By Jonny Turner It would be a tall order to ask Brett Gray to repeat his recent success at Riverton on Sunday. The Ryal Bush trainer had his best season when notching 40 wins in 2025 and just two weeks into 2026 he produced his first trifecta when Anita Mary, Blaze Lightning and Jaccka Evan filled the first three at Ascot Park last week. “It certainly was a thrill, all three horses went well and it was good to see Anita Mary win for Paul Hailes at the Northern Southland…
Month: January 2026
Te Akau seeking to extend Karaka Millions legacy
The Karaka Millions twilight meeting is always a key focus for Te Akau Racing, and they are set to have another strong hand in this year’s edition. The country’s leading stable has had a stranglehold on the TAB Karaka Millions 2YO (1200m) in recent years, winning eight of the last nine editions of the race, and they will be represented in this year’s running by a trio of juveniles. Unbeaten Group Two winner Kinnaird will lead the stable’s charge, with trainers Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson also upbeat about the…
Vendors count down to special National Yearling Sale
Some of the most respected names in the New Zealand thoroughbred industry will be out in force at Karaka over the next few days during the milestone 100th edition of the National Yearling Sale. NZB’s annual showpiece gets underway with the Karaka Millions twilight race meeting at Ellerslie on Saturday, followed by Book 1 on Sunday and Monday, Book 2 on Tuesday and the inaugural Karaka Summer Sale on Thursday. Vendors have embraced the significance of this occasion, including Cambridge Stud, who will offer their yearlings exclusively at Karaka this…
Yulong invests in another exciting Kiwi filly
Yulong Investments have furthered their position among New Zealand’s racing ranks this week with the purchase of eye-catching Gr.2 Sir Patrick Hogan Stakes (2000m) winner Ohope Wins (NZ) (Ocean Park). The Australian-based racing and breeding operation, owned by Zhang Yuesheng, has made a play for some of the country’s top three-year-old fillies this season, and they have been rewarded through the success of Group One winner Well Written, who will put her unbeaten record on the line in tomorrow’s $1.5 million TAB Karaka Millions 3YO (1600m) at Ellerslie. The Stephen…
Stakes assignments home and away for Sharrock
Saturday is shaping to be a busy day for Allan Sharrock, with stakes assignments both at home and away for the New Plymouth trainer. He will be represented at Ellerslie by his promising two-year-old Ka Ron (NZ) (Hello Youmzain) in the $1 million TAB Karaka Millions 2YO (1200m), while he will have eight runners at his home meeting, including two stakes contenders. Hello Youmzain gelding Ka Ron has impressed in both of his starts to date, finishing runner-up behind subsequent Group Two winner and Karaka Millions favourite Kinnaird, and he…
Brothers chasing further NZ honours
First-time travellers Arkansaw Kid and Torture (NZ) (Sword Of State) will fly the Lindsay Park flag at Ellerslie with a third member of the party to be on hand for the defence of a stable title early next month. The former will step out in Saturday’s Gr.1 Sistema Railway (1200m) while the Hayes brothers will have another crack at the TAB Karaka Millions 2YO (1200m), this time with stakes-winning filly Torture. To be ridden by Opie Bosson, double millionaire sprinter Arkansaw Kid booked his berth across the Tasman with victory…
Sticky draw for Bazooka at Addington tonight
By Michael Guerin This is the campaign in which Bazooka needs to stand up but trainer Steven Reid isn’t entirely sure tonight’s main pace at Addington will be the moment it happens. Bazooka resumes after a month away in the Touchdown Rentals Pace (8.55pm) in which he faces barrier 9 in the 1980m mobile but meets few horses with his natural ability. While Beside Me ($1.85) looked a superstar filly this time last year Bazooka ($3.70) looked an open class horse in the making a year ago. “To be honest…
Purdon with strong presence in opening Young Guns heat
By Michael Guerin Nathan Purdon has plenty of reasons to be excited as he heads to the first Alexandra Park meeting of the year tonight. Because not only does the meeting boast the first juvenile race of the season but Purdon dominates it with four of the seven starters. The $17,000 Breckon Farms Young Gun heat (8.05pm) starts a run toward the $100,000 final at Alexandra Park on March 20 and the series looks set to provide a great advertisement for Purdon’s new business now that he is training on…
VIDEO: The Rise of Stephen Marsh
National Sale veterans reminisce on a century of selling
Next week’s historic National Yearling Sale at New Zealand Bloodstock’s Karaka complex will include many tales from the past century of annual thoroughbred auctions. As a precursor to that banter, RaceForm spoke to four veteran vendors – Brian Anderton, Buzz Williams, Ron Chitty and Garry Chittick – for their memories of an event that has been such a part of their lives. The oldest member of the octogenarian quartet, rising 89-year-old Brian Anderton, is also the most travelled in sending his annual draft to market from White Robe Lodge, Mosgiel.…