With plenty of big races over the next few days, Michael takes a deep dive into New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day action, catches up with Lance O’Sullivan, Tony Pike, Cran Dalgety and Ellerslie Track Manager Jason Fullford. Guerin Report – S2 Ep. 17 – NYE and NYD Preview
Month: December 2025
Deceptive Lee “pretty forward” for Reefton Cup
By Mike Love Elgin trainer David Mitchell joins the party on the coast for the final day of the circuit today. He takes three sound chances to the Reefton meeting, including Deceptive Lee in the feature, the $25,000 Rosco Contractors Reefton Cup over 2500m. “He seems pretty forward,” said trainer David Mitchell. Deceptive Lee has not raced since winning at Addington in September but has been to the workouts. “His last workout at Methven was good and a bit of form has come out of that.” It will be tough…
NZ Racing and Breeding News – 29 December 2025
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La Crique retired
La Crique (NZ) (Vadamos), arguably the most consistent horse in Australasian racing, has been retired. The dual Group One winner has been hampered with foot issues over the last couple of years, with a decision made on Monday morning to bring the curtain down on her racing career following her fourth placed run in the Gr.1 Zabeel Classic (2000m) at Ellerslie on Boxing Day. “She is still putting in some terrific races and even on Boxing Day she ran a terrific race,” said Katrina Alexander, who trained the seven-year-old mare…
Grid Girl all go to tick Stakes box
A picket fence preparation can continue for Grid Girl (NZ) (Time Test) at Flemington as the mare has her first attempt at black type status in the Listed Kensington Stakes (1400m) on New Year’s Eve. The Victoria Racing Club has made the switch from the traditional New Year’s Day fixture to a twilight card the day before and it is hoped that more than 10,000 will tick through the turnstiles to set a new precedent for highlight days of racing over the summer. Grid Girl is ready to line up in the 1400-metre feature…
Rich Ellerslie prize beckons emerging mare
Gifted four-year-old She’s A Dealer is in the right order to make a successful challenge for higher honours on New Year’s Day. The Roger James and Robert Wellwood-trained mare is unbeaten this preparation and will bid for a hat-trick of wins when she steps out in the Gr.2 Rich Hill Mile (1600m) at Ellerslie. The daughter of Ace High has won four of her seven starts and finished a gallant fifth in last season’s Gr.1 Queensland Oaks (2200m) at Eagle Farm. “Her work has been terrific and this race comes…
Tanzania aiming to go back to back at Motukarara today
By Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk Ashburton trainer Laurence Hanrahan lines up two good chances on what will be a huge meeting at Motukarara today. The 13 race programme gets underway just before noon with big open fields the order of the day. The day’s feature is the Paul Renwick Joinery Motukarara Christmas Cup (4.03pm) where the Hanrahan-trained Tanzania will be one of many chances. The Rock N Roll Heaven five-year-old won the race last year and is going into today’s contest in good form with two seconds in…
Wilson pair to tackle Kurow Cup
Ashburton trainers Bevan and Robyn Wilson will head south to Kurow’s iconic meeting on Tuesday where they will have a two-pronged attack in the West Coast Steeplechaser Kurow Cup (1400m). Seven-win gelding Royal Valour will head into the race second-up after a disappointing first-up performance where he was slow away at Cromwell last month and he was playing catch-up throughout. The Wilsons are putting that run behind them and they are hopeful of an improved showing this week. “It (last start) was pretty disappointing, he just didn’t want to go,”…
Shaking Stevens wins home cup
Timaru trainer Stephanie Faulkner has always dreamed of winning her home cup, and that turned into a reality at Phar Lap Raceway on Sunday courtesy of Shaking Stevens (NZ) (American Pharoah). The five-year-old gelding had an army of supporters on course, and the local crowd got right in behind the son of American Pharoah, backing him from $8 into a $3.20 favourite for the Craigmore Sustainable Holdings Timaru Cup (1600m). He rocketed out of the gates from his ace barrier and took an early lead under jockey Tina Comignaghi, but…
What You Wish For delivers Taupo Cup gift
A barnstorming finish has delivered Te Akau Racing with a stunning late Christmas present as underrated galloper What You Wish For (NZ) (Embellish) came from last on the home bend to take out the Harcourts Taupo Cup (2000m) in front of a bumper holiday crowd. The Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson-prepared five-year-old had provided mixed results in the first four starts of his current campaign, with his most recent run seeing him finish midfield in the Gr.3 Manawatu Cup (2300m) at Trentham on 20 December. Walker and Bergerson gave him…