Progressive galloper Force Of Nature (NZ) (Savabeel) returned to racing with a vengeance as he took out the feature event at Pukekohe, the Listed Legacy Lodge Sprint (1200m), courtesy of a rails-hugging ride from Triston Moodley. The Tony Rider-bred and owned son of Savabeel swept through the grades during the autumn and winter months, winning three of his four starts before finishing sixth of eight runners at Te Rapa in early August where he was found to be lame in a hind leg following the run. Trainer Andrew Forsman wasn’t…
Year: 2025
Captured By Love back on top in Breeders’ Stakes
Group One winner Captured By Love (Written Tycoon) returned to the scene of her biggest win and was right back at the peak of her powers in the Gr.3 Windsor Park Stud Canterbury Breeders’ Stakes (1400m) at Riccarton on Saturday. The daughter of Written Tycoon showed her class as a three-year-old with a brilliant victory in the Gr.1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) during last season’s New Zealand Cup Carnival in Christchurch, and she was also a placegetter in the Gr.2 Sarten Memorial (1400m), Gr.2 Hawke’s Bay Guineas (1400m) and…
Platinum Attack storms to Pegasus Stakes success
Progressive sprinter Platinum Attack (Santos) finally got the firm track conditions he thrives on at Riccarton on Saturday to serve up a stunning performance when winning the Listed Donaldson Brown Pegasus Stakes (1000m). The Lisa Latta-trained speedster hadn’t been seen on raceday since finishing sixth in Listed company at Trentham back in April when clearly unsuited by the tricky wet underfoot conditions that day. Given a long break by Latta, the five-year-old son of Santos was fitted for his reappearance on Saturday with two trials which included a win over…
Kneebone collects first training success at Pukekohe
Cambridge-based horseman Nick Kneebone tasted his first success in the training ranks when two-year-old gelding Speed Demon (NZ) (Yes Yes Yes) caused a minor upset in the Hallmark Stud 2YO (1100m) at Pukekohe. Most attention before the start was centred around the Stephen Marsh runners Rupeni (Home Affairs) ($4.00) and well-backed debutant Perfect Pour (NZ) (Dundeel) ($2.40), who headed the market after some impressive raceday and trial form respectively. In contrast, Speed Demon, a son of former The Everest (1200m) winner Yes Yes Yes, was allowed to drift out to…
Friday Night Lights recap – Addington and Alexandra Park
By Michael Guerin Tom Bagrie has a late message for slot holders in the $500,000 Ascent at Addington next Friday. “Just in case anybody has anything go wrong, and we hope they don’t, you can tell them we are keen to help out,” says Bagrie. The “we” in that sentence are Bagrie and the other owners of high-class filly Dash Dosh, who recorded the fourth win of her career very convincingly in the Horses Perform Better On Betavet Trot at Addington on Friday. In a race that changed complexion enormously…
Blair Orange fourth heading into Winton heats of WDC
By Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk The World Driving Championship (WDC) is heading towards an exciting and close finish after five more heats were held at Addington on Friday night. After 15 of the 20 heats Canada’s former world champion James MacDonald has 130 points, just nine ahead of Australian Gary Hall junior (121). Mats Djuse (Sweden) is third on 111 with New Zealand’s Blair Orange well within striking distance on 107 (23 behind MacDonald). Orange’s big moment was his win with Always A Menace in the first of…
From “pretty average” to record-setter – Blair Orange’s 3000 wins
By Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk Blair Orange has today become the youngest ever harness racing driver to bring up 3000 winners in New Zealand. The Canterbury-based 47-year-old brought up the milestone winning with Always A Menace in Heat 11 of the World Driving Championship in front of friends and family at his home track, Addington. “It hasn’t sunk in but it’s a pretty cool thing,” he said post race. He is just the fourth driver to get to 3000, following on from Tony Herlihy, Maurice McKendry and…
IRT New Zealand Cup day Liftout
There’s no bigger race day in this country than IRT New Zealand Trotting Cup day at Addington. And to provide you with all the information you need, including previews, selections and backgrounders, we have produced a special Cup day Liftout To see the Liftout click here
Final fields for THE ASCENT and THE VELOCITY
The fields are now complete for the two $500,000 slot races at Addington Raceway on Show Day (November 14). Always Dreaming, a seven-race winner for Nathan Williamson, will fill the slot taken by Arna Donnelly Racing in the Hill, Lee and Scott THE VELOCITY. He is the 10th and final horse to be confirmed. The two emergencies for the races will be : Berrettini (THE VELOCITY) and Illicit Love (THE ASCENT).
Bates returns home to fulfil his Mum’s dream
After recording her 1,000th win in the saddle in September, veteran jockey Kylie Williams had just one final goal she wanted to achieve before hanging up her riding boots – ride against her son, Logan Bates. That dream will become a reality at her local track of Riccarton Park on Saturday, with Australian-based Bates returning home to ride during New Zealand Cup Week in Christchurch. The 24-year-old hoop landed back in New Zealand on Friday afternoon and he is looking forward to competing against his Mum. “The main reason (to…