Day: 27 December 2025

Kris Lees is happy to take a when however and whenever it comes and Tavi Time (NZ) (Tavistock) timing it well to win a second Gr.3 Summer Cup (2000m) to land a racecard double was just the Boxing Day fare he wanted.  A consistent performer but with a dearth of victories in 2025, the six-year-old gelding notched his first win since taking out the Listed Scone Cup (2000m) in May after winning the 2000-metre Summer Cup last year. “It has been frustrating this preparation,” Lees said. “He is more than capable on his day but…

Stakes targets are in the offing for consistent gelding Maldini after he scored the biggest win of his career when taking out the Dunstan Horsefeeds Stayers’ Championship Final (2400m) at Ellerslie on Boxing Day. From his ace barrier, Maldini settled three-back on the rail for apprentice jockey Sam McNab and the pair enjoyed an economical trip throughout. Turning for home, much of the field elected to search for better footing towards the middle of the track, but McNab continued to hug the rail, which proved a decisive move, with Maldini…

An imperious performance by Rise Companions to waltz away with the prestigious Stella Artois 1500m Championship Final (1500m) has pundits questioning just where his ceiling could be. The statuesque five-year-old son of Capitalist was gunning for his third win in succession with victory in the final event on an action-packed Boxing Day card at Ellerslie and didn’t disappoint as he romped clear to win by nearly three lengths in the hands of Masa Hashizume. Those who supported the Simon and Katrina Alexander-prepared runner had some cause for concern when Rise…

It was a case of mission accomplished for Australian trainer Gavin Bedggood at Ellerslie on Boxing Day. The Cranbourne horseman had previously competed at the Auckland track as a jumps jockey a decade ago and he eyed a return across the Tasman this week with his well-bred Group Three winner Kingswood (Roaring Lion). With a view towards securing his future stud career, Bedggood was in search of an all-important elite-level victory, and he felt the Gr.1 Cambridge Stud Zabeel Classic (2000m) presented as the perfect opportunity. Prior to the race,…

Stakes targets are in the offing for consistent gelding Maldini (NZ) (Tarzino) after he scored the biggest win of his career when taking out the Dunstan Horsefeeds Stayers’ Championship Final (2400m) at Ellerslie on Boxing Day. From his ace barrier, Maldini settled three-back on the rail for apprentice jockey Sam McNab and the pair enjoyed an economical trip throughout. Turning for home, much of the field elected to search for better footing towards the middle of the track, but McNab continued to hug the rail, which proved a decisive move,…