Author: NZRacingDesk

Unbeaten Sword Of State colt Warwoven (NZ) (Sword Of State) remains the horse to beat in Saturday’s A$3 million Magic Millions 2YO Classic (1200m) after the race favourite drew barrier six. The juvenile has been dominant in his two starts to date, winning at Randwick in December before a commanding 3.3-length victory at Eagle Farm on January 3. Trainer Bjorn Baker is chasing his third win in the feature after scoring with O’ Ole (Ole Kirk) last year and Unencumbered (Testa Rossa) in 2014. “I think it is an ideal…

Father-and-son training partners Peter and Shaun McKay are taking a realistic approach to their prospects of further success when they return to their favourite track on the middle day of the Wellington Cup carnival. Trentham has been a happy hunting ground for the Matamata duo during their partnership that is now its fourth season, with 13 wins at a 20 percent strike-rate in their overall tally of 38 wins. Their highlight together was Wolfgang’s (NZ) (Puccini) double last season in the Gr.3 NZCIS Wellington Cup (3200m) and New Zealand St…

After returning to Hong Kong from a horrific trip back to Australia to fight the Longwood bushfire at his family’s property, the sight of Ka Ying Rising (NZ) (Shamexpress) would have been a welcome one for David Hayes on Monday morning. Hayes says Ka Ying Rising has the capabilities to be a champion miler given how well he breathes but will avoid that temptation and keep him to the sprint trips. The world’s best sprinter galloped at Sha Tin on Monday morning as he prepares to have his first start…

A forecast for rain ahead of Saturday’s Trentham meeting has forced a rethink of plans for Tajana (NZ) (Darci Brahma) as she resumes her classic quest this weekend. Trainers Shaune Ritchie and Colm Murray had originally intended Saturday’s Gr.3 New Zealand Bloodstock Desert Gold Stakes (1600m) to be Tajana’s first step on the path to next month’s Gr.1 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai New Zealand Oaks (2400m). However, the threat of rain in the lower North Island through the latter half of the week means that The Oaks Stud homebred will…

A fresh face has joined the Central Districts riding ranks this week, with Hong Kong national Alan Lai commencing a six-month stint in New Zealand. The apprentice jockey has spent the last couple of years riding in South Australia under the tutelage of Morphetville trainers Leon MacDonald and Andrew Gluyas, and fellow South Australian horseman Jon O’Connor. Lai recorded 53 wins in Australia, with his highlight being three consecutive Outback Cups Series victories, including the City of Port Augusta Cup (2300m), Roxby Downs Cup (1800m) and Quorn Cup (1900m), aboard…

The NZB Yearling Sales are in the DNA of NZ horse racing, with 100 years of them to be celebrated in a few weeks. In a one hour special, Michael chats with two icons of the sales, Sir Peter Vela and Joe Walls, and looks ahead to some massive racing in January. Guerin Report – S2 Ep. 19 – 100 Years Of Yearling Sales

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The connections of last season’s gun three-year-old Savaglee have some pondering to do over the next few days. The Group One-winning stallion pleased in his first public hit-out of the season when placing in his 1100m trial at Ellerslie on Sunday, and now trainer Pam Gerard is contemplating where to kick-off The Oaks Stud-raced four-year-old. “I was really happy with him yesterday,” Gerard said. “He went to the line under a hold, he was never asked for anything, and it was just a nice day out. “He was a little…

A return to Ellerslie next week is on the cards for promising three-year-old King’s English following his win in the Elsdon Park 1200 at the Auckland track on Sunday. The Snitzel colt has shown plenty of ability on the track, placing in his first two starts before breaking through for his maiden victory over 1150m at Te Aroha in November. He was subsequently freshened by trainers Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson and was backed into $2.50 for his resuming run over the weekend. In the hands of New Zealand’s leading…

Aaron Bidlake has never given Tulsa King’s lack of size a second thought, with experience teaching him good things can come in small packages. The Hastings-based horseman was thrilled with his flyweight charge’s run for second in the Listed Gingernuts Salver (2100m) at Ellerslie on Sunday to keep the Classic dream alive with the son of Staphanos. Tulsa King had collected a win and a runner-up finish in the Gr.3 Wellington Stakes (1400m) from his previous six starts for Bidlake and is firmly on target for a crack at the…