Year: 2025

After recording her 1,000th win in the saddle in September, veteran jockey Kylie Williams had just one final goal she wanted to achieve before hanging up her riding boots – ride against her son, Logan Bates. That dream will become a reality at her local track of Riccarton Park on Saturday, with Australian-based Bates returning home to ride during New Zealand Cup Week in Christchurch. The 24-year-old hoop landed back in New Zealand on Friday afternoon and he is looking forward to competing against his Mum. “The main reason (to…

Cambridge trainer Roger James is already the most successful trainer in the history of the Gr.1 New Zealand Derby (2400m) with six wins to his credit, and on Thursday he and training partner Robert Wellwood unveiled another Classic type when Road To Paris (NZ) (Circus Maximus) swept to victory at Avondale. The three-year-old son of Circus Maximus relished the step up to 1400m when winning the Funtime Catering Maiden after finishing seventh over 1200m on debut at Ellerslie in October.  “We said at the end of his two-year-old preparation that…

There is never a soft Group One option during Melbourne Cup week, but Sydney trainer Joe Pride is hoping he has picked that softer option on the final day of the carnival at Flemington.  Pride had the option of remaining at 1600m with Ceolwulf (NZ) (Tavistock) in the Gr.1 Champions Mile (1600m) or stepping up to the 2000m of the Gr.1 Champions Stakes.  Ceolwulf will contest the former on Saturday where he will be pitted against the likes of Mr Brightside (NZ) (Bullbars), Pericles (Street boss), Pride Of Jenni (Pride Of Dubai) and Treasurethe Moment (Alabama Express) and in the process bypass an assignment against Via…

The A$2 million Listed Five Diamonds (1800m) is anything but an afterthought for Lindsay Park raider Rise At Dawn (NZ) (Almanzor), his trainers confident the race is an ideal fit for the dual stakes winner. Co-conditioner Will Hayes says Saturday’s Rosehill feature has been earmarked for the gelding for some time and the rails draw has only enhances his chances. “This was our spring grand final,” Will Hayes said. “It’s an incredible race, the Five Diamonds, being restricted to five-year-olds at set weights and penalties. “We felt it was the perfect profile, and we think he’s going to thrive…

Champion jockey Opie Bosson will miss all three days of the New Zealand Cup Carnival in Christchurch after a fall at Avondale on Thursday. Bosson rode Karyon into a fourth placing in the Avondale Main Street Rating 60 (1200m), but was dislodged after the finish line when his mount abruptly ducked outwards while pulling up. He was stood down for the remainder of the Avondale card and now faces a longer stint on the sidelines. “He went to the doctor this morning and unfortunately didn’t pass his concussion test,” Bosson’s…

A relentlessly wet spring has provided a frustrating start to the season for David Greene, but things might be turning the corner as the Te Rapa trainer prepares to unleash his emerging star First Five in Saturday’s Listed Legacy Lodge Sprint (1200m) at Pukekohe. Greene opened his winning account for 2025-26 when Goldiluxe took out the Avondale Main Street Rating 60 (1200m) on Thursday, and now he is excited to see First Five get underway in what could be a career-best season. “Goldiluxe won pretty well at Avondale on Thursday…

Lisa Latta is often a force to be reckoned with when she takes her horses to Riccarton for New Zealand Cup Week and hopes this year will be no exception. The Awapuni horsewoman will look to add another Listed Donaldson Brown Pegasus Stakes (1000m) and Gr.3 Windsor Park Stud Canterbury Breeders’ Stakes (1400m) to her mantelpiece on Saturday, with key hopes in Platinum Attack and Connello engaged in the feature races. A five-year-old by Santos, Platinum Attack has won two of three attempts at the 1000m trip, his only defeat…

Genuine filly Miss Ziggy ticked a significant box for trainer Andrew Carston during her trouble-free build-up to Saturday’s Gr.1 Barneswood Farm New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) at Riccarton. The local hope has spent most of her career competing in strong age group company and delivered an overdue victory two runs back. “I needed to get a win out of the way, and I thought I might have got that before I did, but since she won it has been plain sailing,” he said. “I’m very happy with my horse and…

Trans-Tasman trainer Andrew Forsman is hoping his stable can feature on both sides of the ditch this weekend. His Cambridge stable will have strong representation at Pukekohe and Tauherenikau on Saturday and Sunday respectively, while his Flemington barn will have a two-pronged attack on Champions Stakes Day at their iconic Melbourne base. Force Of Nature will lead the charge on the home front at Pukekohe where he will be fresh-up in the Listed Legacy Lodge Sprint (1200m). Initially set to be run at Te Rapa, Saturday’s meeting was transferred to…