Stars of the future go under the hammer at Karaka on Thursday with New Zealand Bloodstock’s National Weanling Sale set to commence at 10am. The one-day auction features 118 thoroughbreds after withdrawals including weanlings by a host of proven and emerging sires, with opportunities for pinhookers and end-users alike. Proven sires such as Savabeel, Per Incanto, Proisir, Shocking, Satono Aladdin, Shamexpress, Ocean Park, Spirit of Boom and Almanzor are well represented, along with rising star Super Seth. The second crop of emerging young sires Noverre and Sword Of State will…
Author: NZRacingDesk
Sporting and racing codes to receive major boost from NZ betting law changes
Changes to New Zealand betting laws which passed in Parliament today will provide a vital boost to New Zealand sporting and racing codes and to the safety of New Zealand bettors when the bill becomes law later this month. Alongside the strengthened harm minimisation protections for New Zealand customers as a result of these law changes, a NZ$100m payment from Entain Group — which will be made after the changes to the Racing Industry Act take effect — will further deepen Entain’s commitment to the New Zealand industry and will…
Imprevu seeking to plunder Northland riches
Imprevu (NZ) (Wrote) will head north to Ruakaka for just the second time this weekend, and trainer Janenne Dalley is hoping she can capture the lion’s share of the $60,000 purse on offer in the ITM/GIB Sprinters Championship Final (1400m). Dalley has been on the search for better footing for her mare to see out her preparation and she is hoping she is met with just that on Saturday, having bypassed last Saturday’s Listed Tauranga Classic (1400m) in favour of the northern assignment. “We looked at the Tauranga Classic, but…
Liefting hoping long trek pays off this weekend
Pukekohe trainer Rudy Liefting will make the long trek down State Highway One with a couple of his jumpers this week to target Trentham’s Grant Plumbing Wellington Steeplechase Day on Saturday. His charge will be led by nine-year-old gelding Mont Ventoux in the Aztech Engineering Wellington Hurdle (3200m), with the son of Nom du Jeu looking to improve on his last-start third placing in the Waikato Hurdle (3200m). “His last start third was encouraging,” Liefting said. “I have really got to tackle the big ones because he is up in…
The voice of the Melbourne Cup is coming to Trentham
Trentham racegoers are in for a treat this Saturday, with Matt Hill, the voice of the Melbourne Cup, on course to call the Grant Plumbing Wellington Steeplechase (4900m). Hill’s voice is one of the most recognisable in Australian sport, with the Melbournian not only calling horse racing, but also AFL, the Olympics, and since 2012 he has been a commentator and presenter for the Australian Open Tennis. He enjoys the diversity of calling multiple sports and is thrilled to have followed in the footsteps of a couple of his idols.…
Antino nears spring stable return
Star galloper Antino (NZ) (Redwood) isn’t far off returning to Tony Gollan’s Brisbane stables to ramp up his preparations for a Melbourne spring campaign aimed towards the Gr.1 Cox Plate. Antino, brilliant winner of last spring’s Gr.1 Toorak Handicap in Melbourne, starred in his home state during his most recent campaign with dominant victories in the Gr.2 Hollindale Stakes (1800m) at the Gold Coast second-up and the Gr.1 Doomben Cup (2000m) demolition on May 24. Gollan told RSN Racing Pulse on Tuesday that Antino is scheduled to return to his stable next Monday…
Purton’s Rising Caviar comparison
Zac Purton has spoken of how highly he rates superstar Hong Kong sprinter Ka Ying Rising (NZ) (Shamexpress), saying if he goes to another level this campaign ‘he starts to get himself up into the Black Caviar territory’. The current odds-on favourite for The Everest, who has won his past 12 starts including four at Group One level, will return in September’s Chief Executive Cup, a race he won with ease last year. From there, there’s no easy path to the $20 million contest in Sydney, but Purton believes the…
Hazlett’s hurdles and highs in racing
Tommy Hazlett was destined for a life in the racing industry, and the popular figure has seen it all, and won most, when it comes to riding over fences. Growing up in Southland, Hazlett was raised in a racing environment, with his father Mike Hazlett both an owner-trainer and a successful amateur rider, and his grand-uncle, hall of famer Bill Hazlett, among New Zealand’s leading owners and was twice runner-up in the national trainer’s premiership. From an early age, Hazlett had aspirations of becoming a jockey, and riding over fences…
Spiritus flying flag for southern sire at Pukekohe
Spiritus (NZ) (Ancient Spirit) will become the first North Island representative for southern sire Ancient Spirit on Wednesday at Pukekohe, and the juvenile has made a good impression on his trainer in the lead-up. Standing at White Robe Lodge, the multiple Group Two-winning son of Invincible Spirit has had a handful of runners closer to home, including placegetter Bobby Mcgee. Sourced from the Mosgiel nursery, Spiritus entered the care of experienced horseman Chad Orsmby, who couldn’t speak more highly of the gelding. “He’s my first (Ancient Spirit) in training and…
Foxbridge Plate locked in as major target for Debit
Stakes targets are in the offing for Te Aroha mare Debit (NZ) (Darci Brahma), with trainer Peter Lock impressed with the way she has returned this year. The five-year-old daughter of Darci Brahma had a perfect spring preparation last year, winning all three of her starts, extending her envious record to four wins and a placing from five career starts. Lock elected to bring her south to the Foxton trials on Tuesday, along with a couple of stablemates, and he was pleased with the way she went, finishing fourth in…