Day: 18 November 2025

The New Zealand Derby – 100 Years Ago

NZHarnessNews

Ahead of Friday’s huge race night at Addington that features five Group 1s, including the Garrards NZ Pacing Derby, we look back at the Derby exactly 100 years ago. By Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk   A century ago there wasn’t just one Derby – there were two. The first one was at New Brighton in March, the second at Addington in November. Kohara’s win was the last at New Brighton before the shift in date and venue with Native Chief (pictured above) being the first at the “new”…

Full circle moment for retiring Wild Night

NZRacingDesk

It will be a full circle moment for Group One performer Wild Night (NZ) (Vanbrugh) when he returns to Windsor Park Stud following his retirement from racing this week. Bred by the Cambridge farm, the six-year-old gelding is by their Group One-producing sire Vanbrugh and out of Supreme, who is also the dam of Group Two winner Play That Song. Wild Night was offered through Windsor Park Stud’s 2021 New Zealand Bloodstock Book 1 Yearling Sale draft where he was purchased by Te Akau Racing principal David Ellis for $50,000.…

Meaningful Star looking to defend Group Three crown

NZRacingDesk

Meaningful Star (Pivotal) shone brightly last Saturday when runner-up in the Gr.2 Tauranga Stakes (1530m) and he could now get the opportunity to defend his crown in the Gr.3 Great Northern Challenge Stakes (1600m) at Ellerslie on Saturday week. The seasoned campaigner rocketed home late and came within a short head of usurping Agera in the Tauranga Stakes, pleasing part-owner and co-trainer Grant Cooksley. “It was a good run. A couple of more strides and he would have been in front,” said Cooksley, who trains in partnership with Bruce Wallace.…

Capable mare looks a regal chance

NZRacingDesk

Late maturer Queen Of Kings (NZ) (Prince Of Brooklyn) has a gilt-edged opportunity at Phar Lap Raceway on Wednesday to add to her record. The five-year-old has been in fine touch this preparation and looks a leading chance in the Jon Snow & Echoes Of Heaven Handicap (1600m). A daughter of Prince Of Brooklyn, she broke her maiden at Oamaru during the winter and two runs back doubled her tally when successful in an open handicap at Ashburton where race rival Iffididit finished third. In between times, she has posted…

Huge test for The Lazarus Effect in Friday’s Christian Cullen

NZHarnessNews

By Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk  Just how good is The Lazarus Effect? It seems we will find out the answer in Friday’s $125,000 Group 1 Christian Cullen at Addington. The Bob Butt-trained pacer has created a lot of buzz with seven wins from 10 starts and now takes on a star studded line-up that includes recently crowned New Zealand Cup champion Kingman. “I don’t know how good is he to be honest,” says trainer Bob Butt. “He just keeps improving and I haven’t found the ceiling yet. I…

Gerard yet to confirm plans for 2000 Guineas pair

NZRacingDesk

With a quinella in Saturday’s Gr. 1 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) done and dusted, trainer Pam Gerard is now setting about confirming summer plans for Romanoff (NZ) (Belardo) and Affirmative Action (Yes Yes Yes). The obvious route for the latest pair of Ballymore Stables stars is towards Ellerslie in late January for the $1.5 million TAB Karaka Millions 3YO (1600m), followed six weeks later by the $4 million NZB Kiwi (1500m), but Gerard is not rushing into defined decisions. “I stayed down in Christchurch until…