A career-best year for Here To Shock continued with a third Group victory in Friday’s A$250,000 Gr.3 Australian Bloodstock Cameron Handicap (1600m) at Newcastle, and in the process the New Zealand-bred gelding booked himself a ticket into a A$3 million feature in November. The son of Shocking came into 2024 with seven wins to his name from a 25-start career, with his solitary black-type success coming in last year’s Listed Golden Mile (1600m) at Bendigo. He has taken that record to a new level over the last six months with…
Author: NZRacingDesk
Auckland Thoroughbred Racing boosts stake money and adjusts key race nomination dates
Auckland Thoroughbred Racing (ATR) has today announced a significant $4.07 million contribution to stake money for the current season, including a notable $100,000 increase to the Group 1 Sistema Railway, taking the total stake to $700,000. This increase highlights ATR’s continued commitment to bolstering New Zealand’s racing industry and supporting its participants. In addition to the stakes enhancement, ATR has introduced measures aimed at reducing costs for owners. One such initiative involves moving the nomination dates for some of the Club’s most prestigious races closer to the raceday. Nominations for…
Prisca breaks through with stylish win at Taupo
Prisca capped a consistent and improving formline with a commanding maiden victory in Friday’s Taupo Vet Centre (1800m). The Puccini mare kicked off her career with an unplaced finish over 1400m at Matamata in May, which she followed up with sixth placings over the same distance at Taupo and Te Rapa. A strong-finishing second at Tauranga in early July prompted an increase in distance, running fifth over 1600m, third over 1800m and second over 1600m. Prisca stepped back up to 1800m on Friday and produced her best performance yet, racing…
Roca and Prebble to take on HQ
Andrew Bobbin has zero qualms about testing Off His Roca (NZ) (El Roca) in city grade, with the in-form galloper and regular hoop Tom Prebble to head to Flemington on Sunday. The son of El Roca has improved dramatically this campaign, kicking off with a third placing in 0-58 grade and dominantly winning a Benchmark 64 just three starts later. It is the form page of a horse who is relishing his racing and Bobbin is delighted to see him hit his straps over the longer distances this time in.…
Oamaru kick-off for New Zealand Cup contender Lochnaberry
Sunday’s Thomas Green Handicap (1600m) at Oamaru could put Southland trainer Lisa Vaughan on a path towards saddling her second Gr.3 New Zealand Cup (3200m) runner in the last three years. Vaughan ran accomplished mare Asathought in the time-honoured Riccarton staying showpiece in 2022, finishing a creditable seventh. This year’s edition of the $400,000 New Zealand Cup is looming large on the horizon for Lochnaberry, who Vaughan bought for just $1,400 on Gavelhouse.com in 2019. Lochnaberry has won four of her 21 starts, and she rose to a new level…
Livamol defence out for Ladies Man
Last weekend’s New Plymouth abandonment has forced Allan Sharrock into a change of plans with his Group One winner Ladies Man, who is entered to kick off his seven-year-old season in the H&T Agronomics/Agricom Open (1200m) at Wanganui on Saturday. The Seaton Park (1400m) at New Plymouth was intended to be Ladies Man’s first step along the road to a defence of his title in the Gr.1 Livamol Classic (2040m) at Hastings on October 12. With that race washed away and a week lost from the build-up, Sharrock is now…
Orchestral on tune for spring campaign
Saturday will mark the return of racing to Ellerslie Racecourse and last season’s New Zealand Champion Three-Year-Old Orchestral. The now four-year-old mare is unbeaten at the Auckland track in three starts, winning the TAB Karaka Millions 3YO (1600m), Gr.2 Avondale Guineas (1600m), and Gr.1 New Zealand Derby (2400m). She subsequently went on to win the Gr.1 Vinery Stud Stakes (2000m) at Rosehill and finished third in the Gr.1 Australian Oaks (2400m). Trainers Roger James and Robert Wellwood have been pleased with the way she has returned, and have given her…
Bradman fresh for Metric Mile
There have been few horses with the consistency of Bradman over the past 12 months, and the versatile galloper will aim to continue that vein of form in Saturday’s Gr.3 Hunterville Vet Club Metric Mile (1600m). Since winning the Listed Flying Handicap (1400m) in April, the son of Pins has placed in the Listed City Of Napier Sprint (1200m), Listed AGC Training Stakes (1600m) and the Gr.3 Winter Cup (1600m), demanding respect in the Wanganui feature. Trained and co-owned by Roydon Bergerson, Bradman will be ridden by a very in-form…
Oulaghan hopes to cash in on Plan B
Mark Oulaghan has moved on from the disappointing outcome of the Great Northern Hurdle (4200m) and is looking forward to an unexpected opportunity with Berry The Cash. The Awapuni trainer has been around the jumping game long enough to not get too despondent when bad luck comes knocking, as it did last weekend at Te Rapa. Berry The Cash had been unbeaten in five lead-up outings over hurdles, including victory in the Grand National Hurdles (4200m) before he was badly hampered by a fallen rival in the Northern and dislodged…
Irish National Stud Scholarship is now open for applications
Applications are now open for the 2024 Keith and Faith Taylor Equine Scholarship, which supports the future of New Zealand’s breeders in travelling to Ireland and completing the world-renowned Irish National Stud Diploma Course. This scholarship offers an invaluable opportunity to undertake the internationally-recognised National Stud Diploma in Ireland with an all-expenses paid trip, open to any individual 30 years or under with an interest in furthering their career in the thoroughbred breeding industry. Initially funded by the Wellington branch of the New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders Association, the scholarship has…