Imperative (NZ) (Ghibellines) bounced back to form in the best possible fashion at Wingatui on Sunday when taking out the AB Lime & Hyde Landscaping Wairio Cup (2200m) for local trainers Brian and Shane Anderton. Following a pleasing run of form that included two wins and a placing from four starts, Imperative disappointed when finishing last over 2600m in her first test in open company at Riccarton on ANZAC Day, but her handlers said she had her excuses. “Her form was pretty good and then that last run at Christchurch…
Month: May 2026
Rayner on a fact-finding mission with Lord Spencer
Lord Spencer (NZ) (Zed) has seen a fair bit of the North Island this week and trainer JJ Rayner is hoping it culminates with a maiden steeplechase victory at Te Aroha on Monday. The Wanganui jumper has shown plenty of talent over hurdles, winning three races over the smaller fences, including the 2024 edition of the Great Northen Hurdle (4200m), and placed in last year’s Great New Zealand Hurdle (4200m). He resumed this year with two placings on the flat before winning a high weight over 2200m at Woodville last…
Dalgetys in for a busy day at Ashburton
By Mike Love West Melton trainers Cran and Chrissie Dalgety head to Ashburton today with a book of seven runners, most of which are sure to give punters something to cheer home. There are several features throughout the day, including the $40,000 Group Three Helen Pope Memorial 2YO Fillies Stakes (1.28pm) over 1700m. In this event they line up Devil Woman ($10.00FF), driven by Carter Dalgety, who tasted defeat for the first time in her last outing at Addington. In that event she showed gate speed to lead before being…
Western Empire too tough in home straight stoush
Classy galloper Western Empire (NZ) (Iffraaj) had to call on all his fighting qualities to pick up his latest stakes victory as he thrust his head in front in the very last stride to claim the Gr.3 PKF Perth – Hyperion Stakes (1600m) at Belmont on Saturday. The rugged eight-year-old son of Iffraaj had returned to racing in style when he took out his second Gr.3 Drummond Golf Belmont Sprint (1400m) fresh up a fortnight ago. With superstar West Australian jockey Willie Pike in the saddle again, Western Empire settled…
Daring tactics secure victory for Hezdarnhottoo
A brilliant rails-hugging ride from Jett Stanley paved the way for Kiwi-bred gelding Hezdarnhottoo (NZ) (Too Darn Hot) to claim an outstanding victory in the last race on the Caulfield card on Saturday, the Darren Gauci Handicap (1200m) Bred by Elsdon Park’s Lib and Katrina Petagna, Hezdarnhottoo races out of the Bjorn Baker stable and was purchased by Baker in partnership with Clarke Bloodstock for $170,000 out of Elsdon Park’s inaugural 2023 New Zealand Bloodstock Book 1 draft. Stanley had most onlookers stunned when he deliberately steered the son of…
Couples Retreat back to winning form at Rosehill
Smart Super Seth filly Couples Retreat (NZ) found her way back to the top of the winner’s podium a Rosehill on Saturday when she produced a dogged late run to take victory in the Benchmark 72 Vale Peter Taylor Handicap (1100m). In the hands of apprentice Molly Fitzgerald, who claimed a handy 3kgs of the mare’s allotted 57kg impost, Couples Rereat began well before being eased in behind the pacemakers after 300m. Couples Rereat travelled strongly throughout before being angled wide in the home straight to sweep home and score…
Sounds Unusual leaves it late at Rosehill
New Zealand-bred gelding Sounds Unusual (NZ) (Unusual Suspect) left it late but gave another glimpse of his undoubted saying ability when he came from last on the home bend to claim victory in the Benchmark78 Greg Millett Handicap (1800m) at Rosehill. A trial winner from his only public outing in New Zealand, the five-year-old son of Unusual Suspect found his way to Chris Waller’s Sydney stable after being privately sold across the Tasman to one of Waller’s major clients, the Muollo family. Waller’s wife Stephanie also shares in the ownership…
International traveller salutes at Te Rapa
The well-travelled Bright Stripes showed he could have found a handy home in New Zealand when he won first up for team Te Akau Racing in the Fleet Image Celebrating 50 Years in Business (1400m) at Te Rapa on Saturday. The Irish-born son of Starspangledbanner was purchased by Te Akau Racing boss David Ellis for 145,000 guineas at the 2024 Tattersalls Autumn Horses in Training Sale at Newmarket, having won as a two and three-year-old, including the Listed Tetrach Stakes (1600m), and was transferred to the Te Akau stable in…
First Chorus sings a winning tune at Caulfield
Hot favourite First Chorus (NZ) (Ghibelline) returned to her winning ways when she came from last to bolt home in the Benchmark 78 Rod Fenwick Handicap (1600m) at Caulfield. Sporting the colours of Spicer Thoroughbreds and relishing the Heavy8 track conditions, the four-year-old mare sat last in the running for rider Jamie Mott before unleashing her final burst as the widest runner in the home straight. Trainer Lindsey Smith had expressed plenty of confidence before the race after the mare had failed on unsuitable firm footing at Flemington last start…
Electron upsets in Wanganui feature
Underrated mare Electron (NZ) (Turn Me Loose) turned some indifferent form of late upside down when she clung on by the barest of margins to take out the Listed AGC Training Stakes WFA (1600m) at Wanganui on Saturday. The Sam Mynott-prepared daughter of Turn Me Loose had raced in stakes company at her last four starts and showed she was ready to strike her best form when a handy fifth in the Listed Rangitikei Gold Cup (1600m) at her most recent run. A noted pacemaker, the five-year-old was content to…