Author: NZRacingDesk

Well-related gelding Hi Yo Fox Rox (NZ) (Complacent) showed he has inherited some of his family’s ability with his gritty win in the Hi Yo Legacy (2000m) at New Plymouth on Saturday. A full-brother to Group One performer Hi Yo Sass Bombm(NZ) (Complacent), Hi Yo Fox Rox showed early promised, winning his second start over a mile at Wanganui in June, before finishing unplaced over 1800m at New Plymouth last month. He garnered plenty of support from punters on Saturday, jumping a $3.90 favourite, but his backers were sweating soon…

Local filly She’s No Saint (Prague) put her contemporaries on notice for the rest of the spring following her dominant win in the Gr.3 Cambridge Stud Northland Breeders’ Stakes (1200m) at Ruakaka on Saturday. The race has long been in the crosshairs for trainer Michelle Bradley, who raced her filly over winter, where she built nicely into her target race, winning at Ellerslie over 1200m in June before replicating that result on her home track a fortnight ago over 1100m. Punters flocked to debut winner Shalabiya (NZ) (Brazen Beau) for…

Victory in Saturday’s A$130,000 Remembering Diatribe Handicap (2000m) at Caulfield capped a consistent run of form for Taka Speed (NZ) (Savabeel), and the New Zealand-bred gelding also passed an important stamina test. Previously a four-time winner between 1400m and 1800m, the Savabeel gelding had attempted 2000m only once before in his career and had finished at the tail of the field. But trainer Matt Laurie remained confident Taka Speed had the stamina for a middle-distance. After a solid run of winter performances to finish fifth over 1600m at Flemington, fourth…

Local gelding Ayteem (NZ) (Eminent) put in the performance of his career when scoring his second consecutive win at New Plymouth on Saturday when taking out the Grangewilliam Stud (2000m). From his outside barrier in the seven-horse field, jockey Chris Dell pushed his charge forward to take an early lead. Ayteem was kept honest by Urenui (NZ) (Derryn) on his outside, but he continued to set a solid tempo up front which began to tell on his rivals, who were off the bit a long way from home. He established…

Lightly raced mare Attractiveness (NZ) (Hello Youmzain) capped a breakthrough campaign with her second straight Rosehill victory on Saturday, setting up a potential shot at black type in the autumn. Previously a winner and placegetter from four starts between November and January, the New Zealand-bred daughter of Hello Youmzain has progressed stylishly through the grades this winter. She was a first-up winner at Newcastle before graduating to city company, where she ran third and fifth before breaking through with a smart win in a Midway Handicap (1400m) at Rosehill on…

Group One winner Willydoit (NZ) (Tarzino) took a step closer to his raceday return when trialling over 1000m at Ruakaka on Saturday. A standout three-year-old for trainers Shaun and Emma Clotworthy, the son of Tarzino numbered the Gr.1 New Zealand Derby (2400m) among his four wins in New Zealand before crossing the Tasman, where he finished fourth in the Gr.1 Australian Derby (2400m). He failed to recapture that form as a four-year-old, finishing unplaced in his five starts for trainer Ciaron Maher, and the decision was made to bring him…

Nicconi County (Nicconi) has been in a purple patch of form over winter and will bid to extend his winning streak to four when he heads to Ruakaka on Saturday. The Bob and Jenny Vance-trained eight-year-old kicked off his winning run at Ellerslie in June before posting back-to-back victories at Ruakaka, all over 1200m. Bob Vance said his charge has appreciated the forgiving footing at the Northland venue, which has been reflected in his recent performances. “He has done everything right and we are quite happy with him,” he said.…

The last time Te Aroha trainer Sarah West ventured south to Woodville, she came home a winner, and she is hoping she can replicate that feat this weekend. Grey gelding Juwala (NZ) (Reliable Man) gave West her first win as a trainer when winning at the Tararua venue last month, and he will face a sterner test on Sunday when he lines-up against some of the country’s finest jumpers in the One Eye Ota Open Hurdle (3000m). Since his maiden hurdle win, Juwala acquitted himself in open hurdle company when…

Taranaki filly Shamelia Kirk (NZ) (Shamexpress) showed plenty as juvenile and trainer Robbie Patterson is hopeful she can bring that form into her three-year-old season, with her first test being the Listed Chittick Family Fillies Classic (1100m) at Taupo on Sunday. The daughter of Shamexpress had three starts last season for a win and two seconds, including a runner-up performance behind Actionbelle in the Listed Castletown Stakes (1200m) at Otaki. Patterson was pleased with her effort on the testing Heavy10 track and said she has thrived after being freshened, with…

It has been a lucrative couple of weeks for the connections of Kereti (NZ) (Darci Brahma), which was capped by another big cheque at Awapuni on Thursday following his win in the $75,000 Power Farming Manawatu Polytrack Championship (1400m). The win came less than a fortnight after his victory in the $60,000 Awapuni Synthetic Final (1400m) at the Palmerston North track, and he put in a carbon copy performance in his latest win. From his outside barrier in the 10-horse field, the son of Darci Brahma was stoked up early…