Author: NZRacingDesk

Raymond Connors has collected every major two-mile prize in New Zealand, and now he is dreaming of a possible tilt at Australasia’s most coveted staying scalp, the Gr.1 Melbourne Cup (3200m). The Bulls horseman has long held aspirations of winning the race that stops a continent, and his breeding and racing endeavours have reflected that, with Connors having a plethora of success in New Zealand staying and jumping features. Trav’s victory in the Gr.2 Auckland Cup (3200m) at Ellerslie on Saturday completed New Zealand’s feature staying set for Connors, who…

Nine-time Group One champion Mr Brightside (NZ) (Bullbars) has jarred up out of Saturday’s Gr.1 All-Star Mile (1600m), but, in encouraging news, is still well on track to race in Hong Kong next month. Mr Brightside fought courageously for a narrow second behind Tom Kitten (Harry Angel) in the new Group One, but co-trainer Ben Hayes said on Monday it was obvious the seven-year-old felt the firm track, which had been upgraded to a Good 3 less than half an hour before the race. “He jarred up out of the…

Classy juvenile Landlock turned a few heads when pushing million-dollar colt Return to Conquer right down to the wire in Saturday’s Gr.1 Sistema Stakes (1200m), but the performance came as no surprise to his trainer Cody Cole. The son of Merchant Navy was a debut winner and placed in the Gr.2 Wakefield Challenge Stakes (1100m) before a storming run into fifth in the $1 million Karaka Millions 2YO (1200m). Despite this, the gelding was heavily underrated in last Saturday’s $550,000 juvenile feature, starting at $41 while Return To Conquer dominated…

Trainers Simon and Katrina Alexander have always felt distance would be La Crique’s best friend, and they will give her the opportunity to step up over ground when they head to Australia with her later this month. The daughter of Vadamos kept her perennial bridesmaid tag firmly intact over the weekend, bested by the barest of margins by in-form gelding El Vencedor in the Gr.1 Bonecrusher New Zealand Stakes (2000m) at Ellerslie, extending her elite-level runner-up sequence to four. Despite going down for the fourth straight time on Saturday, La…

Robert Dennis already has the leader in the Southern Cups Bonus Series in Loftys Gift, but it was another member of his stable, Sacred Dream (NZ) (Sacred Falls), who took out the penultimate race on Sunday, the Caldwell Contracting Wyndham Cup (2000m). Loftys Gift won last Saturday’s Listed Dunedin Gold Cup (2400m) at Wingatui, and in her absence at Gore, that gave other runners an opportunity to gain points before she returns for the Riverton Cup (2147m) next month. Ascot Park-based Dennis had Sacred Dream, Vino Valentino and Stolen Magic…

Guy, Emily & Jayne look back on a landmark day in New Zealand racing in this 90 minute special. They are joined by Reece Trump from Te Akau to talk about bringing up the Group 1 century for the team as well as Damask Rose taking out The NZB Kiwi. Shaun Clotworthy also reflects on Willydoit’s emphatic victory in the Derby. So much racing action, so little time. Weigh In – Champions Day Special

Cambridge Stud-owned sprinting mare Joliestar (Zoustar) proved she is among the best of Australia’s sprinters with an outstanding performance to win Saturday’s A$1.5 million Gr.1 Newmarket Handicap (1200m) at Flemington. A regally-bred daughter of Zoustar, Joliestar was purchased for $950,000 by Brendan and Jo Lindsay at the 2022 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale and had already proven herself worthy of that price tag, winning the A$1.5 million Gr.1 Thousand Guineas (1600m) as a three-year-old. Joliestar’s only other start at three was a victory in the Gr.2 Arrowfield 3YO Sprint (1200m),…

Te Akau Racing commenced Ellerslie’s inaugural Champions Day in the best possible fashion, with progressive mare Francee (NZ) Iffraaj) winning the Entain/NZB Insurance Pearl Series Final (1400m). Carrying the silks of Haunui Farm, Francee had been out of the winner’s circle since Boxing Day in 2023, but had been knocking on the door in recent runs and was among the chances in an even market for the $120,000 contest. Jumping from an outside gate, jockey Craig Grylls eased Francee near the tail of the field early and she raced wide…

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Waikato Stud’s rising star stallion Super Seth has sired his first two Group One winners within the space of seven days, with Linebacker capturing Saturday’s A$1 million Gr.1 The Agency Randwick Guineas (1600m) a week after Feroce’s heroics in the Gr.1 Australian Guineas (1600m). Both Linebacker and Feroce come from the first crop by Super Seth, who was New Zealand’s leading first-season sire in 2023-24 and heads the second-season standings in 2024-25. His 28 winners include six at stakes level, with Feroce and Linebacker backed up by La Dorada, Sethito,…