Day: 12 May 2025

Cody Cole gave a late call to Craig Grylls to partner his three horses at Wanganui on Sunday, and as he has done throughout the season, the premiership-leading hoop guided each to victory in their respective races. The first of the Cole-Grylls treble was Full Of Courage (NZ) (Puccini), a promising three-year-old who delivered on his short-priced favouritism in the Remembering Raymond Double MDN 3YO (1600m). Grylls settled the gelding in midfield while Alliance (NZ) (Almanzor) pulled his way to the front, leading the field by a margin into the…

Gr.1 Blue Diamond (1200m) winner Little Brose (Per Incanto) will be officially unveiled to the public at Little Avondale Stud’s open day on Thursday afternoon. The first Australian Group One-winning two-year-old to retire to stud in New Zealand since Darci Brahma (NZ) (Danehill) in 2005, Little Brose has joined his own outstanding sire Per Incanto on the Little Avondale roster. “We’re really looking forward to having our stallion open day on Thursday, which is going to be basically our launch of Little Brose,” Sam Williams said. “Both Little Brose and…

Brazilian jockey Bruno Queiroz hasn’t taken long to get off the mark in New Zealand, posting his first victory aboard the Kevin and Stephen Gray-trained Tycoon Boss (Street Boss) at Trentham last Saturday. The 23-year-old hoop has a wealth of international experience, commencing his riding career in his homeland five years ago where he recorded his first Group One win just 12 months later aboard Dynamic Spirit (Agnes Gold). The son of jockey Antonio Queiroz, Bruno Queiroz was always destined for a career in the saddle and collected a pair…

Grinzinger Belle (NZ) (Shamexpress) will remain in the care of Danny O’Brien and be set for the Gr.1 Tatts Tiarra (1400m) after fetching A$1.45 million at last week’s Inglis Chairman’s Sale. Having been in hot demand, The daughter of Shamexpress was purchased on behalf of Yulong and has now returned to O’Brien’s Flemington stables as she builds up to the 1400-metre contest on June 28. “She is in the Stradbroke, but we are probably just looking at the mares race, she does race very well fresh so most likely we…

Bankers Choice (NZ) (Mongolian Khan) could be the first horse to secure ballot-free runs into both the Caulfield (Gr.1, 2400m) and Melbourne Cups (Gr.1, 3200m) by mid-May with plans to possibly run in Saturday’s Listed Andrew Ramsden (2800m) at Flemington. The rising eight-year-old had only run at 2400 metres once before his current campaign, but new co-trainer J D Hayes said the stable had been impressed by the seven-year-old’s quality in his short time at Lindsay Park after crossing from Glen Thompson’s Flemington yard. “We are not locked into running…

Romanee Conti (NZ) (Sir Tristram) has been a pillar of Pencarrow’s broodmare band for decades, and her lineage continues to go from strength-to-strength, with her descendant Tomodachi (NZ) (Tarzino) adding to that legacy over the weekend. The daughter of Tarzino carried owner-breeder Sir Peter Vela’s familiar silks to victory in the Gr.3 Rotorua ITM Stakes (1400m), her first victory at stakes level following five previous wins, and a last start placing in the Listed City Of Napier Sprint (1200m). Pencarrow Stud Manager Leon Casey was rapt with Saturday’s result, and…

New Zealand’s jumps jockey ranks have received a healthy boost in recent weeks, with an influx of international riders including a new face, English hoop Archie Loweth. Hailing from Wiltshire, the 20-year-old has been involved in the racing industry through his teenage years, competing at amateur level on England’s competitive point-to-point circuit. “I grew up doing a lot of pony club, as well as a bit of eventing, show jumping and hunting,” he said. “I always wanted that little bit extra, so when I didn’t have much to do during…