Emily Farr made a promise to her father before his recent passing and she came closer to fulfilling that on Sunday at Te Aroha, when guiding Leitrim Lad (NZ) (Tavistock) to success in the K and R Steeplechase (3500m). A mainstay in New Zealand’s jumps jockey ranks, Farr has missed the majority of the past two seasons whilst being in her homeland of Wales, caring for her parents. After a tough battle with dementia, her father sadly passed earlier this year, and she arrived back in the country less than…
Day: 22 June 2025
Lord Spencer sharp in Te Aroha victory
Last year’s Great Northern Hurdles (4200m) winner Lord Spencer (NZ) (Zed) gave warning to his rivals ahead of the upcoming features with a storming victory over the shorter distance at Te Aroha on Sunday. The quirky galloper is often seen lagging at the back in his races and producing a big finish, but with the side winkers applied for the Silver Fern Farms Hurdle (3100m), he was far more prominent, settling midfield under a tight hold. Verry Royal led up throughout the early and mid-stages, and when the pressure came…
Emotional winning return for Bakker
Southern apprentice Kendra Bakker made an emotional return to the winner’s circle at Riccarton Park on Saturday, riding two of the three winners prepared by her mentor, Lance Robinson. The 24-year-old commenced her apprenticeship in the North Island, before making the move to Christchurch to base with Robinson in March 2024. She gained good momentum in the back half of last season, but was ruled out early this term after sustaining a trackwork injury. After a long recovery period, Bakker returned to riding in late May and had a good…
Taimate Diva digs deep for all-the-way win
After finishing second in three of her previous four starts, Taimate Diva (NZ) (Telperion) went one better at Riccarton on Saturday with a relentless front-running performance in the SVS Open Handicap (2000m). The six-year-old Telperion mare kicked off her super-consistent run of autumn and winter form with a runner-up finish in the Riverton Cup (2147m) on April 19. She was unplaced in the Gr.3 Canterbury Gold Cup (2000m) a week later, but bounced back strongly with close seconds in a 2200m open handicap at Wingatui on June 1 and a…
Morrison Eyes Winter Series Final with Lottie’s Moment
Ashburton trainer John Morrison heads to Addington with three runners today for the Yaldhurst Hotel race day, with his main focus on the feature Winter Series Final. The feature on the card is race six, The Yaldhurst Hotel Silk Road Winter Series Final mobile trot over 1980m for $25,000 for fillies and mares, which gets underway at 4.11pm. Morrison trains and drives second favourite Lottie’s Moment ($3.40FF) in the event. She was an emphatic winner at her previous start at Addington, while the Ben and Greg Hope trained Freya ($2.40FF)…
NZ Racing and Breeding News – 22 June 2025
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