Year: 2025

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…

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…

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…

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…

Express Coup (NZ) (Shamexpress) returned to her form of old when taking out the George and Mary Hennessy Open (1200m) at Phar Lap Raceway on Tuesday, and trainers Michael and Matthew Pitman are hoping she can now fulfil the potential they saw in her formative years.  The five-year-old daughter of Shamexpress jumped well from her ace draw and maintained her advantage on the inside for jockey Ashvin Goindasamy, taking on the pace making role.  While she led the field into the home straight, stablemate Makabar (NZ) (Swiss Ace) loomed ominously…