Last season’s Gr.1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) placegetter Movin Out (NZ) (Staphanos) made a winning start to her new preparation with an upset victory in the A$160,000 Macquarie St Social Handicap (1300m) at Randwick on Saturday. Originally trained by Bill Thurlow, Movin Out began her career with three starts in New Zealand for a win and two placings including a third behind Captured By Love and Alabama Lass in the 1000 Guineas at Riccarton. Subsequently purchased by thoroughbred powerhouse Yulong, the daughter of Staphanos joined Chris Waller’s operation in…
Author: NZRacingDesk
Diamond Jak shines brightly in Matamata gloom
With the weather closing in again towards the tail end of a memorable Matamata Breeders’ Stakes day, it was left to durable stayerDiamond Jak (NZ)(Jakkalberry) to add some further sparkle to proceedings as he bolted away with the Listed Matamata Veterinary Services Kaimai Stakes (2000m). The enigmatic seven-year-old has proven a head scratcher at times for trainer Mark Brosnan, often ruining his chances with a tardy getaway from the starting gates. On his day however he is a force to be reckoned with and Saturday was his day as he…
Double duty pays winning dividend for Price
Trainer Sophie Price put aside her regular Clerk of the Course duties at Invercargill on Saturday to watch her promising three-year-old fillyHello Hayley (NZ)(Hello Youmzain) take out the Listed ILT Ascot Park Hotel Southland Guineas (1400m) at Ascot Park on Saturday. Price, who prepares a small team from her Winton stable, has had the daughter of Hello Youmzain in her team since late last year after she had one run for Karaka-based trainer Lance Noble. Successful second up at Ascot Park, Hello Hayley then finished sixth in the Listed NZB…
Daring tactics secure second stakes win for My Lips Are Sealed
A heady front-running ride from Rory Hutchings helped underrated mare My Lips Are Sealed (NZ) (Ace High) bounce back to winning form in the Listed Lisa Chittick Champagne Stakes (1400m) on her home track at Matamata on Saturday. Heavy rain in the previous 24 hours had a major effect on proceedings as runners on the day were faced with a testing Heavy9 surface that had many struggling to make ground in the final stages of their races. Hutchings took the bull by the horns to put the Mark Walker and…
Lara Antipova continues unbeaten run
Te Akau Racing continued their golden run in the Gr.2 J Swap Contractors Ltd Matamata Breeders’ Stakes (1200m) on Saturday when recording their fifth consecutive victory in the race courtesy ofLara Antipova(Russian Revolution). The daughter of Russian Revolution was impressive when winning on debut at Te Aroha in November for trainers Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson, and once again in the Gr.2 Wakefield Challenge Stakes (1100m) at Trentham a month later, and was well-supported by punters in her fresh-up run on Saturday, backed into a $1.20 favourite. From her outside…
Tarvue adds to strong Flemington record
Flemington has been a happy hunting ground for New Zealand-bred mare Tarvue (NZ) (Tarzino), who produced another big performance at the Melbourne track in Saturday’s A$80,000 TAB We’re On (2000m). The Benchmark 78 handicap was Tarvue’s fifth start at Flemington. She has now won twice at the course, having also been successful over 1800m on New Year’s Day, and she was a narrowly beaten second over 2500m on January 17. Little went Tarvue’s way when she finished a last-start sixth at Caulfield on January 31, but the John Sadler-trained mare…
First stakes winner for Banquo
Waikato Stud stallion Banquo recorded his first stakes win as a sire on Saturday and fittingly achieved it with a son carrying the farm’s colours, on their home track for their private trainer Kris Shailer. Bred by the Matamata farm,Justin Case (NZ)is out of Group Two-winning mare Do Ra Mi (NZ) (Savabeel), and is a half-brother to Group Three performer Hanger (NZ) (O’Reilly). The two-year-old gelding was being prepared for last year’s New Zealand Bloodstock Ready To Run Sale by Ohukia Lodge, but was withdrawn, and Waikato Stud, alongside Ohukia…
New Zealand to host Asian Racing Conference
The 41st Asian Racing Conference (ARC) closed in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on Thursday night with New Zealand announced as the host of the 42nd ARC in 2028. Mr Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges, Chair, Asian Racing Federation and Chief Executive Officer, The Hong Kong Jockey Club, hailed the Conference in Riyadh as an enduring success which highlighted the sport’s greatest opportunities and also its challenges. Praising the work of the Conference host, the Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia and His Royal Highness Prince Bandar bin Khalid Al Faisal, and the ARC Organising Committee,…
OTI purchase quality Kiwi 2YO
Stakes winning juvenile De Armas has been sold to OTI Racing and will soon join the stable of Chris Waller in Sydney. The daughter of Ardrossan won two of her three starts for trainer Johno Benner with her most recent effort being a luckless fourth in the Karaka Millions 2YO (1200m) after enduring a wide passage throughout, yet still savaging the line. A five length winner on debut, De Armas won the Listed Counties Challenge Stakes (1100m) at her second start before her run in the Karaka Millions. “OTI have…
Final Results for NZ’s Historic 100th National Yearling Sale
Karaka 2026 marked the 100th National Yearling Sale in New Zealand, and it was one for the record books. After an action-packed refreshed format, results have been accumulated from the Book 1, Book 2 and inaugural Karaka Summer Sale sessions, that took place from 25 – 29 January. The new condensed sale format saw several records being surpassed and increases across all key sale indicators. With 79 less horses catalogued, turnover was up almost $10 million on last year, with returns to consignors and breeders totalling over $96 million. Increases…