It was a memorable day for Andrew Scott on Friday, firstly hearing the news his daughter was awarded the NZTR McKenzie Future Leaders Scholarship before he went to Te Rapa where he and training partner Lance O’Sullivan recorded a winning treble. Scott said his daughter, Maria Scott, has a strong interest in thoroughbred racing and is keen to pursue a career in the industry. He was proud when he heard that she was announced as this year’s recipient of the scholarship, with its $10,000 award helping support her towards completing…
Day: 17 April 2026
Great Easter Stakes looming for The Radiant One
The Radiant One (NZ) (Darci Brahma) finished third in last year’s Listed Daphne Bannan Memorial Great Easter Stakes (1400m) and trainer Robert Dennis is keen to try and go two places better with his mare in this year’s edition at Riccarton on ANZAC Day. The seven-year-old daughter of Darci Brahma will ready for that assignment when she heads to her local track of Ascot Park on Sunday to contest the Editor’s Cut Sports Bar Handicap (1200m). She has been freshened since her last start unplaced run in the Gr.3 White…
Drop in class to favour Too Sweet at Wanganui
Group Two winner Too Sweet (NZ) (Satono Aladdin) will have her first run in rating 65 grade at Wanganui on Saturday and trainer Roydon Bergerson believes she will be hard to beat in the Rayner Racing (1360m). The three-year-old daughter of Satono Aladdin burst onto the scene last season when winning on debut before taking out the Gr.2 Eclipse Stakes (1200m) two runs later, which placed her among the favoured runners for the Karaka Millions 2YO (1200m). However, she drew the outside gate in the juvenile feature, which thwarted her…
Maria Scott Named NZTR McKenzie Future Leaders Scholarship Recipient
New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing (NZTR) has named Maria Scott as the latest recipient of the NZTR McKenzie Future Leaders Scholarship – a $10,000 award supporting the next generation of leaders in New Zealand’s Thoroughbred industry. Jointly funded by NZTR and Dean McKenzie, the scholarship supports recent school leavers connected to racing who are beginning a Commerce or Law degree, with the goal of strengthening the future of the sport through skilled governance, administration and leadership. Scott, who has just begun a Bachelor of Commerce majoring in Marketing at the University…
Matty White is a driver to watch at Alexandra Park tonight
By Michael Guerin Matty White has the right horses in the right races with the wrong draws at Alexandra Park tonight. But it will still be a surprise if the in-form trainer-driver doesn’t come away with at least one winner as harness racing catches its breath after last Friday’s stunning night at Cambridge and waits for the Group 1s that lay ahead the next three Fridays at The Park. While tonight’s meeting may be a bit more sedate it still hosts two pacing and three Metro series trotting heats, all…
Wide open line-up in tonight’s feature trot at Addington
By Michael Guerin John Dunn won’t choose between the stable’s two big winning chances in the $50,000 Future Wealth Sires’ Stakes Trot (8.38pm) at Addington tonight. But dig a little deeper and One Over Da Line could have an advantage over Rock Lobster in the race which would have been the big autumn target for many involved tonight. The pair both bring great recent form into a stacked contest made even more challenging by the field size. Dunn will partner Rock Lobster ($5.50) while Tim Williams drives One Over Da…
Cole outed for 12 months
Matamata trainer Cody Cole has been disqualified for 12 months following a Racing Integrity Board decision that stems from his failure to comply with a drug testing directive, halting the momentum of one of New Zealand racing’s most promising young horsemen. The penalty follows an earlier ruling issued on 30 January 2026, where an Adjudicative Committee found a charge proved under Rule 801(1)(k) – Misconduct, after determining Cole had failed to carry out a lawful order from an investigator to provide a urine sample. The case centred on an incident…