New Zealand-breds filled three of the first four placings in Saturday’s A$1.5 million Tabtouch Northerly Stakes (1800m) at Ascot, headed by tenacious and impressive winner Cosmic Crusader (NZ) (Maurice). Carrying on from highly successful spring carnivals in Sydney and Melbourne, where Group One victories were recorded by Kiwi-breds Mr Brightside (NZ) (Bullbars), Globe (NZ) (Charm Spirit), Ka Ying Rising (NZ) (Shamexpress), Ceolwulf (NZ) (Tavistock) (two) and Jimmysstar (NZ) (Per Incanto), Cosmic Crusader brought up the seventh Group One win for the (NZ) suffix in Australia this season and was backed…
Author: NZRacingDesk
Midnight Edition claims Concorde Stakes
Midnight Edition (NZ) (Wrote), who has genuine claims to the title of most improved galloper in the North Island this season, stepped up to a new level at Pukekohe when he claimed the Gr.3 Concorde Stakes (1200m) in emphatic fashion. The Bruce Wallbank-trained four-year-old had shown plenty of promise during his three-year-old campaign, including a dead-heat for first with Yaldi in the Gr.2 Auckland Guineas (1400m) only to be relegated to second in a post-race protest. He finished that season off with a victory at Te Rapa in April and…
Provence clinches close finish in Trentham Group One
It was an anxious few moments for the connections of Provence (NZ) (Savabeel) as they waited to hear the judge’s call following the Gr.1 TAB Mufhasa Classic (1600m) at Trentham on Saturday, and they erupted when their mare’s name was called out first. In shades of the photo finish between Enzo’s Lad (Testa Rossa) and Ferrando (NZ) (Fast ‘N’ Famous) in the 2019 Gr.1 Telegraph (1200m) at the Upper Hutt track, there was a significant delay to the judge’s call as they studied the tight photo finish between Provence, Waitak…
The Scunner upsets in Spring Sprint
Lightly raced six-year-old The Scunner (NZ) (Shamexpress) showed his last start runner-up finish at Group Three level was no fluke as he backed that effort up with another professional display to capture the Gr.3 Taylor Property Plus Spring Sprint (1400m) at Trentham. The Ashley Meadows-prepared son of Shamexpress was having just his 15th career start on Saturday but showed he has now hit his straps with a vengeance as he downed the top two favoured runners in the contest, Riccarton visitor Mystic Park (NZ) (Ocean Park) and Cambridge raider Kitty…
That’s Gold fulfils early promise with Bonecrusher triumph
Chris Wood has had faith from day one that his promising youngster That’s Gold (Lucky Vega) would make an impact on the track, and he repaid that on Saturday when taking out the Gr.3 Bonecrusher Stakes (1400m) at Pukekohe. The three-year-old son of Lucky Vega had shown plenty of ability for Wood as an early juvenile, placing in two starts and running fourth in the Listed Counties Challenge Stakes (1100m), but a win remained elusive. He returned as a three-year-old and placed first-up at Te Aroha in October before breaking…
Mr consistency heads to Ballarat Cup
Ocean Beyond (NZ) (Ocean Park) may not be the friend of the punter, but what he is he’s a consistent money spinner for his connections. The Simon Ryan-trained galloper will try to collect his biggest prize on Saturday when he runs in the $500,000 Listed Ballarat Cup (2000m) and attempt to build on his A$535,475 bankroll. Now an eight-year-old, Ocean Beyond has been winless since May 2022 when successful in the Listed Straight Six (1200m) at Flemington. After originally starting out with Daniel Bowman at Warrnambool, which included a win on Ballarat Cup Day in 2021, Ocean Beyond then had a stint with Andrew Bobbin before…
Master Fay set to take flight in Concorde
It may no longer be on the big stage of Karaka Millions night, but a win in Saturday’s Gr.3 Concorde Stakes (1200m) at Pukekohe would mean just as much to trainer Chad Ormsby. The Cambridge horseman is targeting the feature sprint with stable favourite Master Fay (Deep Field), who took out last year’s running on the highly anticipate meeting at Ellerslie on the eve of New Zealand Bloodstock’s National Yearling Sales. It was Master Fay’s second start in New Zealand following his comeback from Hong Kong, where he won his…
Twain ready for Concorde as Bell eyes another Railway
Ultra-consistent sprinter Twain (NZ) (Per Incanto) is ready to take an important step to his main summer target when he lines up in the Gr.3 Concorde Stakes (1200m) at Pukekohe Park on Saturday. In 14 starts dating back to his debut in July last year, the Per Incanto gelding has won seven times and never finished further back than fourth. As a son of 2013 Gr.1 Sistema Railway Stakes (1200m) winner Fleur de Lune (NZ) (Stravinsky), it’s no surprise that the late January Ellerslie sprint is his prime assignment, and…
Mystic Park primed for Trentham sprint
Riccarton trainers Michael and Matthew Pitman love a trip north to Trentham, and they are once again looking forward to heading to the Upper Hutt track this weekend with a trio of contenders. Trentham has been a happy hunting ground for the father-and-son duo, who have recorded some of their biggest wins at the track, including Savvy Coup’s (NZ) (Savabeel) Gr.1 New Zealand Oaks (2400m) triumph and Enzo’s Lad’s (Testa Rossa) back-to-back victories in the Gr.1 Telegraph (1200m). “It is probably my favourite track,” Michael Pitman said. “It has been…
Manners the key for Taylor Square in Bonecrusher
Paul Mirabelli may have lost Group One performer Shoma (NZ) (Contributer) from his Cambridge stable, but he believes he still has plenty of three-year-old firepower in his barn. While still a maiden after 10 starts, Shoma impressed when placing in last month’s Gr.1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) at Riccarton, with that performance generating plenty of overseas interest in the son of Contributer. A deal was subsequently brokered with expat Kiwi trainers Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young, and he will continue his racing career from their Cranbourne barn. “People obviously…