Year: 2025

Trainers Ben, Will and JD Hayes have unleashed another promising juvenile when two-year-old filly Torture (NZ) (Sword of State) proved too good for her rivals on debut in the Listed Debutant Stakes (1000m) at Caulfield.  Sent out a $21 chance, Torture came from just behind the leaders to score by half a length from stablemate Free Flying in the hands of Ethan Brown in what was a professional performance.  The well-related filly is the first winner and stakes winner by freshman sire Sword Of State, a Group One winning son…

Trainers Ben, Will and JD Hayes have unleashed another promising juvenile when two-year-old filly Torture (NZ) (Sword of State) proved too good for her rivals on debut in the Listed Debutant Stakes (1000m) at Caulfield.  Sent out a $21 chance, Torture came from just behind the leaders to score by half a length from stablemate Free Flying in the hands of Ethan Brown in what was a professional performance.  The well-related filly is the first winner and stakes winner by freshman sire Sword Of State, a Group One winning son…

Trainers Ben, Will and JD Hayes have unleashed another promising juvenile when two-year-old filly Torture (NZ) (Sword of State) proved too good for her rivals on debut in the Listed Debutant Stakes (1000m) at Caulfield.  Sent out a $21 chance, Torture came from just behind the leaders to score by half a length from stablemate Free Flying in the hands of Ethan Brown in what was a professional performance.  The well-related filly is the first winner and stakes winner by freshman sire Sword Of State, a Group One winning son…

Kelly Van Dyk’s Prima Park Bloodstock will be represented on both sides of the Tasman this week, from the sales ring in Sydney to the big stage at Ellerslie on Saturday. From her base at Matamata, Van Dyk specialises in horse agistment and sales preparation, while more recently, she has featured prominently in the training ranks with exciting filly Places To Be (NZ) (Hello Youmzain). A homebred by Hello Youmzain, Places To Be was a two-time trial winner before dominating her rivals by four lengths on debut at Taupo, and…

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…

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…

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…

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…