The closing date for nominations for the Entain Industry Excellence Awards has been extended through to 5pm on Wednesday (May 21). Originally nominations were going to close yesterday (Sunday, May 18). Winners of the nine awards categories will receive $10,000 with finalists in each category receiving $2,000. The supreme winner will receive an extra $5,000 on top of their $10,000 category win, and a $5,000 educational package. These awards, for the under 40s, are designed to recognise the future leaders and rising stars of New Zealand’s racing codes. Last year…
Month: May 2025
Lil Whip romps away to big win in Invercargill
By Jonny Turner Lil Whip’s eight-length annihilation of her opposition at Ascot Park on Sunday has earned her a feature race night tilt at Addington. The mare led and never gave her rivals a look-in, powering to an emphatic win for trainer Tyler Dewe and driver Brad Williamson. The victory completed a winning double for the four-year-old, who scored in a tougher grade in her last start at Winton. Lil Whip’s excellent form will now see her head to Addington, though Dewe is still weighing up which race to target.…
Patience paying off for Cole with special filly
Astoria Brooke (NZ) (American Pharoah) has inherited a number of qualities from her dam Astor, most importantly her talent on the track, which was evident with back-to-back victories at Hawera on Sunday. A filly by American Pharoah, Astoria Brooke is prepared by Cody Cole, just as Astor was when she delivered the Matamata horseman his first stakes victory in the Listed Mufhasa Fasttrack Stakes (1300m) in 2018. Astor (NZ) (Iffraaj) was subsequently bred from by Trelawney Stud, who entrusted her daughter with Cole for breaking in. “I broke her in…
Matamata Racing Club Races into the Future with Exciting Expansion
In an exciting step for the Club’s future, the Matamata Racing Club (MMRC) is proud to unveil plans for a significant expansion of its racehorse training facilities – an investment that promises to boost not only the Club’s training capacity but also the strength and sustainability of New Zealand’s thoroughbred industry. The Club’s acquisition of the neighbouring Valachi Downs property has enabled it to explore expanding its current training facilities, addressing growing demand and supporting not only the Club’s financial position but also the broader growth of the New Zealand…
Winter stakes targets for perennial placegetter
Knights Realm (NZ) (Castledale) missed out on a maiden stakes scalp by the barest of margins at Trentham on Saturday in the Listed Rangitikei Cup (1600m), which has only enhanced trainer Clinton Isdale’s thirst for success. The five-year-old son of Castledale had been runner-up in five of his previous seven outings, and with just 53kg on his back, punters supported him in their droves, sending him out a short-priced $2.30 favourite. He looked ominous throughout, sitting outside pacemaker Bradman (NZ) (Pins), but at the business end of the race, he…
Spell for Basilinna ahead of Cup tilt
Emma-Lee Browne says they will likely take a little bit of time to savour Basilinna’s (NZ) (Staphanos) Listed Andrew Ramsden Stakes (2800m) win before looking to lock down the right pathway for the mare to this year’s Gr.1 Melbourne Cup (3200m). Basilinna earned herself a ballot exemption into this year’s Melbourne Cup with her victory in Saturday’s Andrew Ramsden at Flemington in rain-affected conditions. “I think it’s everything we all dreamed about, so it’s a massive result for the team,” Browne said on Sunday of qualifying Basilinna for the Cup.…
Second Derby shot beckons for Imperialist
A Gr.1 Queensland Derby (2400m) tilt remains on the table for Gr.3 Rough Habit Plate (2000m) winner Imperialist (NZ) (Churchill) despite his failure to see out the staying journey in the Sydney classic. The three-year-old posted a strong win in Saturday’s Rough Habit Plate at Doomben, a traditional lead-up to the Queensland Derby at Eagle Farm in two weeks. However, connections have a decision to make after trainer Chris Waller admitted the son of Churchill didn’t appear to see out the classic journey when finishing among the tailenders in the Gr.1 ATC Australian Derby (2400m) last month. “He…
Parsons joins 1000-win club
Balcairn trainer Karen Parsons is the latest member to be inducted into the 1000-win club after she reached the milestone at Riccarton’s synthetic meeting last Thursday. She started the day on 998 victories and was taken to within one of the milestone when Sway Up took out the second race on the card, and an hour later in-form gelding Tumuch secured the honours for his handler when winning his mile contest. In a red-letter day for the stable, Miss Brittany and Funfetti further added to Parsons’ tally when taking out…
Iffraaj mare delivers satisfying stakes win
Francee’s (NZ) (Iffraaj) victory in the Listed Rangitikei Gold Cup (1600m) was of special significance for Haunui Farm on a number of fronts. Not only was it a first stakes victory for the homebred and raced Iffraaj mare, it also brought back memories of a successful association and coincided with stud managing director Mark Chitty’s university reunion. Trained by Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson, the well-related Francee added black-type performance to her pedigree and ensured she will be a valuable future addition to the Haunui broodmare band. She is a…
Brisbane calling Bankers Choice
New Lindsay Park acquisition Bankers Choice (NZ) (Mongolian Khan) is likely to follow the path of Without A Fight into the Caulfield Cup. The Ben, Will and J D Hayes-trained stayer holds a nomination in the Gr.1 Doomben Cup (2000m) on Saturday, but is considered unlikely to run. Bankers Choice had initially been down to run in the Listed Andrew Ramsden (2800m) at Flemington on Saturday, but as he already had secured a Caulfield Cup berth courtesy of his win in the Listed Mornington Cup last month, it was decided…