Year: 2025

New Zealand-bred multiple Group One winner Mr Brightside (NZ) (Bullbars) will kick-off his spring preparation when he heads to Caulfield on Saturday to contest the Gr.1 Memsie Stakes (1400m). The Ben, Will and JD Hayes-trained gelding won the 2023 running of the race, and he will be looking to repeat that result this weekend after finishing runner-up in last year’s edition. The eight-year-old gelding has had two jumpouts this time in and his trainers are looking forward to what they hope is another lucrative spring with their charge. “We’re really…

Emily Murphy brings you Winter Weigh In, your place for Thoroughbred racing news, reviews and insights throughout the colder months. We recap Foxbridge Plate Day from Te Rapa, look ahead to remaining jumps days in 2025 and a whole lot more. Winter Weigh In, August 25

New Zealand’s top-rated performer El Vencedor (NZ) (Shocking) will contest all three legs of the spring Triple Crown series. Stephen Marsh’s four-time elite level winner is making pleasing progress toward his resuming run in the Gr.1 Proisir Plate (1400m) on September 6 at Ellerslie, where he will stretch his legs later this week. “He will trial on Thursday over 1100m, it will be a quiet trial and then he’ll be ready to kick off,” the Cambridge trainer said. “I thought he galloped brilliantly between races at Te Rapa and he…

Group One performer Wild Night (NZ) (Vanbrugh) is one step closer to his raceday return following a pleasing exhibition gallop at Te Rapa on Saturday. Wild Night worked alongside multiple Group One winner Legarto (NZ) (Proisir) and co-trainer Sam Bergerson was pleased with what he saw. “I was really pleased with his gallop and Opie (Bosson, jockey) said he felt great,” said Bergerson, who trains in partnership with Mark Walker. “Obviously, he’s battled soundness issues throughout his career, but he’s coming back from a good, long spell, and seems to…

Antino (NZ) (Redwood) will be tackling a much stronger Gr.1 Memsie Stakes (1400m) that the version he was unplaced in last year, but Tony Gollan is convinced his veteran stable star is a more seasoned horse in 2025. The seven-year-old son of Redwood resumes in the 1400-metre Group One that is the spring kick-off point for a number of the Spring Carnival’s potential headline acts. The Queensland star has been based at Cranbourne for around a fortnight and Gollan is thrilled with the way he has settled in ahead of his third Victorian spring campaign. “He’s a…

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It was a sentimental moment at Te Rapa on Saturday when Don’s Legacy broke through for his maiden win in the Noverre Mile (1600m) for owner-trainer Dennis Nunn. The six-year-old gelding was bred by Nunn’s close friend Don Wilson and was gifted to Nunn by Wilson’s widow Dorothy Wilson following his passing five years ago. Nunn took a patient approach with the Bullbars gelding’s development, and was rapt to get the victory at his 12th start. “It has been a while coming,” Nunn said. “It was great to get the…