Former Irish galloper Rosso (Camelot) showed he will be a force to be reckoned with in some of the major staying races in New Zealand left to come this season when he took out the Rating 82 Racecourse Hotel & Motor Lodge Premier (2600m) at Riccarton with ridiculous ease on Saturday. Trained by Michael and Matthew Pitman, the five-year-old son of Camelot started his career in his native Ireland where he was successful in one of his five starts before being exported to the Australian stable of Anthony and Sam…
Year: 2025
Skippers Canyon finishes strongly for Caulfield success
Next month’s A$300,000 Listed Pakenham Cup (2500m) is on the radar for Skippers Canyon (NZ) (Belardo) after he collected his second Australian victory in come-from-behind style in the A$130,000 Sharp EIT Solutions Handicap (1700m) at Caulfield on Saturday. The Belardo gelding was imported by OTI Racing after 10 starts in New Zealand, including a maiden win over 2100m at Otaki in January. He also recorded three seconds and a third, along with a fourth in the $350,000 Remutaka Classic (2100m) and a fifth in the Gr.3 Wellington Stakes (1600m). Skippers…
Rising Star lives up to her name with Tauranga upset
Owner-trainers Tim and Margaret Carter appear to have chosen an appropriate name for a filly they bought for just $700 on Gavelhouse.com. The Carters called their Complacent filly Rising Star (NZ) (Complacent), and on Saturday she collected the second win of her short career in the Laser Plumbing Waihi Beach 3YO (1400m) at Tauranga. Rising Star headed into the $40,000 race on an upward trajectory, having opened her winning account in a 1200m maiden at the same venue two weeks ago. Despite that last-start winning form, she was only the…
Cadwaller’s special win at Manawatu
By Jordyn Bublitz Tracy Cadwallader has never made any secret of how much The Big Bang means to her, and at Palmerston North on Thursday the lightly raced gelding rewarded her patience in memorable fashion. The four-year-old son of Sweet Lou stepped up in the Join The Turbos Syndicate Mobile Pace, scoring the first win of his career in only his second race day appearance. The victory was particularly special for Cadwallader, who not only trains The Big Bang but also bred him. “I foaled him myself, he’s been with…
Ultimate Cullect “great chance” at Winton on Sunday
By Jonny Turner Mark Hurrell will go the extra mile to link up with a strong book of drives at Winton on Sunday. Hurrell was meant to be racing on his home track at Wyndham but a wild Southland storm put an end to that after carnage hit Young Quinn Raceway. It is a case of quality over quantity for Hurrell at the Wyndham Harness Racing Club meeting at Winton. The reinsman takes four drives and rates Ultimate Cullect the best winning hope among them. She is a $2.15 favourite…
What a week – an Aussie’s perspective on the NZ Cup carnival
By Adam Hamilton The tide has turned, at least for now. The Aussie influence in New Zealand’s biggest races has been growing over the past few years, but this week was utter dominance. From the seven major races the Aussies contested, they won six and finished third in the other. The likes of Swayzee, then Just Believe, Keayang Zahara and Leap To Fame have paved the way for this week in the past couple of years. But not even the most biased and passionate Aussie fan could have confidently predicted…
Leap To Fame shows he “still has it” in Free For All
By Michael Guerin Nobody loves consolation prizes. They are nice and all and even more so when they come with winning part of the $200,000 stake Friday’s Allied Security NZ Pacing Free at Addington did. Leap To Fame won that lion’s share with his lion’s heart carrying him to the winner’s circle just days after his humungous second in the IRT New Zealand Cup. Most horses would have still been at home, having an nice nap in the Canterbury sun, but Larry did what Larry does. He got up, went…
Got The Chocolates confirms status as NZ’s best three-year-old
By Michael Guerin There isn’t much Robert Dunn hasn’t achieved in his career. He was winning the biggest pacing Cups decades ago and Diamond Racing then started adding big trotting success to their arsenal just a few years ago. But now, when he should be in the twilight of his career, the man known as “RJ” has found another special horse, this time to share with daughter-in-law and training partner Jenna and his son John. Because Got The Chocolate is the real deal. He has to be because he shouldn’t…
Gus too classy as he secures Group 1 Cup week double
By Michael Guerin The hesitation in Pete McMullen’s voice suggests there could be relief in sight for New Zealand’s beleaguered open class trotting stars. Because after driving Gus to a massive Cup week Group-1 double the Queenslander says he may not be back for the first half of 2026. McMullen was all controlled aggression to add the NZ Trotting Free-For-All to the Renwick Farms Dominion Trot from Tuesday, sitting parked to hold out Muscle Mountain and Oscar Bonavena in another no-argument performance, with leader Jilliby Ballerini fading out. It capped…
Emotional win for Jess Tubbs in THE ASCENT
By Michael Guerin For a few tear-soaked minutes at Addington on Friday there were no borders. No Australia, no New Zealand, no nationalistic racing pride, no sides. Tracy The Jet may have lived up to her name leading throughout in the $500,000 Ascent to continue the total Australian domination of this week at Addington yet that wasn’t what was on anybody’s mind. This was about brave trainer Jess Tubbs and her late husband Greg Sugars. Tubbs trains the Victorian trotting filly and brought her back to Addington, the place Greg…