The Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr stable has high hopes for Zambardo (NZ) (Belardo) but also concede the galloper needs to again rise to a new level. Entered for both the Cox Plate and Caulfield Cup, Zambardo makes his return in the So You Think Stakes (1500m) at Sandown on Saturday. Zambardo is a lightly raced New Zealand-bred gelding that has won four of his 12 starts. The five-year-old came from New Zealand a maiden, breaking through at his second start for Price and Kent Jnr on the Pakenham synthetic over 1600m before going on to record successive wins at Sale, Sandown and Caulfield. …
Day: 3 September 2026
Blind Raise ready to show his hand at Sandown
Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young are hoping promising New Zealand-bred three-year-old Blind Raise (NZ) (Ace High) can lay the foundations for a Group One spring campaign when he resumes in Saturday’s Listed McKenzie Stakes (1300m) at Sandown. The son of Ace High created a strong impression during his first preparation, winning his first two starts before his unbeaten record came to an end in the Gr.2 BRC Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) at Eagle Farm. Blind Raise made a winning debut over 1400m at Sandown in April before taking an immediate…
May day at Methven on Sunday
By Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk Races don’t come much more poignant than this. On Sunday, on his home track, the so-called “Mayor of Methven” Ricky May will attempt to train his first official winner in a race named after his late father. The inaugural Terry May Memorial is set to go at 1.43pm, with Ricky driving Blu Diamond, a Captain Crunch gelding that Terry trained until his death, at age 93, in June. “I didn’t realise it was Dad’s race until I glanced at the fields,” he says.…
Wood records memorable Pakuranga Hunt Cup double
Chris Wood won the Pakuranga Hunt Cup (4300m) as a jockey in 1980 aboard Le Roy (NZ) (Sovereign Ruler), and 46 years on he matched that feat as a trainer courtesy of Smug (NZ) (Complacent) in Thursday’s The Valley Toyota-sponsored feature. The nine-year-old son of Complacent took winning form into the race, having been victorious in an open steeplechase at Woodville last month, but jumped the fourth equal favourite at $7.90, alongside the Kevin Myers-trained Prince Turbo (NZ) (Alamosa). Outsider Zee Heights (NZ) (Zed) took up pace making duties for…
Klee claims first win
Amateur jockey Lucy Klee had a memorable day at Te Aroha on Thursday when recording her first win in the saddle aboard Because (NZ) (Savabeel) in the Jason Roberts BYL Livestock Amateur Riders 2200, and the aspiring apprentice is hoping it is the first of many. “It was a great thrill and he was such a nice horse to do it on as well,” Klee said. “I was pretty confident in his form, he has run in the Wellington Cup (Gr.3, 3200m) and gone really well over distance, so I…
Dennis Yip pleased as Fast Network takes on Centaur Stakes at Hanshin
Fast Network (NZ) (Wrote) will begin his two-race campaign in Japan this Sunday when the six-year-old contests the G2 Centaur Stakes (1200m) at Hanshin, serving as his final lead-up race before the G1 Sprinters Stakes (1200m) on 27 September at Nakayama. After arriving in Japan on 25 August and quarantining at Miki Horseland Park, Fast Network, who is twice Group 1-placed from 20 starts, was transferred to Hanshin’s international stables on 31 August and completed a stalls test earlier this week, much to the delight of Dennis Yip as the…
Brosnans quinella Pakuranga Hunt Hurdle
Matamata trainers Peter and Jessica Brosnan scored the perfect result at Te Aroha on Thursday when they quinellaed the Vet Associates Equine Pakuranga Hunt Open Hurdle (3100m) with Squire (NZ) (Savile Row) and Jake (NZ) (War Decree). Squire, who finished runner-up in the race last year behind Hill Of Kings (NZ) (Time Test), had been unplaced since winning an open hurdle at Te Rapa in June, but he had the respect of punters, who backed him into a $4.40 second favourite, alongside Dictation (NZ) (Tavistock), in a market headed by…
Tuxedo primed for strong Proisir performance
The booking of a champion rider combined with the inside gate and a smooth preparation has Shaune Ritchie confident that Tuxedo (NZ) (Tivaci) will be in the frame in Saturday’s Gr.1 Proisir Plate (1400m) at Ellerslie. The Cambridge trainer, who operates in partnership with Colm Murray, will have the services of Opie Bosson and is expecting a bold showing from the combination at the weekend. “Tuxedo’s fantastic, Opie rode him at the trials and then at the gallops at Ellerslie and he’s impressed. If he’s happy then I’m happy,” Ritchie…
The inside word on Addington’s first spring meeting
By Brittany Graham With 12 races carded for Friday’s ITM Race Night, the big guns are starting to roll out en masse at Addington Raceway. With a $20,000 late quaddie guaranteed, as well as a $5,000 First 4 on the ITM Ordeal Trotting Cup, many of the key players have been kind enough to provide their thoughts. Race 8 – ITM Ordeal Trotting Cup 1 Bounce N Beyond “He’s only had one quiet trial, but hoping he steps well and he is a horse you have to drive for his…
What The Dragon’s progress more than a year on
By Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk After more than a year away from the races, What The Dragon is back. Last year the What The Hill gelding created quite an impression, winning four times in five races for trainer-driver Kyle Cameron. His last win was in the Winter Rewards at Addington last July. It was all looking so promising for a trotter he bought for $15,000 at the 2022 National Yearling sales in Christchurch. But just when Cameron thought the “penny had dropped” injury struck. “He did…