Author: NZRacingDesk

Group Two winner Yaldi (NZ) (Ardrossan) will return to the races on Saturday at Tauranga in the Triton Pacific Owens Plate (1200m), with a view to sticking to shorter trips. The three-year-old son of Ardrossan was tested over a mile for the first time in January’s Karaka Millions 3YO (1600m), finishing midfield, and trainer Andrew Forsman believes he is best suited to sprint distances. “He had a little freshen-up after trying him at the mile, and he probably just didn’t run it out,” the Cambridge horseman said. Prior to resuming…

Confidence is growing in the Stephen Marsh-trained stablemates Velocious and Super Photon (NZ) (Super Seth) returning to their best form in upcoming campaigns. Their spring preparations ended in disappointment following outstanding two-year-old seasons, but all indicators are pointing toward them being competitive forces again this autumn. Velocious was voted champion juvenile after winning the Gr.1 Sistema Stakes (1200m) and Karaka Millions 2YO (1200m), while Super Photon was unbeaten in two appearances, including the Listed Waikato Equine Veterinary Centre Stakes (1200m). Unfortunately for connections, their early spring careers were derailed and…

Stablemates and full-siblings Giacomo and Santa Catalina will go head-to-head for the first time in Wednesday’s Holster Engineering Lally and Symes South Waikato Cup (2000m) at Matamata. The elder of the pair, six-year-old Giacomo (NZ) (Puccini), has four race wins under his belt and has been a model of consistency this campaign, placing behind the likes of Willydoit, Balance Of Power and most recently, Doddle at the course on March 1. Peter McKay, who trains the gelding in partnership with his son Shaun, applauded the last-start effort after being taken…

There were many sincere words spoken at the memorial service for Mike Moroney in the mounting yard at Flemington on Tuesday. Each word was fittingly heartfelt and honest and each served as a reflection of the trainer’s immense personality. Younger brother Paul described Moroney as ‘a champion person’ and a ‘bloody good bloke’ in his eulogy, before reminding those who attended the service and those who watched it live on Racing.com, that these traits were not false or forced. He said his brother never gave hollow lip service but always…

Entries for NZB’s 2025 National Weanling Sale are now open, with the Sale set to be held at the Karaka Sales Centre on Thursday 26 June.  Continuing as a dedicated weanling only format, the Sale is a happy hunting ground for those searching for their next pinhook success story or racetrack star. The Sale also offers breeders an attractive platform to sell their young stock to a strong international and domestic audience, with the added bonus of Karaka Millions eligibility. In an exciting move, the National Weanling Sale will be held on…

Trent Busuttin concedes the New Zealand Derby winner Willydoit is superior to his three-year-old Thedoctoroflove (So You Think), but the trainer is not backing away from a potential return bout in the Gr.1 ATC Derby in Sydney next month. “You can’t worry about one horse,” Busuttin said on Monday. “Things can go wrong, and they are all there to be beaten. “The other horse is a better horse than ours, but you can’t muck around with your horses’ campaign because of one horse, so he’ll be there doing his best…

New Zealand punters are set to get their first glimpse of Group One performer Express Yourself (NZ) (Shamexpress) in more than a year when she heads to Trentham next weekend to tackle the Listed Bill Tito Book Repair Specialist Lightning Handicap (1200m).  Following her runner-up effort behind Mercurial in last year’s Gr.1 Telegraph (1200m), and subpar unplaced run in the Gr.2 Westbury Classic (1400m) at Ellerslie, she tested her talent in Australia for interim trainers Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr.  She raced on four occasions out of their Cranbourne…

There’s plenty of anticipation ahead of regally-bred colt Hostility’s (I Am Invincible) raceday debut at Matamata on Wednesday.  Purchased by Te Akau Racing principal David Ellis out of Kiltannon Stables’ New Zealand Bloodstock Ready to Run Sale draft for $1.65 million last November, there has been much fanfare surrounding the sale topper over the last few months.  By I Am Invincible, and out of Group One-winning mare Shillelagh, Hostility has won both of his trials to date and trainers Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson are looking forward to stepping him…

What a day that was at Ellerslie! Michael has some massive news out of it, and the figures that already show how big of a success the inagural Champions Day was. But what now for some of the biggest names? And where to next for the winners? Guerin has the latest. Guerin Report – Ep.28 Champions Day Review

Shaune Ritchie and Colm Murray’s filly Tajana (NZ) (Darci Brahma) has the opportunity to end her juvenile campaign at the highest level after Wednesday’s AKW Farrier Ltd 2YO (1200m) at Matamata. An Oaks Stud-bred daughter of Darci Brahma, Tajana started her career on a booming note getting within half a length of Return To Conquer in the Gr.3 Colin Jillings 2YO Classic (1200m), with that colt going on to win Saturday’s Gr.1 Sistema Stakes (1200m). She returned to maiden company second-up and covered plenty of extra ground to finish fourth,…