Month: December 2025

Matamata visitor Sagunto etched his name into the folklore of the Gr.3 Humphries Construction Manawatu Cup (2300m) when he claimed his third victory in the race with a brilliant front-running performance at Trentham. Successful in the Group Three contest in 2022 and again in 2023, the Peter and Shaun McKay-trained 10-year-old had been battling to recapture his best form in his current campaign, although he had given plenty of cheek from in front before fading to midfield in the Gr.3 Waikato Cup (2400m) at Te Rapa last weekend. That run…

Lux Libertas has come close in several stakes races, but she was able to shed her bridesmaid tag at Trentham on Saturday when taking out the Gr.2 Bramco Granite & Marble Manawatu Challenge Stakes (1400m). The five-year-old mare was first-up since her runner-up performance in the Listed Tauranga Classic (1400m) in June, and she was kept safe by punters as a $6.60 third elect. She jumped away well under leading Central Districts hoop Bruno Queiroz, who gave her a beautiful trip in the one-one position before finding clear running room…

Cambridge Stud stallion Almanzor was credited with a winning double at Caulfield Heath on Saturday when Roadcone held on for an all-the-way victory in the A$130,000 Magic Millions Digital Handicap (1500m). Almanzor opened his account with up-and-comer Touchdown in the first race on Saturday’s card, and Roadcone followed suit to improve his own record to 16 starts for five wins, four placings and A$251,364 in stakes. Trainers Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman identified Saturday’s Benchmark 78 handicap as a key target this time in for Roadcone, who had previously shown…

Last year’s Gr.2 Tulloch Stakes (2000m) winner Wymark (NZ) (Savabeel) returned to winning form in style in the A$130,000 Sportsbet Fixed Odds Exotics Handicap (1800m) at Caulfield Heath on Saturday. It was the fifth win of a 19-start career for the New Zealand-bred Savabeel gelding, who burst on the scene as a three-year-old two seasons ago with four consecutive wins culminating in the Tulloch Stakes. He then finished seventh behind Riff Rocket (American Pharoah) and Ceolwulf (NZ) (Tavistock) in the Gr.1 Australian Derby (2400m). Wymark was guided through his first…

Cambridge Stud stallion Sword Of State was represented by yet another highly promising two-year-old when the Bjorn Baker-trained Warwoven ran out an impressive winner of the TAB Plate (1000m) at Randwick on Saturday. Ridden by Rachel King, the imposing colt sat off a strong tempo set by Shiki (Too Darn Hot) and powered over the top of his rivals to score by just over two lengths and book a passage to the A$3 million Magic Millions (1200m) at the Gold Coast on January 17. “He was very good, it’s exciting…

Five-year-old gelding Angland (NZ) (Ace High) was back in the winner’s circle with a narrow victory at the Caulfield Heath track on Saturday when getting the better of Enchanted Jenni (NZ) (Per Incanto) and Crown Crusher (Gold Standard) in the MRC Mornington Summer of Racing Handicap (1600m). The Grahame Begg-trained son of Ace High was back in the winner’s circle for the first time in 12 months after a strong ride from Logan Bates. Angland is in his first preparation for the Begg stable, having transferred from the Price-Kent team…

Caulfield Heath has been a happy hunting ground for promising four-year-old Touchdown (NZ) (Almanzor) in recent weeks, and the New Zealand-bred son of Almanzor recorded his third consecutive win at the venue in Saturday’s A$80,000 MRC Membership Feel The Thrill Handicap (1800m). Trained by Ben, Will & JD Hayes at Flemington, Touchdown has now had six starts for four wins, two second placings and A$136,915 in stakes. He was a maiden winner over 1400m at Sale in September, then picked up a 1600m Benchmark 66 handicap at Caulfield Heath on…

Well performed three-year-old filly War Princess (NZ) (U S Navy Flag) proved a class above her age group rivals as she led from barrier rise to take out the Gr.3 Lawnmaster Eulogy Stakes (1600m) at Trentham to claim her first success at stakes level. The Peter and Trent Didham-prepared daughter of U S Navy Flag went into the Group Three feature off the back of a luckless runner-up performance in the Listed O’Learys Fillies Stakes (1340m) at Wanganui last month where she flew home to finish behind Circus Dancer (NZ)…

Fortuna Racing look to have another exciting filly on their hands after Lara Antipova Russian Revolution) romped to victory in the Gr.2 Windsor Park Stud Wakefield Challenge Stakes (1100m) at Trentham on Saturday. The Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson-trained juvenile was eye-catching when winning by eight lengths on debut at Te Aroha less than a fortnight ago, giving punters the confidence that she could put in a similar showing in her debut stakes appearance. They duly backed her in their droves, with the daughter of Russian Revolution shortening into $1.20…