By Michael Guerin Bob Butt knows he can win two of the majors at Addington tonight but his confidence levels are greatly different. Because Butt and most punters will be surprised if Sideshow Bruce doesn’t win the Betavet Uncut Gems Aged Pace but the Commodore Hotel Aged Trot might be a tougher nut to crack for stablemate Roydon Muscle. Sideshow Bruce returns to the race he won last season and while he hasn’t raced that much since he was a good fourth behind Marketplace in a hot race last Friday,…
Year: 2026
Sammy Lincoln best of Harry Orange’s chances at Alex Park
By Michael Guerin After the dizzying heights of being a Group 1 player for the last month it is back to reality for young driving star Harry Orange at Alexandra Park tonight. But it is not a bad reality for a young horseman. Orange won his first Group 1 at the carnival that ended last week with Higher Power in the Anzac Cup and was driving in plenty of the big races. But what mattered to him almost as much was getting consistently big books at the major meetings. “I…
Project Stamina: Joint Industry Update May 2026
New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing (NZTR) and Harness Racing New Zealand (HRNZ) with the support of TAB New Zealand (TAB NZ) would like to provide an update on the timing of the next phase of Project Stamina. As the industry is aware, there are currently a number of wider strategic discussions underway relating to the long-term sustainability and future direction of racing in New Zealand. NZTR and HRNZ continue to engage constructively with TAB NZ, as well as the TAB NZ Advisory Committee, and other industry stakeholders as part of this…
Oaks Contender for Pencarrow Stud
The Pencarrow Stud colours of Sir Peter Vela have been carried by some outstanding fillies over the years including ‘Cups Queen’ Ethereal, whose rise to stardom started with a win in the Group I Queensland Oaks in 2001. The Queensland Oaks is the target race for the latest Pencarrow Stud bred and raced winner in Chispa (NZ) (Savabeel), who scored a dominant victory at the Randwick meeting on Wednesday for the Chris Waller stable. The Savabeel filly only started racing this year with a debut second and then a maiden…
Lock on the hunt for black-type with Debit
Te Aroha trainer Peter Lock is looking forward to resuming his talented mare Debit (NZ) (Darci Brahma) at Otaki on Saturday where he is hoping to get her on a path towards attaining black-type. The six-year-old daughter of Darci Brahma has shown plenty of ability for Lock, winning four of her first five starts before disappointing last spring when unplaced in both of her outings, with Lock citing feet issues for her subpar showings. “It has been a bit of a frustrating time,” Lock said. “We had a couple of…
Charlton Using Scone To Get Group 1 Winner Back In Line
The strength of the Group 1 form around classy galloper Linebacker (NZ) (Super Seth) tells trainer Tom Charlton he can show at Scone on Saturday that he’s on target for a return to that level. A Group 1 winner himself, Linebacker hasn’t contested a race below Group 3 level (if you include the Golden Eagle) since his debut win and with 59kg Charlton said the Listed $200,000 Darley Luskin Star Stakes (1300m) is a nice springboard. It’s no surprise that the Stradbroke is on the four-year-old’s agenda and from that…
Breslin dreaming of scoring Melbourne Cup start
Mike Breslin is hoping the horse he named after one of his favourite footballers, Peter Crouch, can earn him a ticket into Australia’s most coveted race. The Awapuni trainer has travelled across the Tasman with his quality stayer Crouch (NZ) (Tarzino), who will line-up in the Listed Andrew Ramsden (2800m) at Flemington on Saturday, with the winner earning a ballot exempt entry into November’s Gr.1 Melbourne Cup (3200m). The six-year-old son of Tarzino has already proven himself over two miles, finishing runner-up in the last two editions of the Gr.3…
Te Akau score home juvenile quinella
Te Akau Racing continued their juvenile dominance at their home meeting at Matamata on Wednesday when taking out the quinella in the Entain/NZB Insurance Pearl Series (1200m) courtesy of Honour Roll (NZ) (Savabeel) and The Queen’s Sword (NZ) (Sword Of State). Honour Roll was having his second start after placing on debut at Tauherenikau in February, while The Queen’s Sword was making her debut after winning her 800m trial at Avondale last month. Honour Roll rocketed out of the gates and was sent straight to the front by jockey Michael…
Surprise packet eyes stakes victory
Physique and pedigree didn’t point to Grocer’s Girl (NZ) (Tarzino) emerging as a two-year-old black-type prospect, but stakes success now beckons in her final appearance of the season. The Tony Pike-prepared daughter of Tarzino has been unlucky in two starts to date and will look to turn her fortunes around in the Listed Cloudsoft Accounting Champagne Stakes (1600m) at Ellerslie. “She has surprised us to be fair, she’s a lovely, big scopey type with natural ability and because of that she’s come to it a lot earlier than what we…
Quality quintet live on Gavelhouse Plus
The Gavelhouse Plus May Premium Broodmare Sale is live featuring five Lots and bidding is set to close from 7pm (NZT) on Wednesday 20th May. Marsh Racing’s recently retired Hitabell (NZ) (Embellish) and Glamour Tycoon (AUS) (Written Tycoon) are the first two Lots in the sale followed by Haunui Farm and Frantic Bloodstock’s trio of mares; Rondinella (NZ) (Ocean Park), Sudbina (NZ) (Almanzor) and Tinnelly (NZ) (O’Reilly). Both Rondinella and Sudbina are offered in foal to the now Coolmore Australia domiciled Super Seth. The Marsh Racing mares are available for…