Stephen Marsh ran rampant with wins in four of the first seven races at Ellerslie on Saturday, but his hottest favourite of the day had to settle for a placing as another Cambridge stable stole the show. The Roger James and Robert Wellwood-trained Arabian Songbird (NZ) (Pierro) took flight from the back of the field to upstage Tardelli (I Am Invincible) in the $65,000 Elsdon Park (1400m). Marsh had been an unstoppable force until that point of the afternoon, winning the Gr.2 Windsor Park Stud Soliloquy Stakes (1400m) by almost…
Day: 18 October 2025
Well Written dominates Soliloquy Stakes
If trainer Stephen Marsh thought his day couldn’t get any better after winning the first three races on the card at Ellerslie on Saturday, he had to revise those thoughts pretty quickly after the running of the Gr.2 Windsor Park Stud Soliloquy Sakes (1400m). Successful with Miss Fladgate (Russian Revolution) (Race 1), Swiss Prince (NZ) (El Roca) (Race 2) and On The Town (NZ) (Blue Point) (Race 3), Marsh sent out consistent filly Little Black Dress (Snitzel) and impressive debut winner Well Written (Written Tycoon) in the feature for the…
Midnight Dart delivers on debut
A winning debut by bargain buy Midnight Dart (NZ) (Derryn) in the Rat Tat 2YO Plate (800m) at Trentham on Saturday has kept the Karaka Millions dream alive and well for a big group of young and first-time owners. Midnight Dart was bought for just $20,000 from Book 2 of Karaka 2025 by Josh Herd, whose mother Lisa Latta trains the colt at Awapuni. He ran second in his only trial at Otaki on September 16, beaten by a wide margin by subsequent race winner De Armas (NZ) (Ardrossan), and…
Start crucial to Miki Bennett’s chances in Sunday’s Oamaru Cup
By Jonny Turner Tim Williams admits he doesn’t know what Miki Bennett will do when the tapes fly in the Placemakers Oamaru Cup (4.22pm) on Sunday. The pacer comes into the 2600m handicap after botching his last standing start before producing a huge recovery to win. That victory came down in the grades, and if Miki Bennett does it again he will face an almighty task to win. But Williams is hopeful his charge can do things right because of one crucial factor. “He is a quirky character and, to…
Republican Party and Muscle Mountain star on huge Friday night at Addington
By Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk Driver Carter Dalgety declared the “dream is alive” following Republican Party’s impressive win in the Lamb and Hayward Canterbury Classic at Addington. Trained by his parents Cran and Chrissie Dalgety, the pacer known as “Stu” was just too good for his rivals in the Group 2 feature. He was the first to move and took the lead at the 1500 metre mark and never looked in danger as they cleared out by three lengths. It was Republican Party’s second win in the Classic…
Bobby McGee first winner for Ancient Spirit
Three-year-old filly Bobby McGee provided her sire Ancient Spirit with his first winner when successful at Wingatui over 1200m. The Terry Kennedy trained filly raced three wide without cover throughout, yet still finished strongly in the hands of Leah Hemi to narrowly prevail from Princess Reign. Bred and raced by Craig and Jim Hunter, Bobby McGee’s dam, the six-time winner Lucille, recently foaled a full sister to the filly. By Invincible Spirit out of Galileo’s daughter Assisi, Ancient Spirit was a dual Group Two winner in Germany before he retired…