Author: NZRacingDesk

Ceolwulf (NZ) (Tavistock) is a four-time Group 1-winning miler, but can he extend his brilliance to a longer journey at the top level? Joe Pride has one burning question he wants Ceolwulf to answer this autumn – is he a Group One horse over 2000 metres? The gelding’s record offers conflicting data. His four majors have come over a mile, but he does have an Australian Derby placing at three, and a narrow win at Group 2 level over a middle-distance as an older horse. He has also been soundly beaten in the past…

Group One performer Hezashocka (NZ) (Shocking) has gone full-circle, returning to where his racing career began, with part-owners Shaun and Emma Clotworthy at Byerley Park. The now eight-year-old was purchased by Shaun Clotworthy out of Grangewilliam Stud’s 2019 New Zealand Bloodstock Book 3 Yearling Sale draft for $18,000 and went on to have three starts as a three-year-old for the Clotworthys, culminating in his victory in the Gr.2 Trelawney Stud Championship Stakes (2100m). Trans-Tasman syndicator OTI Racing purchased into the gelding and he continued his racing career in Australia for…

Many stories are being shared this week centred on one of the true characters of racing, Stuart Dromgool, who passed away at age 90 at his Cambridge home last Sunday. As a young adult Dromgool mixed farming with horsemanship, riding successfully as an amateur and joining the training ranks in the 1960s under one of the best of the time, Cambridge trainer Wallace Townsend. “They were different times back then, and the way he operated was something you don’t see now,” said Dromgool’s son Mike. “He was an old pioneer…

Wingatui filly Bobby Mcgee (NZ) (Ancient Spirit) will trek south to Invercargill on Saturday where she will bid to double her stakes tally in the Listed ILT Ascot Park Hotel Southland Guineas (1400m). She chalked up White Robe Lodge stallion Ancient Spirit’s first stakes win as a sire when taking out the Listed NZB Airfreight Stakes (1400m) at her home track on Boxing Day and she will head into the Southland Guineas in a fresh state. “She had a week on the walker and has progressed well,” trainer Terry Kennedy…

Stephen Marsh can’t take a trick with Ardalio (NZ) (Ardrossan) and the frustration has continued with the talented mare drawing poorly again at Matamata on Saturday. His daughter of Ardrossan finished midfield in the Gr.1 Telegraph (1200m) and Gr.1 Railway (1200m) from wide barriers and will jump from 12 in a 13-horse field in the Listed Lisa Chittick Champagne Stakes (1400m). “She ran well in both races, and you just wonder how a horse can draw so many bad gates,” Marsh said. “If she had drawn a good gate on…

Jen Campin Bloodstock confirms the passing of Group One winner Wyndspelle. The son of Iffraaj was best known for his victory in the Gr.1 Captain Cook Stakes (1600m) and multiple elite G1 level performances that established him as one of New Zealand’s toughest and most genuine milers of his generation. Following his racing career, Wyndspelle commenced stud duties, where he was building momentum as a sire.

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Star sprinter Jimmysstar (NZ) (Per Incanto) is slowly building towards an autumn return with the Gr.1 William Reid Stakes (1200m) on March 21 which will be held at Caulfield this year an early target. The six-year-old son of Per Incanto has an affinity for the Caulfield track and signed off his spring campaign with a brilliant win in the Gr.1 C.F. Orr Stakes (1400m) at the venue. The Ciaron Maher-trained Kiwi import has amassed $6.6 million in prizemoney to date, and the triple Group One winner has come back as…

Three-year-old filly Ultimate Habit (NZ) (Embellish) took an important step toward her tilt at the Gr.1 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai New Zealand Oaks (2400m) at Ellerslie on Saturday week with a strong trial win at Te Aroha on Wednesday. The Robbie Patterson-trained filly was a stunning last-start winner of the Gr.2 Lowland Stakes (2100m) and is rated a $9 chance in the Oaks in a market headed by $1.90 favourite Ohope Wins (NZ) (Ocean Park). Ultimate Habit oozed quality when coming from last in an 1100m heat on Wednesday to…