Australian trainer Henry Dwyer crossed the Tasman with two horses earlier this week and he nearly went home with the perfect result at Ellerslie on Saturday. Stable sprinter Cote Atlantique (Kodiac) was runner-up behind Sweynesday in the Gr.3 Haunui Farm King’s Plate (1200m), but stablemate Paradise Storm (Masked Marvel) wasn’t to be denied in the Gr.2 Trackside Auckland Cup (3200m), storming home to a dominant 6-1/4 length victory. Racing three-wide with cover, Joe Doyle wasn’t content with the sedate pace in the race, sending his charge forward down the back…
Author: NZRacingDesk
Legarto salutes in Bonecrusher New Zealand Stakes
In what could be her swansong in New Zealand, class mare Legarto (NZ) (Proisir) put in her best performance at Ellerslie when she stormed home to collar a game Waitak (NZ) (Proisir) and claim the Gr. 1 Bonecrusher New Zealand Stakes (2000m) on Saturday. It made for a welcome change of luck for trainers Ken and Bev Kelso who had to endure the nightmare scenario of their sprinter Alabama Lass (Alabama Express) crashing through the running rail when set for victory in the Gr.3 Haunui Farm King’s Plate (1200m) two…
Australia calling Lara Antipova following Sistema triumph
Lara Antipova’s (Russian Revolution) star continues to rise, with the exciting filly extending her unbeaten streak to four when taking out Saturday’s Gr.1 Sistema Stakes (1200m) at Ellerslie. Visiting hoop Mick Dee gave her the perfect trip throughout in the one-one position, and while she was awkward rounding the final bend with Liguria (NZ) (Snitzel) trying to advance inside her, she showed her talent once balancing up and made light work of her opposition, running out a 1-3/4 length victor over Liguria, with fellow Cambridge Stud representative State Of Valour…
Campaldino stakes Sydney Cup claim in Randwick City Stakes
Last season’s Gr.2 Brisbane Cup (3200m) winner Campaldino (NZ) (Ghinellines) has another big two-mile feature on his radar and took a big step in that direction in Saturday’s A$200,000 Listed Randwick City Stakes (2000m) at Randwick. Trainers Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott are working backwards from the Gr.1 Sydney Cup (3200m) on April 11 with the Ghibellines gelding, who had resumed with an eye-catching fifth in the Gr.3 Parramatta Cup (1900m) at Rosehill on February 21. Campaldino was even better second-up on Saturday, hitting top gear in the straight and…
Sweynesday wins sensational King’s Plate
Promising sprinter Sweynesday (NZ) (Sweyness) claimed victory in Saturday’s Gr.3 Haunui Farm King’s Plate (1200m) at Ellerslie in sensational circumstances after race favourite Alabama Lass (Alabama Express) crashed into the inside running rail when looking set for victory at the 100m mark. The Roger James and Robert Wellwood-trained son of Novara Park stallion Sweynesse jumped nicely from an outside barrier draw and went forward to sit outside Alabama Lass as she set up a steady speed in front. Rider Masa Hashizume took Sweynesday up to challenge Alabama Lass for the…
Mare full of Moxie in Dubai Classic
Cambridge mare Moxie (Strasbourg) lived up to her name when defying the odds to take out the opening feature race at Ellerslie on Champions Day – the Gr.2 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Classic (1400m). While jumping a $17.50 outsider, the daughter of Strasbourg took a solid form line into the race, having placed in the Listed Fulton Family Stakes (1500m) at Ellerslie in January, a week after running sixth in the Gr.3 Aotearoa Classic (1600m). Trainer and part-owner Ken Harrison elected to freshen the four-year-old mare and aim her towards…
Stud syndicate swoops on Champion Three-Year-Old Savaglee
A syndicate headed by Windsor Park Stud, Mapperley Stud & Lion Rock Bloodstock have secured Champion Three-Year-Old SAVAGLEE as he begins the next chapter of his career at stud. The son of 10-time champion sire Savabeel retires as one of the standout colts of his generation, combining precocity, brilliance and toughness throughout a career that produced seven wins from 900 metres to 1600 metres, along with elite-level performances on both sides of the Tasman. Prepared by trainer Pam Gerard, Savaglee first signalled his ability early in his two-year-old season winning on debut over 900…
Kingswood seeking to end NZ campaign on a high
It’s been a successful New Zealand raid for the Gavin Bedggood-trained Kingswood, and the grey entire will be looking to end it on a high when he heads to Ellerslie on Saturday. The son of Roaring Lion won first-up in New Zealand on Boxing Day at Ellerslie in the Gr.1 Zabeel Classic (2000m) before finishing runner-up to Legarto in last month’s Gr.1 Herbie Dyke Stakes (2000m) at Te Rapa. The ledger is now one apiece between the pair, with Legarto running third in the Zabeel Classic, and Bedggood is hoping…
Yulong’s Kiwi investment set to pay off on Champions Day
Burgeoning thoroughbred giant Yulong Investments has made a splash in New Zealand this season, buying up the nation’s top three-year-olds, and while they have already been rewarded with instant success, they are favoured to have plenty more on Champions Day at Ellerslie on Saturday. Zhang Yuesheng’s Victoria-based operation has purchased a quartet of Kiwi three-year-olds in the last six months, and they have tasted topline success courtesy of Well Written (Written Tycoon) in the Gr.1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) and Ohope Wins (NZ) (Ocean Park), who led home a…
Mr Brightside’s spring build-up to begin
He won’t be at Flemington this Saturday, but star miler Mr Brightside (NZ) (Bullbars) is close to beginning his build up towards a racetrack return. Lindsay Park ruled the eight-year-old out of this year’s Autumn Carnival when they discovered a small chip in Mr Brightside’s left fore fetlock last December. Mr Brightside has contested the past four editions of the All-Star Mile, winning it in 2023 before finishing second the past two years. “He’s in great order,” said Ben Hayes, who trains Mr Brightside in partnership with his brothers Will…