Labour Weekend is set to play a role in shaping Te Akau Racing’s contingents for the Gr.1 Barneswood Farm New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) and Gr.1 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) at Riccarton next month. Trainers Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson have Guineas contenders lining up in two traditional lead-up races over the long weekend, and Te Akau has previously used both events as stepping stones to classic success. Te Akau has recorded six victories in the Gr.3 War Decree Stakes (1600m) at Riccarton, including subsequent…
Year: 2025
Provence primed for exciting prep
Multiple Group One winner Provence indicated she is ready to take on another lucrative campaign with a strong 1100m trial win at Ellerslie on Thursday. The daughter of Savabeel had a quiet trial under her belt on the Cambridge Synthetic last month, and on this occasion, trainer Stephen Marsh was looking for a more solid hit-out. The mare tracked a keen leader in Judicial through the mid-stages before taking over in the straight, kicking clear to win by two lengths with a considerable margin back to the rest of the…
All roads lead to Riccarton for Intention
Mike Breslin is at a crossroads with his filly Intention, with her performance in Sunday’s Upper Hutt Car Sales LTD Three-Year-Old 1400 at Trentham dictating which path she takes. All roads lead to Riccarton next month for the daughter of Bivouac, with Breslin weighing up between the Gr.1 Barneswood Farm New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) on November 8 or the Gr.1 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) a week later. “We haven’t decided which one she will run in yet. She will only run in one of…
Seth Hill gets first drive on The Lazarus Effect
By Michael Guerin Young driver Seth Hill will get a golden opportunity to impress his new boss at Addington tonight. Not that Bob Butt isn’t already impressed. Butt trains The Lazarus Effect, one of the more promising pacers in Canterbury and a $2.50 favourite for the IRT Thanks Bettors Delight Pace at Addington even though he faces a second line draw in the big field. Hill will do the driving for the first time tonight. If The Lazarus Effect wins with the talented junior driver in the cart he only…
Mediator the one to beat in Metro Heats at Alexandra Park tonight
By Michael Guerin Trainer Matty White thinks Mediator is edging closer to being the finished product. And that should be good enough to win at Alexandra Park tonight at a meeting where White has a strong hand. The South Auckland trainer has five of his 23-strong stable racing tonight, with smart horses in Mhai Surfer Girl (R1) and Lord Popinjay (R10) taking on good fields at either end of the programme. But it is Mediator (R7, No.4) who gives White his best chance in the TAB – Northern Metro Pacers…
Badel bullish on Fast Network’s Premier Bowl prospects as weights fall kindly
Alexis Badel believes the improving Fast Network has the credentials to compete in elevated Group 2 company on Sunday (26 October) when he steps out in HK$5.35 million G2 Premier Bowl (1200m) at Sha Tin, with the handicapper lending a helping hand. The Frenchman partnered the Dennis Yip-trained five-year-old to a thrilling G3 National Day Cup Handicap (1000m) victory three weeks ago, and said he can continue his impressive form on the 1200m course at Sha Tin, where he has won two of four outings. For that win, Fast Network…
Geelong Cup hero Torranzino snares Golden Ticket
Trainer Paul Preusker will get another tilt at a Gr.1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) after Torranzino (NZ) (Tarzino) ran out a strong winner of the Gr.3 Geelong Cup (2400m) on Thursday. Connections of the son of Tarzino roared as their charge raced past hot-favourite Gilded Water (Fastnet Rock), which is raced by His Majesty The King. Perfectly ridden by Celine Gaudray, Torranzino applied pressure to Gilded Water rounding the home turn and went on to score by half a length to claim the golden ticket into the Melbourne Cup on Tuesday…
Azazel enters Derby picture
Talented staying three-year-old Azazel (NZ) (Shocking) has booked his passage for the Gr.1 VRC Derby (2500m) on Saturday week after a tough victory in the Listed Roderick Insurance Brokers 3YO Geelong Classic (2200m) at Geelong on Thursday. Prepared by Mark Walker and ridden by Mick Dee, the son of Shocking was put into the race early when the pace slackened and despite racing wide over the concluding 600m, had a narrow advantage at the line from Highvol and Savisanta. Sporting the colours of OTI Racing, Azazel was purchased at last…
Globe ruled out of Cox Plate
Group 1-winner Globe (NZ) (Charm Spirit) has been ruled out of Saturday’s Cox Plate. Racing Victoria stewards confirmed on Thursday morning that the Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr-trained galloper had been withdrawn on vet’s advice. “The horse was found to be lame in its off fore upon inspection by RV veterinarians this morning,” RV stewards tweeted. Speaking on SEN’s Giddy Up with Gareth Hall, Price backed the decision of RV’s vets. “I know the horse. We weren’t happy Saturday morning. We have done everything to get him through,” Price…
Champions to the fore in Cox Plate
Blake Shinn says you need a champion to win the Cox Plate and is hoping Antino (NZ) (Redwood) is that horse. The Cox Plate (2040m) at Moonee Valley on Saturday has long been regarded as Australia’s weight-for-age championship and Shinn believes he is on the right horse to give him his first win in the race, which will be run for the final time on the current Moonee Valley circuit. Shinn came close in 2017 aboard Humidor (NZ) (Teofilo), almost upsetting the fairytale fourth Cox Plate victory of the champion Winx (Street Cry). “This race really has everything year…