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…
Month: May 2025
Trelawney family continues to make its mark
A decorated Trelawney Stud family has another potential black-type performer within its ranks with the emergence of Madiyya (NZ) (Super Seth). The Cambridge farm has enjoyed outstanding Australasian success with the filly’s family and the daughter of Super Seth promises to add to the roll of honour at stakes level. Retained to race in the Trelawney colours, the three-year-old followed up a debut second with consecutive wins at Sale and against a competitive 1400m age group line-up at Caulfield on Saturday for trainers Ben, Will and JD Hayes. “Madiyya has…
Short stands tall in Wairio Cup
A decision to run Short out of grade in Sunday’s Hype Landscaping and Washrite Wairio Cup (2200m) paid off in a big way for local Invercargill trainer Anna Hewitson. Hewitson had purchased the well-bred son of Savabeel through gavelhouse.com in July last year after eight starts in the North Island, and after building his way through the distance ranges, he delivered his maiden success in January over 2200m. Three starts later, Short put another staying victory on the board, and sitting on a 65 rating, Hewitson opted to run him…
Promising jumper doesn’t look back on debut
Never Look Back (NZ) (Shocking) was only narrowly denied winning the Foxton Cup (2100m) on Tuesday, and five days later, he successfully transitioned into the jumping role with a professional display in the Ken Duncan Racing Maiden Hurdle (3000m). The son of Shocking had a quartet of flat victories to his credit through a 28-start career, but as a jumps racing enthusiast, his trainer Gail Temperton always had a future over the fences in mind for her charge. Starting a scorching $1.70 favourite, Never Look Back measured his jumps well…
Singapore champ heads to Flemington
Former Singapore trainer Dan Meagher held hopes of tackling The Goodwood at Morphettville first-up with Trelawney Stud bred Lim’s Kosciuszko (Kermadec). But instead of heading straight to Group One level for Lim’s Kosciuszko’s Australian debut, Meagher has instead selected a race down the Flemington straight to kick him off in. The Listed Straight Six (1200m) on Saturday will also give Meagher an idea with where Lim’s Kosciuszko sits after winning 22 of his 29 starts in Singapore, along with one start in Hong Kong. “I think I should lower my…
Jesko and Fannin formidable over bigger fences
The new season of jumps racing commenced at Wanganui on Sunday, and it came as little surprise that the country’s leading hoop in Shaun Fannin was straight on the board, taking the Dr. John D. Moore Memorial Open Steeplechase (3800m) aboard his own Jesko (NZ) (Atlante). Since stepping into training in a larger capacity with wife Hazel, Fannin has lessened his riding commitments, but maintains his partnership with champion jumper West Coast (NZ) (Mettre En Jeu), who has largely contributed to his outstanding strike rate of 1.2, riding five winners…
Bishara’s Flash hurdler fires at Wanganui
Evergreen hurdler Verry Flash (NZ) (Zed) capped off a stellar weekend of results for owner Nicholas Bishara when opening his season with a tough victory in The Grant Sweeney Memorial Open Hurdle (3000m) at Wanganui on Sunday. A full-brother to champion mare Verry Elleegant, Verry Flash has had plenty of success in his own right, winning 14 races including three in the jumping role in the care of Kevin Myers. The gelding was heavily-backed in his return to hurdling for the year, closing a $1.90 favourite over stablemates Obrigado and…
Lady’s Choice could get stakes opportunity
Trainer Michael Chang will consider a tilt at the HK$4.2 million Gr.3 Sha Tin Vase Handicap (1200m) on 31 May with Lady’s Choice (NZ) (Charm Spirit) after the much-improved gelding upstaged a class field of rising talents to win the Class 2 Pok Fu Lam Reservoir Road Handicap (1200m) at Sha Tin on Saturday. Bred and sold by Ardsley Stud, Lady’s Choice led all the way under Matthew Poon to score at odds of 13/1, defeating Bottomuptogether by three quarters of a length with Tomodachi Kokoroe a head further way…
Hanrahan rates his runners at Ashburton today
By Mike Love Ashburton trainer Laurence Hanrahan is not expecting the world from his two runners at Ashburton today – but does expect good runs. In Race 1, the Ashburton Trotting Club Members Mobile Pace Elite Styx ($7.50FF) will step out for what is her first run in the Hanrahan colours with Gerard O’Reilly to drive. Elite Styx has not raced since running third at Addington back in January when trained by Grant Payne, but has won a trial for Hanrahan since then on April 22. “I have had her…
Mother’s Day for the Tomlinsons
Mother’s Day is of course an opportunity to say thank you to those nearest and dearest to us all. Harness racing has many mothers who are involved in the sport in many different capacities. Today we look at one of those Mums whose own daughters are carrying on the family tradition. Team Tomlinson (and the Fords) – “we are all close” By Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk 2025 marks the first Mother’s Day when Amanda Tomlinson hasn’t actually had any children living at home. “We are empty-nesters,” she says.…