Day: 18 February 2026

The NZB Kiwi is set to have direct Australian involvement with the announcement on Wednesday that Ozzie Kheir has selected the Mitch Freedman-trained Asakura (Churchill) for his slot in the $4 million Champions Day feature. With unbeaten filly Well Written (Written Tycoon) dominating calculations as the $1.20 favourite, doubts had been expressed that unlike last year’s inaugural NZB Kiwi (1500m) when eventual runner-up Evaporate (NZ) (Per Incanto) as well as Perfumist (NZ) (El Roca) and Public Attention (NZ) (Written Tycoon) made the trip to Auckland, there might be no Australian…

Talented staying filly Fly Zenno (NZ) (Ancient Spirit) will line up in Saturday’s Gr.1 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai New Zealand Oaks (2400m) at Ellerslie, a target her connections have held close since day one. Prepared by Conor and Sarah Fahy, the scopey daughter of Ancient Spirit has finished just behind the minor placings at her past two outings, finishing fifth in the Gr.2 Sir Patrick Hogan Stakes (2000m) before a solid fourth in the Gr.2 David & Karyn Ellis Fillies Classic (2100m) at Te Rapa. On both occasions, Fly Zenno…

Racing NSW stewards have cleared $10 million earner Ceolwulf (NZ) (Tavistock) to continue his autumn carnival campaign. Ceolwulf has passed a series of veterinary tests since he was found to have traces of blood in both nostrils after finishing unplaced in the Apollo Stakes won by unbeaten Autumn Glow at Royal Randwick last Saturday. The tests proved that Ceolwulf had not bled internally (lungs) which would have resulted in an automatic three-month racing  Randwick Equine Centre veterinarians reported that endoscopic and computed tomographic examination have “ruled out any current major cause…

After having to endure another stint on the sideline in his roller-coaster career, dual premiership-winning jockey Michael McNab is looking forward to his raceday return at Ellerslie this weekend. McNab, who won back-to-back premierships in the 2021-22 and 2022-23 seasons, has been off the scene since early last September after suffering a complicated leg fracture when kicked by a young horse he was about to mount at an Ellerslie trial meeting. The initial prognosis was for a six to eight-week recovery, but with a plate and screws having to be…