Aaron Purcell’s iron stayer Farag (NZ) (Sacred Falls) has etched his name into Jericho Cup folklore, winning the marathon 4415-metre feature for the second year running under jockey Will Gordon, who claimed the race for a third time. The son of Sacred Falls, heavily backed from $3.50 into $2.70 late, carried the top weight of 70kg but was able to settle close to the speed with cover throughout. With the race run entirely on the course proper due to concerns with the steeplechase course ground across Alfred and Tozers Road,…
Month: November 2025
Hyperbolic delivers emphatically at Rosehill
The Brad Widdup-trained Hyperbolic (NZ) (Proisir) ran out a ready winner of the Captivant @ Kia Ora Handicap (1400m) at Rosehill on Saturday as the daughter of Proisir recorded her first metropolitan success. Ridden by Tommy Berry, Hyperbolic jumped from barrier 2 and stalked the favourite Maid Of Moolah (Capitalist) and Bravissima (Deep field) and when presented mid-stretch pounced to score by a length and three-quarters. Sporting the colours of Mulberry, Hyperbolic has now won four of her 12 starts and placed on another four occasions for Widdup, who watched…
Major Beel back in ATC Cup
Gr.1 Australian Derby winner Major Beel (NZ) (Savabeel) was back winning at stakes level when landing the Listed ATC Cup (2000m) at Rosehill on Saturday. The Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained son of Savabeel has been a winner at benchmark level since his Derby triumph but hadn’t troubled the scorer for the past 12 months. Sent out a firming $21 chance, Major Beel out-toughed well-fancied stablemate Shangri La Spring (Castelvecchio) to score by a length and a quarter in the hands of Rachel King. “He’s been quite consistent and needed…
Prolific winner Here To Shock snares another
An inch-perfect ride by Mark Zahra has aided warhorse Here To Shock (NZ) (Shocking) to add another stakes win to his belt as the Group One winner defeated the fast-closing Persian Spirit in the Listed Testa Rossa Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on Saturday. Prepared by the Lindsay Park team of Ben, Will and J D Hayes, the eight-year-old gelding lumped 60kgs as he notched career win number 14. Zahra went straight to the front on the son of Shocking and had most of his rivals gasping rounding the final bend…
Blacklist fires in Country Classic
Five-year-old gelding Blacklist (NZ) (Redwood) has provided connections with a quick return when winning the TAB Country Classic (2000m) at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday. Identified by Queenslander Luke Berger, Blacklist has had four trainers throughout his career, starting as a Waipa trial winner for Cody Cole before joining Ciaron Maher, then Richard Laming before a private sale to Queensland Luke Berger and joining the stable of Mudgee trainer Mack Griffith. “When he walked in the door, we worked out a program, and this was his mission,” Griffith said. “A race…
Hustler too strong in Zipping Classic
Five-year-old mare She’s A Hustler (NZ) (Ace High) continues to meet every challenge, defeating more seasoned rivals at weight-for-age in the Gr.2 Zipping Classic (2400m) at Caulfield on Saturday. The Grahame Begg-trained mare dug deep under regular rider Jordan Childs to defeat this year’s Gr.1 Australian Cup (2000m) winner Light Infantry Man (Fast Company) as she emphatically ticked the mile and a half box. The New Zealand import has never finished out of the top two in 11 career starts, with seven victories to her name to go with four…
Opening Address rewards patient connections
Opening Address (NZ) (So You Think) was back in the winner’s circle for the first time since winning the Listed Batman Stakes (1800m) at Flemington on Melbourne Cup Day just over 12 months ago, when landing the Whispering Angel Handicap (1800m) at Caulfield on Saturday under apprentice Luke Cartwright. The New Zealand-bred son of So You Think was sent out a $21 chance for trainer Liam Howley but ran out a comfortable three-quarters of a length winner from Sigiriya Rock (Alabama Express) with a wayward favourite Skipper’s Canyon (NZ) (Belardo)…
Here To Shock gearing up for Supernova
The Lindsay Park team of Ben, Will and J D Hayes have their eyes on a second win in a Victorian slot race with one of their stable favourites Here To Shock (NZ) (Shocking). But first, Here To Shock heads to the Listed Testa Rossa Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on Saturday which the stable sees as the ideal pipe-opener for the A$1 million The Supernova (1400m) at Pakenham on December 13. Here To Shock led home a one-two finish in the inaugural running of the Supernova last year and Ben Hayes said The Supernova in two weeks’ time was certainly in the stable’s planning this year. Lindsay Park Racing…
Dealt With to make raceday return
Dealt With stamped himself as one of the most exciting three-year-old prospects last season, earning himself a slot in the inaugural $3.5 million NZB Kiwi (1500m), but he was withdrawn at the 11th hour through injury. It was a bitter pill to swallow for his connections, with the son of Ace High looking a strong contender after previously winning his first two starts before placing in the Karaka Millions 3YO (1600m) and Listed Uncle Remus Stakes (1400m). Trainers Roger James and Robert Wellwood have taken a patient approach with his…
In-form Tellum on target for Wanganui
A dominant last-start victory confirmed travel plans for Tellum to head south for a first crack at a black-type feature. The promising filly will bid to continue her hot run of form in the Listed O’Leary’s Fillies’ Stakes (1340m) on Saturday, with Lynsey Satherley booked for the ride by trainer Debbie Sweeney. Tellum has won her last two on the bounce at the expense of older opposition, but it was her most recent victory romp at Te Aroha that ensured her place in the Wanganui contest. “She’s been super and…