Year: 2025

Riccarton horseman Andrew Carston collected a winning double at his local synthetic meeting on Thursday, firstly as an owner and later as a trainer. From his own barn, Delmonico (NZ) (Prince Of Brooklyn) was aiming for back-to-back victories in the BMC Construction Rating 75 1600, having caught Rule Of Law (NZ) (Justify)right on the line last start on the all-weather surface. In the hands of Krishna Mudhoo, the gelding was customarily slow away, before coming through on the rail to settle in fifth. The big-striding Peecee Pussycat (NZ) (Pure Champion)…

Tony Furness will head to Otaki with family history on his side when he tackles the Listed Phils Electrical and Gipsy Caravans Ryder Stakes (1200m) with his promising juvenile Reconvene (NZ) (Derryn) on Saturday. His father, Bert Furness, won the race with High Saint (NZ), and Furness would dearly love to repeat the feat. “Dad won the race 50-odd years ago, I was 14 or 15 back then,” he said. “I won a couple of trials on the horse myself, but I think Bob Skelton was a wee bit better…

Capable race mare Sea Eagle (NZ) left the best until last during her brief breeding career. The daughter of Group One winner Don Eduardo’s final foal is the promising Eagle Rock (NZ) (Eagle Rock), who will attempt to add to his record in the Property Brokers Taumarunui 3YO (1400m) at Te Rapa on Saturday. The El Roca gelding is prepared by part-owner and breeder Kylie Little who trained Sea Eagle to win on six occasions, including two editions of the Parliamentary Handicap (2200m) at Trentham. Of her two previous live…

The short-priced favourite for the upcoming Racecourse Hotel and Motor Lodge 150th Grand National Steeplechase (5600m), Jesko (NZ) (Atlante), will step out on the flat at Waverley on Friday as he readies for his biggest test yet in a fortnight. The son of Atlante commenced his current campaign at Waverley in April, and in the hands of his co-trainer Shaun Fannin downed his Rating 65 rivals over 2200m. That trend continued when he stepped out over fences, winning a restricted open steeplechase at Wanganui and claiming feature crowns in the…

Graeme Rogerson has watched on with pride as the progeny of Ferrando have begun to hit their straps of late, and even more so when his homebred filly, Prosper (NZ) (Ferrando), powered to victory on debut at Cambridge’s synthetic meeting on Wednesday. Rogerson, who trained and part-owns Ferrando, has been a strong supporter of the Group One-performing son of Fast ‘N’ Famous since his arrival at Westbury Stud, with Prosper among his second crop of juveniles to race. Prosper trialled twice in heavy track conditions before stepping out in the…

Michael and Matthew Pitman have two runners assured of a start in the $100,000 Polytrack Championship (1200m) in a fortnight, and they hope to add to that number at Riccarton’s synthetic track on Wednesday. The local trainers have nominated Zoulander (NZ) (Zoustar), a winner in his last two starts on the surface, and have opted to freshen the gelding ahead of the feature. His stablemate, Justanace (NZ) (Swiss Ace), will appear at this week’s meeting in the Cavall Leitch Rating 75 1200, where he has drawn the ideal gate in…

New Zealand-bred sprinting sensation Ka Ying Rising (NZ) (Shamexpress) might be the talk of this year’s A$20 million The Everest (1200m), but compatriot Jimmysstar (NZ) (Per Incanto) will be out to spoil the party. The Group One-winning son of Per Incanto has secured the slot of the TAB for the October Sydney showpiece, much to the delight of his connections, headlined by prominent Australian owner Ozzie Kheir. “We had an expectation as owners on what we thought Jimmy’s pecking order would be in The Everest and he has probably negotiated…

Dual Group One winner Ladies Man (NZ) (Zed) returned to the trials at Foxton on Tuesday and is on track for another Group One spring preparation. Trainer Allan Sharrock was pleased with the rising eight-year-olds 1000m hit-out and he said he received positive feedback from senior hoop Kelly Myers. “He went a nice trial and Kelly said he felt well,” Sharrock said. “He has only had three quiet gallops, so he was always going to blow out, but it’s onwards and upwards.” The son of Zed scored his first elite-level…

Former champion jockey and apprentice Matt Cameron took another significant step toward his return to race riding this week. Cameron was in action on Tuesday at the Avondale trials where he placed in two of his five rides in testing conditions. “The track was extremely heavy, but I pulled up well so that was really good,” he said. The 38-year-old hasn’t ridden for nearly a year following a well-documented suspension and subsequently made significant changes, including a move north away from the Waikato. “I’m based at Karaka/Drury and shifted there…