Author: NZRacingDesk

Kylie Hoskin has had a frustrating season with her promising three-year-old Geneva (NZ) (Time Test), but he made it all worthwhile when running third in the Gr.1 New Zealand Derby (2400m) at Ellerslie on Champions Day. “I am absolutely rapt, it was awesome,” Hoskin said. “That was my first runner in a Group One so to get the third placing I was over the moon.” However, the race wasn’t without its frustrations, with race winner Road To Paris shifting inwards in the concluding stages, causing interference with placegetters Autumn Glory…

This year’s Champions Day was one to remember for Kingsclere Stables. The Cambridge barn scored the quinella in the Gr.1 New Zealand Derby (2400m), won the Gr.3 King’s Plate (1200m) with Sweynesday, and earlier in the day picked up a sentimental victory for stable owners Ali and Graeme Andrews. Ali’s father recently passed away, and jockey George Rooke donned a black armband to pay respect when jumping aboard Confesara (Toronado) ahead of the Windsor Park Stud 3YO Trophy (1500m), and the pair got the perfect result. They travelled midfield with…

In a thrilling conclusion to New Zealand’s richest raceday, Champions Day at Ellerslie, promising mare Elle Sourit (NZ) (Ocean Park) retained her unbeaten record as she powered home to take out the Entain/NZB Insurance Pearl Series Final (1400m). Racing during the day had been of the highest calibre and the last race on the card didn’t disappoint as the Andrew Forsman-prepared daughter of Ocean Park came from well back in the running with an undeniable run that took her to her fourth win from just four starts. Given a long…

It may have been a lot closer than anticipated, but Well Written’s (Written Tycoon) victory in Saturday’s $4 million NZB Kiwi (1500m) was one for the books. The unbeaten Group One-winning filly was installed a hot favourite in the Southern Hemisphere’s richest three-year-old race, jumping a money back favourite in the Champions Day feature at Ellerslie, with every other runner at double figure odds, headed by Belle Cheval (NZ) (Savabeel) at $17.90. The market proved accurate, with the Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson-trained filly nearly becoming the giant killer, coming…

The name Roger James is synonymous with the Gr.1 New Zealand Derby (2400m) and the Cambridge conditioner has done it once again when he and training partner Roger Wellwood produced the quinella in this year’s HKJC World Pool-sponsored Classic with Road To Paris (NZ) (Circus Maximus) and Autumn Glory (NZ) (Ocean Park). James had won the feature three-year-old staying contest on six prior occasions, starting with freakish filly Tidal Light (NZ) (Diagramatic) in partnership with Jim Gibbs in 1986, and 40 years later he made it win number seven, and…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…