By Mike Love Splashem produced an impressive debut victory at Addington Raceway last night to win the Chester’s Plumbing And Bathrooms Mobile Pace for Russley trainer Laura McKay. In conditions that tripped up a few runners throughout the night, Splashem splashed through the surface without a worry. Driven by junior driver Sam Thornley, the three-year-old Downbytheseaside gelding was restrained toward the rear of the field. There they bided their time until the 600-metre mark when Thornley unleashed the winning run three and four wide, seizing the lead from the 400…
Year: 2025
Schumacher scores milestone win
By Courtney Buchanan Relief and emotion came hand in hand as Fergus Schumacher brought up his 50th career driving win at Alexandra Park on Friday night. Guiding Dear God to victory in the Junior Driver race for trainer Wayne Anstis, Schumacher broke a dry spell in the best possible fashion, notching up a milestone. He admitted it had been a while since he last tasted success, with his last win over a year ago aboard Matty A but described recent times as a quiet patch. “I’m not in a racing…
Sinbin back on top at favourite venue
Track specialist Sinbin (NZ) (Derryn) returned to her favourite Trentham track to claim her biggest victory to date, when she stormed home against the outside fence to win the Bill Tito Book Repair Specialist North Island Challenge Stakes (1200m). The Robbie Patterson-prepared daughter of Derryn had won two of her three career victories at Trentham and made it three wins and two runner-up finishes from just nine starts there in the hands of Mereana Hudson. Hudson was content to settle Sinbin at the rear of the six-horse field but crucially…
Jesko adds Wellington Steeplechase crown to his trophy cabinet
Jesko (NZ) (Atlante), the new steeplechasing star in New Zealand, produced another quality performance in the hands of his co-trainer Shaun Fannin to capture the time-honoured Grant Plumbing Wellington Steeplechase (4900m) at Trentham. Fannin, who prepares the seven-year-old alongside his wife Hazel, produced a remarkable ride that was befitting of the status of the event as he dictated all of the pace while conserving as much energy as possible for the last 600m slog in tough conditions. Jesko jumped superbly throughout and shook of the attentions of another champion jumper…
Puntin a promising three-year-old for Baker
A tenacious front-running performance in Saturday’s A$160,000 Captivant @ Kia Ora Handicap (1400m) at Rosehill added a first city victory to Puntin’s (NZ) (Super Seth) burgeoning record. The New Zealand-bred three-year-old gelding has now had six starts for four wins and two seconds, earning A$184,400 for his big group of owners. Puntin stepped up to 1400m on Saturday after a narrow last-start defeat over 1250m at Canterbury on June 9. Drawn gate seven in a nine-horse field, Puntin was pushed forward by jockey Ash Morgan and quickly took up the…
Northern mission pays off with Levakia
Matamata trainers Ken and Bev Kelso sent Levakia (NZ) (Priosir) on a big road trip on Saturday in search of reasonable track conditions, and the plan paid off with victory in the $60,000 ITM/GIB 3YO Winter Championship Final (1600m) at Ruakaka. Seventh over 1400m and 1500m in two appearances at Te Rapa in April and May, the Proisir filly stepped up to 1600m on Saturday and was strongly backed into $2.90 second favouritism behind Acapelago (NZ) (Belardo). Jockey Jasmine Fawcett took up a midfield position in fifth along the rail,…
Rolling Magic resumes on winning note
New Zealand-bred gelding Rolling Magic (NZ) (Per Incanto) continued his progress through the grades with a stylish first-up win in the A$120,000 Midway Handicap (1300m) at Rosehill on Saturday. The son of Per Incanto disappointed his trainers Richard and Will Freedman in the early stages of his career, but turned a corner last spring with three wins and then a placing in the A$500,000 Four Pillars (1500m). “After his first prep, he was only a stone’s throw away from the Inglis Digital Sale,” Will Freedman said. “We tipped him out…
Boombox dominant in 2YO Final
Tony Pike-trained juveniles Boombox (NZ) (Spirit of Boom) and Ashoka (NZ) (Hello Youmzain) ran their second quinella of the month in the ITM/GIB 2YO Championship Final (1200m) at Ruakaka on Saturday, with Boombox getting the better of his stablemate on both occasions. The talented pair had their first clash in a 1200m race at Ellerslie on June 7, where they fought out a tight finish and Boombox edged out Ashoka by a head. That Ellerslie assignment marked Ashoka’s raceday debut and the second start for Boombox. With the benefit of…
Billy Boy becomes a man in Wellington Hurdle
Race favourite Billy Boy (So You Think), who was having just his third start over hurdles, produced one of the great staying performances to capture the Aztech Engineering Wellington Hurdle (3200m) at Trentham on Saturday. The Jo Rathbone-prepared son of So You Think made a winning debut over fences at Woodville in September last year before returning to the hurdling caper at Trentham three weeks ago to take out the Manawatu Hurdles (2500m) at his second jumping start. Punters installed the seven-year-old a solid $4 Fixed Odds favourite for Saturday’s…
National Online Breeding Stock Sale online now
The National Online Breeding Stock Sale has launched on Gavelhouse Plus with bidding open on the 87 Lots sale which is set to end from 7pm on Wednesday 9th July. This year’s sale boasts a quality selection of both young and proven mares plus stallion shares in Reliable Man, Santos, Shamexpress and Wrote. gavelhouse.com and New Zealand Bloodstock representative Patrick Cunningham is pleased with the assembly of stock. “This annual sale of premium breeding stock holds plenty of appeal for breeders looking to source commercial mares. There are 11 stakes-performers…