NZB has made the decision to postpone the Breeze Ups for the 2025 Ready to Run Sale due to unfavourable weather conditions with heavy rain and wind predicted through to Tuesday. The Breeze Ups will now take place at Te Rapa on Monday 20 & Tuesday 21 October starting at 10am each day. NZB is committed to conducting the Breeze Ups on a turf surface at Te Rapa, the overwhelming preference from buyers and agents. “In association with Waikato Thoroughbred Racing, we’ve been monitoring the weather forecast closely,” commented NZB’s…
Year: 2025
Busy weekend ahead for Pike
A nose was the difference between a $30,000 prize and a mid-week placing for Tony Pike at Avondale on Wednesday, and he hopes to continue being on the right side of the result across several venues this weekend. The Cambridge horseman eyed the NZB Mega Maiden Series bonus for his filly Princess Elsa (NZ) (Frosted), who was resuming as a three-year-old following a string of juvenile placings. She didn’t get all favours in the running but was tough late to get the head bob from Kairos. “She had good two-year-old…
Shailer returns to training ranks
Trainer Kris Shailer’s name has been absent from the racebook for the last three years, but will make a return on Sunday at Arawa Park, albeit with a line running through it. He was set to line-up regally-bred gelding Magice (NZ) (Savabeel) in the Rotorua Racecourse’s Race For The Ladies 1215, however, after drawing barrier 13 on the Heavy10 track, the son of Savabeel will likely be scratched. “He is going to be over 12 months between races and we don’t want him to have a real gut buster first-up,”…
Muniandy unearths another promising three-year-old
Wingatui trainer Shankar Muniandy is developing a knack for producing exciting three-year-olds, and he may have his hands on another in Pontoon. The Ace High gelding had the one start as a two-year-old, finishing fifth over 1000m at Riccarton in March, and he returned to the Christchurch track last month where he placed in the Guineas Trial (1400m). Muniandy was pleased with that effort, and while he said he has strengthened since he was a juvenile, there is still plenty of improvement to come. “When I got him as a…
Waiting game with Jaarffi rewarding connections
Patience has been a key factor in the rise of Jaarffi to the elite level and she’s in good order to open her six-year-old campaign at Rotorua. The Cambridge Stud-bred and raced mare has trialled well ahead of her resuming run in Sunday’s Gr.3 Sweynesse Stakes (1215m) and any improvement in track conditions will further boost her chances. Jaarffi has a handy first-up record of two wins from five attempts, and with a rating of 100 is well-suited by the weight-for-age conditions. “I wanted to run her a couple of…
Sharp mare chasing open stakes honours
Proven mare Archaic Smile is looking to make her presence felt in the open ranks before a potential southern trip when she contests Saturday’s Gr.3 fastinternet.co.nz Spring Sprint (1400m) at Otaki. A Group One performing juvenile, Archaic Smile found that form again in her autumn three-year-old campaign, narrowly missing top honours in the Gr.2 Wellington Guineas (1400m) and Gr.3 Cambridge Breeders’ Stakes (1200m). She resumed with a solid fourth in an Open 1200m behind Midnight Edition at Te Rapa, a performance that gave trainer Hollie Wynyard the option of going…
Lincoln La Moose looking to double up at Cambridge tonight
By Jordyn Bublitz Lincoln La Moose will be out to continue his winning form tonight at Cambridge Raceway, following an impressive fresh-up victory at the venue just last week. The four-year-old son of Art Major, trained at Lincoln Farms in Pukekohe by Ray Green and Nathan Delany, returned to racing in fine style. He was given a perfect trip in transit, getting a lovely drag into the race before sprinting away to win with ease. What made the performance stand out even more was the time, an overall 2:40 for…
Williamson with dual chances in today’s Southern Trotting Oaks
By Jonny Turner Master trotting trainer Phil Williamson isn’t sure how his team can beat Ya Right Darl in the Aldebaran Zeus Southern Trotting Oaks at Invercargill today. But he is going to give it a real crack. Last start Ya Right Darl ($1.60) romped home by more than 12 lengths in the recent Sires’ Stakes Classique at Addington. Williamson heads south with Atlantic City ($18), who headed the pack chasing Ya Right Darl in her crushing victory. Have A Little Faith also heads to Oaks as part of a…
Back to basics for Bet N Win at Addington on Friday night
By Michael Guerin After a failed experiment last week Rowe Cup-winning trotter Bet N Win will go back to basics for his return to racing at Addington tomorrow night. The Canterbury five-year-old might be the best trotter in the country, having not only won the Rowe Cup at Alexandra Park in May but he finished second in the Inter Dominion in Brisbane in July, beating home Oscar Bonavena. The latter stands in Bet N Win’s way in the $40,000 Braxton Farriers Worthy Queen Trot at Addington tomorrow night at what…
Verry Elleegant’s sister set for debut
A three-year-old full sister to the great Verry Elleegant (NZ) is slated to make her debut on Friday night at Southside Cranbourne. The Chris Waller-trained Verry Stella (NZ) (Zed) has been accepted to contest Race 2 – a maiden event over 1300 metres. Very Stella has the same trainer as her now-deceased sister and was also bred by Don Goodwin, who has also since passed away. The filly will carry the same colours – red, royal blue band, armbands, band on cap and pom pom. Very Stella is the seventh-named…