By Jonny Turner The racebook may read the same, but Tom Bagrie is sure he is returning with a better horse for the second running of the Group 3 The Dark Horse at Invercargill today. With the Southern Trotting Oaks already on her résumé, Walkinonsunshine heads south in the hope she can bag another Ascot Park trotting feature. The four-year-old’s first attempt at the newly minted mares’ event was something of a non-event when she settled last in a leader-dominated affair. Walkinonsunshine not only returns a little bit older for…
Year: 2025
Who will win the 100th Kaikoura Cup?
The Kaikoura Cup will celebrate its 100th running this year. Over the next few weeks Kaikoura Trotting Club historian Phil Gourdie will look back at the history of the great race. This is the second installment – Records are made to be broken! By Phil Gourdie On October 29, 1973 Royal Ascot, breed, owned and trained by Colin McLaughlin and driven by Felix Newfield set a New Zealand record of 3.03, off the 30m mark, for the 2400m stand. The field did not have an answer to the spirited finish…
The ones to watch on Victoria Cup night
By Adam Hamilton Never has there been such broad New Zealand interest in a Victoria Cup meeting. That’s because so many of the stars strutting their stuff at Melton on Saturday night could be headed to Cup Week at Addington. Leading the way is the great Leap To Fame, but there are at least eight other stars for Kiwi fans to watch closely. Here’s my guide to “Kiwi watch” runners on Victoria Cup night. RACE 3 – VICTORIA OAKS (9.30pm) No.4 JOYRIDE: She’s a bit different being the lone Kiwi-trained…
Torture inflicts pain on Debutant rivals
Trainers Ben, Will and JD Hayes have unleashed another promising juvenile when two-year-old filly Torture (NZ) (Sword of State) proved too good for her rivals on debut in the Listed Debutant Stakes (1000m) at Caulfield. Sent out a $21 chance, Torture came from just behind the leaders to score by half a length from stablemate Free Flying in the hands of Ethan Brown in what was a professional performance. The well-related filly is the first winner and stakes winner by freshman sire Sword Of State, a Group One winning son…
Torture inflicts pain on Debutant rivals
Trainers Ben, Will and JD Hayes have unleashed another promising juvenile when two-year-old filly Torture (NZ) (Sword of State) proved too good for her rivals on debut in the Listed Debutant Stakes (1000m) at Caulfield. Sent out a $21 chance, Torture came from just behind the leaders to score by half a length from stablemate Free Flying in the hands of Ethan Brown in what was a professional performance. The well-related filly is the first winner and stakes winner by freshman sire Sword Of State, a Group One winning son…
Torture inflicts pain on Debutant rivals
Trainers Ben, Will and JD Hayes have unleashed another promising juvenile when two-year-old filly Torture (NZ) (Sword of State) proved too good for her rivals on debut in the Listed Debutant Stakes (1000m) at Caulfield. Sent out a $21 chance, Torture came from just behind the leaders to score by half a length from stablemate Free Flying in the hands of Ethan Brown in what was a professional performance. The well-related filly is the first winner and stakes winner by freshman sire Sword Of State, a Group One winning son…
Torture inflicts pain on Debutant rivals
Trainers Ben, Will and JD Hayes have unleashed another promising juvenile when two-year-old filly Torture (NZ) (Sword of State) proved too good for her rivals on debut in the Listed Debutant Stakes (1000m) at Caulfield. Sent out a $21 chance, Torture came from just behind the leaders to score by half a length from stablemate Free Flying in the hands of Ethan Brown in what was a professional performance. The well-related filly is the first winner and stakes winner by freshman sire Sword Of State, a Group One winning son…
Torture inflicts pain on Debutant rivals
Trainers Ben, Will and JD Hayes have unleashed another promising juvenile when two-year-old filly Torture (NZ) (Sword of State) proved too good for her rivals on debut in the Listed Debutant Stakes (1000m) at Caulfield. Sent out a $21 chance, Torture came from just behind the leaders to score by half a length from stablemate Free Flying in the hands of Ethan Brown in what was a professional performance. The well-related filly is the first winner and stakes winner by freshman sire Sword Of State, a Group One winning son…
The Box Seat – October 15
Check out this week’s The Box Seat with hosts Matt Cross, Brittany Graham and Greg O’Connor.
Promising filly taking Van Dyk places
Kelly Van Dyk’s Prima Park Bloodstock will be represented on both sides of the Tasman this week, from the sales ring in Sydney to the big stage at Ellerslie on Saturday. From her base at Matamata, Van Dyk specialises in horse agistment and sales preparation, while more recently, she has featured prominently in the training ranks with exciting filly Places To Be (NZ) (Hello Youmzain). A homebred by Hello Youmzain, Places To Be was a two-time trial winner before dominating her rivals by four lengths on debut at Taupo, and…