Author: NZRacingDesk

Myakkabelle has been a model of consistency in the lead up to the Gr.1 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai New Zealand Oaks (2400m) and she will take the final step towards the $1 million feature in Sunday’s Gr.2 Jennian Homes Lowland Stakes (2100m). A filly by War Decree, Myakkabelle was amongst the action in each of the Gr.2 Eight Carat Classic (1600m), Gr.2 Sir Patrick Hogan Stakes (2000m) and Gr.2 David and Karyn Ellis Fillies’ Classic (2000m), the latter her first time facing off against Oaks favourite Leica Lucy. While Leica…

The racing world is in mourning following the news that New Zealand Racing Hall of Fame trainer Mike Moroney passed away in Melbourne this morning at the age of 66. Moroney, a protégé of legendary trainer Dave O’Sullivan, founded Ballymore Stables in his hometown Matamata in the early 1980s and his almost immediate success led to the establishment of a complementary stable in Australia in 1997. Initially based in Adelaide, his win with Second Coming in that year’s Victoria Derby led to Moroney being allocated stabling at the historic Chiquita…

A tilt at next week’s Gr.2 Barfoot & Thompson Auckland Cup (3200m) is on the line for evergreen stayer Sword In Stone (NZ) (Redwood) when he heads to Trentham on Sunday to contest the Milestone Homes 2200.  The former Hong Kong galloper has been in pleasing form for trainers Kevin and Stephen Gray since returning to New Zealand, winning his resuming run over a mile at Otaki on Boxing Day before bouncing back from a last placed finish in the Gr.3 Trentham Stakes (2100m) when runner-up over 2060m at Wanganui…

Multiple stakes-performer Channel Surfer (NZ) (Derryn) was back to his best at Taupo on Wednesday, returning to the winner’s circle for the first time in 14 months in the Fiber Fresh (1400m). The five-year-old can be an enigma at times, with placings in the Listed Castletown Stakes (1200m), Gr.2 Hawke’s Bay Guineas (1400m), Listed Trevor Corallie Eagle Memorial (1500m) and last year’s Gr.3 Easter Handicap (1600m) displaying his obvious talent. He hadn’t produced that form through the spring, and off a freshen-up, he was among the outsiders in a competitive…

Show Pony (NZ) (Vespa) made a big impression the last time he travelled south to Wingatui, and on Saturday, he’ll be out to continue that winning form at stakes level in the Listed Property Brokers – Ray Kean Dunedin Guineas (1600m). The son of Vespa has already proven himself in strong company, finishing fourth in the Gr.3 Barneswood Farm Stakes (1400m) and was the best of the rest behind NZB Kiwi-bound filly Pivotal Ten in the Listed Gore Guineas (1335m) last start. John Blackadder had particular respect for the Gore…

Perfect Scenario (NZ) (Iffraaj) is right at home at Wingatui Racecourse and when he heads back to the southern venue on Saturday, he’ll aim to become the second horse in the last decade to win three-straight editions of the Gr.3 White Robe Lodge Weight For Age (1600m). A seven-year-old by Iffraaj, Perfect Scenario has an enviable record of longevity, winning 11 races since debuting as a juvenile. The gelding is a frequent member of Te Akau Racing’s Riccarton stable, where he has recorded his past two successes in the Dunedin…

I Wish I Win (NZ) (Savabeel) is set to go beyond 1400 metres for the first time in nearly two-and-a-half years, with co-owner and co-trainer Peter Moody confirming next month’s Group 1 George Ryder Stakes (1500m) is his most likely next assignment. Moody reported on Tuesday that the six-year-old gelding has pulled up well from his first-up run on a Good 3 track at Caulfield last week in the G1 Futurity Stakes and said a month to the Ryder Stakes at Rosehill holds plenty of appeal. The previous time I…

Trainer Joe Pride is confident that Ceolwulf will take a significant step forward from his first-up performance as he prepares for Saturday’s Gr.1 Verry Elleegant Stakes (1600m) at Royal Randwick. Ceolwulf finished a close fourth behind Chris Waller’s Fangirl, Lindermann, and Via Sistina in the Gr.1 Apollo Stakes (1400m), running the fastest final 600m of the race in 32.63 seconds. Despite being beaten by 1.5 lengths, Pride believes the step up to the mile will bring out the best in his gelding. “I’m really happy with him and it’s good…

In an exciting move, the date for the NZB National Weanling Sale (thoroughbred) and NZB Standardbred National Weanling Sale (standardbred) has been finalised, with both weanling sessions selling on Thursday 26 June 2025 at Karaka. The joint sale date will see the thoroughbred session get underway in the morning, with the standardbred weanlings selling later that afternoon. “Both industries are in great shape at the moment, and the positivity from stakes increases and new initiatives across both codes is encouraging. It’s certainly given domestic buyers more confidence which was seen with the Kiwi spend…

Respected horseman Ralph Manning has been a prolific purchaser on gavelhouse.com over the years, and a pair of his bargain buys played starring roles on Australian racetracks on Saturday. Manning paid only $7,750 to secure Mr Brightside (NZ) (Bullbars) from a gavelhouse.com auction in August of 2020, while he bought Step Aside (NZ) (Redwood) for $2,300 a few months later. Fast-forward to Saturday, when the exceptional Mr Brightside added a ninth Group One win to his record with a typically tenacious performance in the Lamaro’s Hotel Futurity Stakes (1400m) at…