Day: 9 March 2026

After coming within inches of the upset of the season in Saturday’s $4 million NZB Kiwi (1500m), rising star Belle Cheval (NZ) (Savabeel) is set to head to Sydney for the Gr.1 Vinery Stud Stakes (2000m). The Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson-trained filly put in a massive effort to go down by a short head to hot favourite Well Written (Written Tycoon) in the marquee race on Champions Day. Now plans are being put in place for her to travel to Sydney and take on the likes of Gr.1 New…

Group Two Waikato Guineas winner Autumn Glory (NZ) (Ocean Park) is set to join the training partnership of Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr as she prepares for a possible start in the Gr.1 Australian Oaks (2400m) at Randwick on April 11. The Ocean Park filly has been one of the leading performers of the New Zealand classic season, finishing runner-up in both the Gr.1 New Zealand Oaks (2400m) behind Ohope Wins and last Saturday’s Gr.1 New Zealand Derby (2400m), where she chased home stablemate Road To Paris. Autumn Glory,…

Fast Network (NZ)(Wrote) reaffirmed his standing among Hong Kong’s top sprinters with a determined victory in the HK$3.72 million Class 1 Essex Handicap (1200m) at Sha Tin on Sunday, providing trainer Dennis Yip with a timely reward for the gelding’s consistent campaign. The five-year-old had already shown his quality earlier in the season when finishing third behind champion sprinter Ka Ying Rising (NZ) (Shamexpress) in both the Gr.1 Hong Kong Sprint (1200m) and the Gr.1 Centenary Sprint Cup (1200m). With the superstar absent this time, Fast Network capitalised to secure…

Road To Paris (NZ) (Circus Maximus) crowned a momentous week for Windsor Park Stud when he provided the farm’s resident sire Circus Maximus with his first elite level success on Champions’ Day at Ellerslie. The Roger James and Robert Wellwood-trained representative triumphed in the Gr.1 New Zealand Derby (2400m) in the hands of Geroge Rooke for Queensland breeder-owners Ron and Judi Wanless. His victory came hard on the heels of Windsor Park, with Mapperley Stud and Lion Rock Racing, signing Savabeel’s Gr.1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) winner Savaglee (NZ)…

Most trainers dream of competing in the Gr.1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) and Palmerston North horsewoman Lisa Latta may have found her horse to get her to Flemington on the first Tuesday in November. Talented stayer Manzor Blue (NZ) (Almanzor) once again proved her staying qualities at Ellerslie on Saturday when finishing runner-up behind Australian raider Paradise Storm (Masked Marvel) in the Gr.2 Auckland Cup (3200m). It comes just over a month after her victory in the Gr.3 Wellington Cup (3200m) at Trentham, and Latta was delighted to see the daughter…

You could be forgiven for thinking you were watching winter racing at Riverton on Sunday, with horses competing on a Heavy9 surface, but that played right into the hands of local wet track specialist Sight To See (NZ) (Time Test) in the AB Lime & Caldwell Contracting Wyndham Cup (2000m). The Kelvin Tyler-trained mare’s previous two victories had come on rain-affected going, and punters flocked to her when the wet weather arrived, backing her into a $3.40 favourite. From her wide draw, she settled towards the rear of the field…

Star filly Well Written (Written By) will enjoy a well-deserved break after her narrow triumph in the $4 million NZB Kiwi (1500m) at Ellerslie on Saturday, with an Australian autumn campaign ruled out.   The Stephen Marsh-trained three-year-old has gone undefeated in her sparkling six-start career, but gave favourite backers heart palpations when quality filly Belle Cheval went within a whisker of an almighty upset on Saturday.   “It’s a lot for a filly like her,” Marsh said. “She’s six runs deep, she has been down south, she has done…

Astute trainer Roger James claimed the Gr.1 New Zealand Derby (2400m) for a record seventh time on Saturday when Road To Paris (NZ) (Circus Maximus), ridden by George Rooke, defeated stablemate Autumn Glory (NZ) (Ocean Park) in a stirring edition of the race. Despite his wayward tendencies, the son of Circus Maximus dashed passed the runner-up to score comfortably and survived a double protest before being confirmed as the winner. The victory provided James’ training partner Robert Wellwood with his second New Zealand Derby success and reaffirmed the appropriate name…

Trainer Ciaron Maher said connections were so pleased with the first-up run of star Trelawney Stud bred mare Pride Of Jenni (Pride Of Dubai) in Saturday’s Gr.1 All-Star Mile that they wouldn’t shy away from a clash with the unbeaten star Autumn Glow.   Pride Of Jenni led up and after she was collared half-way down the Flemington straight, she fought back to be beaten narrowly by Tom Kitten and Evaporate in an effort that Maher himself found rousing.   “She was super,” Maher enthused. “They were on her today,…