South Auckland apprentice jockey Tom Wigram is currently on cloud nine after riding home his first winner at New Plymouth on Friday. He scored the win aboard Bridie (NZ) (Ocean Park) for local trainer Allan Sharrock in the Naki Plumbing And Gas (1600m), Wigram’s first ride of the day at the annual Platinum Homes Taranaki Apprentice Raceday, which was unfortunately abandoned following the starting gates malfunctioning at the start of race four. Wigram’s first win comes less than a week after his debut ride at Ellerslie last Saturday, and he…
Day: 12 June 2026
Chaldean filly catches Group One eye
A unique individual went under the hammer at the Great Southern Weanling Sale and was warmly embraced by the buying bench. The first Southern Hemisphere youngster to be offered at auction by exciting young stallion Chaldean was purchased out of Burnewang North Pastoral’s draft by former Group One-winning jockey Scott Seamer. Now operating a breeding enterprise in New South Wales, Seamer had the final say on the filly (Lot 218) by Frankel’s multiple elite level-winning son at A$180,000. The youngster is out of the unraced Too Darn Hot mare Summerinthecity,…
Regan Todd with key runners on both sides of the Tasman
By Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk Currently in Sydney with his star pacer Marketplace ahead of his Australian debut tomorrow night, trainer Regan Todd will also line up four runners at Addington tonight, including classy customers Franco Lomu and Mo’unga. Franco Lomu is currently a $2.40 favourite for Race 4, the Any Excuse For A Bubbles Mobile Pace (6.26pm). He’s drawn one over the 1980 metres for driver Craig Ferguson after having no luck at Addington last Friday night. On that occasion he was making his move around…
Group Two performer to resume at Matamata
Group Two performer Quondo will resume this weekend when he heads to Matamata on Sunday to tackle the Team Wealleans 1200. The three-year-old son of Wootton Bassett showed plenty of promise earlier this season when winning on debut in September before finishing runner-up in the Gr.2 Hawke’s Bay Guineas (1400m), both on Heavy tracks. He was unplaced in his next two runs before placing over a mile at Te Rapa in January and subsequently went out for a spell. Trainer Andrew Forsman is looking forward to resuming him on a…
Mixed fortunes for Faulkner pair with Waimate Cup transfer
The transfer of the Dunstan Feeds Waimate Cup (1600m) to Oamaru on Sunday has brought mixed feelings for Stephanie Faulkner. The Timaru trainer was set to contest the mile feature on her home track last Sunday with He’s Tunza Grunt and O’Riordan, however, that meeting was abandoned due to safety concerns following a slip in the third race, which she won with Sunningdale. Faulkner said the Heavy8 conditions would have been ideal for He’s Tunza Grunt, but stablemate O’Riordan may benefit from the change of track, with Oamaru producing a…
Squire vying for maiden prestige crown at Te Rapa
Emerging top hurdler Squire (NZ) (Savile Row) will bid for his first prestige jumping crown at Te Rapa on Saturday as the gelding takes on the Fairview Motors Waikato Hurdle (3200m). The Peter and Jessica Brosnan-trained gelding won the maiden hurdle at the same meeting 12 months ago and went on to finish that season with a second in the Pakuranga Hunt Hurdle (3100m) and fourth in the Great New Zealand Hurdle (4200m). Picking up where he left off in 2025, the five-year-old won over 2400m on the flat before defeating…
Kate Coppins kicking goals in 2026
By Jordyn Bublitz At the start of the year, Kate Coppins set herself a goal of reaching 50 career wins by season’s end. Just six months later, the Waikato junior driver is already within touching distance. Coppins heads to Alexandra Park tonight sitting on 45 career victories, fifth on the national junior drivers’ premiership and third among her North Island peers. While she always believed the milestone was achievable, she admits she didn’t expect to be so close so soon. “I definitely thought I could get it by the end…