One half of New Zealand’s most dominant thoroughbred training partnership has been recognised at the Industry Excellence Awards, with Sam Bergerson claiming the supreme Entain Excellence Award at a function at Ellerslie last night (29 June). Bergerson (31) has been in partnership with Mark Walker at Te Akau Racing for the past two seasons, and has quickly established himself as one of New Zealand’s most talented trainers, winning the New Zealand Trainers’ Premiership in 2023/24. With Mark Walker now largely based at Te Akau’s Melbourne stable, Bergerson has led the…
Month: June 2025
Sentimental breakthrough for Beetlegeuse at Ruakaka
It felt as though Triston Moodley had an angel on his shoulder as he steered Beetlegeuse (NZ) (Rageese) to victory in the Northland Business Systems (1600m) at Ruakaka on Saturday. A son of Rageese, Beetlegeuse was bred by Windsor Park Stud co-owner Gina Schick, who races the four-year-old in the care of Sam Mynott. Just over a month ago, tragedy struck the Schick family, with 10-year-old Jimmy losing his life in an ATV accident. In the maiden contest, Moodley wore the familiar Windsor Park colours – including Jimmy’s favourite cap,…
Well-related filly takes flight
David Greene has enjoyed a multitude of success with the progeny of Songbird, and that continued at Ruakaka on Saturday with Free Bird (NZ) (Tarzino) breaking maiden status in the Ruakaka Your Best Bet In Winter (1200m). A half-sister to Greene’s first Group winner Stolen Dance (NZ) (Alamosa), Free Bird showed promise at the trials, before placing in her first start in early January. She followed up that effort with a sixth placing, and was subsequently sent for a break before returning in the far north. In a market largely…
Dream start for Dascombe
Ashley Dascombe couldn’t have dreamed for a better start to his riding stint in New Zealand, guiding Our Daymo (NZ) (Zed) to victory on his opening day at the races at Trentham. The Englishman arrived in the country just over a month ago, and basing himself with accomplished trainer Raymond Connors, he was presented with a golden opportunity aboard the hurdle debutant, who was a two-time winner on the flat in just nine starts. In conditions beyond the point of a Heavy 10, Our Daymo closed a $2.90 second-favourite…
Hope’s banking on luck at Addington
By Mike Love Woodend Beach trainers Ben and Greg Hope will be looking for some luck with their four runners at today’s Addington meeting. “All runners are a chance with a bit of luck on our side,” said a statement on the Ben and Greg Hope Racing Facebook page. In the main event of the day, race eight, the Lisa Latta Racing ‘Silk Road’ Winter Series Final over 1980m for a good stake of $25,000, the Hope pair Rena and Our Shangri La will need to overcome some tricky draws…
NZ Racing and Breeding News – 29 June 2025
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Misterkipchoge breaks through at Rosehill
Saturday’s A$160,000 Asahi Super Dry Handicap (1800m) at Rosehill marked a deserved breakthrough for the super-consistent Misterkipchoge (NZ) (Ocean Park). The New Zealand-bred son of Ocean Park had won only once in his 20-race career before Saturday, but his last 12 starts dating back to last September had produced two seconds, five thirds, four fourths and a fifth. The four-year-old was an emergency for Saturday’s Benchmark 78 handicap, but he snuck into the field and capped that long run of consistent form with an overdue win. Misterkipchoge was ridden by…
Tivaci two-year-old takes Oaklands Plate
New Zealand-bred colt Matahga (NZ) (Tivaci) stamped himself as an exciting spring three-year-old prospect with a hard-fought victory in the A$120,000 Listed David Peacock Oaklands Plate (1400m) at Morphettville on Saturday. The step up to black-type level came less than a month after Matahga’s raceday debut, where he finished second over 1100m at Morphettville on May 31. The son of Tivaci won his next race in smart style at Murray Bridge on June 14, earning favouritism for Saturday’s Oaklands Plate. Matahga was squeezed back and settled third-last for jockey Jacob…
Bacio Del Mist hits new heights in Stayers’ Cup
Seven-year-old mare Bacio Del Mist (NZ) (Reliable Man) took her earnings past A$300,000 with a career-best triumph in Saturday’s A$160,000 Irresistible Pools Stayers’ Cup (2400m) at Rosehill. The grey daughter of Reliable Man was bought for only A$30,000 from the 2019 Magic Millions National Yearling Sale. She has now had 44 starts for seven wins, eight placings and A$356,505. Trainers Lee and Cherie Curtis stepped Bacio Del Mist down in class for Saturday’s assignment, having lined her up in Listed company in her last two starts for a fifth in…
More Caulfield success for Flamin’ Romans
Well-related gelding Flamin’ Romans (NZ) (Ghibellines) collected his second win from only four starts at Caulfield when he took out Saturday’s A$80,000 Sportsbet BlackBook Handicap (2000m). Previously a winner over the same distance and in the same Benchmark 78 grade at the Melbourne track last October, the five-year-old put in a repeat performance on Saturday. The Ciaron Maher-trained Flamin’ Romans was third-up in a new campaign, having resumed with a seventh over 1500m at Sandown in May before a last-start second in a 2000m race at Mornington on June 9.…