Speedy mare I’munstoppable (NZ) (Charm Spirit ) never gave her rivals a look in as she maintained a powerful gallop in front throughout to capture the Colchester Engineering Ltd (1200m) on her home track at Matamata. The former Gr.3 Cambridge Breeders’ Stakes (1200m) winner hadn’t been seen on raceday for nearly 300 days after finishing last of eleven at Te Rapa back in December last year. Trainers Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott backed off her when she didn’t come up as well as they would have liked for an autumn…
Year: 2025
War Princess outclasses Hawera rivals
War Princess (NZ) (U S Navy Flag) was the hottest favourite on the card at Hawera on Saturday, and she lived up to her $1.40 odds with an effortless and confidence-boosting victory in the NZB RTR 3YO (1400m). The daughter of U S Navy Flag showed enormous promise as a two-year-old last season, winning her first two starts by a combined margin of four and a half lengths. She earned herself a shot at the big time, where she finished 11th in the Gr.1 Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) in…
Go ahead given to Methven meeting
Methven’s meeting tomorrow (Sunday) will go ahead as planned. There were concerns that the meeting would have to be transferred to Addington Raceway after this week’s poor weather in Mid Canterbury. But after a track inspection today by a group including HRNZ representatives, club officials and the Racing Integrity Board it was decided the meeting would proceed as planned. The track, currently rated as dead, has held up well which is a credit to the work done by everyone at the club. The first of the day’s 11 races will…
Ho secures plum rides as comeback gathers momentum
Vincent Ho is back aboard The Boom Box at Saturday’s Sha Tin meeting. Picture: HKJC. Vincent Ho will attempt to kickstart his season at Sha Tin on Saturday with seven rides and a bit of help from some old friends among several leading chances. Ho, who missed the bulk of last season when sidelined following a fall, has been feeling his way back into form after months of intense rehabilitation. Discussing his rides at Saturday’s fixture, Ho highlighted The Boom Box (131lb), a three-time winner over course and distance, as…
Sir Stirling caps a marvellous day out for Robert Dennis
Stolen Magic wins at Ascot Park on Friday. Photo: Monica Toretto. Local trainer Robert Dennis won half of the eight-race card at Ascot Park on Friday, culminating with a special win by Sir Sterling in the Vale Tony Dennis (1400m). The $40,000 race was run a month after the passing of Robert Dennis’ father, the multiple Group One-winning horseman Tony Dennis. “It’s been a terrific day – it’s always great to train any winner, so to get four is hugely rewarding,” Robert Dennis said. “Winning the race named for Dad…
Indulge Me upsets in Sires’ Stakes heat at Addington
By Michael Guerin The southern invasion at Addington is about to get longer and stronger. And that could see trainer Nathan Williamson with at least three major race chances during Cup week as he continued his profitable spring at headquarters on Friday night. A week after two-year-old trotter Duchess Maria won the inaugural Sundon Trot at Addington last Friday her Williamson stablemate Indulge Me came from the worst possible draw to blast past some talented juvenile pacing fillies in the Dunstan Feeds Sires’ Stakes heat. It was only her second…
Sooner The Bettor seals place in IRT NZ Trotting Cup field
By Michael Guerin While there was no surprise in the quinella in the Holmes D G at Alexandra Park on Friday night it raised a very interesting question. Is winner Sooner The Bettor going better than this time last year or is Merlin going worse? The answer might be a little bit of both. Sooner The Bettor made it three wins on end to start this campaign and earned his golden ticket into the IRT New Zealand Cup when he led, trailed his stablemate then clearly outpointed him in the…
Poignant win caps Invercargill quartet for Dennis
Local trainer Robert Dennis won half of the eight-race card at Ascot Park on Friday, culminating with a special win by Sir Sterling in the Vale Tony Dennis (1400m). The $40,000 race was run a month after the passing of Robert Dennis’ father, the multiple Group One-winning horseman Tony Dennis. “It’s been a terrific day – it’s always great to train any winner, so to get four is hugely rewarding,” Robert Dennis said. “Winning the race named for Dad was a nice cherry on top.” Sir Sterling went into Friday’s…
Masons watch on as colts offered up at Lexington Yearling Sales
By Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk It’s been an unusual Friday for Auckland-based couple Trent and Kristie Mason. The principals of Mason Bloodstock today watched on-line as the second of their two colts went under the hammer at the Lexington Selected Yearling sales in Kentucky. It is certainly uncommon for breeders based in New Zealand to be represented at the prestigious American sale. Earlier in the week their first colt, Lot 632 Virgin King (Huntsville – Virginontherocks) sold for $US42,000 ($NZ72,000). Today Rodeo Stranger (Tall Dark Stranger –…
Gus hoping for a happy homecoming
Presenter-driver-trainer Brittany Graham knows a thing or two about racing on both sides of the Tasman and now that the Queenslander is working for Trackside in this country she’s (reluctantly) agreed to write a weekly column. By Brittany Graham The connections of New Zealand-bred trotter Gus are hoping a return to his country of birth on the second Tuesday in November will be fruitful. Gus is presently on the fifth line of betting with TAB at $10 for the Renwick Farms Dominion Trot on Cup day at Addington Raceway on…