Author: NZRacingDesk

Guy, Emily & Bruce put a spotlight on the south, reviewing all the action from Wingatui yesterday, We also dive deep into all the superstars across the Tasman including our very own Savaglee who was brave in defeat. And the team reflect on the life and career of Mike Moroney. Weigh In, March 2

An unexpected trip to the South Island produced a winning debut by Queen’s Evidence (NZ) (King’s Legacy) at Wingatui on Saturday, paving the way for another southern mission later in the autumn. Queen’s Evidence was a trial winner at Ellerslie on February 11 and then travelled to Otaki last Saturday for what was meant to be her first start. When that meeting was abandoned after one race, trainers Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson decided to send her further down the country. Saturday’s Grand Casino 2YO (1100m) served as take two…

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The feeling of seeing sale-ring purchases go on to stardom on the racetrack is nothing new for Johnny McKeever, but the respected European bloodstock agent took special satisfaction from Feroce’s (NZ) (Super Seth) triumph in the Gr.1 Howden Australian Guineas (1600m) at Flemington on Saturday. Feroce was bred by Sir Peter Vela’s Pencarrow Thoroughbreds Ltd and comes from the first crop of Waikato Stud stallion Super Seth. Offered by Eion Kemp’s Kilgravin Lodge at the 2023 Ready to Run Sale at Karaka, Feroce was bought for $160,000 by McKeever Bloodstock…

Previously a runner-up in two black-type races, Marble Arch (NZ) (Per Incanto) went one better on Saturday with a valuable victory in the A$300,000 Gr.2 TAB Blamey Stakes (1600m) at Flemington. The New Zealand-bred five-year-old had been narrowly beaten in two recent attempts in stakes company, going down by a half-length when second in the Listed Lord Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield on Boxing Day and by neck when second in the Gr.3 JRA Plate (1600m) at Caulfield on February 8. But this time Marble Arch would not be denied. Jockey…

Waikato Stud stallion Super Seth and trainer Dominic Sutton stood in the Group One spotlight for the first time when Feroce headed a New Zealand-bred quinella in Saturday’s A$1 million Gr.1 Howden Australian Guineas (1600m) at Flemington. It was a case of second time lucky for Feroce, who finished second and was beaten by an agonising short head by Private Life in the Gr.1 Caulfield Guineas (1600m) in October. Rookie trainer Dominic Sutton soon set his sights on Australian Guineas redemption, giving the gelding only two runs in the five…

Herbert’s (NZ) (Sweet Orange) bank balance has swelled from $130,000 to almost $400,000 within the space of his last three starts, culminating in the Comag Wairere Falls Classic (1500m) at Matamata on Saturday. The Taranaki four-year-old began the season with only one win to his name from a 12-race career. His turnaround began with a pair of spring victories in a Rating 65 at Wanganui and a Rating 75 at Te Rapa, but that was just the beginning of Herbert’s breakthrough season. The son of Sweet Orange has scaled new…

Veteran galloper Our Echo (NZ) (Echoes Of Heaven) showed all his fighting qualities when he clung on gamely to hold out a determined challenge from Perfect Scenario (NZ) (Iffraaj) to capture the feature event at Wingatui, the Gr.3 White Robe Lodge Weight For Age (1600m) Allowed to start at the luxurious price of $31 in the Fixed Odds market for the race, the Danny Frye-prepared eight-year-old had his chances discarded by punters, despite winning two of his previous three starts, due to his finishing last of seven runners on an…

Four weeks on from a brave second in the Gore Cup (2000m), lion-hearted stayer Loftys Gift (NZ) (Ghibellines) delivered again for her connections at Wingatui on Saturday and went one better in the Listed Positive Signs + Print Dunedin Gold Cup (2400m). The gritty daughter of Ghibellines was a winner over 1400m at Ascot Park in late January, then stepped up to 2000m for the Gore Cup and was beaten by only half a length despite being caught three wide without cover for the second half of the race. The…

Chris Waller has turned his eyes to the expansive Flemington straight track in hope of getting a touch of luck and Joliestar (Zoustar) back in the winner’s stall for the first time in six months in next Saturday’s $1.5 million Gr.1 Newmarket Handicap (1200m). Waller was in Melbourne on Friday to see the four-year-old get her first look down the famous straight course, clocking 48.78 seconds under Damian Lane for the 800-metre workout, holding off Traffic Warden and stablemate Gatsby’s. “She just needs a bit of confidence and a bit…