Month: June 2025

Gareth Lahoud commenced the next chapter of his riding career in the best possible fashion at Te Rapa on Saturday, winning aboard Cleat (NZ) (Rios) after eight months on the sidelines. The ex-pat South African started an apprenticeship in New Zealand in 2023 and received good support in the early stages, utilising his four-kilogram claim aboard the likes of stakes winning-mare Casino Princess and Group Two performer Good Oil. Lahoud’s progress came to an unfortunate halt when he dislocated his shoulder last April, an injury that occurred again in September.…

The finalists for this year’s Industry Excellence Awards have been found, recognising the future leaders and rising stars of the New Zealand racing industry. In all, 28 finalists have been named across the nine award categories open to anyone under the age of 40, with the winner of each category – and the supreme Entain Excellence Award winner – to be announced at an awards night at Tote On Ascot at Ellerslie Racecourse on Sunday, 29 June. Category winners will receive $10,000 with finalists in each category receiving $2,000. The…

Northern apprentice jockey Ace Lawson-Carroll is enjoying a breakthrough season, which was further enhanced at Wingatui on Sunday when recording his 100th win in the saddle. The South Auckland-based hoop brought up the milestone aboard the Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson-trained Cool Aza Rene (Cool Aza Beel) in the opening race at the Dunedin meeting, and he was duly rapt with the result. “I knew I was on the best horse in the field and it was a relief to get there more than anything,” Lawson-Carroll said. The 20-year-old has…

Japanese apprentice Yuga Okubo received the perfect birthday present at Te Rapa last Saturday when riding his first winner in New Zealand aboard Charmer (NZ) (Charm Spirit). Before arriving on Kiwi soil in early 2024, Okubo had ridden four winners in his homeland and took the opportunity to gain some international experience under the tutelage of Cambridge horseman Tony Pike. After learning the English language and settling into life in New Zealand, Okubo was able to gain an apprentice license and picked up a couple of placings before securing the…

Bonifleur (NZ) (Burgundy) will have her first raceday start on Cambridge’s polytrack on Wednesday, and trainer Paul Richards is hopeful of a positive result. The Pencarrow Stud-bred and raced mare was in a purple patch of form over summer, winning in December and placing in her subsequent two starts before putting in a below par performance when last in the Entain/NZB Insurance Pearl Series Final (1400m) at Ellerslie in March. The daughter of Burgundy has been freshened, and Richards is looking forward to kicking-off her winter campaign in the TAB…

Emily Murphy brings you Winter Weigh In, your place for Thoroughbred racing news, reviews and insights throughout the colder months. It’s been a busy King’s Birthday weekend and the team cover all the action. Winter Weigh In, June 2

Pencarrow Stud has celebrated an outstanding achievement with a century of homebred winners for the season. The Sir Peter Vela-owned nursery hit the three-figure mark on Saturday when promising staying mare Dresse’ Par Joli (NZ) (Tavistock) was successful in the closing event on the Wanganui card. “It’s pretty good, considering the size we are, and we had some good quality winners in among the tally,” Stud Manager Leon Casey said. “That includes horses we’ve sold as yearlings and those we have bred and retained to race. “It doesn’t include the…

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