Author: NZRacingDesk

Shaune Ritchie and Colm Murray took out the 2023 edition of the A$304,000 Jericho Cup (4600m) at Warrnambool with Nassak Diamond (Roc de Cambes), and on Sunday they will be seeking to usurp their former stable runner in the marathon feature with Tempest Moon (NZ) (Turn Me Loose). Ritchie is in Australia with the daughter of Turn Me Loose, who like Nassak Diamond, carries the familiar silks of owner The Oaks Stud. The Cambridge trainer is excited to be back in Warrnambool and said the city gets in behind the…

Bellatrix Star (Star Witness) has defied early predictions and is set to be back at the races as early as Saturday at Caulfield after a stunning recovery from a fractured neck. The spring’s best jockey, Mark Zahra, has been confirmed as taking his first ride aboard the now four-year-old as she races for the first time in more than a year in the A$175,000 Listed Doveton Stakes (1100m). Such a comeback was something her connections dared not to even dream of at the start of the year when she broke…

Progressive staying prospect Skippers Canyon (NZ) (Belardo) will take another step towards a planned Pakenham Cup tilt when he runs over 1800m at Caulfield on Saturday. Stokes has a number of horses nominated to compete at the Zipping Classic Day meeting, with Skippers Canyon scheduled to run in a Benchmark 74 after making an impression first-up at the same track earlier this month with a last-to-first victory over 1700m in the same grade. That was Skippers Canyon’s second win from three starts for the Stokes stable since joining the team…

Farag (NZ) (Sacred Falls) will be given the chance to enter a new chapter in the Jericho Cup story at Warrnambool this Sunday when he strives to become the first back-to-back winner of the 4600-metre marathon. ‘’No horse has done it before so it would be great for him to achieve that,’’ trainer Aaron Purcell said on Tuesday. ‘’It’s obviously very hard to win the race once, let alone twice, but he’s in the right shape to give it a real shot.’’ To become the first defending champion of the…

Group Two winner Tuxedo (NZ) (Tivaci) is gearing up for a busy summer, with the son of Tivaci given a quiet trial over 1100m at Taupo on Tuesday to help ready him for his looming targets. He had a pleasing three-year-old term for trainers Shaune Ritchie and Colm Murray, winning three of his six starts, including the Gr.2 Waikato Guineas (2000m) and Gr.3 Wellington Stakes (1600m), and was runner-up behind Damask Rose in the $1.5 million Karaka Million 3YO (1600m). He returned this season with a first-up victory over 1400m…

Chris Wood’s team has been in good recent form and he’s hoping for more of the same this week. At Ellerslie on Saturday, the Cambridge trainer will have You Say D’Orsay in the Gr.3 Bayleys Great Northern Challenge Stakes (1600m), promising stayer Boxmoss in the Cure Kids Handicap (2400m) and sentimental favourite Lyin’ Eyes in the Mondiale VGL Maiden (1300m). Wood will also have runners at Te Aroha on Wednesday where Watch Me Go (Property Brokers Maiden, 1150m) and That’s Gold (Travel Advocates Maiden, 1400m) look two of his better…

Proven stars from Wexford Stables were out in force at Tuesday’s Taupo trials as they limbered up for important assignments on the horizon. First cab off the rank in the open 1100m heats was Waitak (NZ) (Proisir), already the winner of the Gr.1 Howden Insurance Mile (1600m) and Gr.1 Livamol Classic (2040m) this season and on target for a Group One hat-trick in the TAB Mufhasa Classic (1600m) at Trentham on December 6. The big Proisir gelding was kept under a tight hold by Craig Grylls throughout his Taupo hit-out…

Michael sits down for a rare chat with the boss of Entain Australia/New Zealand, Andrew Vouris, to discuss the business & future in Aotearoa, racing & sport wagering, & AUSTRAC. And a trip to Cambridge means a check in with Little Mickey G, who’s heading to the sales in January. Guerin Report – S2 Ep.12 Ft. Andrew Vouris

Cambridge Stud mare Jaarffi (NZ) (Iffraaj) posted yet another stakes placing over the weekend, and trainer Lance Noble is hoping she can be rewarded for her consistency with an elusive black-type victory over summer. The six-year-old daughter of Iffraaj finished third behind Qali Al Farrasha in the Gr.2 Auckland Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1400m) at Pukekohe last Saturday, with Noble believing her wide alley played a significant factor. “She went super, but the barrier draw (11) beat her,” Noble said. “From that barrier draw we had to go back with her…

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