The Lindsay Park team of Ben, Will and J D Hayes will rely on Evaporate (NZ) (Per Incanto) as their major chance in a Stakes race at Sandown. Rise At Dawn (NZ) (Almanzor) was also an acceptor for the Gr.3 Sandown Stakes (1500m) on Saturday but instead will head to Sydney to contest the Gr.2 Shannon Stakes (1500m) at Rosehill. Ben Hayes said a rich race in Sydney during the spring was in the back of their minds with Rise At Dawn who resumed at Flemington on September 13 finishing third to stablemate Cafe Millenium (Not A Single Doubt). “He’s in great…
Month: September 2025
De Armas enters Karaka Millions fray
Otaki horseman Johno Benner has a good association with the Karaka Millions, and he could have another serious contender on his hands for January’s showpiece. He won the 2014 edition of the Karaka Millions 2YO (1200m) with Vespa and the inaugural Karaka Millions 3YO Classic (1600m) with Scott Base in 2018, when training in partnership with Hollie Wynyard, and exciting juvenile De Armas put herself in a strong position to qualify for the former race when winning on debut at her home track on Friday. After winning her 600m trial…
Danjuro puts Didham partnership on the board
The father-son training partnership of Peter and Trent Didham recorded their first win when Danjuro scored a tough victory in Friday’s The Tele Otaki Handicap (2100m). A fourth generation of trainers was added to the Didham dynasty when 27-year-old Trent joined his father in partnership earlier this month, and the pair made a promising start with two seconds, a fourth and a fifth from their first six starters. The breakthrough came with Danjuro in Friday’s $50,000 open handicap at Otaki. Ridden by Kavish Chowdhoory, the talented five-year-old settled in third…
Linebacker on Golden Eagle Path after minor setback
Trainer John O’Shea has confirmed that Group One winner Linebacker (NZ) (Super Seth) will bypass the Gr.1 Epsom Handicap (1600m) after striking a minor setback in his spring campaign. “He won’t go to the Epsom, he’s had a little setback,” O’Shea said. “We had a day in Sydney where there was seven inches of rain. He must have just put his foot down awkwardly when he was trotting out to work and he just had a bit of a sprain of his ankle.” “We’ve resolved that. He spent a week…
Patience pays off as The Scunner salutes first-up at Otaki
The Scunner wins at Otaki on Friday first-up. The Scunner winning at Otaki on Friday.Photo: Peter Rubery (Race Images Palmerston North) Ashley Meadows’ patient handling of The Scunner is bringing its rewards on the racetrack, with the exciting talent kicking off his six-year-old season with a runaway victory in the Cavallo Farms & Chris Rutten Bloodstock Handicap (1400m) at Otaki on Friday. The $50,000 race was the fifth win from only a 13-start career for the Shamexpress gelding, who has now banked over $140,000 in stakes. “He’s a really, really…
“Cool dude” does it again for Branch at Cambridge
By Jordyn Bublitz Romeo Foxtrot proved once again that grit and determination count for plenty when he claimed victory in the IRT. Your Horse. Our Passion. Handicap Trot at Cambridge Raceway last night. The eight-year-old son of Majestic Son, trained locally by Susan Branch, began brilliantly off his 25-metre mark and quickly took control of the race with Zachary Butcher in the sulky. The pair dictated terms from the outset and, despite a late charge from Johnny Who, held strong all the way to the post. Branch, who has enjoyed…
Minstrel and Heza Sport withdrawn from NZ Cup field
The field for the $1m IRT New Zealand Trotting Cup has had a trans-Tasman shake-up. Western Australian trainer Greg Bond has officially withdrawn Minstrel and (Gee) Heza Sport from the country’s biggest race at Addington Raceway on Tuesday, November 11. Minstrel, the winner of 27 races and over $1.6m, was third in his last race at Gloucester Park on September 12, with Gee Heza Sport finishing fifth. Minstrel was ninth in this week’s rankings and Heza Sport 13th. Their defections mean there will be a juggling of places in next…
New betting option at Addington tonight
The TAB has come up with a new market for those not keen on investing on hotpot The Lazarus Effect at Addington tonight. The Bob Butt-trained and driven Lazarus four-year-old is the shortest favourite of the night at $1.08 to secure his fourth career win from just six lifetime stars in Race 2, the Garrards Horse and Hound Mobile Pace (5.33pm). With him dominating the market the TAB is now offering a “The Lazarus Effect Out” option. With him out of the picture J T Boe is paying $2.40 for…
Miss Ziggy out to lose unwanted tag
Stakes-performed filly Miss Ziggy will take a big step down in class at Riccarton on Saturday and attempt to shed her maiden tag in the Speight’s Summit Ultra On Tap Maiden (1400m). The daughter of Brazen Beau has recorded five placings in her nine-start career so far, headed by a third behind La Dorada and Vega For Luck in the Karaka Millions 2YO (1200m) at Ellerslie in January. Miss Ziggy was a last-start fifth in the Listed Canterbury Belle Stakes (1200m) at Riccarton two weeks ago, where she was beaten…
Wexford continue cross-code association with promising 3YO
Exciting three-year-old Yamato Satona will carry colours well-known to the harness racing code when commencing his career at Te Rapa on Saturday. A colt by Satono Aladdin, Yamato Satona was a $250,000 purchase at the Karaka Yearling Sales by top harness trainer Barry Purdon, his wife Katrina, and Montana Park’s Dean Shannon, who have combined for success with the likes of star pacers Merlin and Sooner The Bettor. They entrusted Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott with Yamato Satona’s training and while he didn’t appear as a juvenile, Scott noted he…