Te Akau scored a kiwi bred quinella in an action-packed Two Rivers Steeplechase at Casterton on Sunday, as Steven Pateman and The Mighty Spar (NZ) (Savabeel) pulled clear of Prismatic (NZ) (Savabeel) and Will Gordon late. The Mighty Spar was supported late ($3.20 into $2.80) to take favouritism from his stablemate ($2.30 out to $3.50) and got a perfect run for most of the 3800-metre contest. Despite guest appearances from an enthusiastic but riderless Flying Pierro, and a gawking kangaroo, The Mighty Spar jumped beautifully throughout and took the lead…
Month: May 2025
Elle enchants at Casterton
Former New Zealand mare Enchanted Elle (NZ) (Jakkalberry) marked herself as a hurdler to watch this season at Casterton on Sunday, breaking her jumps maiden in fine style under the in-form Will Gordon. Trained by Symon Wilde, the daughter of Jakkalberry had done little in three Australian flat runs since arriving last October, but she ran a game second to Singforpeace in a maiden hurdle at Warrnambool last start, with a 20-length gap to third. Enchanted Elle ($2.70) jumped a clear second pick behind the consistent Balinor ($2), but Wilde’s…
Promising filly caps off top week for Pertab
There were a couple of nervous moments for Kurtis Pertab ahead of War Queen’s (NZ) (Proisir) debut at Hawera on Sunday, but the filly brought her trial form to the races and delivered a tidy victory in the Grangewilliam Stud (1200m). A daughter of Proisir, War Queen had a reputation for barrier woes and that almost continued at the Central Districts meeting, taking her time to link into barrier one. But, the filly eventually took her place and flew out when the gates opened, settling in the lead under Ace…
The comeback King reigns in Ellerslie staying contest
King Of The North (NZ) (Jon Snow) went from zero to hero in the space of two minutes at Ellerslie on Saturday, surprising even his trainers with a massive performance to win the Join TAB Racing Club 2100. An aptly named son of Jon Snow, King Of The North has made a strong early impression as a stayer and was sent out favourite in Saturday’s Rating 75 contest – but he looked more like a pauper than a king after missing the start by five lengths. But, in-form apprentice jockey…
Who Knows never in doubt at Trentham
Promising staying mare Who Knows (NZ) (Redwood) delivered the result many anticipated when she took out a competitive John Turkington Forestry / Waipine Country Cup (2200m) at Trentham on Saturday. The daughter of Redwood has been patiently handled by Niall Quinn, with just ten prior starts including two wins at a mile and 2100m. After building nicely into her autumn campaign, Who Knows was back out to a distance she truly thrives at and was backed as the horse to beat on Saturday, closing a shortening $2.10 favourite. While punters…
Hopes after more success at Rangiora today
By Mike Love After training a hat-trick at the previous meeting there, Woodend beach trainers Greg and Ben Hope will be looking to continue their good form at today’s Rangiora meeting. They’ll line up a solid team of seven. “I can’t really label one as being a certainty – but they’ve all got good chances,” said co-trainer and driver Ben Hope. In Race 2, the C ME 1ST Painters Pace over 2600m three-year-old Rock N Roll Heaven filly Rena ($8.00FF) will have to step from barrier one to be competitive…
Hurrell heads to Invercargill after “biggest thrill” at Addington
By Jonny Turner Mark Hurrell will head to Ascot Park on Sunday chasing more success after enjoying the biggest thrill of his career. Hurrell started a wave of southern success at Addington on Friday night when he teamed up with Beach Day to win the Listed Uncut Gems Mares Classic. The victory brought up the reinsman’s first black-type win, marking a career highlight. “That’s my first major race win — first in a Group or listed race — so it’s probably the biggest thrill I’ve had,” Hurrell said. Trainer Greg…
NZ Racing and Breeding News – 18 May 2025
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Liberami passes distance test
Liberami (NZ) (Turn Me Loose) opened up more options for his trainer Robbie Griffiths when he stretched out beyond 1600m for the first time in his career and took out Saturday’s A$130,000 Murray Cox Handicap (1800m) at Flemington. The New Zealand-bred gelding brought a rich vein of autumn form into the Benchmark 84 handicap, with his four previous starts producing second placings over 1300m and 1500m at Sandown, a third over 1600m at Bendigo, and a last-start Benchmark 70 victory over 1600m at Sandown. He looked well placed at the…
Imperialist rocks Rough Habit
The Queensland Winter Carnival is proving to be a happy hunting ground for Imperialist (NZ) (Churchill), who collected his second Brisbane black-type prize in Saturday’s A$250,000 Gr.3 HKJC World Pool Rough Habit Plate (2000m) at Doomben. The New Zealand-bred son of Churchill opened his winning account in the Listed The Phoenix (1500m) at Eagle Farm last June, which was only the third start of his career. The Chris Waller-trained gelding had gone winless in nine races since then, but collected three placings earlier in his three-year-old season, including the Gr.2…