Author: Editor BOAY

The lush green paddocks of Trelawney Stud are ready and waiting, but trainer Jason Ong feels there is no need to put old boy War Affair (NZ) (O’Reilly) out to pasture just yet. At 10, most of his fellow competitors, especially the high achievers, would have long left the racing game, but the 16-time winner and multiple- Singapore feature is still going strong at Kranji. This Sunday, the 2014 Singapore Horse of the Year will, at his 42nd start, go off as the veteran among the 16 horses contesting the…

Former North Island galloper Dr Velocious (NZ) (Haradasun) may have earned himself a tilt at the Gr.3 Christchurch Casino New Zealand Cup (3200m) after providing Singapore-born apprentice Yong Chew with his first victory at Riccarton on Saturday. The twenty-four-year-old Chew transferred south to Riccarton trainer Lance Robinson after spending time in the North Island and has had just four raceday rides this season. Despite his inexperience Chew kept his cool when he was trapped three-wide in the early running aboard the Haradasun five-year-old who did his early racing for owner…

Quality short course galloper He Kin Fly (NZ) (Darci Brahma) reminded racing enthusiasts there is still plenty of life left in his eight-year-old legs when he boomed home to claim his tenth career victory when taking out the main sprint feature at Riccarton on Saturday. The Neill Ridley-trained Darci Brahma gelding won his only two local starts from the Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman stable before being sold to Hong Kong during his three-year-old campaign. Successful once from five starts in Hong Kong he was returned to New Zealand in…

Ruakaka trainer Kenny Rae enjoyed a red-letter day at Riccarton on Saturday as two of his three-horse team that he had brought south from his far north base took out feature events. After earlier upsetting pundits with promising Iffraaj gelding Zoltan (NZ), who defeated red-hot favourite Matchmaker in a three-year-old 1100m contest, Rae nabbed the big prize on the day with underrated galloper Major Tom (NZ) (Red Giant) who held out all challengers in a desperate finish to the Gr.3 Winning Edge Presentations 123rd Winter Cup (1600m). Rae, who prepares…

Andrew Bensley talks to Sam Weatherley who partnered Major Tom to win the Gr.3 Winter Cup at Riccarton on Saturday.

Showmanship (NZ) (Showcasing) produced an amazing finishing burst to win the final race at Caulfield on Saturday. The seven-start veteran looked an unlikely winner when he was back near the tail as the field turned for home in the Hyland Race Colours Handicap (1400m) till jockey William Pike got to work on the emerging horse and he thundered to the line to score what could prove an ominous win. Co-trainer Grant Williams admitted to some concerns on the home turn. “It looked a bit scary there for a little bit,”…

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Woodcote Lass (NZ) (Showcasing) was part of Stephen Autridge’s team of horses based in Christchurch last spring and a bold performance at Waverley on Friday would assure her of a place in the travelling squad this year too. Autridge, these days training in partnership with Kris Shailer, has earmarked nine horses to travel to Christchurch in the coming weeks to prepare for New Zealand Cup week features. Woodcote Lass, who won twice on the trip last year and placed in the Listed Canterbury Belle Stakes (1200m) at Riccarton, has the…

Taranaki owner-trainer Marilyn Paewai would love nothing more than to see her star winter performer Rosewood (NZ) (Redwood) claim a deserved stakes win at Riccarton this weekend. Rosewood will tackle Saturday’s Gr.3 Winning Edge Presentations Winter Cup (1600m), a race she was only narrowly beaten in last year. That was one of four stakes placings the Redwood seven-year-old mare has picked up over her 40 starts, which has seen her successful on 10 occasions, nine of those on heavy tracks. “Rosewood needs a Group win. That’s why we’re here,” Paewai…

Peter Setchell is having a grand old time racing handy mare Bothered (NZ) (ShamExpress) in Australia. The five-year-old daughter of ShamExpress continued her undefeated record across the Tasman when winning over 1100m at Warwick Farm on Wednesday. It was her second victory for trainer Clare Cunningham after winning first-up over 1000m at Gosford late last month, and Setchell was particularly enthused to see her win in city-class. “I was pretty excited because once you start heading over there and you start looking at going into town it steps up pretty…