicap over…

Canadian Ruler winning at Hawkesbury. (Photo: Bradley Photos) Kiwi-bred gelding Canadian Ruler mastered a testing topweight and won impressively at Hawkesbury on Saturday. The four-year-old son of Vancouver headed into the race with two wins and seven placings to his name from a 12-race career, and he was lumbered with a big impost of 62.5kg. Trainer Matthew Dale secured the services of in-form apprentice jockey Braith Nock, whose 2kg claim reduced that weight to 60.5kg. Canadian Ruler was first to leave the starting gates, but Nock was happy to let…

Sunshineinmypocket winning at Caulfield. (Photo: Bruno Cannatelli) Trainer Ciaron Maher and the Ozzie Kheir-John O’Neill ownership group have had a stellar run with New Zealand imports in recent times, and Sunshineinmypocket put his hand up as another one to watch with his come-from-behind victory at Caulfield on Saturday afternoon. That owner-trainer combination has celebrated three Group One victories in 2025 with their Per Incanto geldings Jimmysstar and Gringotts. Jimmysstar took out the Oakleigh Plate (1100m) and All Aged Stakes (1400m), while Gringotts won the George Ryder Stakes (1500m). Saturday’s Benchmark…

Pride Of Jenni successful in the Listed MRC Anniversary Vase at Caulfield. (Photo: Bruno Cannatelli) Caulfield has been a happy hunting ground for Pride Of Jenni in recent weeks, and the reigning Australian Horse of the Year produced another spectacular front-running performance at that venue in Saturday’s $175,000 Listed Anniversary Vase (1600m). The Ciaron Maher-trained Pride Of Jenni has now had 38 starts for 10 wins, 12 placings and $10.44 million in stakes. She was a triple Group One winner in last season’s Empire Rose Stakes (1600m), Champions Mile (1600m)…