A notable New Zealand influence on Saturday’s stellar raceday at Caulfield culminated with A$3 million Gr.1 Caulfield Guineas (1600m) success for South Island owner Glenn Ritchie and breeder Richard Rutherford. Autumn Boy carried Ritchie’s red, gold and blue colours to Guineas glory over runner-up Planet Red, who himself was a $260,000 purchase from the 2024 New Zealand Bloodstock Ready to Run Sale. Ritchie, who also races Saturday’s Gr.3 Barneswood Farm Stakes (1400m) placegetter Miss Ziggy, is the former owner of the Ritchies transport company. He made headlines earlier in the…
Year: 2025
Cool Aza Rene back on top in Barneswood
Just when it seemed like she might be slipping off the Gr.1 Barneswood Farm New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) radar, Cool Aza Rene (Cool Aza Beel) turned her spring around on Saturday and delivered a ninth win for Te Akau Racing in the Gr.3 Barneswood Farm Stakes (1400m) at Ashburton. The powerhouse stable had previously won the South Island’s most important Guineas lead-up with King’s Chapel (2003), Sea Saint (2005), Princess Coup (2006), King’s Rose (2010), Abidewithme (2012), Costa Viva (2013), Cornflower Blue (2020) and Star Of Justice (2023). Cool…
Jake looking to add to excellent grass track record at Motukarara
By Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk As the in-form Jake heads back to Motukarara on Sunday, owner/breeder Grahame Scurr is hoping his golden run is far from over. The Bettor’s Delight eight-year-old has won two of his last three starts and is gunning for career win number six in the Clubs NZ Race Days January and February 2026 Pace (Race 7, 3.05pm). “He is just jumping out of his skin,” says Scurr, “he’s absolutely thriving.” Now 74, the retired poultry farmer has been involved in racing for more…
Globe goes all the way for Group One triumph
An all-the-way victory in the A$1 million Gr.1 Might And Power Stakes (2000m) at Caulfield on Saturday marked a career-defining triumph for New Zealand-bred gelding Globe. The weight-for-age feature was the first appearance at Group One level for the seven-year-old Charm Spirit gelding, who had previously won five of his 14 career starts headed by the Listed Cranbourne Cup (1600m) last November. In his only previous attempt at the 2000m of Saturday’s big race, he had run third in the Listed Ballarat Cup (2000m). Trainers Mick Price and Michael Kent…
Court Of Appeal produces impressive New Zealand Cup dress rehearsal
Emerging stayer Court Of Appeal (NZ) (Eminent) is shaping up as a competitive lightweight chance in next month’s Gr.3 Martin Collins New Zealand Cup (3200m) after destroying her rivals in Saturday’s Vernon Vazey 0800 & Truck Parts Open (2200m) at Ashburton. The Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson-prepared five-year-old mare was having the third run of her current campaign which opened with a win over 1600 metres on the poly-track at Riccarton last month before finishing midfield on the grass there a fortnight ago where a slow beginning put paid to…
Rae runners impress with Ashburton double
Riccarton trainer Terri Rae flexed her potential New Zealand Cup Carnival firepower with an impressive double in $50,000 open handicaps at Ashburton on Saturday. Rae saddled Spot On Time (NZ) (Time Test) for a stylish first-up victory in the GD Jones Salute (1200m), then Sir Albert (NZ) (Savabeel) followed suit 35 minutes later and took out the McCrea Painters & Decorators Ashburton Cup (1600m) by two lengths. It was a welcome return to winning form for Sir Albert, who won six of his first 14 starts including five from nine…
Marsh looking to the weather gods with Rotorua team
Like most trainers at this time of the year, Stephen Marsh has spent plenty of time studying weather forecasts as he prepares to launch a ten-strong team from his Cambridge stable at the Rotorua race meeting on Sunday. With the track currently rated a Heavy9, Marsh is hoping some strong wind and plenty of sunshine over the next 24 hours will bring the rating back to at least a Slow7 which would see the majority of the ten acceptors take their place in their respective events. “We certainly had been…
Pike thrilled with Taupo victory
Trainer Tony Pike admitted he had a real sense of satisfaction as he watched progressive mare Churchillian (NZ) (Churchill) return to winning form at Taupo on Friday at just her third run back from a substantial lay-off due to a hock injury she suffered late last year. It took a month for vets to determine she had suffered torn ligaments in a hock and needed a lengthy spell to recover from the mishap. Two quiet trials in August preceded a useful first-up run for seventh at Ellerslie in early September,…
Jumal stuns in Harness Million win at Addington
By Michael Guerin At the end of a night of questions at Addington on Friday there was a statement. And the one Jumal made came with an exclamation mark. The Steven Reid-trained juvenile capped a magical night of harness racing with a remarkable performance in the NZBS Harness Million, overcoming a second line draw and having to settle well back to bolt in. He did so after being forced three wide from the 800m and he when he should have flinched Jumal did something else: he produced one of the…
New Zealand Cup still on for two-time winner Swayzee
By Adam Hamilton Champion Aussie stayer Swayzee remains on target for the IRT NZ Trotting Cup despite being ruled-out of a key lead-up race. Trainer Jason Grimson has confirmed Swayzee would not defend his crown in next Saturday’s $A250,000 Group 1 Victoria Cup at Melton after a health setback. But he quickly stressed Swayzee would still chase a record-equalling third successive $1m NZ Cup on November 11. Swayzee was a clear $4 second favourite for the Victoria Cup behind his arch-rival and younger half-brother Leap To Fame ($1.35). Leap To…