Author: Editor BOAY

In form gelding Showmanship (NZ) (Showcasing) will make his Melbourne debut on Saturday when he lines up in a in a 1400m benchmark race at Caulfield. The Bob Peters-owned son of Showcasing has been in Melbourne for a month and will be out to continue his winning run which has seen him string together four consecutive wins in Western Australia. Peters said the Grant and Alana Williams-trained five-year-old will run in a benchmark race in preference to the Listed Regal Roller Stakes as if he won the latter, his ratings…

The Canterbury Jockey Club together with New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing has made the decision to plan for Saturday’s race meeting to be run under the Emergency Regulations applicable to a Level 2 Alert. As was the case with the Taupo and Waverley race meetings this week this will mean that only people essential to the running the race meeting will be permitted on course.  Owners, members, and ticketed guests will not be able to attend due to there being insufficient time to make compliant arrangements as required by the regulations.…

Happy Star will be vying to keep his undefeated record intact this preparation when he contests the Gr.3 Winning Edge Presentations Winter Cup (1600m) at Riccarton Park on Saturday. The Johno Benner and Hollie Wynyard-trained five-year-old has won both of his starts this time in and they are hoping he can continue his picket fence formline this weekend. “He’s been going super,” Benner said. “He has done nothing wrong this whole preparation, he has won two trials and two races. “He has travelled down really well. He is a very…

The Gr.3 Winning Edge Presentations Winter Cup (1600m) at Riccarton Park on Saturday was Central Districts raider Floral Art’s main target this preparation, however, missing out on a start could work in her favour according to trainer Peter Didham. The daughter of Road To Rock is first on the ballot for the feature race, but will likely start in the Christchurch Casino Winter Classic (2000m) and Didham believes the extra distance will benefit his mare, who favours wet tracks. “The idea was to get into the Winter Cup on a…

Two of New Zealand’s leading thoroughbred nurseries will be keeping close tabs on Randwick on Saturday where trainer John O’Shea will kick-off the spring preparations of their talented mares. Group One performer Rondinella will carry the colours of co-breeders and part-owners Haunui Bloodstock in the Spring Preview Handicap (1400m). It will be her first raceday outing for O’Shea and he is happy with the six-year-old mare after her two recent unplaced trials over 1040m and 850m. “She has trialled well and she is going well, so I expect her to…

The four finalists for the Sir Patrick and Justine Lady Hogan Breeder of the Year Award were announced by the New Zealand Breeders Association this week. Last year’s winner Nearco Stud is nominated, along with The Oaks Stud, Trelawney Stud and Waikato Stud.  The NZTBA have also announced the nominees for the Eight Carat Broodmare of the Year as Bak da Chief, Evana, Meleka Belle and Platinum Elle. Nearco Stud Limited is owned by South Island businessman Greg Tomlinson, who after a passion for racing, bought his first mare in…