Author: NZRacingDesk

Ancient Spirit is on the victory board and White Robe Lodge is expecting his progeny to continue to build winning momentum as the season rolls on. The well-related son of Invincible Spirit has only had a handful of runners and was represented by his first success at Wingatui where when Bobby Mcgee broke her maiden last Friday. From the stallion’s first crop, the Terry Kennedy-trained three-year-old was making her third appearance and had placed on debut last term. “It was really nice to get the monkey off the back, it…

Riccarton trainer Anna Furlong felt a real sense of satisfaction when her promising three-year-old Champagne Diblu turned his form around to win the Agraforum Growing Innovation 1300 at Ashburton on Sunday. Champagne Diblu had been an impressive juvenile trial winner and subsequently contested a stakes race, but showed his inexperience on that occasion and was sent for a spell. It was a similar story for the gelding when resuming at three, travelling well in the running but fading in the straight in a big field. Knowing the ability he had,…

Wanganui stayer Just Charlie (NZ) (Zed) sounded a stern warning to his rivals for the upcoming Gr.3 Martin Collins 162nd New Zealand Cup (3200m) with an all the way romp in Sunday’s Steelform Roofing Group Waverley Cup (2200m). Prepared by Kevin Myers, Just Charlie had a luckless preparation leading into the Waverley feature, covering extra ground and being held up badly on two occasions, particularly last time out when favourite in similar contest at Trentham in mid-September. A month later, he stripped a fit horse and came out running in the…

Platinum Pantheon (Hanseatic) was a long way from home when he stepped out at Ashburton on Sunday, but that didn’t stop the sharp three-year-old from dominating his maiden rivals in the McCrea Family 1200. His trainer Lisa Latta had been in search of a better surface for Platinum Pantheon, who had performed with merit on heavy ground often found at the present time in the North Island. Meanwhile in the south, he had the opportunity to step out on a Good3 and looked the horse to beat against his older…

Trainer David Hayes has confirmed another tilt at the A$20 million Gr.1 The Everest (1200m) is on the cards for Ka Ying Rising (NZ) (Shamexpress) after the Hong Kong star underlined his champion status with an Everest victory for the ages on Saturday. Back in Hong Kong less than 24 hours after Saturday’s triumph, Hayes soaked in the satisfaction of the victory as he looked forward to the five-year-old gelding’s return home. “He is a champion, and he got the job done,” Hayes told RSN. “There is always a bit…

This week the girls have taken over, Emily Murphy and Jayne Ivil and joined by Brittany Taylor from Sydney to review The Greatest Day on the Punt. Andrew Scott stops by to talk about Waitaks latest Group 1 and the team catch up with Fraser Auret, breeder of superstar Ka Ying Rising. Weigh In, October 19

Taranaki visitor Tisse (NZ) (Belardo) announced himself as a serious Cups contender for the summer months with an impressive victory in the Barfoot and Thompson 2100 at Ellerslie on Saturday. After racing well on heavy tracks this campaign, the son of Belardo finally struck a good surface in the staying contest and started favourite in the hands of Opie Bosson, who let him settle near the tail of the field. The early leader Gillian slowed the tempo as the field streamed down the back straight, before a keen Cleese took…

Underrated mare Summerston (NZ) (Reliable Man) sprang a massive upset when she burst between runners to claim victory in the Kingmakers Syndication 1400 (1400m) at Ellerslie on Saturday.  The Debbie Sweeney-prepared five-year-old has never been blessed with a lot of luck in her career to date but more than made up for that with a performance that suggested there could be more in store in the coming months.  Allowed to settle well back by rider Warren Kennedy, the daughter of Westbury Stud-based stallion Reliable Man began to track into the…

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Ceolwulf mastered the Randwick mile again on Saturday, going back-to-back in the Gr.1 King Charles III Stakes (1600m) and heading an all New Zealand-bred trifecta in the A$5 million showpiece. The Tavistock gelding defended his King Charles crown with a powerhouse performance to beat 10-time Group One winner Mr Brightside by a length and three-quarters. The Matamata-trained Proisir gelding Pier finished another neck away in third. That trifecta capped a remarkable day at Randwick for the Kiwi-breds, who had earlier produced a one-three result with Ka Ying Rising and Jimmysstar…