Join Pip Morris, Jayne Ivil and Aidan Rodley as they break down the action from Waikato Cup Day and Ascot Park, plus the latest news ahead of the NZB Kiwi and Karaka Million. Weigh In, December 14
Year: 2025
To Bravery Born continues impeccable fresh record
Trainers Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson now have their sights set on the Gr.3 Cambridge Stud Almanzor Trophy (1400m) at Ellerslie for To Bravery Born (NZ) (Snitzel) on Karaka Millions night following his eye-catching first-up win at Te Rapa on Saturday. The three-year-old gelding has a strong first-up record, having won on debut as an early two-year-old before repeating the result when fresh-up at Ellerslie in January. He then resumed as a three-year-old with victory over 1100m at Taupo in August before continuing his strong fresh sequence on Saturday. Despite…
Dashing Dixie Karaka Millions bound
Wexford Stables’ exciting juvenile filly Dashing Dixie (NZ) (Alabama Express) is TAB Karaka Millions 2YO (1200m) bound following her debut victory at Te Rapa on Saturday. The daughter of Alabama Express had placed in her two trials over 800m leading into her first raceday appearance, and trainers Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott were hopeful of a bold showing. In a compact field of four, Dashing Dixie jumped away well and maintained her advantage on the rail to take up the pace making role. She was eyed by Sword Of Stars…
It’s Tough key player in Rangiora Grass Cup
By Mike Love Woodend Beach trainers Robert and Jenna Dunn will be looking to cap off their successful weekend at today’s Rangiora Summer Cup meeting. The barn tasted success across the country on Friday night, including Ya Rite Darl, who won the Group One TAB Queen Of Diamonds at Alexandra Park, while One Over Da Line won at Addington. The Dunn team will line up five runners at today’s meeting, including three runners in the $25,000 New World (Rangiora) Summer Cup over 2600m. Race favourite It’s Tough ($2.10FF) will be…
Larsen hoping team can fire at Winton
By Jonny Turner Race conditions aren’t perfect, but Kirk Larsen is hoping to make an impact with his team at Winton on Sunday. With four runners, the trainer-driver has most of his racing team starting at Central Southland Raceway. Xerion will be out to continue his strong form when stepping out in the meeting’s feature trot. The five-year-old rematches with Bring On The Muscle and Jimmy Carter, who beat him home in their recent match-up at Ascot Park. Though Larsen has the advantage of getting a head start over the…
NZ Racing and Breeding News – 14 December 2025
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Sharp ‘N’ Smart takes Waikato Cup in thrilling finish
Former Gr.1 New Zealand Derby (2400m) winner Sharp ‘N’ Smart returned to the scene of that 2023 triumph to take out the Gr.3 SKYCITY Hamilton Waikato Cup (2400m) in a thrilling three-way finish to the Te Rapa staying feature. A triple Group One winner as a three-year-old, the Team Rogerson-prepared son of Redwood hadn’t been seen in the winners’ enclosure since his Derby triumph as the now six-year-old took on the best Australasia had to offer on both sides of the Tasman while also suffering through some injury and illness…
Karaka Millions beckons Birchley’s Dream Roca
Trainer Liam Birchley has long earmarked the Listed TAB Karaka Millions 2YO (1200m) for highly promising juvenile Dream Roca, and the daughter of El Roca took another step in the direction of the Ellerslie feature with a dominant win at Eagle Farm on Saturday. Dream Roca finished runner-up on debut over 1000m in October and showed the benefit of raceday experience as she closed over the top of favourite Star Of Jamaica to score over the same course and distance by two lengths on Saturday. “The fence was pretty hot…
First Five storms to home track victory
Underrated sprinter First Five produced a barnstorming finish to capture his first stakes victory when he took out the Gr.3 J Swap Sprint (1400m) at Te Rapa Carrying the familiar colours of well-known thoroughbred identity Gerald Shand, the David Greene-prepared five-year-old has been a model of consistency in his career so far although his task on Saturday looked a daunting one with a quality line-up carded for the Group Three feature. Allowed to start at odds of better than $26 in the 16-horse line-up, First Five was spotting pacemaker Kitty…
Surprise tactics see Hinekaha dominate from the front at Te Rapa
A change of tactics that saw promising mare Hinekaha go straight to the front from barrier rise paved the way for her biggest success when she scored a game win in the Gr.2 Cal Isuzu Stakes (1600m) at Te Rapa. The lightly-raced four-year-old daughter of Savabeel had never lead in any of her previous eight starts, however trainer Andrew Forsman was keen to see rider Craig Grylls take the initiative from the start in the seven-horse line-up. “I spoke to Craig and we thought the logical thing would be for…