Leaderboard has been a force to be reckoned with since his transition to jumps racing, and this week he will be seeking his crowning glory at the Warrnambool May Carnival. The 10-year-old son of Street Cry will have two bites at the cherry, firstly in the Brierly Steeplechase (3450m) on Tuesday before backing up two days later in the Grand Annual Steeplechase (5500m). Raced by New Zealand syndicator Fortuna, Leaderboard performed with distinction on the flat, winning seven races, including the Gr.3 Wellington Cup (3200m) and Listed NZ St Leger…
Author: NZRacingDesk
Beaufort mare produces a beauty
Annabel and Olly Tuthill will be in search of another Swiss Beauty in Sydney next week after her daughter Betty Spaghetti starred on the big stage at Riccarton Park on Saturday. A mare with a name to match her ability, Betty Spaghetti was a stakes performer and five-race winner prior to her deserved triumph in the Listed Daphne Bannan Memorial Great Easter Stakes (1400m), the first stakes winner for her sire Stratum Star. The victory came to great satisfaction for the North Canterbury couple, who bred the five-year-old under their…
Big weight for Kiwi hurdler in Brierly
It’ll be the same old story for Berry The Cash (NZ) (Jakkalberry) in his Australian debut at Warrnambool on Tuesday, carrying a clear topweight as he contests the time-honoured Brierly Steeplechase (3450m). The class Awapuni jumper is no stranger to sitting on top of the book, carrying 73kg to victory in last year’s Sydenham Hurdles (3100m) and Grand National Hurdles (4200m), as well as 72.5kg at Hawke’s Bay. With most of New Zealand’s hurdling trophies locked away, trainer Mark Oulaghan decided it was time for Berry The Cash to take…
Mr B pulls up ‘OK’ from HK test
Globetrotting champion Mr Brightside (NZ) (Bullbars) has ‘pulled up well’ and will return home soon following his disappointing performance, finishing last in the Gr.1 Champions Mile (1600m). Co-trainer Will Hayes said that the initial signs were that the horse had pulled up ok from the race but had over raced in the run, getting his mouth open and never settling, with his regular rider Craig Williams in the saddle. “His performance was really disappointing,” Williams said. “Most importantly, let’s see how he recovers. He was in a nice position. I…
Stockman to make hurdle debut
The black and lime green colours of Jamie Walter’s Proven Thoroughbreds syndication company have been carried to victory in a host of feature races around the country, including by the likes of 2023 The Everest winner Think About It (So You Think) and fellow Group One winner Private Eye (Al Maher). On Tuesday, the colours are set to seen in a jumps race for the first time at the famed Warrnambool three-day carnival with multiple stakes-winning stayer Stockman (NZ) (Tavistock) entered to make his jumps debut in a Maiden Hurdle.…
Mother and daughter doing Elsdon proud
Talented filly Ardalio (NZ) (Ardrossan) has already done more than enough to take her place alongside her dam in Elsdon Park’s broodmare band, but there are expectations she can further boost her value next season. Bred and raced by farm principal Lib Petagna, the three-year-old produced a stirring performance to win Saturday’s Gr.3 Cambridge Breeders’ Stakes (1200m). Ardalio’s Te Rapa success, the third of her six-start career, followed a luckless midfield finish in the $3.5 million NZB Kiwi (1500m) after racing three wide without cover from a wide gate. “We…
Hong Kong fairytale not to be for EV
El Vencedor’s (NZ) (Shocking) trip to Hong Kong to contest Sunday’s Gr.1 FWD QEII Cup (2000m) had the making of a fairytale for his Kiwi connections, but it was not to be, with the multiple Group One winner fading late after racing keenly throughout. His trainer Stephen Marsh was extended an invitation from the Hong Kong Jockey Club to compete at their prestigious FWD Champions Day meeting following his impressive run of form in New Zealand, including three successive Group One victories. The Cambridge horseman was excited to test his…
Ka ying Rising seals perfect season
Superstar Hong Kong sprinter Ka Ying Rising (NZ) (Shamexpress) completed a record-equalling season with scintillating victory in the HK$22 million Gr.1 Chairman’s Sprint Prize (1200m) at Sha Tin on Sunday. Taking his unbeaten record to 12 consecutive races in defeating a world-class field of 12 rivals in a winning time of 1m 07.88s, Ka Ying Rising completed a clean sweep of the Hong Kong Speed Series and collected a HK$5 million bonus, emulating the feats of Mr Vitality (1995/96), Grand Delight (2002/03), Silent Witness (2003/04 and 2004/05) and Lucky Sweynesse…
Khafre triumphs in rescheduled feature
Nothing went to script in the lead up to the Listed Manawatu ITM ANZAC Mile (1600m), but when the race finally took its place on Sunday evening at Wanganui, the favourite in Khafre (American Pharoah) delivered on expectations. The feature contest was initially set to be run on Friday at Awapuni, which was subsequently abandoned following a slip in the first race. Moved two days later across to the River City, the race was added to the end of a nine-race programme, but in the seventh event, a horse was…
Grays get the Gold with ex-Singapore galloper
Talented sprinter Silent Is Gold (Star Turn) collected his first victory on New Zealand soil at Wanganui on Sunday with a powerful display in the Fraser Auret Racing Open Handicap (1350m). The son of Star Turn was among a handful of horses that travelled to New Zealand upon Stephen Gray’s return from Singapore, and with him came good credentials, with seven wins and multiple Group Three placings to his record. Since arriving, Silent Is Gold has performed solidly with three runner-up finishes in six starts and ran creditably in each…