Author: NZRacingDesk

A long-range plan for Crimson Sky continues to gain momentum and another encouraging performance at Trentham will confirm a crack at the end goal of the Gr.1 New Zealand Oaks (2400m). The Cody Cole-trained three-year-old will round off her preparation for the Al Basti Equiworld Dubai-sponsored Classic in Saturday’s Gr.2 Jennian Homes Lowland Stakes (2100m). “The three-week gap to the Oaks will give us a nice opportunity to take her to Ellerslie for a gallop, she has trialled there and another look around will be really beneficial,” Cole said. The…

Brian Anderton, a doyen of South Island racing, celebrated his 89th birthday on Thursday, and the Wingatui horseman is hoping he can collect some late birthday presents this weekend. The White Robe Lodge principal will be chasing Group success in the North Island on Saturday after sending eight-win gelding Mayor Of Norwood north to Trentham to contest the Gr.3 NZ Campus Of Innovation & Sport Wellington Cup (3200m). Anderton, who trains in partnership with his son Shane, said the seven-year-old son of Ghibellines has handled the marathon trip with aplomb and…

Expat Australian hoop Matt Cartwright is looking forward to teaming up with his old boss at Trentham on Saturday when he rides Interpretation in the Gr.3 NZ Campus Of Innovation & Sport Wellington Cup (3200m). The Group Three-winning stayer is trained by leading Australian horseman Ciaron Maher, who Cartwright used to ride work for when based in Melbourne, and the New Zealand-based jockey said he knows the Irish-bred gelding well. “I had a great connection and relationship with Ciaron Maher during my apprenticeship when I was in Australia. I am…

A plan concocted nearly a year ago will reach its climax at Trentham on Saturday when South Canterbury raider Shaking Stevens lines up in the Life Direct Remutaka Classic (2100m). The $350,000 feature is one of the innovation races introduced to the thoroughbred calendar in the 2023-24 season under the strategic partnership between TAB NZ and Entain and is restricted to horses that had won no more than one race at the start of the current season. Shaking Stevens was a single race winner for his original trainer Stephen Marsh…

The final session of NZB’s 100th National Yearling Sale took place at Karaka on Thursday, with a strong inaugural Karaka Summer Sale. 112 yearlings sold for a total aggregate of more than $3.4 million at an average of $30,612. Six lots sold for $100,000 or more which added to a solid clearance rate of 81%. NZB Managing Director Andrew Seabrook was elated for all those involved in the historic week. “To sum it up, this week we’ve turned over $9.6 million more than last year, with 79 less horses catalogued.” “We’re…

Respected international bloodstock agent John Foote has been attending the National Yearling Sale in New Zealand for over 50 years, and he returned to Karaka for the historic 100th National Yearling Sale this week. The Queensland-based agent was active across all three Books at Karaka, purchasing 14 lots in total. His final purchase was a colt by Armory catalogued as Lot 958 out of the Satono Aladdin mare Hanako, beautifully prepared by Putaruru vendor Stew McGregor. Lot 958 Armory – Hanako Colt led by vendor Stew McGregor. Photo: Trish Dunell…

Taking on the reigning New Zealand Horse of the Year at Ellerslie is a challenge with benefits for the Lance Noble-prepared Jaarffi. Multiple Group One winner El Vencedor will oppose the in-form mare in Saturday’s Listed Fulton Family Stakes (1500m) and has taken a degree of weight off the Karaka trainer’s mind. “Being a handicap isn’t ideal, but it’s nice to see El Vencedor pay up and instead of carrying 60kg or thereabouts, she’ll carry 58.5kg,” Noble said. “That’s a plus and I’m really happy with her.” The Cambridge Stud-bred…

Unbeaten Group One-winning colt Return To Conquer has been retired. The son of Snitzel was purchased out of Blue Gum Farm’s 2024 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale draft by Te Akau Racing principal David Ellis for $1.3 million, and he went on to remain unbeaten as a juvenile last season. In the care of trainers Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson, Return To Conquer won on debut in the Listed Counties Challenge Stakes (1100m) before repeating the result in the Gr.3 Colin Jillings 2YO Classic (1200m), Gr.3 Matamata Slipper (1200m)…

Royal Flower has one cup to her name and she will be seeking to earn another for breeder-owner-trainer Gail Temperton when she heads to Trentham on Saturday to tackle the Gr.3 NZ Campus Of Innovation & Sport Wellington Cup (3200m). The Foxton mare won her local cup last year and has subsequently run fourth in the Gr.3 Manawatu Cup (2100m) before an eye-catching runner-up result behind Rosso in the Gr.3 Trentham Stakes (2100m) at Trentham a fortnight ago. Temperton was duly rapt with that effort and has been pleased with…

Riccarton trainer Lance Robinson will trek south to Gore with just the one run runner on Sunday, but he is hopeful that will be enough to bring home a winner’s cheque. Promising Tagaloa gelding Alottago will be seeking to bounce back in the Listed Liquorland Gore Guineas (1335m) following his seventh placing in the Gr.1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) in November, the only blemish on his seven-start career. Robinson said the Heavy9 conditions were not to his gelding’s liking on that day and he was proud of his tenacity…