The Gr.1 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai New Zealand Oaks (2400m) may have a new home, but Cambridge horseman Shaune Ritchie is hoping his strong record in the race continues as he seeks his fourth title in the race on Saturday. To be run at Ellerslie for the first time this weekend, the New Zealand Oaks was previously contested at Trentham where Ritchie won three editions of the fillies’ classic with Keep The Peace (NZ) (Keeper) (2010), Artistic (NZ) (Darci Brahma) (2012) and Jennifer Eccles (NZ) (Rip Van Winkle) (2020). Ritchie,…
Author: NZRacingDesk
Financier to make long-awaited return
While looking forward to a big day of racing at Ellerslie on Saturday, Cambridge trainer Stephen Marsh is excited to head to Taupo a day later where his Group Two performer Financier (NZ) (Tavistock) will make his long-awaited return in the Rabobank Cup (1400m). The six-year-old son of Tavistock hasn’t been sighted on raceday since his placing in the Gr.2 Japan Trophy (1600m) at Tauranga two years ago, and Marsh is looking forward to stepping him out once more on Sunday. “It is just exciting to have a nice horse…
Group victory powers Cup hope across Tasman
A career high performance from Brayden Star (Twilight Son) last spring set the wheels in motion for the stayer’s current two-start New Zealand campaign. The Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young-trained seven-year-old went to a new level when successful in the Gr.2 Herbert Power Handicap (2400m) at Caulfield in October which forced connections to eye offshore opportunities. Brayden Star will take aim at the first of those in Saturday’s Gr.3 Eagle Technology Avondale Cup (2400m) with a return to Ellerslie for his main aim, the Gr.2 Trackside Auckland Cup (3200m) on…
Coolmore purchases Super Seth
Star young stallion Super Seth, sire of four Group One winners from his first two crops, has been purchased by Coolmore from Waikato Stud to stand at its Hunter Valley base. The Caulfield Guineas-winning son of Dundeel will relocate to Coolmore Australia following six seasons at Waikato Stud, where he has developed into one of the most exciting young stallions in Australasia. The young stallion’s first crop included Gr.1 Randwick Guineas (1600m) winner Linebacker, Gr.1 Australian Guineas (1600m) winner Feroce and Gr.1 Queensland Derby (2400m) winner Maison Louis, while the…
Derby hope sold to Hong Kong
Talented three-year-old Ammirati (NZ) (Savabeel) was a notable absentee from Saturday’s Gr.2 Eagle Technology Avondale Guineas (2100m) acceptances, with trainer Stephen Marsh confirming the sale of the gelding to Hong Kong. A three-time winner from eight starts, the son of Savabeel had been an impressive last-start winner of the Listed Gingernuts Salver (2100m) at Ellerslie and a $10 chance for the Gr.1 New Zealand Derby (2400m) at the same venue in just over a fortnight. The gelding also boasts a dramatic victory in the Gr.3 Wellington Stakes (1600m) at Otaki…
Fogarty becomes voice of the south for racing codes
The Trackside commentator internship programme continues to pay dividends for racing’s future, with Dan Fogarty stepping into a full-time role as the commentator for the Southern region. Fogarty (23) called the Southland Guineas thoroughbred meeting at Ascot Park in Invercargill on Saturday, and followed that up with the Gore Harness Racing Club grass track meeting on Sunday. Fogarty’s dulcet tones will become familiar for meetings broadcast from Southland and Otago, as he picks up the role from contractor Craig Rail. “Dan has followed in the footsteps of our premier Canterbury…
Quality 3YO gets chance to fulfil his distance destiny
Aksil (NZ) (Ace High) had connections in two minds early on before time revealed the exciting three-year-old’s propensity to stay. The son of Ace High will have the opportunity to star in that role at Ellerslie on Saturday when he tackles a middle distance for the first time in the Gr.2 Eagle Technology Avondale Guineas (2100m). A strong effort will lock in a return for a crack at the ultimate age group staying test, the Gr.1 Trackside New Zealand Derby (2400m) on March 7. “We thought he may have been…
Asakura confirmed for NZB Kiwi
The NZB Kiwi is set to have direct Australian involvement with the announcement on Wednesday that Ozzie Kheir has selected the Mitch Freedman-trained Asakura (Churchill) for his slot in the $4 million Champions Day feature. With unbeaten filly Well Written (Written Tycoon) dominating calculations as the $1.20 favourite, doubts had been expressed that unlike last year’s inaugural NZB Kiwi (1500m) when eventual runner-up Evaporate (NZ) (Per Incanto) as well as Perfumist (NZ) (El Roca) and Public Attention (NZ) (Written Tycoon) made the trip to Auckland, there might be no Australian…
Fly Zenno to fulfil Oaks dream
Talented staying filly Fly Zenno (NZ) (Ancient Spirit) will line up in Saturday’s Gr.1 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai New Zealand Oaks (2400m) at Ellerslie, a target her connections have held close since day one. Prepared by Conor and Sarah Fahy, the scopey daughter of Ancient Spirit has finished just behind the minor placings at her past two outings, finishing fifth in the Gr.2 Sir Patrick Hogan Stakes (2000m) before a solid fourth in the Gr.2 David & Karyn Ellis Fillies Classic (2100m) at Te Rapa. On both occasions, Fly Zenno…
Ceolwulf cleared
Racing NSW stewards have cleared $10 million earner Ceolwulf (NZ) (Tavistock) to continue his autumn carnival campaign. Ceolwulf has passed a series of veterinary tests since he was found to have traces of blood in both nostrils after finishing unplaced in the Apollo Stakes won by unbeaten Autumn Glow at Royal Randwick last Saturday. The tests proved that Ceolwulf had not bled internally (lungs) which would have resulted in an automatic three-month racing Randwick Equine Centre veterinarians reported that endoscopic and computed tomographic examination have “ruled out any current major cause…