Author: NZRacingDesk

The Hong Kong International Races are officially in the rear-view mirror, and now the focus switches to the coming months when the three-race Four-Year-Old Classic Series, Triple Crown and Hong Kong Speed Series all commence. Following Ka Ying Rising’s (NZ) (Shamexpress) HK$28 million Gr.1 LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint (1200m) blitz, David Hayes was beaming at Sha Tin on Tuesday, indicating the world’s best sprinter will now take a short break before the HK$13 million Gr.1 Centenary Sprint Cup (1200m) – the first leg of the Hong Kong Speed Series –…

Michael is in Hong Kong for Hong Kong International Raceday, and is joined by his old mate, Emily Murphy. The pair catch up with Jamie Richards, Mark McNamara and Tom Wood, before dissecting a massive day of racing with wins for Ka Ying Rising and Romantic Warrior, among others. Guerin Report – S2 Ep. 15 – Hong Kong International Raceday

Rudy Liefting is dreaming of a Gr.1 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai New Zealand Oaks (2400m) tilt with his filly Unrestrained (NZ) (Time Test) in February, with her performance at Ruakaka on Wednesday dictating whether she continues down that path. The three-year-old daughter of Time Test has shown plenty of promise for the Pukekohe horseman, finishing runner-up to highly-regarded filly Transcend when on debut at Ruakaka in September before just missing out on black-type when fourth in the Gr.3 Sunline Vase (1400m) at Ellerslie a fortnight later. She has mixed her…

Graham Richardson and Rogal Norvall’s star filly Lollapalooza (NZ) (El Roca) is set to be joined in the Gr.2 Hallmark Stud Eight Carat Classic (1600m) at Ellerslie on Boxing Day by her rapidly emerging stablemate Fleeting Star (Cool Aza Beel). Given Lollapalooza’s penchant for the Ellerslie track, the Matamata training partners were keen on the three-year-old feature even before she finished second to Well Written in last month’s Gr.1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas. That’s where she won the Gr.3 Gold Trail Stakes (1200m) in September, followed by a close second…

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Patience, a diminishing commodity in the modern environment, remains a key marker for Raumati couple Christopher and Susanna Grace, two of New Zealand racing’s longest serving and most successful participants. No better example is the latest star of the Graces’ home-bred racing string, the Andrew Forsman-trained Hinekaha, who completed a hat-trick with her all-the-way win in Saturday’s Gr.2 Cal Isuzu Stakes (1600m) at Te Rapa. Midway through last season, the daughter of Savabeel was being touted as an Oaks or Derby prospect, but even after winning the Listed Grangewilliam Stud…

Cranbourne trainer Gavin Bedggood will spend Christmas on this side of the Tasman as he prepares his Group Three winner Kingswood (Roaring Lion) for Group One action at Ellerslie on Boxing Day. With a view towards Kingswood’s prospective stallion career, Bedggood is heading to New Zealand in the hope of securing an all-important elite-level scalp to enhance his credentials prior to transitioning to stud duties. The British-bred six-year-old hails from a rich pedigree, being by ill-fated Group One-producing stallion Roaring Lion and out of multiple stakes winner All At Sea…

A fresh approach will be key to She’s A Dealer’s bid for higher honours during her summer preparation. The exciting daughter of Ace High confirmed plans for two major targets when she romped to a Rating 75 victory at Te Rapa on Saturday, the fourth victory of her seven-start career. She’s A Dealer is prepared by Roger James and Robert Wellwood for breeder Rich Hill Stud, who race the mare with Mark Neill, Richard Kidd, Ian Hart and Peter Merton. The four-year-old will firstly aim for an appropriate success at…

Ka Ying Rising (NZ) (Shamexpress), the world’s best sprinter, stretched his consecutive winning streak to 16 with an imperious victory in the HK$28 million Gr.1 Hong Kong Sprint (1200m) at Sha Tin on Sunday. The gelding secured his sixth Group One victory to match the mighty Golden Sixty’s feat of posting 16 straight wins to be now only one short of Hong Kong’s record of 17, held by Silent Witness, and enhanced his own record to 17 wins and two seconds from 19 starts with prize money of HK$122.5 million.…

Taranaki gelding Tisse (NZ) (Belardo) took an impressive step forward to his major summer target in a couple of weeks when dominating the Bill Tito Book Repair Specialist 2100 at Trentham on Sunday. The Allan Sharrock-trained five-year-old has been in a purple patch of form, winning one and finishing runner-up in three of his last five starts, and he was duly backed into $1.70 favouritism for his weekend assignment. From his outside barrier in the eight-horse field, Tisse was taken back to settle at the rear of the field by…