Te Akau has been forced to take an unconventional path to Ellerslie with Quintessa (NZ) (Shamus Award) and are confident the high-class mare will strip in the best possible order, given the circumstances. The Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson-trained representative will step out in Saturday’s Gr.1 Livamol Classic (2040m) off the back of her outstanding resuming victory in the Gr.1 Proisir Plate (1400m). Plans to run in the middle leg of the Triple Crown, the Gr,1 Howden Insurance Mile (1600m), were scrapped due to the heavily rain-affected ground at Te…
Year: 2025
Full-on racing enthusiast Ron Stanley passes away
There will be a vacant seat in the owners’ section of the Ellerslie grandstand on Saturday when Ladies Man attempts a repeat victory in the Gr. 1 Livamol Classic. Ron Stanley, part-owner of the dual Group One winner along with a host of other class racehorses, passed away on Saturday just weeks short of his 70th birthday, ending more than 50 years fully immersed in racing. Life for Stanley had its challenges due to contracting polio as an infant, but supported by his wife Kathy, brother Noel and a closely…
Melbourne Cup campaign hangs in the balance for Sharp ‘N’ Smart
Sharp ‘N’ Smart’s (NZ) (Redwood) Gr.1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) campaign hangs in the balance, with his performance in Saturday’s Gr.1 Livamol Classic (2040m) at Ellerslie dictating whether he continues on that path. The former New Zealand Horse of the Year has had three starts to date this preparation, and while he was unplaced in all three, co-trainer Graeme Rogerson has been pleased with his efforts. “He has had a couple of runs and they have been very good,” said Rogerson, who trains in partnership with his wife Debbie. “He is…
Ka Ying Rising draws barrier seven for G1 The Everest
David Hayes has labelled Ka Ying Rising’s barrier draw of gate seven “perfect” as the world’s top-rated sprinter attempts to win the AU$20 million (approx. HK$101 million) G1 The Everest (1200m) at Royal Randwick in Sydney, Australia, on Saturday (18 October). In a spectacular drone show on Sydney Harbour, Ka Ying Rising was the first horse to have its barrier revealed, prompting a positive and unequivocal reaction from Hayes, who said jockey Zac Purton will have options from the gate. “Perfect. Anywhere from (barrier) four to eight, I was going…
Keayang Zahara jumps to seventh in latest rankings
After going through her first New Zealand campaign unbeaten, Australian superstar Keayang Zahara is the biggest mover in this week’s rankings for the Renwick Farms Dominion Trot and the IRT New Zealand Trotting Cup, to be held at Addington Raceway on Tuesday, November 11. The Volstead four-year-old, who famously won her first 15 starts, was super impressive winning the Dullard Cup in Melbourne over the weekend, beating the likes of Inter Dominion and TAB Trot champion Arcee Phoenix in the process. That victory, her 16th in 17 career starts, has…
Sarah O’Reilly heading back to the races
By Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk After 15 months away one of the country’s brightest talents Sarah O’Reilly will return to competitive driving at Addington on Friday night. “I definitely missed it,” says O’Reilly, “and I am ready and good to go.” The Ashburton-based trainer-driver has been off the scene since July 2024 when a horse literally jumped into her cart during trackwork, breaking her arm and causing other injuries. Since then the road to recovery has been a long and trying one. Some weeks ago O’Reilly got the…
Harnesslink to continue under new ownership
Popular harness racing platform Harnesslink will continue, under new ownership. It has been saved by major Australian owner Mick Harvey after earlier concerns that it would close, with the loss of half a dozen jobs, if a new owner wasn’t found by last Friday. The Sydney-based businessman has stepped in to buy the website as Kiwi founder and long-time owner John Curtin looks to step away from the day to day business. “Harnesslink has been a trusted source of global harness racing coverage for more than two decades,” says Harvey.…
NZ Cup Week beckoning Buoyant
Stakes-winning sprinter Buoyant (NZ) (Dalghar) recorded his biggest victory during New Zealand Cup Week at Riccarton three years ago and owner-trainer Sabin Kirkland has designs on returning to the carnival with his gelding next month. The son of Dalghar was in a purple patch of form during that period, placing in the Listed Pegasus Stakes (1000m) before winning the Gr.3 Stewards’ Stakes (1200m). He went on to win the Listed Hazlett Stakes (1200m) at Wingatui a month later, but his form dropped off when he campaigned in Australia. He returned…
Forsman positive ahead of Coongy Cup
Andrew Forsman’s mare Positivity (NZ) (Almanzor) will look to make her presence felt on the middle day of the Caulfield Cup Carnival on Wednesday, taking on the feature Gr.3 Coongy Cup Handicap (2000m). A placegetter in the Gr.1 New Zealand Oaks (2400m) at three, Positivity joined Forsman’s Flemington stable on a permanent basis last term and took on serious Victorian company, winning the Gr.3 Naturalism Stakes (2000m) before contesting the Gr.1 Melbourne Cup (3200m), where she finished back in the 23-horse field. The daughter of Almanzor resumed in a competitive…
Legarto on song for Livamol
Trainers Ken and Bev Kelso believe their Group One-winning mare Legarto (NZ) (Proisir) is ready to fire in Saturday’s Gr.1 Livamol Classic (2040m) at Ellerslie following a pleasing piece of work at Matamata on Tuesday. “She worked nice this morning on the course proper with Quintessa. Vinnie (Colgan, jockey) was quite happy with her work,” Ken Kelso said. Waikato’s wet spring hasn’t been ideal for Legarto’s preparation, with the daughter of Proisir finishing sixth in the Gr.1 Proisir Plate (1400m) at Ellerslie first-up before going one better in last month’s…