Shaune Ritchie has opposing expectations for Nereus (NZ) (Savabeel) and Davideo when the stablemates line-up together in Saturday’s Gr.3 JRA Chairman’s Quality Handicap (2000m) at Doomben. The pair travelled from Ritchie’s Cambridge base to Queensland earlier this month and have settled in well to their temporary home at the Gold Coast Turf Club. “They travelled over together and they are beside each other in the box at home, so I think when they’ve got their mate beside them, they just seem to do so much better,” Ritchie said. “We took…
Month: May 2025
Wynyard Targets Champagne Stakes Glory at Ellerslie
Hollie Wynyard has consistently matched up with the country’s best in her first solo season of training and she’ll chase a deserved stakes success when her talented youngsters contest Saturday’s Listed SkyCity Champagne Stakes (1600m) at Ellerslie. Prior to the current racing season, Wynyard trained for almost a decade in partnership with Johno Benner, winning a pair of Group Ones and a Karaka Million three-year-old crown in the process. When Benner decided to step back from training, Cambridge-based Wynyard took over the reins in full capacity and has since produced…
Hawke’s Bay Jumpers Back in Action
The Paul Nelson and Corrina McDougal-trained pair of The Cossack (NZ) (Mastercraftsman) and Suliman (NZ) (Redwood) will make their much-anticipated return to racing in the John Turkington Forestry/Waipine Logging Bulls Country Cup (2200m) at Trentham on Saturday. The Cossack has been off the scene since injuring a suspensory ligament when preparing to clash with archrival West Coast (NZ) (Mettre En Jeu) in last year’s Grand National Steeplechase (5600m) at Riccarton. The 11-year-old gelding has undergone a rigorous rehabilitation programme and his trainers have been pleased with his progress. “We spelled…
Marroni tuned for first-up mile test
Group Two performer Marroni (NZ) (Makfi) has placed at stakes level over a mile on two occasions, and he will be seeking to improve on those results in Saturday’s Listed James Bull Rangitikei Cup (1600m) at Trentham. While in the care of former trainers Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman, the son of Makfi was victorious in the Gr.3 Manawatu Cup (2250m) and placed in the Gr.2 Easter Handicap (1600m), before placing in the Gr.2 Japan Trophy (1600m) while under the sole care of Forsman. Following a couple of unplaced runs…
Super Seth 3YO impresses in Sydney
Kundabung, a three-year-old gelding trained by Chris Waller, secured his maiden win in commanding fashion on the Kensington track at Randwick on Wednesday. The son of Super Seth surged from off the pace to claim victory in the 1400m Drinkwise Plate, defeating fellow Super Seth gelding So Long Farewell, by 1.5 lengths. Bred by Waikato Stud, Kundabung is out of the O’Reilly mare O’Dianne, making him a half-brother to Listed winner Avebury, who won at Caulfield last week and Gr.1 Queensland Derby placegetter Paternal. Despite his evident talent, Kundabung has…
Donnelly has big team in at Cambridge tonight
By Jordyn Bublitz Arna Donnelly has an army of runners to contest tonight’s meeting at Cambridge Raceway. “It’s been a good team effort to get them all there and going good,” said Donnelly who has a total of eight runners spread across the 8-race programme. The first three of her charges go head-to-head in Race 1, the Mid-Winter Christmas at Cambridge Raceway Mobile Pace. Ragnar Lothbrok faces a step up in grade to compete against stablemates Beta Prepare and Red Rackham. Of the three Donnelly is of the opinion that…
Proposed Handicapping and Rating changes deferred
Harness Racing New Zealand (HRNZ) wishes to notify all participants that the proposed changes to the Handicapping and Rating system, initially set to be implemented at the end of May, will start Monday, June 30. This decision has been made following valuable feedback received from participants during a series of roadshows held across New Zealand. This short delay provides additional time to review and test the changes. HRNZ remains committed to ensuring that all aspects of the new system are fully prepared, with a clear focus on achieving a smooth…
Immediacy to chip around lucrative fringe
Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young are maintaining a conservative approach with rejuvenated gelding Immediacy (NZ) (Tarzino). The four-year-old son of Tarzino runs in this Saturday’s Gr.3 Chairman’s Handicap (2000m) at Doomben in preference to the Gr.1 Doomben Cup (2000m) a week later. Immediacy has comfortably won his past two starts, taking his record to five wins from 12 starts, and is among the early nominations for Saturday week’s weight-for-age $1 million event over 2000m, which Busuttin felt was just a little bit out of reach for this stage of his…
Unstoppable Grylls steers promising filly to victory.
Craig Grylls’ near-unassailable lead in the national jockey’s premiership was given a further boost early at Matamata on Wednesday, with deserving maiden winner Viva Glam (NZ) (Savabeel) featuring in his winning treble. After guiding home Stephen Marsh’s well-bred filly Alacritous (NZ) (Dundeel) and stablemate The Exponent (NZ) (Shocking), Grylls combined with the Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson-trained Viva Glam, a filly having her sixth start in the MBS Advisors 1200. The daughter of Savabeel started a $4 favourite and found a comfortable spot in midfield through the running, while Born…
The Oaks Stud Announces 2025 Stallion Line-Up
The Oaks Stud has announced its 2025 stallion line-up, headlined by U S Navy Flag, who will stand for $12,500 + GST. A son of War Front out of Misty For Me, U S Navy Flag is a proven performer on the track and at stud, with 141 winners globally, including five stakes winners, headed by Group Two winner The Pendragon and Group Three winner So Naïve. Joining him is The Chosen One, standing at $4,000 + GST. A son of Savabeel, The Chosen One earned $2.7 million in prize…