Month: November 2025

A big mishap last start hasn’t halted Stonybreck’s (Tavistock) preparation for the Gr.3 TAB Mile (1600m) and he’ll lead the three-pronged attack for Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson in Wednesday’s $250,000 feature at Riccarton. A six-time winner on synthetic tracks, Stonybreck has brought that form onto the turf this campaign in the South Island, headlined by a dominant five-length romp at the Christchurch venue in late September. The focus was firmly set on the TAB Mile and he lined-up against many key rivals over 1400m last month only to knuckle…

It might not be the Cup they were aiming for this spring, but trainers Peter and Shaun McKay are looking forward to heading south to Christchurch this week to contest the Gr.3 Martin Collins New Zealand Cup (3200m) with their handy stayer Wolfgang (NZ) (Puccini). The seven-year-old gelding was campaigning towards the Gr.1 Melbourne Cup (3200m), but they abandoned that mission following three unplaced runs in Melbourne. He returned to New Zealand and made an instant impact, winning under 62kg in the Waikato Cup Prelude (2400m) at Te Rapa on…

The Radiant One (NZ) (Darci Brahma) ran home well to finish runner-up behind Captured By Love (Written Tycoon) in Saturday’s Gr.3 Canterbury Breeders’ Stakes (1400m) at Riccarton, and trainer Robert Dennis is hoping she can go one better when she returns to the Christchurch track on Wednesday. The Ascot Park horseman was rapt with her weekend effort and said she has come through the race well and will back-up in the Gr.3 TAB Mile (1600m). “That was her target when she went out for a spell at the end of…

Waikato Stud was a dominant force at Pukekohe with a hat-trick of winners, and the premier nursery is hoping their celebrations continue this week during New Zealand Bloodstock’s Ready to Run Sale. The Matamata farm’s colours were carried to victory on Saturday by the exciting Smart Love (NZ) (Savabeel) and Magice (NZ) (Savabeel) while graduate Princess Elly (NZ) (Sacred Falls) showcased trainer Craig Ivil’s skills with a first-up middle-distance victory. Waikato will offer seven youngsters at the RTR Sale at Karaka on Wednesday and Thursday and a further half a-dozen…

The autumn campaign of Champions Mile winner Ceolwulf (NZ) (Tavistock) is likely to have a major bearing on whether trainer Joe Pride puts the Cox Plate, to be run at Flemington, firmly on his stable star’s 2026 spring agenda. Pride is looking to give Ceolwulf another chance to prove his effectiveness at 2000m next autumn as his biggest wins to date have been his four Gr.1 successes over 1600m, which include back-to-back King Charles III Stakes at Randwick and Saturday’s Champions Mile in his first visit to Melbourne. Speaking on…

Cambridge trainer Andrew Forsman and jockey Craig Grylls proved a potent combination at Tauherenikau on Sunday, claiming three of the eight races across the afternoon. Both were coming off the back of successful Saturday meetings, Forsman taking the Listed Legacy Lodge Sprint (1200m) at Pukekohe with Force Of Nature (NZ) (Savabeel) while Grylls rode a winning double at Riccarton including the Listed Pegasus Stakes (1000m) aboard Platinum Attack (Santos). Combining in the Central Districts, the pair took the first of their winning treble with Lassified (Stay Inside) in the LA…