The Northern Regional Pacers Final has been re-scheduled to Cambridge on Thursday, May 15. Originally the race was going to be held at Alexandra Park on ANZAC day (last Friday) but didn’t go ahead because of insufficient entries. The Final will be programmed similarly to the Auckland edition but with a $27,500 stake and a lower rating limit of R45 to try to attract more intermediate grade pacers. The race will still have a maximum back mark of 30 metres and be run over 2700m. Horses will be eligible to…
Year: 2025
Emotions to flow on Rowe Cup night
By Michael Guerin Canterbury trainer-driver Gavin Smith says it will be a painful privilege to honour his close friend Greg Sugars in Friday night’s Reharvest Rowe Cup at Alexandra Park. Like many in the industry, Smith was left stunned by the shock news on Saturday that 40-year-old Sugars had passed away in his sleep. Smith was close to Sugars, having spent plenty of time together over the years, even more so in the last year as Sugars campaigned Just Believe and Better Eclipse in New Zealand. Sugars and his wife…
News Briefs – April 30
Milestones for Michael and Wilson House at Manawatu, the first Warriors – harness racing joint promotion, and a new driver for Keayang Zahara all feature in this week’s News Briefs. Dual milestones for Michael and Wilson House The country’s leading junior driver Wilson House celebrated his 21st in a most unusual way yesterday – he drove three winners at Manawatu. He started his run by winning the first with Matai Harry, then won race 5 with Jaccka Baylis before bookending the programme with hot favourite Nickel And Dime in…
Vale Don McKenzie
Don McKenzie is being remembered as “an absolute gentleman” who bred plenty of winners. Since the 1970s McKenzie bred and/or raced more than 50 horses either on his own account or in partnership. Among his best known horses were $1m earner The Vulcan, Genius and more recently Invictus. He died at his North Canterbury home over the weekend after a battle with cancer. “He was just the most marvellous person,” says Jenny Butt, who bred 32 horses with McKenzie over the past 40 or so years. “We said our goodbyes…
Brierly success for Blandford Lodge
Duke Of Bedford on his way to winning Tuesday’s Brierly Steeplechase (3450m) at Warrnambool. Photo: Bruno Cannatelli Graham and Helen-Gaye Bax didn’t set out to breed a Brierly Steeplechase (3450m) winner, but that’s what they have done, with Blandford Lodge homebred Duke Of Bedford taking out the Warrnambool feature on Tuesday. “I had two in that race. I also bred Blandford Lad, who ran fifth,” Blandford Lodge principal Graham Bax said. “He (Duke Of Bedford) is a neat little jumper and he is going along well. He is a young…
Smart filly set to sparkle in Champagne
Lucy In The Sky has travelled south to contest Saturday’s Listed Champagne Stakes (1200m). Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images) Gifted filly Lucy In The Sky will have a gilt-edged opportunity at Riccarton on Saturday to end her two-year-old campaign on a high note. The Tony Pike-trained juvenile has impressed in both of her appearances and will enjoy a drop in grade in the Listed Champagne Stakes (1200m) with Jasmine Fawcett booked to guide the youngster. “She flew down on Sunday and travelled well and it would be nice to get…
Fox holds them off in Galleywood
The Cunning Fox (NZ) (Reliable Man) and Tom Ryan have prevailed in a stirring Galleywood Hurdle at Warrnambool on Wednesday, securing the talented hurdler’s fifth-consecutive jumps win and first feature. In what would also prove to be Patrick and Michelle Payne’s first May Racing Carnival feature win together, The Cunning Fox ($2.90) was given a patient ride by Ryan, as Stern Idol ($3.20) set his usual strong gallop under replacement rider Fergus Gregory. Ryan moved the striking grey into the race down the side and it was race on over…
Cole continues Central Districts raid
Cody Cole collected his second quinella in a matter of days in the Central Districts on Wednesday, with Rareza (NZ) (Exosphere) and debutant Andantino saluting at the Woodville meeting. The Matamata horseman took a pair of runners to Wanganui last Sunday in The Nomad (NZ) (Mongolian Khan) and St Giles (NZ) (Swiss Ace), both of whom took out their respective races. His two representatives at the midweek meeting repeated the dose, headed by resuming talent Rareza. The daughter of Exosphere had just seven starts under her belt prior to the…
Big weekend in store for Riviera Rebel
There’s one word to describe Riviera Rebel’s (NZ) (Pure Champion) last assignment of the season – heavy. The in-form gelding has been lumbered with top weight, 60kg, in Saturday’s Avon City Ford Easter Cup (1600m) at Riccarton, where his biggest rival will be the inclement weather. While the son of Pure Champion is adept at racing in heavy conditions, recording three of his six wins on the surface, including the Gr.3 Canterbury Gold Cup (2000m) at Riccarton last start, co-trainer Graham Eade is wary of the inclement weather in Christchurch…
Talented two-year-old following suit with Wynyard
A son of Hollie Wynyard’s first Group One winner will have his turn in the spotlight at Te Rapa on Saturday, representing the Cambridge horsewoman in the Listed Waikato Equine Veterinary Centre Stakes (1400m). That runner will be Wyndstorm (NZ) (Wyndspelle), a two-year-old gelding out of the second crop of yearlings by Wyndspelle. In the care of Wynyard, and former training partner Johno Benner, Wyndspelle placed at the highest level on a number of occasions, capped off by his crowning victory in the Gr.1 Captain Cook Stakes (1600m). Five years…