Owner-trainer-breeder Kylie Little believes she might have a promising stayer on her hands with Eagle Rock (NZ) (El Roca), who left maiden ranks with an emphatic performance in Saturday’s Matt Edwards-Lime Group Mile (1600m) at Te Rapa. The $20,000 race was the third career start for the three-year-old gelding, who had finished second at Pukekohe and Wanganui in his two previous appearances on April 23 and May 11. Eagle Rock was given a perfect run on Saturday by jockey Bridget Grylls, who slotted him into fourth spot along the rail…
Year: 2025
Ima Brazen One lands plunge at Wanganui
Punters were licking their lips after promising mare Ima Brazen One (NZ) (Brazen Beau) landed a huge betting plunge by fighting doggedly on the fence to take victory in the Dawn Eales-Baldwin Memorial Open (1200m) at Wanganui. The Mike Breslin-prepared four-year-old was punted in to start a $2.80 Fixed Odds favourite after opening at more than $10 earlier in the week, and with apprentice Toni Davies making good use of her 3kg claim to ride the mare at a featherweight 51kgs, the daughter of Brazen Beau looked a top prospect.…
Platinum Diamond lands Wanganui upset
Late-season black type is on the radar for Platinum Diamond (NZ) (Hello Youmzain) after an impressive upset victory in Saturday’s Full Circle Appearance Medicine 2YO (1200m) at Wanganui. Platinum Diamond was a late foal, born on the 4th of December in 2022, and has been patiently handled by her Awapuni trainer, Lisa Latta. The Hello Youmzain filly’s first and only trial produced a second placing over 1000m at Foxton on April 15, followed by a fourth at Hawera on her raceday debut three weeks later. Platinum Diamond was an overlooked…
Kauri enjoys more success aboard Tristar
Apprentice Liam Kauri has continued a winning association with the Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott stable by partnering their smart three-year-old Tristar (NZ) (Exceedance) to victory in the Ambient Group 3YO (1100m) at Te Rapa, his second victory aboard the filly from just two rides. Kauri, who enjoys a 3kg claim at present, first sat aboard the daughter of Exceedance when piloting her to victory three weeks ago over 1200m at Trentham and made the trip north from his Palmerston North base to link up with her for a second…
2025 Queensland Derby Day Abandoned: Eagle Farm Races Called Off After Race 5 Due to Weather Concerns
Weather Forces Early End to Eagle Farm Meeting After Race 5 Brisbane, May 31, 2025 — The Queensland winter racing carnival was dealt a significant blow on Saturday as the Eagle Farm meeting was abandoned after Race 5 due to unsafe track conditions brought on by persistent rainfall. The decision came as a major disappointment to racing fans […] The post 2025 Queensland Derby Day Abandoned: Eagle Farm Races Called Off After Race 5 Due to Weather Concerns appeared first on HorseRacing.com.au.
Dalgetys looking for Group race glory at Ashburton
By Mike Love West Melton trainers Cran and Chrissie Dalgety will be looking for Group race success at Sunday’s feature Ashburton meeting. The Dalgety team line up three runners at the meeting, consisting of The Queen’s Gambit in the Helen Pope 2YO Fillies Classic Group Three for $40,000, while Fragile and Freeze Frame line up in the $60,000 Group 2 Rakaia Seed Cleaning NZ Sapling Stakes. The Queen’s Gambit ($3.40FF) appeared to run slightly disappointingly in her first look back on South Island soil at Addington two weeks ago after…
Waikato Stud Highlight Boost to Weanling Sale
NZB is excited to announce the addition of ten quality weanlings for the 2025 National Weanling Sale, set to take place at Karaka on Thursday 26 June. In addition to the 134 lots originally catalogued, ten bonus lots will be offered immediately following Lot 134. Seven of the supplementary weanlings are on account of renowned vendor Waikato Stud, who sold star Weanling Sale graduate Jedibeel (NZ), a recent winner of the Group Two Challenge Stakes at Randwick. “We were a little late getting organised, but what we’re offering at this Weanling Sale indicates the…
Cartwright’s winter homecoming
After a successful first season in New Zealand, talented young jockey Matthew Cartwright is back home in Victoria for a winter stint. Cartwright currently holds a spot inside the top 10 in the New Zealand jockeys’ premiership, while he also gained his first taste of Group One glory earlier this season when he won the Gr.1 Tarzino Trophy (1400m) on Grail Seeker (NZ) (Iffraaj). “It was very rewarding and I was so glad to get that,” Cartwright said of that top-level triumph. “I’m very proud of my efforts and what…
A Mandarin thriving in southern sojourn
A successful association between Windsor Park Stud and Riverton owner-trainer Andrea Dickson has continued with A Mandarin, who will shoot for a hat-trick of wins when she lines up in the Grand Casino (2200m) at Wingatui on Sunday. A Mandarin has joined Dickson’s stable under a lease from Windsor Park Stud. That same arrangement resulted in Dickson winning races at Oamaru and Gore with the capable mare Rita Hayworth in 2021 and 2022. While Rita Hayworth ventured south as an unraced mare, A Mandarin brought established racetrack credentials. The daughter…
Tauranga Classic on the radar for Honey Badger
Runaway last-start winner Honey Badger will head to Te Rapa on Saturday as a hot favourite for the Ambient Group 3YO (1100m), where another big performance could earn her a black-type opportunity at Tauranga next month. Honey Badger has shown a real affinity for heavy tracks, with both of her two career victories coming in those conditions. That includes a spectacular performance at Rotorua on May 10, where she blew her Rating 65 opposition away by eight and a half lengths. Trainer Tony Pike is open to the possibility of…