Author: NZRacingDesk

Evaporate crowned a stellar period for his sire across the Tasman when he produced a gallant performance to land the thick end of the stake in Saturday’s Gr.3 Sandown Stakes (1500m). The Ben, Will and JD Hayes-trained four-year-old is a Little Avondale Stud homebred son of resident sire Per Incanto. “He had an outstanding week in Australia with eight winners, capped off by Evaporate,” Little Avondale Stud principal Sam Williams said. The farm had also earlier celebrated a victory at Te Rapa with the Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott-prepared She’s…

The Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr stable is weighing up the pros and cons of a Gr.1 Caulfield Cup (2400m) start for Golden Path (NZ) (Belardo).  If it is decided the Caulfield Cup is the race for Golden Path, then Saturday’s Gr.1 Turnbull Stakes (2000m) will be the next step towards the 2400m feature on October 18.  “It is still to be confirmed but he’ll have a nomination in the Turnbull,” Kent Jnr said.  “We’ve had some lengthy discussions with the ownership group, and we might have a throw at the Caulfield Cup.  “If we are going…

Apprentice jockey Jack Taplin sustained a broken wrist in Saturday’s shocking race fall at Riccarton Park, which involved four other jockeys including Bridget Grylls and Brandon May, who were also injured. Taplin’s mount King Of The Castle was brought down by the fallen Richard Stomper (May) near the 550m, with the trailing Koyama (Yogesh Atchamah), She’s So Reliable (Grylls) and Proserve (Brett Murray) unable to avoid the fallen horses and dislodging their respective riders. Atchamah and Murray were assessed by St John personnel and cleared of injury, while Taplin, May…

Robbie Patterson was given a boost of confidence around the future of staying mare Freebelle (NZ) (Belardo) when she came out on top in the Murdoch Contracting 1400 at Waverley on Sunday. The five-year-old had just five starts under her belt in a short career to date, two of those being winning efforts over a mile, so Patterson anticipated she may find the seven furlongs a touch sharp first-up this campaign. Kavish Chowdhoory got the late call-up to ride the mare after regular stable rider Craig Grylls was unable to…

Promising three-year-old filly Shameless Star (NZ) (Shamexpress) continued a week of milestone successes for the Didham family at Waverley on Sunday. The daughter of Shamexpress delivered her co-trainer Peter Didham’s 100th training victory in the NZB Mega Maiden Series (1200m), just two days after the Awapuni horseman got his first win in partnership with his son, Trent Didham, courtesy of Danjuro (NZ) (Saxon Warrior) at Otaki. Shameless Star had appeared three times as a juvenile, the third of those contesting the Gr.1 Manawatu Sires Produce Stakes (1400m) at the end of…

Join Guy Heveldt, Emily Bosson and Jayne Ivil as they review a Group 1 weekend. They’re joined by Lance O’Sullivan who talks about the stables favourite in Waitak, and hear from Kylie Williams who reflects on 1000 wins. Weigh In, September 28

Well-related stayer Notabadspillane (NZ) (Time Test) has a prestigious Cups target in his sights after a comprehensive victory in the Inspire Racing St John’s Old Boys Syndicate (2100m) at Te Rapa on Saturday. The Shaun Phelan-prepared galloper had been a comfortable winner over a similar distance at the course a fortnight ago, and with regular rider Elen Nicholas in the saddle, he started favourite for the $65,000 contest ahead of Tisse and Tregor. Nicholas showed intent early from the gate, pressing forward to lead early before allowing Talentoso to cross…

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Smart four-year-old Evaporate bounced back from a setback to win Saturday’s Gr.3 Sandown Stakes (1500m) in gallant fashion, defeating favourite Transatlantic by a nose. Lumping 59kgs and racing three-wide early in the piece, jockey Blake Shinn threw the map out of the window and elected to roll forward and dictate the running on the son of Per Incanto, who ran out a deserved winner. Trainers Ben, Will and JD Hayes will now target the Gr.1 Toorak Handicap (1600m) with the gelding who finished fifth in the Gr.2 P.B Lawrence Stakes…

Saturday’s Howden Insurance Mile (1600m) at Te Rapa took Waitak (NZ) (Proisir) past the million-dollar barrier and added another triumphant chapter to his unique Group One record. The $400,000 weight-for-age showpiece was Waitak’s 12th appearance at Group One level. Those dozen races have been spread across his two, three, four, five and now six-year-old seasons, and they have ranged from 1200m all the way up to 2400m. Before Saturday, Waitak’s career highlight came with his stunning burst from the back of the field to win the Gr.1 Sistema Railway (1200m)…