Trelawney Stud bred former Singapore star Lim’s Kosciuszko (Kermadec) will be out to claim his first victory in Australia when he lines up in the Group 3 Standish Handicap at Flemington on Saturday. The Dan Meagher-trained veteran heads into the summer sprinting feature third-up, having finished midfield in The Supernova at his previous start, an effort which Meagher was highly satisfied with, given the way the race panned out. “I think he probably needed that run the other day over 1400m,” Meagher said. “He’s just done so super here, his…
Month: January 2026
Varied lead-up options for Herbie Dyke Stakes candidates
With a six-week gap between two of summer’s major weight-for-age middle-distance features, trainers of leading candidates have taken a variety of approaches to their preparations. The first of those races, the Gr.1 Zabeel Classic (2000m), was contested at Ellerslie on Boxing Day, and the second of them, the Gr.1 Herbie Dyke Stakes, is scheduled for Te Rapa on February 7. Last year’s Herbie Dyke Stakes winner El Vencedor (NZ) (Shocking) has been confirmed to run in the Gr.3 Powerworx Taranaki Cup (1800m) at New Plymouth on January 24, while 2024…
Blackadder seeking to break Reefton hoodoo
Former West Coaster John Blackadder has had plenty of success around the South Island, but there remains one track firmly on his hit-list, his former hometown of Reefton. He is hoping to rectify that at the West Coast track on Wednesday where he will be represented by half a dozen runners. “I think I have won a race on just about every course in the South Island, but I have never won one at Reefton, my old hometown,” he said. “I have got a six-pronged attack on Wednesday.” His charge…
Highview colt flying high toward Millions
Well-related Highview graduate Kinnaird (Home Affairs) has quickly won his way to the top of the market for New Zealand’s richest two-year-old contest. The Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson-trained colt was successful on debut at Otaki in November and his New Year’s Day victory in the Gr.2 Eclipse Stakes (1200m) propelled him to equal $4 favouritism for the upcoming TAB Karaka Millions 2YO (1200m). He was bred by Hong Kong Breeders’ Club principal Nicola Chu, who retained an ownership interest following his purchase by Te Akau’s David Ellis for $340,000…
The “Franco” factor heads to Cromwell today
By Jonny Turner The race’s first few seconds are likely to decide whether Steven McRae goes home with today’s Shannon Farm Cromwell Cup again. McRae has been a fixture at the Central Otago summer harness racing circuit in recent seasons and is already enjoying another successful trip south before the final meeting at Cromwell. Cinderella Franco was as impressive as any maiden winner south of the Waitaki in recent times when she sped to victory at Omakau on Friday. The filly will be out to make it two from two…
NZ Racing and Breeding News – 05 January 2026
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Ride starts up again for Team Torranzino
The Gr.1 Tancred Stakes (2400m) looms as a possible autumn option for ever-improving stayer Torranzino (NZ) (Tarzino), who on Monday returned to work with Paul Preusker. The Tarzino gelding’s return to stable life comes around two months since his fifth placing in the A$10 million Gr.1 Melbourne Cup (3200m). Preusker was determined to reward his new stable star with a good spell after his career-best campaign and considered giving him a tick-over preparation without a run before resetting for spring, but was now favouring a brief autumn campaign. “He’ll start work Monday and then we’ll just sort of…
Road to the Derby: Numbers add up as Frankie Lor targets Four-Year-Old Classic Series
In the third instalment of The Hong Kong Jockey Club’s Road to the Derby series, we zero in on a pair of Frankie Lor-trained up and comers with the potential to make an impact in the 2025/26 Four-Year-Old Classic Series. With less than four weeks until the first leg of the prestigious series – the HK$13 million Hong Kong Classic Mile (1600m) on 1 February – and with the 149th HK$26 million BMW Hong Kong Derby (2000m) on 22 March on the horizon, Numbers and Regal Gem have both built…
Rutten has sweet tooth for KM 2YO
Chris Rutten has a knack for selecting Karaka Millions 2YO contenders, and he looks to have struck again, this time with the Roydon Bergerson-trained Sweetest Thing. The daughter of Hello Youmzain impressed when runner-up to Lassified in the Listed Wellesley Stakes (1100m) at Trentham on Saturday, with her runner-up cheque of $18,500 putting her on the cusp of qualifying for the $1 million TAB Karaka Millions (1200m) at Ellerslie on January 24. It’s a race Rutten has a strong association with, having won it with Vespa in 2014, and he…
Golden family continues to shine brightly
Waikato Stud-bred filly La Dorada continues to add further honours to her richly decorated family. The daughter of resident sire Super Seth enjoyed an outstanding juvenile season with success in the Gr.1 Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m), Karaka Millions 2YO (1200m) and Gr.2 Matamata Breeders’ Stakes (1200m). At Trentham on Saturday, she returned to top form with success in the Gr.2 Levin Classic (1400m), with the $1.5 million TAB Karaka Millions 3YO (1600m) now in the sights of trainers Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson. La Dorada was a $190,000 purchase…