Month: January 2026

When it comes to the Coastal Classic, Holymanz (NZ) (Almanzor) is like the spoiled kid who won’t let others play with their toys. The Ciaron Maher-trained gelding has won the only two editions of the 1700-metre race that has a giant surfboard as a trophy and is the headline event on Geelong’s feature Saturday meeting. The Cambridge Stud-raced six-year-old is out to maintain his dominance in the 2026 edition and in an ominous warning for his rivals, Maher’s assistant trainer Jack Turnbull considers him to be going better than the past two years. Last…

The stakes-winning run of trainer Stephen Marsh at Ellerslie rolled on in inevitable fashion as underrated mare Queen Zou (Zoustar) produced an undeniable finish to claim victory in the Gr.2 Rich Hill Mile (1600m) on New Year’s Day. The five-year-old daughter of Zoustar was tasked with defending the title in the race claimed by the Marsh-trained Bourbon Empress (NZ) (Proisir) in 2025 and did so courtesy of a patient ride from Matt Cartwright, who had also been aboard last year’s winner. Marsh was keen to see plenty of speed in…

It may not have been on the horse she crossed the Tasman for, but premiership-winning Queensland hoop Angela Jones got her Group victory at Ellerslie on New Year’s Day. The 24-year-old jockey had accepted the invitation of Wexford Stables to partner Smart Love in the Gr.2 Rich Hill Mile (1600m), and while she was unplaced on the mare, she was victorious for the stable on the undercard aboard Up The Anti in the Horizon By SkyCity 1600. When fellow Matamata trainers Peter and Shaun McKay heard Jones was coming to…

Promising staying filly Ohope Wins (NZ) (Ocean Park) chose the best possible moment to break her maiden status when she powered home to take out the Gr.2 Sir Patrick Hogan Stakes (2000m) at Ellerslie. The Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott-prepared daughter of Waikato Stud stallion Ocean Park had caught the eye when powering home late to finish second over 1600m at Te Rapa a fortnight ago and was one of the most discussed candidates in the lead-up to the traditional New Year’s Day age-group feature. Team Wexford entrusted the in-form…

Te Akau Racing have made the TAB Karaka Millions 2YO (1200m) their own in the last few years, and they look to have another strong contender for this year’s edition following the running of the Gr.2 SkyCity Eclipse Stakes (1200m) at Ellerslie on New Year’s Day. The juvenile feature was taken out by their exciting colt Kinnaird (Home Affairs), who doubled his win tally after scoring on debut over 1100m at Otaki in November. From their wide draw, jockey Opie Bosson took the Home Affairs colt back to settle off…

Ten-time Group One winner Mr Brightside (NZ) (Bullbars) has been ruled out of the autumn and faces minor surgery. Prepared by the Lindsay Park team of Ben, Will & JD Hayes, Mr Brightside has won 20 of his 48 starts and amassed $18.9 million in prizemoney since crossing the Tasman after a luckless fifth in his sole start for Kiwi trainer Ralph Manning. “A routine check-up has found that our beloved Mr Brightside has a very small chip in his left-fore fetlock,” announced Lindsay Park. “He is sound and his…