Author: NZRacingDesk

Chris Rutten has a knack for selecting Karaka Millions 2YO contenders, and he looks to have struck again, this time with the Roydon Bergerson-trained Sweetest Thing. The daughter of Hello Youmzain impressed when runner-up to Lassified in the Listed Wellesley Stakes (1100m) at Trentham on Saturday, with her runner-up cheque of $18,500 putting her on the cusp of qualifying for the $1 million TAB Karaka Millions (1200m) at Ellerslie on January 24. It’s a race Rutten has a strong association with, having won it with Vespa in 2014, and he…

Waikato Stud-bred filly La Dorada continues to add further honours to her richly decorated family. The daughter of resident sire Super Seth enjoyed an outstanding juvenile season with success in the Gr.1 Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m), Karaka Millions 2YO (1200m) and Gr.2 Matamata Breeders’ Stakes (1200m). At Trentham on Saturday, she returned to top form with success in the Gr.2 Levin Classic (1400m), with the $1.5 million TAB Karaka Millions 3YO (1600m) now in the sights of trainers Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson. La Dorada was a $190,000 purchase…

Ruakaka trainer Michelle Bradley will line-up a trio of runners at her home track on Tuesday, including No Plan Be, who will attempt to secure the Trigg Construction Northland Cup (2100m) for the local horsewoman. The six-year-old daughter of Tarzino won over the same track and distance last month, giving Bradley the confidence to press on to her home cup, with Courtney Barnes retaining the ride. “She has trained on well since her win, it was good to get that result,” Bradley said. “She is very well and has just…

Wanganui trainer Kevin Myers and Canterbury apprentice jockey Floor Moerman proved to be a potent combination at Omoto on Sunday, bagging a treble at the Greymouth meeting, including the Recreation Hotel Greymouth Cup (2000m) with Sunset Boulevard (NZ) (Eminent). The Peter Vela-bred and raced gelding was heavily favoured to take out the meeting’s feature race, having been freshened since his two victories over New Zealand Cup Week in November. Moerman was positive from the jump aboard the son of Eminent, settling him outside early pacemaker Taimate Diva before taking a…

Join a full team this week on Weigh In. Guy Heveldt, Emily Murphy, Aidan Rodley and Jayne Ivil break down the action from Trentham on a Group 1 raceday and look back to the New Years Day Races out of Ellerslie. Weigh In, January 4

It will be an anxious few weeks for the connections of State The Obvious (NZ) (Sword Of State) as they wait to see if their filly makes the cut for the $1 million TAB Karaka Millions 2YO (1200m) at Ellerslie on January 24. The daughter of Sword Of State made a strong play at Te Aroha on Saturday when winning the Mark Anderson Memorial Maiden 2YO (1000m), with her $10,360 winning cheque bringing her earnings to $11,285, placing her in 20th position in order of entry for the Karaka Millions, meaning…

Miss Jones (Deep Field) showed plenty of promise in Australia, placing in six of her 10 starts for trainers Richard and Will Freedman, but she has found her groove since crossing the Tasman. The daughter of Deep Field broke through for her maiden win when victorious in her New Zealand debut for new trainer Cody Cole at Ellerslie last month and doubled her tally at Trentham on Saturday when taking out the Listen Live On Sportnation.co.nz Maiden Sprint (1200m). From her outside draw in the seven-horse field, she was taken…

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD NEWSLETTER

Six-year-old mare Precious Charm showed her trademark grit to overcome a firm Geelong track and a quick back-up, scoring her ninth career win in a thrilling A$200,000 Coastal Classic (1700m) at Geelong on Saturday. Jockey Harry Coffey said the firm nature of the track was a factor as the daughter of Per Incanto only narrowly defeated Verdad and Reset The Jazz. “She might have been feeling that firm ground on the back-up, so it took a lot of urging to get her to win, but she may have been looking…

Promising two-year-old Warwoven has stamped himself as the horse to beat in the A$3 million Magic Millions 2YO Classic (1200m) as the son of Cambridge Stud stallion Sword Of State remained unbeaten in two starts with a facile victory at Eagle Farm on Saturday. Carrying 59kg topweight, the Bjorn Baker-trained youngster relaxed beautifully behind the speed and accelerated when a gap presented at the top of the straight for rider Rachel King to score by just over three lengths from runner-up Lumbini. “It’s always great to win and it’s not…