Day: 7 June 2025

Improving three-year-old Taken ran out a dominant winner of the Darren Galley Mile (1600m) at Flemington on Saturday under a well-judged front-running ride by Beau Mertens. The son of Ardrossan has now won three races in succession this campaign for trainers Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr. With key race rivals Detroit City and King Of Enterprise racing near the rear of the field throughout, Taken looked the winner a long way from home and found plenty when asked, going on to score by three lengths from Cachink and Mometz.…

A big day for Katrina and Simon Alexander, and Kelly Myers at Ellerslie on Saturday culminated with talented mare Midnight Scandal (NZ) (Belardo) taking out the Evergreen Bloodstock (1400m). The trainer-jockey combination won both of the $45,000 open handicap features on the card, with Major Major (NZ) (Pins) winning the Trackside.co.nz (2100m) earlier in the afternoon. In between times, three-year-old filly Acapelago (NZ) (Belardo) finished second in the Sistema (1400m). “It’s been a really pleasing day,” Katrina Alexander said. “While we didn’t quite come away with a 100 percent win…

Unheralded three-year-old filly Moxie (Strasbourg) dented several reputations when she came from last on the home corner to collect her second win from just three starts when winning the Sistema 1400 (1400m) at Ellerslie. The Ken Harrison-trained daughter of Strasbourg had won on debut at the venue last month with a determined finish over 1200m before finishing seventh to Saturday’s race rival Acapelago (NZ) (Belardo) at Te Rapa at her second start. Allowed to drift in the betting market to a $17 Fixed Odds quote as punters flocked to install…

Co-trainer Shaun Fannin combined with his progressive jumping talent Jesko (NZ) (Atlante) to collect a stunning victory in Saturday’s Presidential Homes Manawatu Steeplechase (4000m) at Trentham. Fannin prepares the seven-year-old son of Atlante with his wife Hazel out of their Awapuni base and looks to have a prodigious talent over fences on his hands with Jesko making it two wins from two starts over the bigger fences after scoring over hurdles last season. Successful in his chasing debut at Wanganui last month Fannin kept the gelding up to the mark…

The Te Awamutu stable of Katrina and Simon Alexander is Major Major’s (NZ) (Pins) third home, and a commanding performance in Saturday’s Trackside.co.nz (2100m) at Ellerslie suggested it could be the most successful one for the late-developing seven-year-old. Major Major began his career as a rising six-year-old in July and August of 2023, finishing outside the placings in two starts over sprint distances for Matamata trainer Daniel Miller. He was trained by Mathew Faber for all of his next nine appearances, which produced wins over 2100m at Tauranga, Pukekohe and…

Unbeaten hurdler Billy Boy (So You Think) honoured the memory of his late owner Denis Leamy with a tenacious victory in the Manawatu ITM Manawatu Hurdles (2500m) at Trentham on Saturday. Billy Boy was bought for just $5500 on Gavelhouse.com in 2021 by Leamy, who sadly died at Palmerston North Hospital last Sunday at the age of 82 – just six days before his horse’s career-best win. From 30 starts, Billy Boy has now recorded five wins and seven placings and has earned $89,865. He has a perfect two-from-two record…

Trainer Tony Pike lined up three promising juveniles at Ellerslie on Saturday and went within inches of a special trifecta in the Network Visuals 1200 (1200m). Two-year-old Spirit Of Boom gelding Boombox (NZ) (Spirit Of Boom) headed home the Pike trio with debutant Ashoka (NZ) (Hello Youmzain) closing off strongly to take second, while stablemate and fellow debutant Happy Youmzain (NZ) (Hello Youmzain) took fourth just a nose away from race favourite Pacific Breeze (North Pacific) in third. Rider Triston Moodley had Boombox relaxed outside Ocean Rules (NZ) (Ocean Park)…