Group Two Zipping Classic winner She’s A Hustler (NZ) (Ace High) will have the third run of her campaign when she tackles the Gr.1 Doomben Cup (2000m) on Saturday. At her second-up run last start she finished third in the Gr.2 Hollindale Cup (1800m) behind Pride Of Jenni and Birdman. She will again be up against that pair and Half Yours in the Doomben Cup. “She’s ticking over really well. We were delighted with the run around the Gold Coast on an unsuitable track,” trainer Grahame Begg said. “We are…
Day: 17 May 2026
Grinzinger Moon continues unbeaten NZ run
A failed attempt to get Grinzinger Moon (Puissance De Lune) in foal last year is proving to be a blessing in disguise, with stakes targets now in her sights after she continued her unbeaten streak in New Zealand on Saturday. Commencing her career in Australia, the daughter of Puissance De Lune won four consecutive races for trainer Ben Brisbourne before putting in a couple of subpar unplaced runs at the start of last winter and owner-breeder John Wheeler decided to retire her to the broodmare paddock. Wheeler sent her over…
Ima Brazen One earns deserved win
Ima Brazen One (NZ) (Brazen Beau) earned a deserved victory in front of her large group of owners at Otaki on Saturday when taking out the Jennian Homes Handicap (1200m). The Mike Breslin-trained mare was beaten by just a neck when first-up at Woodville last month when hampered by a falling horse, but she wasn’t to be denied on Saturday following a top ride by in-form apprentice jockey Toni Davies. Davies pushed Ima Brazen One to the front from barrier rise and the five-year-old daughter of Brazen Beau travelled comfortably…
Steven Reid with key chances in Anne Thompson Finals
By Mike Love Rangiora trainer Steven Reid will be looking for further success today after Jumal’s winning return to Addington on Friday night as he chases glory in the Anne Thompson Memorial maiden series finals at Rangiora. Reid has a runner in each of the $24,250 finals, both with excellent cases to make. Race 5 sees the final for the trotters take place, sponsored by Wai Eyre Stud, getting underway at 1.01pm, with Party Pack ($4.20FF) and Gavin Smith. The three-year-old Six Pack filly is having her third start today,…
Williamson takes a team of seven to Invercargill this Sunday
By Jonny Turner Matthew Williamson remembers the good old days, but he wouldn’t go back. Not that long ago the preparing for a meeting like Sunday’s Ascot Park trots was relatively easy given for the most part he had to simply show up and drive. In recent seasons that has all changed with his move into full-time training which has seen him quickly ascend to being Otago’s leading trainer on wins. Williamson’s rise is evident in him lining up a sizeable team of seven runners on Sunday, among his 12…
Western Empire wins second Belmont Sprint
Remarkable Kiwi-bred veteran Western Empire (NZ) (Iffraaj) took his career earnings past A$3.5 million with a first-up victory in the A$200,000 Gr.3 Drummond Golf Belmont Sprint (1400m) in Perth on Saturday. It was the eight-year-old Iffraaj gelding’s second win in the Belmont feature and his 11th black-type success overall – a list that also features the Gr.1 Railway Stakes (1600m) and Gr.2 Western Australian Derby (2400m) in 2021 along with four other Group Three races and three Listed events. Saturday’s Belmont Sprint was the first raceday appearance since December for…
Kiwi-bred Kilman adds to Waller’s Rough Habit run
Champion trainer Chris Waller claimed a fourth straight win in A$250,000 Gr.3 HKJC World Pool Rough Habit Plate (2000m) at Doomben on Saturday, with three of those winners being New Zealand-breds. Kilman (NZ) (Super Seth) led all the way for a $25 upset in the 2026 edition of the key Gr.1 Queensland Derby (2400m) trial, following on from the 2025 winner Imperialist (NZ) (Churchill), 2024 winner Tannhauser (Dundeel) and 2023 winner Special Swey (NZ) (Sweynesse). Saturday’s Rough Habit Plate triumph rewarded the patience of Waller and Kilman’s owners, Neville Morgan…