Month: November 2025

Group One performer Perfect Scenario has been retired following his unplaced run in the Gr.3 TAB Mile (1600m) at Riccarton last week. The eight-year-old son of Iffraaj has been a stable stalwart for Te Akau Racing’s southern base at Riccarton Park over the last couple of seasons and retires the winner of 11 of his 59 starts, with $570,000 in earnings. He was purchased by Te Akau Racing principal David Ellis out of Woburn Farm’s 2019 New Zealand Bloodstock Book 1 Yearling Sale draft for $165,000 and has given his…

A huge crowd flocked to Waipukurau on Sunday as the Central Hawke’s Bay course hosted its first race meeting in six years, and Tauranga visitor Enright (NZ) (Power) emphatically broke a drought of his own in the DMAK Electrical Waipukurau Cup (2100m). The $35,000 country feature was the first win since October of 2022 for Enright, who has now had 43 starts for four wins, 13 placings and $179,300 in prize-money. He is trained by Stuart Manning, who co-bred and part-owns the Power gelding along with Kaye Durrant. The capacity…

Jimmysstar (NZ) (Per Incanto) may be heading off for his summer break, but rival camps could soon have another headache to deal with as his younger brother goes public for the first time on Monday. In’kantosstar (NZ) (Per Incanto) is also trained by Ciaron Maher and is listed for his first jumpout at Cranbourne over 800 metres on Monday morning to begin a much-awaited racing career on the back of Jimmysstar’s incredible two years of racing in Australia. “Jimmy’s going out and he’s playing tag-team with his little brother In’kantosstar,”…

Te Akau Racing collected a race-to-race double at Tauranga on Saturday, including a highly satisfying return to winning form by When Stars Align (NZ) (Zoustar) in the Stonewood Homes 1200. A well-related son of Zoustar bought by David Ellis for $400,000 as a yearling at Karaka in 2023, When Stars Align showed bright promise in the early stages of his career. He was a debut winner at Trentham as a two-year-old, then contested the Karaka Millions 2YO (1200m) in only his second start. He returned at three to place behind…

Classy mare Mary Shan (NZ) (Almanzor) has black-type targets on her agenda after bouncing back to winning form in Saturday’s Happy Hire Cup (1400m) at Tauranga. The daughter of Almanzor was close up in elite three-year-old competition two seasons ago, finishing second in the Gr.2 Soliloquy Stakes (1400m) and Eight Carat Classic (1600m), fourth in the Gr.1 Levin Classic (1600m) and fifth in the Gr.1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m). She added another two black-type placings to her record in last season’s Listed Aotearoa Classic (1600m) and Matamata Cup (1600m).…

Karaka graduate Patch Of Stars (All Too Hard) lived up to expectations in the feature Class 2 Lukfook Jewellery Cup Handicap (1200m) and boosted his Four-Year-Old Classic Series prospects with a smart win for Manfred Man and Zac Purton on an eventful day at Sha Tin on Saturday. Purton, who bagged a treble to extend his championship lead to 22 wins, spoke cautiously about Patch Of Stars drawing a tricky barrier nine in the build-up to the race. But in the event, he was able to manoeuvre the All Too…

Zambardo is one of the most improved horses in the country with a Gr.1 Mackinnon Stakes placing at Flemington. Michael Kent (junior) says It wasn’t all plane sailing when he arrived in their care from NZ. Michael Kent Jnr 14.11.25 – Racing HQ with Steve Hewlett – Apple Podcasts

Join Guy Heveldt, Emily Murphy and Jayne Ivil as they dissect the racing from Riccarton as NZ Cup Week comes to a close. National Thoroughbred Week gets under way, and we talk to Vicky Leonard to find out what we need to know about this great initiative. Weigh In, November 16