Year: 2025

Hec Anderton, one of New Zealand racing’s most respected horsemen, has died at the age of 84. He passed away at the Otago Community Hospice in Dunedin last week, surrounded by his wife Pat and their children, Michael, Paul, Debbie Kennedy, Janine Carroll and Tania Batt. His death came poignantly just hours after Descaro, a horse he bred and raced in partnership, won at Wingatui. The gelding is trained by his brother Brian and nephew Shane, underlining the Anderton family’s deep-rooted place in southern racing.Born Hector Thomas Anderton, he was…

Three-year-old filly Passiflora (NZ) (Farnan) showed promise at the trials and transferred that potential into raceday success when scoring on debut in the NZ Horse Ambulance 970 at Cambridge on Wednesday. The daughter of Farnan had won a 850m trial at Te Awamutu a fortnight ago and was backed into a $4.70 favourite second favourite on Wednesday behind fellow debutant Zivou (NZ) (Bivouac). From her wide draw, Passiflora was sent forward early by jockey Jasmine Fawcett and wrestled the lead off Remember Ferrando (NZ) (Ferrando) and took control of the…

Tardelli (I Am Invincible) has the looks to match his rich pedigree, and his upcoming preparation will be focused on adding a top-level performance to boost his future stallion prospects. The Stephen Marsh-trained four-year-old showed he was in prime order to resume when untouched by rider George Rooke to win an open 1100m heat at Tuesday’s Ellerslie trials. “He’s a really smart horse, we haven’t seen the best of him yet and the goal is obviously to win a Group One with him,” Marsh said. The son of I Am…

Myakkabelle performed with distinction in her three-year-old season, but a stakes win eluded the Ben and Ryan Foote-trained mare. She won two and placed in six of her 10 starts last term, including placings in the Gr.1 New Zealand Oaks (2400m), Gr.2 Lowland Stakes (2100m), and Gr.2 David & Karym Ellis Fillies Classic (2000m). “Her three-year-old season was good without a lot of luck,” Ryan Foote said. “From a wide draw she had to get back in the Oaks, which made it a bit hard. “We have given her a…

An untimely injury has ruled champion jockey Michael McNab out for the bulk of spring racing. McNab was set to partner a two-year-old at Tuesday’s Ellerslie trials when he was kicked and subsequent x-rays at Auckland Hospital revealed a leg fracture below the knee. “I have spoken to Michael, and he is really gutted,” his agent Aidan Rodley said. “He had made such a strong start to the season and was obviously hoping to capitalise on that through the spring and beyond. “It looks like he will be out for…