Year: 2025

Wolfgang’s Melbourne Cup bid over after Bart Cummings downer

AAP

Wolfgang will return to Matamata after a three-run campaign in Australia. Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images) Group 1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) hopeful Wolfgang will return to New Zealand after finishing at the tail of the field in Saturday’s Group 3 The Bart Cummings (2500m) at Flemington. Wolfgang, who races as Mister Wolfgang in Australia, won the Group 3 Wellington Cup (3200m) and New Zealand St Leger (2500m) last term, then crossed the Tasman for a campaign towards the time-honoured race staged in early November. His co-trainer Peter McKay was pleased…

Lady Performer set to race on after consistent run

AAP

1781450.jpg Lady Performer put plans of the broodmare paddock on hold for another year after capping off a consistent run of form in the Johnny Neil Builders (1400m) at Hawera on Saturday. The eight-year-old had nearly been retired at the end of the spring last season, but her owner-trainer Lydia Pickford opted to bring her back for another winter, which has paid off with Lady Performer recording a win, two seconds and five thirds since resuming in early April. She was due another winning turn, but facing Rating 75 grade…

Linebacker resets after Epsom glitch

NZRacingDesk

All eyes will be on Hong Kong champion Ka Ying Rising at the Randwick barrier trials but the session will also provide an important hit-out for Group One winner Linebacker (NZ) (Super Seth). Originally being targeted at Saturday’s Epsom Handicap (1600m), the four-year-old was ruled out of the feature after a setback caused him to miss a scheduled start in the Bill Ritchie Handicap (1400m) last month. While it was only a minor ailment, it was enough to force a rejig of Linebacker’s spring program. “In simple terms, he sprained…

Consistent mare defying broodmare plans

NZRacingDesk

Lady Performer (NZ) (Sacred Falls) put plans of the broodmare paddock on hold for another year after capping off a consistent run of form in the Johnny Neil Builders (1400m) at Hawera on Saturday. The eight-year-old had nearly been retired at the end of the spring last season, but her owner-trainer Lydia Pickford opted to bring her back for another winter, which has paid off with Lady Performer recording a win, two seconds and five thirds since resuming in early April. She was due another winning turn, but facing Rating…

Weigh In, October 5

NZRacingDesk

This week Guy Heveldt is joined by Aidan Rodley and Jayne Ivil to review a wet weekend of racing across the country. Kim Reid joins us to talk about the family connection of Hi Yo Sass Bomb and then we turn our sights across the Tasman after a star filled Saturday. Weigh In, October 5

Afterglo powerful late in Matamata victory

NZRacingDesk

Progressive mare Afterglo (NZ) (Ardrossan) got her preparation back on track in impressive style in the deteriorating conditions at Matamata on Saturday. A winner on debut at the course in April, she has been patiently handled by local trainer Stephen Autridge and appeared first-up this spring in a competitive Rating 65 contest at Ellerslie, where she finished below expectations in 11th. Heeding advice from jockey Matt Cameron, Autridge moved on to the Colliers Waikato Rural Real Estate (1400m) with the daughter of Ardrossan, who started the eventual favourite in a…

Leap To Fame wins and Swayzee beaten across the Tasman

NZHarnessNews

By Adam Hamilton  The Aussie raid on New Zealand Cup Week is looking more imposing by the day. Four confirmed raiders and possibly even a fifth, headed by champion Leap To Fame, impressively won lead-up races last night (Saturday). Having his first start since snaring his second Inter Dominion title on July 19, Leap To Fame cruised to victory over stablemates Aroda and Free Thinker in a 2138m free-for-all at Albion Park. The six-year-old was nursed to the line by trainer-driver Grant Dixon to win by 6.5m in a 1min53.9sec…

Afterglo basks in tough conditions at Matamata

AAP

Afterglo winning the Colliers Waikato Rural Real Estate (1400m) at Matamata on Saturday.Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images) Progressive mare Afterglo got her preparation back on track in impressive style in the deteriorating conditions at Matamata on Saturday. A winner on debut at the course in April, she has been patiently handled by local trainer Stephen Autridge and appeared first-up this spring in a competitive Rating 65 contest at Ellerslie, where she finished below expectations in 11th. Heeding advice from jockey Matt Cameron, Autridge moved on to the Colliers Waikato Rural…

War Machine ready to take on Ka Ying Rising in The Everest

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War Machine and Blake Shinn win the Gilgai Stakes at Flemington on Saturday. (Photo by Scott Barbour/Racing Photos) David Hayes has a New Zealand-bred superstar heading into the A$20 million Group 1 The Everest (1200m) in two weeks, where his sons Ben, Will and JD Hayes might line up against him with a Kiwi-bred Group One winner of their own. Lindsay Park’s last-start Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) hero War Machine kicked off his new campaign in sparkling style in Saturday’s A$300,000 Group 2 Gilgai Stakes (1200m) at Flemington. The…

Perfumist produces Randwick masterclass in Melbourne Storm Mile

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Perfumist and Regan Bayliss combine in the Melbourne Storm Mile at Randwick on Saturday. PIcture: Bradley Photos. New Zealand-bred mare Perfumist bounced back to her brilliant best with a dominant front-running performance in the A$160,000 Melbourne Storm Mile (1600m) at Randwick on Saturday. The daughter of El Roca burst onto the scene as a three-year-old last season with wins in five of her first nine starts, including four in a row in December and January. Those performances earned her a ticket across the Tasman for the inaugural $3.5 million NZB…