Sam McNab will always remember his first winner, with the Cambridge hoop having to agonisingly wait to hear the verdict after a photo finish blunder at Pukekohe on Wednesday. The recently licenced apprentice was positive from the outset aboard the John Bell-trained Muscovado in the Sistema 2100, pushing his charge forward early from their wide gate, however, they failed to find the front and were parked out three-wide for the majority of the journey. McNab kept his cool and turning for home he guided his charge to the better footing…
Month: June 2025
Positive build up to Karaka Weanling Sale
Stars of the future go under the hammer at Karaka on Thursday with New Zealand Bloodstock’s National Weanling Sale set to commence at 10am. The one-day auction features 118 thoroughbreds after withdrawals including weanlings by a host of proven and emerging sires, with opportunities for pinhookers and end-users alike. Proven sires such as Savabeel, Per Incanto, Proisir, Shocking, Satono Aladdin, Shamexpress, Ocean Park, Spirit of Boom and Almanzor are well represented, along with rising star Super Seth. The second crop of emerging young sires Noverre and Sword Of State will…
Sporting and racing codes to receive major boost from NZ betting law changes
Changes to New Zealand betting laws which passed in Parliament today will provide a vital boost to New Zealand sporting and racing codes and to the safety of New Zealand bettors when the bill becomes law later this month. Alongside the strengthened harm minimisation protections for New Zealand customers as a result of these law changes, a NZ$100m payment from Entain Group — which will be made after the changes to the Racing Industry Act take effect — will further deepen Entain’s commitment to the New Zealand industry and will…
Imprevu seeking to plunder Northland riches
Imprevu (NZ) (Wrote) will head north to Ruakaka for just the second time this weekend, and trainer Janenne Dalley is hoping she can capture the lion’s share of the $60,000 purse on offer in the ITM/GIB Sprinters Championship Final (1400m). Dalley has been on the search for better footing for her mare to see out her preparation and she is hoping she is met with just that on Saturday, having bypassed last Saturday’s Listed Tauranga Classic (1400m) in favour of the northern assignment. “We looked at the Tauranga Classic, but…
Tattersall’s Tiara 2025 Field & Odds: Firestorm v Floozie
Saturday at Eagle Farm marks the grand finale of the Queensland Winter Racing Carnival, culminating in the highly anticipated 2025 Tattersall’s Tiara, the final Group 1 race of the Australian season. All eyes are on the capacity field of fillies and mares vying for the $700,000 prize in the Group 1 Tattersall’s Tiara (1400m). Leading […] The post Tattersall’s Tiara 2025 Field & Odds: Firestorm v Floozie appeared first on HorseRacing.com.au.
News Briefs – 25 June
CALLMETHEBREEZE RETURNS ON SATURDAY Talented open class trotter Callmethebreeze makes his long awaited race track return on Saturday night at Melton for Andy and Kate Gath. Callmethebreeze, who has raced only 4 times since his brilliant 2nd to now retired champion Just Believe at Cambridge in the TAB Trot, is on an Inter Dominion path which begins the following Saturday night at Albion Park in Brisbane. He lines up in Race 8 at 11.06pm New Zealand time. Also resuming is stablemate and enigmatic pacer Catch A Wave, who was last…
St John Eight too good at Cambridge
By Jordyn Bublitz There was no catching St John Eight last night at Cambridge Raceway, with the Andre Poutama-trained runner taking out the TFS Horse Transport Mobile Pace—claiming his third win in seven starts and doing it in commanding fashion. From barrier five, the gelded son of Always B Miki burned early to take the lead, and Poutama said he knew he had the race won the moment he hit the top. “As soon as I got to the top, I knew I had them beat,” said the Pukekohe reinsman. “Whenever they…
19 Next Gen eligible weanlings/yearlings up for sale
More than a fifth of the horses going under the hammer at Karaka on Thursday, June 26 will be Next Gen eligible. Harness Racing New Zealand’s ownership model premiered at this year’s NZB Standardbred National Yearling Sales at Karaka and Christchurch. It was a big success with 56 Next Gen-sired yearlings being sold. Off the back of that HRNZ extended the scheme to the NZB Standardbred National Weanling Sale as well. Of the 89 lots up for sale a total of 19 are from Next Gen stallions. The stallions and…
Next Gen group involved in high-priced and royally-bred yearling
A half sister to multiple Group 1 winner Duchess Megxit, Princes Lulu has gone full circle even before she’s even hit the racetrack. Princess Lulu (Captaintreacherous – Kensington Kate) was co-bred by the Patterson Bros Racing Syndicate, the same group that race Duchess Megxit. They sold her, as Lot 147, at the 2025 National Yearling Sale for $250,000 to Duchess Megxit’s co-trainer Barry Purdon. But that was not the end of the story In a bit of a twist her vendors then negotiated a deal to buy her back and…
Brendon Laidlaw’s breeding debut at NZB Sales
Among all the industry heavyweights a hobby trainer will be on debut at the 2025 National Standardbred Weanling Sales at Karaka on Thursday, June 26. The usual suspects – Alabar, Macca Lodge and Woodlands Stud – dominate the sale numerically but that’s not phasing Waikato-based Brendon Laidlaw. “I just want to give it a go and hopefully it will be the start of something,” says Laidlaw. He will offer up Lot 1086, a bay filly by Ultimate Machete out of Asuka. “She has good conformation and seems to have a…