Smart four-year-old Linebacker (NZ) (Super Seth) will contest the Gr.1 Canterbury Stakes (1300m) fresh-up on Saturday, in a campaign focused on Doncaster redemption. The John O’Shea and Tom Charlton-trained gelding was luckless in the Gr.1 Doncaster Mile (1600m) last year when eighth and steps straight into elite-level company on Saturday when resuming. “He couldn’t be going any better,” O’Shea said. “He is always a bit suspect first-up, particularly at that level. But I have never run him first-up at 1300m since his first start in a race. “1300m is a…
Day: 4 March 2026
Jenni on path to second All-Star Mile
The career of Pride Of Jenni (Pride Of Dubai) was at the crossroads 18 months ago but at Flemington on Saturday she can become the first two-time winner of the All-Star Mile. Pride Of Jenni suffered a bleeding attack when finishing last in the Champions Mile at Flemington in November 2024 prompting owner Tony Ottobre to announce her retirement. The now eight-year-old returned the following March to win first-up over 1800m and Pride Of Jenni gathered another three wins through 2025 including the Group 1 Empire Rose Stakes (1600m) during…
War Machine out for Newmarket redemption
War Machine (NZ) (Harry Angel) will chase a second Group 1 win when he lines up in the Newmarket Handicap at Flemington. A field of 15 is set to do battle down the famous Flemington straight six in the Newmarket Handicap. In what was a ‘who will be there and who won’t’ discussion in the days leading up to Wednesday’s acceptances, the highly rated three-year-old Tentyris (Street Boss) is among the 15 chasing Group 1 glory and joins an honour roll that dates back to 1874. Tentyris will be looking…
Aussie raider draws visitor’s gate
Mark Baker might be off trainer Mitch Freedman’s Christmas card list this year after the Hallmark Stud principal drew the outside gate for his gelding Asakura (Churchill) at the $4 million NZB Kiwi (1500m) barrier draw at Karaka on Tuesday night. “We will cross out Hallmark Stud going forward,” Freedman quipped. “You can’t do anything about those barrier draws. “He has got gate speed and a little bit of versatility for a lightly raced horse. We will just work through some options there and communicate with Dean (Yendall, jockey) about…
NZ Derby hero returning home
Last year’s Gr.1 New Zealand Derby (2400m) hero Willydoit (NZ) (Tarzino) is returning home. The son of Tarzino was a standout three-year-old last term for trainers Shaun and Emma Clotworthy, winning four of his six starts, including the New Zealand Derby. MyRacehorse Australia bought 50 percent of the gelding mid-season, with the Clotworthys and Bryan Black retaining the remainder of the ownership. He crossed the Tasman to run fourth in the Gr.1 Australian Derby (2400m) before joining the stable of leading Australian trainer Ciaron Maher, for whom he has had…
Globetrotting trainer zeroes in on rich NZ purses
Well-travelled horseman Henry Dwyer will bid for further overseas honours with a two-pronged attack on Champions’ Day this weekend. The Ballarat trainer has forsaken Australian opportunities with imports Paradise Storm (Masked Marvel) and Cote Atlantique (Kodiac) in favour of riches at opposing ends of the distance scale on offer at Ellerslie on Saturday. The French-bred Paradise Storm will take aim at the Gr.2 Trackside Auckland Cup (3200m) while Irish native Cote Atlantique will tackle the Gr.3 Haunui Farm King’s Plate (1200m), with the duo to arrive on Thursday morning. Dwyer…
Show Stopper looks the goods at Oamaru today
By Jonny Turner Cran Dalgety hopes Show Stopper has found the perfect spot in Wednesday’s Southern Oaks heat at Oamaru. The three-year-old heads south with stablemate The Merc after placing in all three of her starts this time in. Show Stopper is set to start favourite from barrier 2 in Oamaru’s opening heat of the series (5.58pm) and Dalgety is hopeful that draw is one of several key factors in his horse’s favour. “She has been racing great, she’s just been running into one better on the day lately.” “The…