Wexford Stables are daring to dream with their exciting juvenile filly Te Encuentro (Frankel) following her impressive debut victory in the SkyCity 1100 at Ellerslie on Boxing Day. The Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott-trained filly won her sole trial over 800m at Pukekohe earlier this month and the Matamata horsemen were confident of a bold showing on debut. That confidence quickly waned after she was forced to settle at the rear of the field and raced flat for most of the journey. She continued to battle at the back of…
Month: December 2025
Could today be the day for Team Telfer?
By Jonny Turner The southern harness racing scene could be even more important to Stonewall Stud after the MLT Gore Cup on Saturday (4.24pm). Trainers Steve and Amanda Telfer go into the Gore Christmas Trots meeting as equal record holders for the most wins in a New Zealand harness racing season with Roy and Barry Purdon (1993-94). The Stonewall Stud trainers have two chances to make the record their own and bag their 169th win of the year when Double Jeopardy and Slots start in the MLT Gore Cup. The…
Tavi’s Time again in Summer Cup
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 in the offing for Maldini following Boxing Day win
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…
Rise Companions dominates Stella Artois Final
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…
Kingswood scores crowning glory
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 in the offing for Maldini following Boxing Day win
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,…
Bobby Mcgee on song at Wingatui
Promising filly Bobby Mcgee showed she will be a force to be reckoned with against her age-group rivals over the next few months when she bounded home to take out her first victory at stakes level in the Listed NZB Airfreight Stakes (1400m) at Wingatui. The Terry Kennedy-prepared daughter of White Robe Lodge stallion Ancient Spirit had broken her maiden status on her home track two starts ago and followed that up with a tidy run for fifth against the three-year-olds at Invercargill a fortnight ago. Despite that form, she…
Tellum upsets in Eight Carat Classic
A brilliant front-running ride from Joe Doyle saw gritty filly Tellum upset the applecart as she downed the favourites in the Gr.2 Hallmark Stud Eight Carat Classic (1600m) at Ellerslie on Boxing Day. The Debbie Sweeney-prepared three-year-old had been thereabouts in her recent racing and with no other runners prepared to set up the pace, it was Doyle and the daughter of Ocean Park who seized the initiative and dictated proceedings. It was obvious that the filly was travelling well on the home corner and when she sneaked away with…
Well Written well ridden in Auckland Guineas triumph
Nerves are a rare feeling for Stephen Marsh on raceday, but he was certainly feeling them at Ellerslie on Boxing Day. The Cambridge horseman was lining up his unbeaten filly Well Written in the Gr.2 Jimmy Schick Shaw’s Auckland Guineas (1400m), and he knew the well-supported filly would be vulnerable fresh-up. The daughter of Written Tycoon has made waves since winning on debut at Ellerslie in September, going on to win the Gr.2 Soliloquy Stakes (1400m) in eye-catching fashion, attracting the attention of plenty of prospective buyers in the process.…