New Plymouth trainer Robbie Patterson had a perfect two-from-two day at Wanganui on Saturday, capped by potential black-type contender Belles Beau (NZ) (Iffraaj) in the Loaders Civil (1340m). Patterson had only two horses entered all weekend, and both of them produced impressive performances at Wanganui – Ma Te Wa (NZ) (Time Test) in the Hirepool 3YO (1340m) and Belles Beau in the day’s open sprint. “Two wins from only two runners is a really satisfying day, and I think they were two good performances by a couple of very progressive…
Month: June 2025
Waikato Steeplechase caps memorable day for Matthews
A thrilling victory on Afterallthistime (Deep Field) in Saturday’s Signature Homes Waikato Steeplechase (3900m) capped a Te Rapa double for Portia Matthews that was unforgettable in more ways than one. Matthews won both of the steeplechase races on the card, having previously taken out the Ken & Roger Browne Memorial (3900m) in extraordinary fashion aboard Uncle Charlie (NZ) (Alamosa). Six of the seven horses in that field were out of contention by the end of a chaotic first lap, leaving Uncle Charlie the only one still standing. Uncle Charlie mixed…
Exciting prospect remains unbeaten at Wanganui
Robbie Patterson has unearthed another potential topliner from his New Plymouth stable as progressive gelding Ma Te Wa (NZ) (Time Test) kept his winning Wanganui record intact with victory in the Hirepool 3YO (1340). The three-year-old son of Time Test opened his career with a fourth on his home track back in February. Patterson gave him a few weeks off to recover from that effort before producing him to score by more than four lengths in a maiden contest at Wanganui in late May. Ma Te Wa returned to the…
Hello Romeo resumes on winning note
Saturday’s A$150,000 Sportsbet Jockey Watch Handicap (1000m) at Sandown was Hello Romeo’s (NZ) (Hello Youmzain) first appearance since the Karaka Millions 2YO (1200m) in January, and the talented two-year-old resumed in style. Hello Romeo comes from the first New Zealand crop by Cambridge Stud shuttle stallion Hello Youmzain, and he brought up a first southern hemisphere win for the sire with his victory at Bendigo in November. His performances in that initial preparation prompted trainers Ben, Will, and JD Hayes to take a shot at the Karaka Millions in Ellerslie,…
Dictation turns his fortunes around
Dictation (NZ) (Tavistock) has encountered more than his share of misfortune through the early part of his hurdling career, but he and jockey Mathew Gillies turned that around and made their own luck in the Fairview Motors Waikato Hurdle (3200m) at Te Rapa on Saturday. The winner of three of his seven starts over hurdles before Saturday’s $60,000 feature, the Paul Nelson and Corrina McDougal-trained Dictation also threw away a likely Sydenham Hurdle (3100m) victory with a costly late blunder at Riccarton last August, followed by a luckless second at…
Twain too strong at Te Rapa
Exciting sprinter Twain (NZ) (Per Incanto) will head to the spelling paddock off the back of an impressive performance in Saturday’s Bayleys Country Sprint (1200m) at Te Rapa. The four-year-old son of Per Incanto has proven to be a winning machine since commencing racing in July last year, with five victories from just eight starts before lining up on Saturday. Trainer John Bell has made no secret of his regard for Twain and was confident of another big effort provided he mastered the left-handed way of going at Te Rapa…
Harrison drives first winner for “new” boss
By Jordyn Bublitz Driving a winner at Cambridge Raceway last night was a “first” for junior driver Alicia Harrison. She drove For Always Arden to take out the Ferguson Racing Thanks Owners and Clients Mobile Pace and while it was her third win since returning to racing after being out of commission for a year due to shoulder surgery it was her first for her “new” boss Tony Herlihy since joining his stables in April. “I was looking for a change, and the chance to work for Tony came…
Northview Ocean “jogs” to maiden victory at Invercargill
By Jonny Turner Northview Ocean completed an epic journey to the winner’s circle at Ascot Park on Thursday. The win may have seemed like a routine victory for the mare, who justified her strong backing when scoring for trainer Tyler Dewe, driver Mark Hurrell, and breeder-owner Cleland Murdoch. But over the past year, Northview Ocean’s chances of even making it to the races looked bleak at times. After making a strong start to her career, the pacer was found to have a cracked pelvis bone, with her condition quickly deteriorating.…
Weanling sale success stories
Presenter-driver-trainer Brittany Graham knows a thing or two about racing on both sides of the Tasman and now that the Queenslander is working for Trackside in this country she’s (reluctantly) agreed to write a weekly column. by Brittany Graham With less than two weeks until the annual NZB Standardbred National Weanling Sale, it seemed the perfect opportunity to reflect on some of the more ‘shrewd’ purchases out of that sale ring. This year’s event will be run alongside the thoroughbred sale, which opens the opportunities to an even wider audience…
Angels ride with War Machine
Rising star War Machine will start the popular elect in Saturday’s Gr.1 Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) at Eagle Farm, carrying not only the hopes of punters and his connections, but the heartfelt weight of two powerful legacies. The four-year-old has won five of his 12 starts since being purchased from New Zealand including his two outings from his new quarters with trainers Ben, Will and JD Hayes. Jockey Tim Clark will sport a black armband on Saturday in the A$3 million feature in memory of two pivotal figures who helped shape…