Trainers Ben, Will & JD Hayes will have one eye on Sydney and another on Melbourne as they prepare for one of the best week’s in racing. The Hayes camp will be chasing lucrative riches in Sydney this weekend, where Evaporate (NZ) (Per Incanto) contests the A$10 million Golden Eagle (1500m). “His run last start when second in the Toorak (Gr.1, 1600m) was excellent when beaten by Transatlantic who has since come out and won well,” Ben Hayes said. “The form is good and it has been done before. The…
Year: 2025
Guineas plans on notice for Forsman pair
The rescheduling of Monday’s Gr.2 James and Annie Sarten Memorial (1400m) to Saturday at Tauranga could rule both of Andrew Forsman’s pair out of a trip south for New Zealand Cup Week. Forsman was set to line-up stakes placegetter Quondo and the lightly-tried Virgo Viva at Te Rapa on Labour Day, but the meeting was abandoned after a horse slipped turning for home in race two. As for many of the Sarten contenders, it was a crucial final step towards the Guineas races at Riccarton, with the Gr.1 Barneswood Farm…
Rain, rain, go away
Rain, rain, go away – that’s the thoughts of many trainers around the country as the wet weather persists through the spring. One of those trainers is Barbara Kennedy, who has been holding out for better tracks for many of her team, and her patience is starting to wear thin, with the Byerley Park horsewoman set to be met by another Heavy track at Pukekohe on Wednesday. Kennedy was excited about the prospects of all three of her entrants, however, she said with the track unlikely to improve from its…
Chicflix seeking elusive win
Chicflix (NZ) (Sacred Falls) has been knocking on the door of a maiden victory for some time and trainer Paul Mirabelli is hoping she can breakthrough for an elusive win in the Eagle Technology 2200 at Pukekohe on Wednesday. The six-year-old daughter of Sacred Falls has placed in six of her last starts eight starts, and while Mirabelli said she has yet to fully mature, all signs are pointing towards another bold showing on Wednesday. “She is very honest,” he said. “Even though she is a six-year-old, she is still…
Guerin Report – S2 Ep. 9 Ft. Andrew Forsman
Andrew Forsman is one of New Zealand’s leading trainers, and recently chalked up his 1000th career win. So where does he feel the industry is at? Where does he see improvement? And what gives him hope? Guerin Report – S2 Ep. 9 Ft. Andrew Forsman
Kiwi breeding partnership strikes again across the Tasman
John Thompson and Greg Tomlinson have combined for another major stakes success in Australia. The respective principals of Rich Hill Stud and Nearco Stud bred and sold She’s A Hustler (NZ) (Ace High), who continued her excellent strike rate when she claimed the Gr.3 Tesio Stakes (2040m) at The Valley. The daughter of Rich Hill resident Ace High has won six of her nine starts, with one of her three runner-up finishes posted in last season’s Listed Centaurea Stakes (2017m) at Morphettville. Thompson and Tomlinson previously joined forces to purchase…
NZ Racing and Breeding News – 27 October 2025
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Republican Party’s stocks continue to rise ahead of IRT New Zealand Trotting Cup
By Michael Guerin The argument is over, now the real fight begins. That was the undeniable feeling after Republican Party again thrashed most of our best pacers in the $60,000 NZBS Flying Stakes at Ashburton on Monday. The little pacer with the oversized motor recorded his third straight comprehensive victory over our pacing elite and in more or less in the same style. Step safely, settle then launch, spending the invaluable currency that is respect to wrest the lead and from there play catch-me-if-you-can.At the moment, they can’t. Northern star…
Brave move proves winner for Muscle Mountain
By Michael Guerin The brave move that won Muscle Mountain today’s $40,000 Tactical Landing Flying Sprint at Ashburton could have left driver Ben Hope with egg all of his face. But it might not just have won him this Group 3 but prove to be the blueprint to a late-career renaissance for the wonderful trotter. Co-trainer Hope went against the pattern of the day when he led on the hot favourite in the feature sprint but elected to hand that role to last season’s winner and second favourite Bet N…
Dreams Are Free speeds to Tuapeka Cup win
By Jonny Turner Dreams Are Free turned doubt into dominance when speeding back to winning form in Sunday’s Tuapeka Lodge Cup. The Nathan Williamson-trained and driven four-year-old has no shortage of fans built off his brilliant performances as a two and three-year-old. But even the most loyal of them would have been put to the test when the pin-up pacer made a hash of the start in the Ascot Park feature. Thankfully for his big group of supporters, Dreams Are Free was able to regain his composure without losing substantial…