Six-year-old gelding Tai has been a work-in-progress for breeder-owner-trainer Joanne Moss, and she was rewarded with her patience with a maiden win at New Plymouth on Saturday. The half-brother to Moss’ Group Three winner Doctor Askar was just having his second raceday start, and first since making his debut at the Taranaki track two years ago. After dislodging local apprentice Elle Sole in the prelim, Tai took his place in barrier seven and pressed forward to settle just behind the speed. Sole asked him to improve from the 600m, and…
Year: 2025
Déjà vu for Moodley at New Plymouth
It was a sense of déjà vu for Triston Moodley as he took out the apprentice-only day at New Plymouth on Tuesday after riding four winners for local trainer Robbie Patterson. The northern hoop won the contest last year when piloting five winners, and he was delighted to repeat the feat this year. “You don’t always get days like that, and I was very happy to be able to win it again,” he said. “I love riding at Taranaki, it is a lovely course. It is a quirky course and…
Phelan fronts up in third NZ amateur drivers championships
By Jordyn Bublitz Frank Phelan is hopeful of a strong start to the 2025 New Zealand Amateur Drivers Championships at Cambridge tonight. For well over a decade he’s been a strong force in the North Island amateur driving ranks and this week’s championships will be his third attempt at the title. He is one of 10 drivers taking part at Cambridge tonight and then Addington on Friday and Sunday. “The ultimate goal is to win,” Phelan says, “this year the winner gets to go to the World Champs so it…
Draws add to puzzle in Silk Road final at Invercargill today
By Jonny Turner Where the main chances settle in the running of the Diamond Creek Farm and SBSR Silk Road Series Final is anyone’s guess. At least, that’s the feeling among the camps of several of the favourite runners ahead of the feature event at Ascot Park on Thursday (3.54pm). Francent ($1.65FF) is set to start a warm favourite in the mares’ event after a dominant heat win at Winton for trainer Mark Jones. The four-year-old must start from the outside of the front row under the feature event’s preferential…
Innings over for equine “centenarian”
By Dave Di Somma, Harness news Desk After a long and generally healthy life, Timely Imp has died peacefully in Canterbury. He was 37, a milestone generally acknowledged by experts as being the equine equivalent of being 100. Foaled in 1987, the much-loved former racehorse spent his retirement at Adele Wolt’s property in the Otahuna Valley near Christchurch. “I am thankful for his team of supporters who were amazed at his spirit and determination to live well, and enabled him to enjoy life,” says Wolt. During his racing days he…
News Briefs – June 11
Team Telfer go to the top of the premiership, Aussies confirmed for AYDC, and the up-coming weanling sales all feature in this week’s News Briefs. Telfers edge ahead in trainers’ premiership After their huge run of late Steve and Amanda Telfer and the Stonewall Stud team have a one win margin at the top of the Trainers’ premiership. They are on 72 wins this year having eclipsed one-time runaway leader Michael House. His latest win came with La Bamba , driven by son Wilson House, at Addington on Sunday. Wilson…
Brightside begins build-up to spring
Star galloper Mr Brightside (NZ) (Bullbars) has begun his build-up towards a spring campaign, with the Group One Memsie Stakes shaping as his potential return again, should things go to plan. After an autumn campaign in Victoria this year which included Mr Brightside claiming his ninth career Gr.1 win with a victory in the Futurity Stakes, the seven-year-old was taken to Hong Kong for the Gr.1 Champions Mile in late April, but failed to fire when finishing last in the field of 13. “He’s back in work. He’s great,” Mr…
Rathbone’s remarkable ride in jumps racing
Jo Rathbone has spent most of her life immersed in the world of jumps racing, with a celebrated riding career, a couple of champion horses, and a rising profile in the training ranks already to her name. Growing up in the equestrian scene, Rathbone got a taste of the racing industry in her early teens, and after relocating to Palmerston North for university, a new door opened for the talented horsewoman. “I used to do a lot of eventing growing up and when I was about 14, I started riding…
Railway Stakes plans for Luvnwar
The Peters’ family and trainer Michael Grantham have outlined Ascot carnival plans for Luvnwar (NZ) (War Decree) after she doubled up at Pinjarra on Saturday, attacking the line strongly to claim an impressive win in the Hygain Handicap (1400m). Punters had to wait until the final race on the programme, but the four-year-old justified her $1.60 TAB Touch quote, coming away to defeat Speed Demon by a neck margin after jockey Clint Johnston-Porter weaved a path between runners. It’s a cameo winter campaign only for Luvnwar, she’s done enough this…
Faulkner celebrates local success in Waimate Cup
Stephanie Faulkner was in the spotlight on her home track of Phar Lap Raceway on Tuesday, collecting a fitting victory for the connections of He’s Tunza Grunt (NZ) (Pure Champion) in the Dunstan Horsefeeds Waimate Cup (1600m). The meeting was initially set to be run on Sunday, but after heavy rain through the week, it was rescheduled to Tuesday, and that was telling in the testing track conditions on course. One runner that was always going to appreciate the ground was He’s Tunza Grunt, Faulkner’s four-win galloper who came into…