Author: NZRacingDesk

Group One performer Faraglioni (NZ) (El Roca) showed she is back on track this preparation following her comfortable 1000m trial victory at Foxton on Tuesday. The six-year-old mare put in a subpar showing when finishing last in the Listed City Of Napier Sprint (1200m) at Trentham last month, with a subsequent blood test revealing she had an iron deficiency. Trainer and part-owner Josh Shaw gave his pride and joy a few weeks in the paddock, and he was a relieved man on Tuesday when watching her dominate her heat. “She…

Southern mare Ears Back (NZ) (Jakkalberry) will be seeking to end her season on a high when she heads to Wanganui on Saturday to contest the Listed AGC Training Stakes (1600m). Rangiora trainer John Blackadder sent the six-year-old mare north for a two-run campaign, and while things didn’t go to plan in her opening target, the Listed Rangitikei Cup (1600m), he is confident she can bounce back this weekend. “She was quite unlucky last start,” Blackadder said. “She was travelling pretty well and then hit a real heavy spot on…

Te Akau’s southern arm have a busy week ahead, with a big team at Thursday’s Riccarton Synthetic meeting before talented juvenile Cool Aza Rene treks to Wingatui on Sunday. The Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson-trained gallopers will be out in force in each of the Rating 75 contests on the polytrack, with Mitre Peak, Alminette and Beau Brummell taking their place in the Racecourse Hotel and Motor Lodge Rating 75 (1600m). A mare by More Than Ready, Mitre Peak (More Than Ready) was only narrowly beaten when resuming behind subsequent…

Pedigree enthusiasts would have noted the result of Monday’s 3000-metre Benchmark 70 at Mornington immediately, with two kiwi bred full brothers of Melbourne Cup winners fighting out the finish. The seven-horse field contained Affluential (NZ) (Zed), the brother of late 2021 Cup winner Verry Elleegant, and Heir To The Throne (NZ) (Pentire), the brother of 2015 Cup victor Prince Of Penzance. And as it turned out, the pair would quinella the race, with just a nose separating the well-related stayers in a thrilling go on the line. John Leek Jnr’s…

Cambridge Stud owned Joliestar (Zoustar) will have to overcome a wide draw if she’s to add a third Group One to her sparkling CV. Chris Waller’s four-year-old mare has drawn barrier 13 of 14 in the Gr.1 Kingsford Smith Cup (1300m) at Eagle Farm on Saturday. In her favour however will be the man aboard, with James Mcdonald set to reunite with the daughter of Zoustar for the first time since The Everest (1200m) in October last year. Since then, Joliestar has won the Gr.1 Newmarket Handicap (1200m) under Damian…

Kiwi hoop Wiremu Pinn made an instant impact when trying his hand riding in Melbourne a couple of years ago, and now he is hoping he can do the same in Sydney.  The 26-year-old flew across the Tasman last week to commence a winter riding stint in New South Wales, and if everything goes to plan, it may be a one-way ticket.  It brings to a close a pleasing season in his homeland, where Pinn recorded 40 wins, eight of those at stakes level, including two Group One victories aboard…

Emily Murphy brings you Winter Weigh In, your place for Thoroughbred racing news, reviews and insights throughout the colder months. Hamish McNeill is in the chair to review the jumps action from the weekend. Then Sam Weatherley joins us from Brisbane to look at the action from Australia and give his assessment of Pier. Winter Weigh In, May 26

Ace High filly She’s A Dealer (Ace High) will keep ticking over until her Classic aspirations become clear. The Roger James and Robert Wellwood-trained three-year-old was a gallant runner-up at Randwick on Saturday, but her chances of a start in the Gr.1 Queensland Oaks (2400m) remain unclear. She’s A Dealer pleased connections in her Australian debut over 1800m on a heavy track under regular rider George Rooke in Rich Hill Stud’s colours. “We just don’t know yet whether she’ll make the Oaks field,” farm principal John Thompson said. “She’ll stay…

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Lindsay Park will target both Group One’s in Brisbane on Saturday, with the decision made to send staying filly Chase Your Dreams (NZ) (Contributer) up against the boys in the A$1 million Gr.1 Queensland Derby (2400m). Co-trainer Ben Hayes said on Monday that it was felt the timing of the Derby works better for the recent Gr.3 SA Classic (2500m) runner-up than waiting a further week for the Gr.1 Queensland Oaks (2200m). “We just felt that it would be a month (between runs), which was a bit awkward and there…