Damian Lane will head to New Zealand for the rich Karaka Millions meeting later this month. The star Australian jockey has secured several key bookings and will ride Torture for Lindsay Park in the Karaka Millions 2YO (1200 metres) on January 24. He’s also booked to ride Espionage (Zoustar) in the Group 1 Sistema Railway (1200 metres) for Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson. That name will be familiar for plenty of Australian racing fans, with Espionage a former highly-touted galloper in the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott stable. The horse…
Day: 8 January 2026
Super Photon bounces back at Tauranga
Former classy youngster Super Photon returned to winning form at Tauranga on Thursday when taking care of a strong line-up in the Dane Crockford Ray White Greerton 1500. The four-year-old son of Super Seth had shown plenty of ability in his formative years, winning both of his starts as a juvenile, including the Listed Waikato Equine Veterinary Centre 2YO Stakes (1400m). He continued to please as a three-year-old, adding a further two wins to his tally before undergoing a wind operation late last season. He failed to fire in his…
Regally-bred gelding scores impressively on debut
Regally-bred gelding Sarti (NZ) (Snitzel) has a long way to go to live up to his breeding, but he made the perfect start to his career when winning impressively on debut at Tauranga on Thursday. A son of champion sire Snitzel and Group One-winning mare Guiseppina, Sarti was bred by Sir Peter Vela, under his Pencarrow Thoroughbreds banner, and races in his familiar blue and white silks for trainers Ken and Bev Kelso. The Matamata couple have taken a patient approach with the four-year-old, who has had three trials prior…
Bob Butt with big team in at Nelson
By Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk Bob Butt will venture north with a big team to one of his favourite tracks on Friday. The Woodend-based trainer-driver will take six to Nelson’s Richmond Park. “Along with Addington I reckon it’s the best in the country, it’s a lovely big track and they can win from anywhere,” says Butt. Butt will drive five of his own and also have two outside drives, including the Tim Trathen-trained Shanky’s Shot. “I’ve driven him in all his starts and he’s a lovely horse.” The…
Say Satono earns a crack at black-type
Well-related mare Say Satono has earned a crack at black-type following her victory in the Birchfield Ross Mining Reefton Cup (1400m) on Wednesday. Given an economical run in the one-one throughout, the daughter of Satono Aladdin was presented perfectly at the top of the home straight by jockey Tina Comignaghi and went on to score a three-quarter of a length victory over dual stakes winner Illicit Dreams, with a further 2-1/4 lengths back to Zoulander in third. “It was a good win, she is a pretty handy mare. It was…
Wilkins with genuine chances at Manawatu today
By Jordyn Bublitz With four drives at the five race meeting, Brooke Wilkins looks to have some genuine each way chances at Manawatu today. After having nine wins across the Tasman, 2025 was Wilkins’ first driving competitively in this country and despite only taking part in the latter half of the season she had seven wins from 42 race-day drives, with a highly respectable UDR of .2910. That momentum has carried into the new season. Wilkins wasted little time opening her account for the year, recording a winner at last…