Author: NZRacingDesk

The Nepheti (NZ) (Charm Spirit) of old showed her colours at Te Aroha on Wednesday, the mare kicking off her five-year-old campaign with a powerful victory in The George Abernathy and Associates 1150. Stakes-performed at three, Nepheti performed solidly without reaching those same heights last term, but looked ready to get back to the winner’s circle with two good trials this time in. In a competitive Rating 70 field, Nepheti’s $15 opening price was snapped up by punters, closing near the $7 mark. After a key rival in Magice was…

Michael Kent Jnr says he’s confident Globe (NZ) (Charm Spirit) will be cleared to take his place in the Cox Plate this Saturday. But the stable will accept whatever decision Racing Victoria’s vets come to on Thursday. The Group 1 winner must be given the tick of approval after an “irritation” was detected in a fetlock joint on Monday. One of Globe’s trainers provided a positive update on The Verdict podcast on Wednesday morning. “As of this morning, Max rode him and said he felt fantastic – he’s his regular rider…

It was a full-circle moment for Te Akau Racing at Te Aroha on Wednesday when Avantaggia (Wootton Bassett) broke through for her maiden win in the Donaghys Moxipor (1150m). The blue-blooded filly is a daughter of Coolmore’s ill-fated stallion Wootton Bassett and Te Akau’s former nine-time Group One winner Avantage. Following her stellar racing career, Avantage was bought by Tom Magnier and global breeding giant Coolmore off New Zealand Bloodstock’s online platform Gavelhouse Plus for $4.1 million. Te Akau Racing principal David Ellis went to last year’s Gold Coast Yearling…

Levin trainer Josh Shaw will head to New Plymouth on Friday with a trio of runners, including two maideners he is hoping can breakthrough for an elusive win. Sweet Envy (NZ) (Sweet Orange) has been knocking on the door for some time, placing in five of her last six outings, and Shaw is hoping she can finally deliver for her connections in the NZB Mega Maiden Series (1200m). “She has been going good races,” Shaw said. “We would ideally have liked to have gone to Otaki a couple of weeks…

Riverton stayer Vamos will stay close to home over the next couple of weeks as he aims to finish a successful preparation on a winning note. The big-striding Vadamos gelding is a specialist on rain-affected tracks, with five of his seven career victories coming on heavy ground. While there was the option of racing further north this week, his trainer Kelvin Tyler opted for Thursday’s Auto Funds Open (1800m) at Gore and a similar contest next Sunday at Riverton where the ground will be more to Vamos’ liking. “He’s a…

The final day of NZB’s 2025 Ready to Run Sale Breeze Ups saw a further 202 two-year-olds gallop down the home straight at Te Rapa Racecourse. Held over two consecutive days on the same turf track, Day Two of the Breeze Ups had a Soft 5 track rating, with an average time of 10.93. An early shower in the day was followed by strong winds of up to 7.4 m/s (26.7 km/h). Expert bloodstock agent Phill Cataldo, who has had a lot of success with Group One winners out of…

Following his pleasing third placing in last Saturday’s A$5 million Gr.1 King Charles III Stakes (1609m) at Randwick, trainers Darryn and Briar Weatherley have decided to head south with Pier (NZ) (Proisir) to test his talent in Melbourne.  The Group One winner has been a model of consistency since he landed in Australia in May, placing in the Gr.3 BRC Sprint (1350m) before winning the Listed The Wayne Wilson (1600m) in Brisbane.  Following a spell he then ventured south to Sydney where he placed in the Gr.2 Theo Marks Stakes…

Leading trainer Mick Price says he would happily scratch Cox Plate hopeful Globe (NZ) (Charm Spirit) if he is not 100 per cent fit for Saturday’s weight-for-age championship. The Group One star is under an injury cloud heading into Saturday’s feature and Price declared he would be taking no risks with his Might And Power Stakes winner. “He had to do a sleip test. It’s a video of their action. RV contacted (Michael Kent) Junior late yesterday and said on half of the test, the horse wouldn’t pass. I’ve contacted…

Yulong’s become a behemoth in racing, but very rarely do they open their doors to the public. Michael’s in Victoria for a unique look at their work, to chat with some of the key players, and he gets a surprise from a couple of special foals. Plus, we look ahead to the Cox Plate. Guerin Report – S2 Ep.8 Ft. Yulong

Cambridge trainer Chris Wood has had a high opinion of That’s Gold (Lucky Vega) for some time, and he is hoping he can realise that potential when he attempts to break through for his maiden win in Wednesday’s Donaghys Moxipor (1150m) at Te Aroha.  The son of Lucky Vega had seven starts for Wood as a juvenile, running fourth in the Listed Counties Challenge Stakes (1100m), and Wood is hoping he has more luck with the gelding as a three-year-old.  “He showed me a lot last time in, things just…