Author: NZRacingDesk

The boss of NZTR, Matt Ballesty, joins Michael in studio for an in-depth chat about the state of the industry, impending changes, and the future and plans with various tracks. Guerin Report – S2 Ep.3 Ft. Matt Ballesty

Cambridge Stud will break new ground this season when the iconic farm’s familiar gold and black checked silks will be in action in Hong Kong. Principals Sir Brendan and Lady Jo Lindsay have been granted an ownership permit with expatriate New Zealander Jamie Richards to train their Group One-performed representative Red Sea (NZ) (Pierata). “The Hong Kong Jockey Club invited I think around a dozen international owners to be part of the Hong Kong racing system,” Stud chief executive Henry Plumptre said. “Cambridge Stud has a single permit and in…

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Sadhbh scored a popular win at Te Rapa on Sunday when she broke through for her maiden victory in the Zappy – Send Couriers? Shipzappy.com 1500. The five-year-old daughter of Darci Brahma was bred and is raced by renowned racing photographer Trish Dunell, who was delighted to see her win while on the tools at Te Rapa. Dunell has taken a patient approach with her mare, who has just had the seven starts and has really come of age this preparation, placing in all three of her starts this time…

Trent Didham has become the fourth generation in his family to become a trainer after joining his father, Peter, in partnership earlier this month. The Awapuni horsemen have lined up four horses together in the last week, recording two runner-up results at Awapuni’s synthetic meeting on Sunday, a day that had three generations of the family on track. “It was pretty cool to do it (commence training) with Dad in partnership, I am pretty proud,” Trent Didham said. “Grandad was there as well (on Sunday), which was good. He trained…

Running Jedibeel (NZ) (Savabeel) first-up in the Gr.2 The Shorts (1100m) has never been Plan A for trainer Brad Widdup but after missing a scheduled start in the Gr.3 Concorde Stakes (1000m) due to a setback, he is resigned to pitting his charge against some of the country’s best sprinters. A key lead-up race to The Everest (1200m) on October 18, The Shorts is also being targeted by Gr.1 T J Smith Stakes (1200m) winner Briasa (Smart Missile), who has been trialling superbly, along with the likes of Joliestar (Zoustar), Private Harry (Harry Angel) and Headwall (Dream Ahead). Jedibeel was scratched from the Concorde…

The last couple of years have been a test for apprentice jockey Elen Nicholas, who has spent a significant amount of time on the sidelines with injury, but she returned with renewed vigour this year and was rewarded at New Plymouth on Saturday when recording her 100th win in the saddle. The expat Welsh horsewoman was two wins shy of the milestone heading into the Taranaki meeting and was duly thrilled to pilot home the first two winners on the card, Tulsa King and Our Time Keeper, at odds of…

Well-related filly Spark showed she has inherited a good measure of the family talent with a bold debut performance in black-type company at Riccarton. The daughter of Time Test overcame the outside barrier to finish a gallant fourth in Saturday’s Listed Canterbury Belle Stakes (1200m) for co-trainer, breeder and owner Guy Lowry. “We do rate her very highly and she had to do a bit from the wide draw,” said Lowry, who trains with Leah Zydenbos. “We weren’t worried about the ability, we were just worried about her greenness, given…

A dominant victory by Lucky Magic (NZ) (Mendelssohn) in the RM300,000 Selangor Gold Cup (1600m) on Sunday was the fourth consecutive win in the race for graduates of New Zealand Bloodstock’s Ready to Run Sale. Lucky Magic was a $35,000 purchase from Book 1 of Karaka 2022, then was secured by trainer HY Cheng for $75,000 from the Ready to Run Sale. He has followed in the recent Selangor Gold Cup-winning footsteps of fellow Ready to Run graduates Black Thorn (NZ) (Redwood), Pasir Pinji (NZ) (Nadeem) and Antipodean (NZ) (Derryn). Previously the winner of the RM 1m Selangor Mile…

A return to black-type competition is just around the corner for Midnight Edition (NZ) (Wrote), who kicked off his four-year-old season with a runaway victory in the Power Farming – We Keep You Growing (1200m) at Te Rapa on Sunday. The Wrote gelding gave a glimpse of his potential as a three-year-old last season with three wins and three placings, headed by a second in the Gr.2 Auckland Guineas (1400m) at Ellerslie. He initially dead-heated with Yaldi in that Boxing Day feature, but was relegated in the inquiry room. Midnight…