By Jordyn Bublitz For Cambridge trainer Nicky Chilcott, it wasn’t the stature or the stakes of The Moonstone’s Silk Road victory on Thursday night at Cambridge Raceway that mattered, it was the sense of relief and accomplishment in finally getting the mare to return to a glimpse of her former self. Many may remember The Moonstone for her standout performances as an early two-year-old, when she impressed spectators on debut at Alexandra Park with a remarkable victory, despite missing away from the mobile and giving herself a considerable handicap in the…
Day: 25 July 2025
Puntin to relish rise in distance
Consistent three-year-old Puntin steps up to 1800m for the first time on Saturday when he contests the ATC Thank You Stable Staff Handicap at Randwick. The Bjorn Baker-trained son of Super Seth has won four of his seven starts and has finished runner-up on the other three occasions including last start when slow into stride. Jockey Ashley Morgan is confident Puntin will relish the step up in distance. “I think he can be a stakes horse at 2000m, he’s got such a great attitude and he loves his racing. It…
Scott scores first training win
Waverley’s meeting on Friday will live long in the memory of Foxton horseman Adam Scott, who recorded his first win as a trainer courtesy of Another Won’t Hurt in the Sandfords Rural Carriers (1400m). The rambunctious five-year-old was having just his second start and he was unwanted by punters following his debut antics where he bucked off rider Nick Downs shortly after the start at Woodville earlier this month. He trialled to the satisfaction of stewards at his home track on Tuesday and started a $61.70 outsider. In stark contrast…
Speedy juvenile leading Sharrock’s trio at Otaki
Gavin Sharrock had a day out with three of his promising young gallopers at Hawera a fortnight ago, and he hopes to replicate that effort at Otaki on Saturday, particularly with Spandeedo, who will contest the Listed Phils Electrical and Gipsy Caravans Ryder Stakes (1200m). The Stratford horseman took Spandeedo, Stewart, and Vibration to the Egmont meeting, and all three returned winners, with the former comfortably taking out the two-year-old race. It was the second victory in four starts for the son of Ferrando, who has improved with each run.…
Canheroc on a path towards Cups redemption
Canheroc has come close to taking out a couple of New Zealand’s feature staying races, and they will once again be on his radar this coming season. The Chris Wood-trained gelding was third in last year’s Gr.3 Wellington Cup (3200m) after winning the Listed Marton Cup (3200m), and last November he filled the same placing in the Gr.3 New Zealand Cup (3200m). “He has had a couple of unlucky runs in the New Zealand Cup and Wellington Cup. He probably should have won one of them at some stage but…
Late bloomer quick to rise to Cup challenge
A checkered past is proving to be a blessing in disguise for in-form mare Quick Fire, who is presented with an opportunity to rise to another level at Te Rapa. With maturity, the five-year-old daughter of Time Test has put a series of issues behind her and looms as a major player in The Callinan Family Taumarunui Gold Cup (2200m) on Saturday. “She wasn’t physically or mentally ready to be there and now she’s had all this enforced time to develop, we’ve got this really lovely racehorse to go on…
Latta pair seeking further black-type
The Lisa Latta-trained pair of Platinum Diamond and Brutiful Lass will bid to end their juvenile season in perfect fashion at Otaki on Saturday when they tackle the Listed Phils Electrical & Gipsy Caravans Ryder Stakes (1200m). Platinum Diamond has made a solid start to her career, with the daughter of Hello Youmzain winning two of her three starts to date, including last month’s Listed Castletown Stakes (1200m) at Otaki. In-form hoop Bruno Queiroz will jump back in the saddle on Saturday where he will be out to replicate their…
Great New Zealand focus for Billy Boy
Unbeaten hurdler Billy Boy will make his debut over the bigger fences at Te Aroha on Sunday, with a view on returning to the track for a lucrative feature early in the new season. After warming up in four flat runs this campaign, Billy Boy came out firing over fences, maintaining his unblemished record with victories in the Manawatu Hurdle (2500m) and Wellington Hurdles (3200m). The son of So You Think is currently a $4.20 second-favourite for the Hospitality NZ Canterbury 135th Grand National Hurdles (4200m), but trainer Jo Rathbone…
Dragonstone Leads Donnelly’s Metro Final Team
By Michael Guerin The headache horse of Arna Donnelly’s stable has a few problems of her own at Alexandra Park tonight. But that doesn’t mean Dragonstone can’t win her $35,000 TAB Racing Club Metro Final and give her trainer a shot at the feature race double. The Metro series, made up of heats then finals for nearly double the stake, have been a huge help to maintaining field size and interest during harness racing’s winter months and tonight’s two fit the bill: even and interesting. Donnelly has last Friday’s impressive…
Cameron’s Double Threat Among Winter Rewards Highlights
by Michael Guerin Kyle Cameron has two chances in the same $25,000 Winter Rewards Trot at Addington tonight and one may help, or hinder, the other. Cameron takes three of his 20-strong team to the meeting which hosts five $25,000 Winter Rewards races, decent bonuses for those horses who keep the industry ticking over while the stars are resting. While Cameron suggests Gimmesomelovin (R3, No.4) can get some money is his 2600m mobile if the pace is on throughout, it is the main Winter Rewards Trot that sees him with…