Shaune Ritchie hopes his decision to bypass the fillies’ feature at Riccarton with Tajana will pay off on Saturday when she takes on the boys in the Gr.1 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m). The daughter of Darci Brahma has been one of the best in her age group this spring, winning the Gr.3 Northland Breeders’ Stakes (1200m) and Gr.3 Sunline Vase (1400m) before finishing third in the Gr.2 Soliloquy Stakes (1400m) to Well Written. While the Gr.1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) had been on Ritchie’s…
Year: 2025
Lee looking for change of luck in Trotting Free For All
By Michael Guerin Jason Lee is trying to look on the bright side of the one that got away. That was Tuesday’s Renwick Farms Dominion with Jilliby Ballerini after the Australian mare was a good thing beaten in almost a case of friendly fire. Lee drove the perfect race early to secure the trail behind fellow Victorian trotter Arcee Phoenix and a lap from home couldn’t believe his luck. It soon changed. Queensland trotter Gus attacked down the back straight and Arcee Phoenix picked a bad day to have a…
Kingman opts out of Friday’s Show Day Free For All
By Michael Guerin New Zealand Cup hero Kingman will skip Friday’s Pacing Free-For-All as trainer Luke McCarthy heads home to New South Wales to drive his stable star. Yes, you read that right, the horse who sat three wide to beat Leap To Fame and the best Kiwis in Tuesday’s $1m IRT New Zealand Trotting Cup at Addington may not be the best in McCarthy’s stable. Not officially anyway. McCarthy also trains Inter Dominion, Miracle Mile and Eureka winner Don Hugo, which would at least give him the title of…
Mystic Park heads local quinella in TAB Mile
Riccarton galloper Mystic Park (NZ) (Ocean Park) prevailed in a thrilling tussle between the locals in the Gr.3 TAB Mile (1600m) on his home track on Wednesday. The Michael and Matthew Pitman-trained gelding had been on an upward trajectory this preparation without winning and had the services of Victorian-based Kiwi-expat jockey Daniel Stackhouse, closing a $6.10 hope behind northern visitors Cannon Hill and Archaic Smile. Jumping from barrier six, Mystic Park was a stride slow from the gates and found himself three-wide in the trail of another fancied runner in…
Top two lots follow proven ‘Ka Ying’ path
Colts by proven New Zealand stallions Per Incanto and Satono Aladdin provided the highlights on Day One of the New Zealand Bloodstock Ready To Run Sale with the top two lots set to join the Lindsay Park operation of the Hayes family. The father and son combination of David and JD Hayes oversaw proceedings at Karaka as Mainland Chinese owner Mr Sanxiong Gao signed the docket for Lot 105, a Satono Aladdin colt out of Shezdelicious for $675,000 from the draft of Riversley Park. Lot 105, a colt by Satono…
NZ Cup Week double for Sunset Boulevard
Stakes targets are in the offing for promising gelding Sunset Boulevard (NZ) (Eminent) after he secured a winning double at Riccarton Park during New Zealand Cup Week. The Sir Peter Vela-bred and raced five-year-old won over 2000m on the opening day of the carnival and backed up on Wednesday where he jumped an even money favourite in the Wuhan Jockey Club Premier (2000m). In the hands of in-form local hoop Tina Comignaghi, Sunset Boulevard was pushed forward early and settled in the coveted one-one position. Turning for home he was…
Well-bred galloper weaves his Magic
In the shades of his talented dam, Kiwi Magic (NZ) (Shocking) announced himself as a three-year-old to follow this term with an impressive victory in the Halls Cold Chain Logistics Three-Year-Old Premier (1400m) at Riccarton on Wednesday. The Christchurch venue was a happy hunting ground for the gelding’s mother Kiwi Ida, who carried the colours of owner-trainers John and Karen Parsons to success on 14 occasions including a Listed Canterbury Belle Stakes (1200m), Gr.3 Canterbury Breeders Stakes (1400m), Gr.2 Westbury Classic (1400m) and Gr.2 Manawatu Challenge Stakes (1400m). Her mating…
I Am Belle scores on debut at Riccarton
Northern targets await promising juvenile I Am Belle (NZ) (I Am Invincible) following her debut victory in the Elmwood Trading Co. Two-Year-Old Premier (1000m) at Riccarton on Wednesday. The daughter of I Am Invincible jumped away well under Central Districts hoop Bruno Queiroz and raced three-wide throughout. Race favourite Zaharias looked the obvious danger at the top of the straight, but I Am Belle showed her grit to get her nose in front at the 200m and maintained her advantage, running out a half neck victor. I Am Belle placed…
Homebred Harry brings big result
Manawatu dairy farmers Mark and Tania Stratford had a result to savour on the opening day of the New Zealand Bloodstock Ready To Run Sale when their homebred colt by Harry Angel out of Ocean Spray fetched $425,000 to the bid of Hong Kong trainer Mark Newnham and Sweetbriar Equine. The attractive bay was sold from the draft of Curraghmore and after breezing in an easy 10.75, drew plenty of interest. The Stratfords purchased Fastnet Rock mare Ocean Spray for just $4,250 and after seeking the advice of Regan Donnison,…
Marketplace opens a $1.85 favourite in THE VELOCITY on Show Day
Marketplace has gained the early advantage over Got The Chocolates in Friday’s $500,000 slot race at Addington Raceway. The two star three-year-olds have forged quite the rivalry of late and the next installment will come in Race 11, the Hill, Lee and Scott THE VELOCITY on Show day (7.33pm). Got The Chocolates has got the better of recent clashes but on Friday Marketplace has drawn handier at 2, with the Robert and Jenna Dunn-trained star at 6. In the early markets Marketplace is a $1.85 favourite, with Got The Chocolates…