Year: 2025

Rangiora mare Ears Back (NZ) (Jakkalberry) added an all-important black-type success to her record in the autumn, and her trainer John Blackadder has designs on another fruitful campaign this spring. The Jakkalberry seven-year-old defeated the likes of Belardo Boy and Bradman to take out the Listed AGC Training Stakes (1600m) at Wanganui in May, which also provided a new career-high for Blackadder. “It was pretty amazing, she’d been a bit unlucky in some of those big races, so it was great to go up there and do it for the…

The first foal by Grangewilliam Stud’s Group Two winner and multiple Group One performer Hilal arrived on Thursday morning with a filly born out of the well-related No Nay Never mare La Frox. “His first foal is a filly born at Shaun and Anna O’Leary’s, of Who Shot Thebarman fame,” Grangewilliam Stud’s Mark Corcoran said. “I’ve just been around to see her and she’s a lovely foal. She is the second foal out of a No Nay Never mare called La Frox who was a $110,000 yearling and is a…

Savabeel gelding Force Of Nature (NZ) (Savabeel) has been in a purple patch of form of late, and weight-for-age assignments could be in the offing for the five-year-old if he continues his impressive form line on Saturday.  Bred and raced by Milan Park principal Tony Rider, Force Of Nature has won five and placed in three of his nine career starts to date, including winning his last three outings.  He will bid to continue his golden run in the Dunstan Horsefeeds 1200 at Te Rapa on Saturday, for which he…

Matt Cartwright is back on Kiwi soil and he has made an instant impact on his return, riding home two winners from just nine rides in the past week. The 22-year-old Australian hoop moved across the Tasman last year to further his riding career, and he was rapt with his season tally of 53 wins, including seven Group or Listed victories, and he amassed more than $3.2 million in prizemoney. “I felt like I had a great season for my first season in New Zealand,” he said. “I am very…

There is a tough sense of déjà vu for Paul Nelson and Corrina McDougal in Christchurch this week, with Dictation (NZ) (Tavistock) being ruled out of Saturday’s Hospitality NZ Canterbury 135th Grand National Hurdles (4200m) through injury. The son of Tavistock had risen to prominence in the hurdling ranks this term, winning the Waikato Hurdle (3200m) in June before an outstanding front-running display in last Saturday’s Sydenham Hurdles (3100m). Off the back of that effort, Dictation joined two-time champion Berry The Cash on top of the National market, but he…

Mark Oulaghan is hoping the extreme distance of Saturday’s Racecourse Hotel and Motor Lodge 150th Grand National Steeplechase (5600m) will play into the hands of West Coast (NZ) (Mettre En Jeu), as his champion jumper attempts to rewrite the history books at Riccarton Park. The adored 10-year-old has won the last three editions of the National, becoming the second horse to claim three titles since Agent in the 19th century, and the first to do so in successive years. After a top performance to finish second in the Hawke’s Bay…

Freegoing five-year-old Leroy Brown (NZ) (Ace High) will be chasing a crack at a weight-for-age feature when he resumes at Te Rapa on Saturday. The talented son of Ace High returns to action in the Dunstan Horsefeeds Handicap (1200m), and success would firm up plans for a return in two weeks’ time in a bid for higher honours. “We want to have a go at the Foxbridge Plate (Gr.2, 1200m) and we’re behind the eight ball a bit on the ratings,” trainer Stephen Ralph said. “It will be a tough…