Check out this week’s The Box Seat with hosts Matt Cross, Brittany Graham and Greg O’Connor.
Month: September 2025
Local trainer taps into 100-win club at Timaru
Bruce Tapper may have been a late starter to the training ranks, but he hasn’t let that slow him down, with the Timaru horseman bringing up his 100th win at his home track on Wednesday. It was a special day for Tapper, who was able to celebrate bringing up the milestone with visiting family members. “It was good to get it (100th win), it has been a while,” Tapper said. “I had three grandchildren from Cambridge and two from Pukekohe here, and three from Timaru, so it was pretty special…
Homebred mare delivers first winner for Tuthill
There was a time when Annabel Tuthill wondered whether Tetbury (NZ) (Tavistock) would ever get to the races, but that all became a distant memory when the homebred mare became her first winner at Timaru on Wednesday. The daughter of Tavistock was having her 12th start and had placed on several occasions, and despite a wide barrier draw in the Power Farming Timaru 1600, was backed into clear favouritism in the hands of Bridget Grylls. She went back from the gate and settled into a good rhythm, while Happy Story…
Cooksley has trust in Group Three contender
New Zealand gelding Trust In You (NZ) (Sweynesse) should get conditions to suit at Rosehill on Saturday when he contests the Gr.3 Colin Stephen Quality (2400m). It will be his second run in Australia this preparation, having finished seventh in the Gr.3 Newcastle Gold Cup (2300m) earlier this month after a first-up run on an unsuitable Heavy10 track over a mile at Te Rapa last month. “His first-up run (at Te Rapa) was okay because it was a really heavy track and he doesn’t handle a real heavy track,” said…
Lucky Sweynesse pleases in turf gallop ahead of Sprinters Stakes challenge
Lucky Sweynesse’s (NZ) (Sweynesse) preparation for Sunday’s (28 September) G1 Sprinters Stakes (1200m) saw the four-time Group 1 winner gallop gracefully over Nakayama’s turf course under beaming sunshine this morning (Wednesday, 24 September) in Tokyo, Japan. Trainer Manfred Man and owners the Cheng family watched on delighted as the seven-year-old brown gelding powered up the 310m-long uphill home straight under restraint from jockey Derek Leung, who with Lucky Sweynesse, is aiming to secure Hong Kong, China’s third win in the prized contest this weekend after Silent Witness (2005) and Ultra…
Trust In You primed for Rosehill Group 3 assignment
Kiwi stayer Trust In You will contest the Group 3 Colin Stephen Quality (2400m) at Rosehill on Saturday. (Photo: Kenton Wright/Race Images) New Zealand gelding Trust In You should get conditions to suit at Rosehill on Saturday when he contests the Group 3 Colin Stephen Quality (2400m). It will be his second run in Australia this preparation, having finished seventh in the Group 3 Newcastle Gold Cup (2300m) earlier this month after a first-up run on an unsuitable Heavy 10 track over a mile at Te Rapa last month. “His…
Lucky Sweynesse pleases in turf gallop ahead of Sprinters Stakes
Lucky Sweynesse strides out at Nakayama. (Photo: HKJC) Lucky Sweynesse’s preparation for Sunday’s Group 1 Sprinters Stakes (1200m) saw the four-time Group 1 winner gallop gracefully over Nakayama’s turf course under beaming sunshine on Wednesday morning in Tokyo, Japan. Trainer Manfred Man and owners the Cheng family watched on delighted as the seven-year-old brown gelding powered up the 310m-long uphill home straight under restraint from jockey Derek Leung, who with Lucky Sweynesse, is aiming to secure Hong Kong, China’s third win in the prized contest this weekend after Silent Witness…
Lady Luck smiles on talented filly Tale Of The Gypsy
TAB Karaka Millions 2YO (1200m) hopeful Tale Of The Gypsy. (Photo: Kenton Wright/Race Images) Lady Luck has finally smiled on talented filly Tale Of The Gypsy, who has been plagued by wide barriers throughout her short career to date. The daughter of Written By has jumped from the outside gate in half of her six appearances and contended with poor draws in the other three. Despite that, she posted a debut victory last season and finished fourth in the Group 1 Sistema (1200m), fifth in the Group 2 Matamata Breeders’…
Campbell excited by juvenile colt ahead of Otaki debut
Otaki trainer Andrew Campbell. (Photo: Angelique Bridson) Otaki trainer Andrew Campbell is excited about the prospects of his promising juvenile Singletary, and he is looking forward to kicking off his career at his home track on Friday. The Satono Aladdin colt was purchased by Campbell and his primary owner Tommy Heptinstall out of Rich Hill Stud’s 2025 New Zealand Bloodstock Book 2 draft for $125,000, and he is living up to his price tag. He has impressed Campbell with his two trials to date, including victory over 850m at Foxton…
Sad barrier tale finally over for Guineas hope
Lady Luck has finally smiled on talented filly Tale Of The Gypsy (Written By), who has been plagued by wide barriers throughout her short career to date. The daughter of Written By has jumped from the outside gate in half of her six appearances and contended with poor draws in the other three. Despite that, she posted a debut victory last season and finished fourth in the Gr.1 Sistema (1200m), fifth in the Gr.2 Matamata Breeders’ Stakes (1200m) and had no luck again when out of the money in the…