Author: NZRacingDesk

The juvenile fillies maiden over 1000m at Warwick Farm on Wednesday featured some very expensive fillies, but it was a Kiwi bred that took the prize with Satono Aladdin filly Satono Glow (NZ) (Satono Aladdin) creating a fine impression with a debut win. Trained by John O’Shea and Tom Charlton, Satono Glow won her only previous trial at Hawkesbury and was expected to run well with Dylan Gibbons in the saddle. Satono Glow ambled out of the gates and settled last before rounding them up after turning for home to…

New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing (NZTR) and RACE Inc. would like to thank trainers, owners, participants, members, sponsors and volunteers for their patience and support during what has been a difficult period for racing at RACE Awapuni. Background The RACE Awapuni track had been experiencing performance issues, which ultimately led to a full reconstruction of the surface. After several years of work, the track returned to racing on 25 April 2025. Unfortunately, a slip in the first race resulted in the meeting being abandoned, and there has been no racing at…

Even with the ultimate NZB Kiwi victory signed and delivered by Well Written (Written Tycoon) on Champions Day, there’s been no let-up for the unbeaten filly’s trainer Stephen Marsh. On Saturday Marsh is planning to have up to 15 starters at the Racing Tauranga feature meeting and the day before he has another double-figure contingent engaged at Pukekohe’s lower-key fixture. “No, it’s been pretty much business as usual around here,” Marsh said on Wednesday. “As much as I’d like to take a break there’s been no let-up, that will have…

Rosso (Camelot) will head for a deserved break following the market elect’s failure to handle track conditions at Ellerslie in the Gr.2 Auckland Cup (3200m). The imported stayer enjoyed a smooth passage on the fence under expatriate Kiwi jockey Michael Dee before drifting out of contention in the straight to finish second last. That disappointing outcome aside, the imported son of Camelot has made impressive strides during his first New Zealand campaign. “He couldn’t win a midweeker in Melbourne and has gone from there to being favourite for the Wellington…

David Hayes hopes China Win (NZ) (Super Seth) can warrant last-minute selection for the HK$26 million 149th BMW Hong Kong Derby (2000m) when he contests Wednesday night’s Class 3 Lyttelton Handicap (1800m) under Zac Purton.   Currently rated 67, China Win is aiming to emulate Beauty Alliance, who last season secured the final BMW Hong Kong Derby spot with victory in this race at Happy Valley, earning a 12-point rating rise (65 to 77) and his place in the contest, which is finalised by the selection panel, who will determine…

The retirement of five-time Group One winner Legarto (NZ) (Proisir) has been confirmed by her principal owners Philip and Catherine Brown. When the six-year-old won Saturday’s Gr.1 Bonecrusher New Zealand Stakes (2000m) it was accepted that was her final race in this country, but the possibility remained that she would have one further start in the Gr.1 Australian Cup at Flemington on March 28. However, following discussions between Legarto’s ownership group, which includes trainers Ken and Bev Kelso, the decision has been made to bring down the curtain on her…

Moxie (Strasbourg) gave trainer and part-owner Ken Harrison his biggest thrill in racing at Ellerslie last Saturday when recording his first stakes win in the Gr.2 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Classic (1400m), and now he is eager for more. “We are over the moon, it was a great result,” Harrison said. The Cambridge horseman said his four-year-old mare has come through the race in great order and he is now weighing up his options with the daughter of Strasbourg. “She has come through it great,” he said. “We may give…

At the end of a two-horse war that lasted the length of the Morphettville straight and brought the crowd to their feet, Karaka graduate American Wolf (NZ) (Tivaci) came out on top in Monday’s A$350,000 Group Two Adelaide Cup (3200m). Victorian-based expat New Zealand trainers Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young paid $110,000 to buy American Wolf from Book 1 of Karaka 2023, where he was offered by Waikato Stud. American Wolf has now had 16 starts for three wins, five placings and A$416,585 in stakes. Ridden in Monday’s two-mile feature…

After coming within inches of the upset of the season in Saturday’s $4 million NZB Kiwi (1500m), rising star Belle Cheval (NZ) (Savabeel) is set to head to Sydney for the Gr.1 Vinery Stud Stakes (2000m). The Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson-trained filly put in a massive effort to go down by a short head to hot favourite Well Written (Written Tycoon) in the marquee race on Champions Day. Now plans are being put in place for her to travel to Sydney and take on the likes of Gr.1 New…

Group Two Waikato Guineas winner Autumn Glory (NZ) (Ocean Park) is set to join the training partnership of Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr as she prepares for a possible start in the Gr.1 Australian Oaks (2400m) at Randwick on April 11. The Ocean Park filly has been one of the leading performers of the New Zealand classic season, finishing runner-up in both the Gr.1 New Zealand Oaks (2400m) behind Ohope Wins and last Saturday’s Gr.1 New Zealand Derby (2400m), where she chased home stablemate Road To Paris. Autumn Glory,…