By Jordyn Bublitz Arna Donnelly’s pair of juveniles announced themselves in style at Cambridge Raceway last night. Two-year-old stablemates Critical Image and Lulana ran the quinella on debut in the Harness Hoedown Tickets On Sale 25th Sept Mobile Pace. Donnelly purchased Critical Image, at the 2024 National Standardbred Yearling Sales. He was given a perfect steer by Zachary Butcher, enjoying a sweet trip in the one-one before pouncing late to score. Lulana, bred by long-time stable client Kevin Madgwick, did it the hard way. With James Stormont in the bike,…
Day: 12 September 2025
Hannon Memorial Fun Facts
Akuta will emulate two all-time greats if he wins Sunday’s Group 3 Hannon Memorial at Oamaru. The Mark and Nathan Purdon-trained star is a $2.10 favourite to take out the Group 3 feature for a second time. His previous win was in 2022. If Akuta wins this weekend he’ll do what the likes of Blossom Lady and Johnny Globe have done before – and that is win two Hannon Memorials three years apart. Blossom Lady won in 1990 and 1993 (as well as winning the New Zealand Cup in 1992)…
Caig’s dual success at Invercargill
By Jonny Turner Winton breeder-owner Michelle Caig lived a harness racing dream at Ascot Park on Thursday. Caig enjoyed dual success with half-sisters Penelope Lane and Our Rose Hill, both trotting to victory. Caig bred both horses, while she also races Penelope Lane from the Brad Williamson stable. Though she has been breeding horses with good success for several decades, the thrill of winning hasn’t diminished. “This is what you dream about when you breed horses,” Caig said. Penelope Lane produced an excellent win in her debut at Wyndham in…
Ka Ying the best this century?
Highly respected British ratings agency Timeform believes that Ka Ying Rising (NZ) (Shamexpress) could end up as the best sprinter we’ve seen this century. The David Hayes-trained superstar currently has a Timeform rating of 135, meaning that he’s currently the world’s best racehorse and has also surpassed other Hong Kong sprinting greats like Silent Witness (El Moxie) and Sacred Kingdom (Encosta de Lago) on their ratings. Ka Ying Rising’s figure of 135 also places him just behind Black Caviar (Bel Esprit) and former top British sprinter Battaash (Dark Angel), who…
Outsider out for shock Makybe Diva victory
Small fields can throw up strange results and the connections of Mark Twain (NZ) (Shocking) will be hoping for one on Saturday. Mark Twain is the $101 outsider in the Gr.1 Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m) at Flemington on Saturday where he tackles five opponents who are all Group One winners. Since 2000, there have been eight horses win at double figure odds including Gatting (Hard Spun) at $101 in 2019, Littorio (Bellotto) ($41) in 2011 and Hugs Dancer (Cadeaux Genereux) ($26) in 2004. Mark Twain’s main claim to fame was his victory in last year’s Listed Roy Higgins (2600m) at Flemington, a race that…
D-Day at Riccarton for talented filly
Intention’s future program will be determined by her performance in Saturday’s Listed NZB Canterbury Belle Stakes (1200m). The daughter of Bivouac has headed south for the Riccarton feature with a return trip for higher honours on the line for the Mike Breslin-trained filly. “This race has been on the cards since she came back into work with the Gold Trail Stakes (Gr.3, 1200m) moved from Hawke’s Bay to Ellerslie,” Breslin said. “I decided to give her this trip to Christchurch and it’s a defining race for her as to which…
Debit looking to cash in at Te Rapa
Debit will put her picket fence form line on the line at Te Rapa on Sunday when she contests the Power Farming – We Keep Growing 1200. The six-year-old mare placed on debut in May 2023 but has been unbeaten in her subsequent four starts, and trainer Peter Lock is looking forward to getting her back to the races this weekend. She hasn’t raced since winning over 1340m at Wanganui last November, but has enjoyed a long and slow build-up, heading to the trials on four occasions over the last…
Ladies Man on target for Group Ones
Trainer Allan Sharrock couldn’t be any happier with his Group One winner Ladies Man at this stage of his preparation, but admits he faces a near impossible task at Te Rapa on Sunday. With a rating of 110, the eight-year-old gelding is the fourth highest rated horse in the country, and has accordingly been lumbered with 66kg in Sunday’s VCE – Vision Complete Earthworks/Stronger Together 1600. With the aid of apprentice jockey Ashlee Strawbridge’s four-kilogram claim, his impost has been brought down to 62kg, within half-a-kilogram of multiple Group One…
NZ Cup ambitions with Court Of Appeal
Trainers Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson are mapping out a path towards November’s Gr.3 New Zealand Cup (3200m) with Court Of Appeal following her victory in the Betavet Rating 75 (1600m) at Riccarton’s synthetic meeting on Thursday. The five-year-old daughter of Eminent jumped away well from her outside gate under Central Districts jockey Bruno Queiroz to take an early lead. She opened up a clear margin on the rest of the field throughout the running, which widened at the turn, and she ran out a convincing two-length victor. “It was…
Harrison hoping third time’s a charm with King Khan
Cambridge trainer Ken Harrison is hoping it’s third time’s a charm with his stayer King Khan in Saturday’s NZB Airfreight Road To The Jericho (3210m) at New Plymouth. The son of Mongolian Khan has contested the last two editions of the race, placing in the 2023 edition before running fifth in last year’s postponed running at Waverley. Inclement weather forced the delay of last year’s edition, and with New Plymouth’s track rated a Heavy10 on Friday morning, and more rain forecast, he is hoping they aren’t met by the same…