Author: NZRacingDesk

Malaysian buyers made a resounding statement at the recent New Zealand Bloodstock Ready to Run Sale, securing an impressive 44 lots with a combined spend of $1.93 million. Held at Karaka, the sale featured a vibrant catalogue of two-year-olds, and Malaysia’s presence was felt across a wide spectrum of vendors and sires. Out of 353 catalogued lots, 265 were sold—of which Malaysian buyers accounted for 12%, a significant footprint in one of the Southern Hemisphere’s premier juvenile auctions. Leading the Malaysian charge was Mr Charles Leck, who acquired seven lots…

Sir Peter Vela joined Gareth Hall for an extended chat live from Pencarrow Stud to speak on his life and background which led him into the racing & breeding game. The Amazing Life & Story Of Si… – Giddy Up – Apple Podcasts

It will be a full circle moment for Group One performer Wild Night (NZ) (Vanbrugh) when he returns to Windsor Park Stud following his retirement from racing this week. Bred by the Cambridge farm, the six-year-old gelding is by their Group One-producing sire Vanbrugh and out of Supreme, who is also the dam of Group Two winner Play That Song. Wild Night was offered through Windsor Park Stud’s 2021 New Zealand Bloodstock Book 1 Yearling Sale draft where he was purchased by Te Akau Racing principal David Ellis for $50,000.…

Meaningful Star (Pivotal) shone brightly last Saturday when runner-up in the Gr.2 Tauranga Stakes (1530m) and he could now get the opportunity to defend his crown in the Gr.3 Great Northern Challenge Stakes (1600m) at Ellerslie on Saturday week. The seasoned campaigner rocketed home late and came within a short head of usurping Agera in the Tauranga Stakes, pleasing part-owner and co-trainer Grant Cooksley. “It was a good run. A couple of more strides and he would have been in front,” said Cooksley, who trains in partnership with Bruce Wallace.…

Late maturer Queen Of Kings (NZ) (Prince Of Brooklyn) has a gilt-edged opportunity at Phar Lap Raceway on Wednesday to add to her record. The five-year-old has been in fine touch this preparation and looks a leading chance in the Jon Snow & Echoes Of Heaven Handicap (1600m). A daughter of Prince Of Brooklyn, she broke her maiden at Oamaru during the winter and two runs back doubled her tally when successful in an open handicap at Ashburton where race rival Iffididit finished third. In between times, she has posted…

With a quinella in Saturday’s Gr. 1 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) done and dusted, trainer Pam Gerard is now setting about confirming summer plans for Romanoff (NZ) (Belardo) and Affirmative Action (Yes Yes Yes). The obvious route for the latest pair of Ballymore Stables stars is towards Ellerslie in late January for the $1.5 million TAB Karaka Millions 3YO (1600m), followed six weeks later by the $4 million NZB Kiwi (1500m), but Gerard is not rushing into defined decisions. “I stayed down in Christchurch until…

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD NEWSLETTER

The 100th National Yearling Sale in New Zealand will feature a refreshed format to celebrate the milestone. Off the back of another record-breaking Ready to Run Sale, New Zealand Bloodstock has catalogued 1009 yearlings to be offered at Karaka from January 25-29. Book 1 will be conducted across two days, composed of 567 horses with Book 2 to follow with a further 281 yearlings, while a third session has also been re-introduced with 161 yearlings catalogued to sell on the Thursday for the new Karaka Summer Sale. “Coming off the back off what…

Cambridge trainer Paul Mirabelli is now eyeing the Gr.1 Trackside New Zealand Derby (2400m) with Shoma following his pleasing placing in last Saturday’s Gr.1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) at Riccarton. The son of Contributer wasn’t wanted by punters in the three-year-old feature, drifting out to a $104 outsider, but that didn’t quash Mirabelli’s hopes. “We have had belief in him the whole way through,” he said. “He has always shown that he has got really good ability. “I guess the punters were put off him from last time because…

Gringotts (NZ) (Per Incanto) is likely to be Ciaron Maher’s sole representative in the Gr.3 The Gong (1600m) as Saturday racing next weekend again heads outside of the Sydney area to Kembla Grange. Maher has created plenty of history of his own through his training career but there would not be many ‘double-doubles’ among them. That is what Gringotts could achieve should he salute in the 1600m A$1 million Group Three event. Victory in the Listed The Big Dance (1600m) last year followed by The Gong have the signs there again after the six-year-old was…