Author: NZRacingDesk

A trip north to Auckland next month is in the offing for Richard Stomper (NZ) (El Roca) when he heads to Riccarton on Saturday to contest the Waimakariri Businesses North Canterbury Cup (2000m). The five-win gelding holds a nomination for the Gr.1 Livamol Classic (2040m) at Ellerslie on October 18, and his connections are keen to see him contest the $550,000 feature if he performs well this weekend. “If he runs in the top four, we would still be keen to go to the Livamol,” trainer Stephanie Faulkner said. “It…

Last season’s champion two-year-old La Dorada (NZ) (Super Seth) will be out to prove her ability against her Australian counterparts on Friday night when she contests the Gr.3 Scarborough Stakes (1200m) at The Valley. A dominant winner of the $1 million Karaka Millions 2YO (1200m) and Gr.1 Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) last term on home soil, La Dorada was transferred across to Te Akau Racing’s Cranbourne base this spring and lined up against the older horses first-up in the Gr.1 Moir Stakes (1000m). The daughter of Super Seth finished…

The prospect of a heavy surface for Saturday’s Te Rapa meeting could play into the hands of Central Districts visitor Whangaehu. The versatile galloper has competed right out to the two miles of a Gr.2 Auckland Cup (3200m), but last term, he found career-best form over the middle-distance trips, winning the Gr.3 Trentham Stakes (2100m) and placing in the Gr.1 Herbie Dyke Stakes (2000m). Now firmly in the Group One fold, Whangaehu will resume in the Gr.1 Howden Insurance Mile (1600m), having had two public trials to prepare for trainers…

Only four horses have taken up the challenge of going from an autumn Mornington Cup victory to take on the Caulfield Cup in the spring since the former was first elevated to offer ballot-free status for the 2013 Cup at Caulfield. None have yet managed to be even placed in the Caulfield Cup, but trainer Ben Hayes is thinking this year might be different with plans to run 2025 Mornington Cup winner Bankers Choice at Caulfield in the $5 million feature on October 18. “If Bankers Choice (NZ) (Mongolian Khan)…

Bruce Tapper may have been a late starter to the training ranks, but he hasn’t let that slow him down, with the Timaru horseman bringing up his 100th win at his home track on Wednesday. It was a special day for Tapper, who was able to celebrate bringing up the milestone with visiting family members. “It was good to get it (100th win), it has been a while,” Tapper said. “I had three grandchildren from Cambridge and two from Pukekohe here, and three from Timaru, so it was pretty special…

There was a time when Annabel Tuthill wondered whether Tetbury (NZ) (Tavistock) would ever get to the races, but that all became a distant memory when the homebred mare became her first winner at Timaru on Wednesday. The daughter of Tavistock was having her 12th start and had placed on several occasions, and despite a wide barrier draw in the Power Farming Timaru 1600, was backed into clear favouritism in the hands of Bridget Grylls. She went back from the gate and settled into a good rhythm, while Happy Story…

New Zealand gelding Trust In You (NZ) (Sweynesse) should get conditions to suit at Rosehill on Saturday when he contests the Gr.3 Colin Stephen Quality (2400m). It will be his second run in Australia this preparation, having finished seventh in the Gr.3 Newcastle Gold Cup (2300m) earlier this month after a first-up run on an unsuitable Heavy10 track over a mile at Te Rapa last month. “His first-up run (at Te Rapa) was okay because it was a really heavy track and he doesn’t handle a real heavy track,” said…

Lucky Sweynesse’s (NZ) (Sweynesse) preparation for Sunday’s (28 September) G1 Sprinters Stakes (1200m) saw the four-time Group 1 winner gallop gracefully over Nakayama’s turf course under beaming sunshine this morning (Wednesday, 24 September) in Tokyo, Japan. Trainer Manfred Man and owners the Cheng family watched on delighted as the seven-year-old brown gelding powered up the 310m-long uphill home straight under restraint from jockey Derek Leung, who with Lucky Sweynesse, is aiming to secure Hong Kong, China’s third win in the prized contest this weekend after Silent Witness (2005) and Ultra…

Lady Luck has finally smiled on talented filly Tale Of The Gypsy (Written By), who has been plagued by wide barriers throughout her short career to date. The daughter of Written By has jumped from the outside gate in half of her six appearances and contended with poor draws in the other three. Despite that, she posted a debut victory last season and finished fourth in the Gr.1 Sistema (1200m), fifth in the Gr.2 Matamata Breeders’ Stakes (1200m) and had no luck again when out of the money in the…

Otaki trainer Andrew Campbell is excited about the prospects of his promising juvenile Singletary (NZ) (Satono Aladdin), and he is looking forward to kicking off his career in the Vets On Riverbank Two-Year-Old (800m) at his home track on Friday. The Satono Aladdin colt was purchased by Campbell and his primary owner Tommy Heptinstall out of Rich Hill Stud’s 2025 New Zealand Bloodstock Book 2 draft for $125,000, and he is living up to his price tag. He has impressed Campbell with his two trials to date, including victory over…