Author: NZRacingDesk

Group Two winner Cognito (So You Think) snapped a 22-month win drought in emphatic style in Saturday’s $50,000 Join TAB Racing Club Open (1580m) at Riccarton. The son of So You Think won three races as a three-year-old headed by the Gr.2 Wellington Guineas (1400m), and he performed with credit at four with a third in the Listed Fulton Family Stakes (1500m), fourth in the Gr.3 J Swap Sprint (1400m) and sixth in the Gr.2 Rich Hill Mile (1600m). However, a third placing in the Gr.3 Counties Cup (2100m) was…

Despite negotiating the final bend at Wanganui on Saturday like a drunken sailor, promising galloper Humza Bey (NZ) (Belardo) made it two wins from his first two starts as he scored an impressive victory in the third race on the card, the Whanganui Chronicle 1340 (1340m). Rider Kate Hercock had her hands full as the four-year-old gelding made a beeline for the centre of the track after sitting third and one-off the inside rail for the last 800m of the contest, which allowed his nearest pursuers to sneak through along…

Quality mare Mary Shan (NZ) (Almanzor) launched her spring campaign in stunning fashion when she stormed home to capture the Cloudsoft Accounting Systems Open (1200m) at Wanganui. The Andrew Forsman-prepared five-year-old was fitted for her resuming run with a pair of Taupo trials, finishing second in the first one over 900m behind Captured By Love (Written Tycoon) before going one better a fortnight later over 1100m with raceday rider Matthew Cameron in the saddle. With the race expected to be run at breakneck speed with several noted frontrunners engaged, the…

Jockey Vinnie Colgan displayed all the skills that have seen him sit in the elite echelon of New Zealand riders throughout his career as he put together a winning double with two superbly judged efforts in the early races on the Riccarton card on Saturday. Colgan was at his patient best as he guided Gr.1 New Zealand One Thousand Guineas aspirant Belle Du Monde (Zoustar) to her maiden victory in race three on the programme before making it two wins in a row as he showed his strength in a…

Emerging filly Platinum Diamond (NZ) (Hello Youmzain) sparkled again in Saturday’s Listed HS Dyke Wanganui Guineas (1200m), completing an unprecedented treble of winter age-group features. The daughter of Cambridge Stud shuttle stallion Hello Youmzain became the first horse to win the Castletown Stakes (1200m), Ryder Stakes (1200m) and Wanganui Guineas. There had previously been nine who won two of the three Listed races – Beechcraft (NZ) (Sea Anchor) (1983 Ryder and Guineas), Purdah’s Pride (NZ) (Western Bay) (1988 Ryder and Guineas), Veandercross (NZ) (Crossways) (1991 Castletown and Ryder, second in…

Saturday’s NZ Horse Ambulance Winter Appeal 3YO (1000m) continued the Te Akau stranglehold over the three-year-old spring opener at Riccarton, but not with the horse that most expected. Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson took out the $40,000 age-group sprint in 2023 with the next-start Listed Canterbury Belle Stakes (1200m) winner Viva Vienna (NZ) (All Too Hard), then saddled the quinella in 2024 with The Victress (Zousain) and About Last Night (Capitalist). The Te Akau team followed that up with another one-two finish on Saturday. Pre-race attention was dominated by the…

The Gr.1 Memsie Stakes (1400m) would not be the same without the presence of Mr Brightside (NZ) (Bullbars).  The Lindsay Park-trained galloper lines up in Saturday’s Group One contest over 1400m for the third time, having won in 2023 and finishing second last year.  Longevity has been the key with Mr Brightside who will be aiming to notch his 20th career win from 45 starts and go beyond A$17.5 million in prize money.  Mr Brightside has been the banner horse for trainers Ben, Will and J D Hayes and all are in agreeance the ‘old boy’…

Te Akau Racing are building a strong record in the Gr.3 Cockram Stakes (1200m), and they will look to continue that at Caulfield on Saturday when Damask Rose takes her place in this year’s edition. The daughter of Savabeel had a standout season in New Zealand last term, winning three of her five starts, including the $1.5 million Karaka Millions 3YO (1600m) and inaugural $3.5 million NZB Kiwi (1500m), both under Blake Shinn. The leading Australian hoop will rekindle his association with the mare on Saturday, and the pair will…

Paul Nelson and Corrina McDougall have a great association with the Pakuranga Hunt meeting, and they are hoping that will continue on Sunday at Te Aroha. The Hawke’s Bay trainers were rapt to take out the Grand National Hurdles (4200m) with 12-year-old gelding Suliman earlier this month, and they are hoping he can make it back-to-back prestige jumps titles in the Pakuranga Hunt “Vale Lamu” Hurdle (3100m). “The wet and loose track just played into his hands down south. He has come through the race well, he is very bright,”…

Riccarton trainer David Walsh couldn’t believe his luck when he saw the fields for his home meeting on Saturday, with his trio of runners all drawing the ace marble in their respective events. “We normally get bad draws all the time, we continually draw outside, so it is amazing that all three runners have drawn barrier one,” Walsh said. “I just hope it is a good place to be.” Six-year-old gelding Toa Haka was in stellar form for Walsh last season, stringing together a series of placings and victories, and…