Author: NZRacingDesk

Jimmysstar (NZ) (Per Incanto) may be heading off for his summer break, but rival camps could soon have another headache to deal with as his younger brother goes public for the first time on Monday. In’kantosstar (NZ) (Per Incanto) is also trained by Ciaron Maher and is listed for his first jumpout at Cranbourne over 800 metres on Monday morning to begin a much-awaited racing career on the back of Jimmysstar’s incredible two years of racing in Australia. “Jimmy’s going out and he’s playing tag-team with his little brother In’kantosstar,”…

Te Akau Racing collected a race-to-race double at Tauranga on Saturday, including a highly satisfying return to winning form by When Stars Align (NZ) (Zoustar) in the Stonewood Homes 1200. A well-related son of Zoustar bought by David Ellis for $400,000 as a yearling at Karaka in 2023, When Stars Align showed bright promise in the early stages of his career. He was a debut winner at Trentham as a two-year-old, then contested the Karaka Millions 2YO (1200m) in only his second start. He returned at three to place behind…

Classy mare Mary Shan (NZ) (Almanzor) has black-type targets on her agenda after bouncing back to winning form in Saturday’s Happy Hire Cup (1400m) at Tauranga. The daughter of Almanzor was close up in elite three-year-old competition two seasons ago, finishing second in the Gr.2 Soliloquy Stakes (1400m) and Eight Carat Classic (1600m), fourth in the Gr.1 Levin Classic (1600m) and fifth in the Gr.1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m). She added another two black-type placings to her record in last season’s Listed Aotearoa Classic (1600m) and Matamata Cup (1600m).…

Karaka graduate Patch Of Stars (All Too Hard) lived up to expectations in the feature Class 2 Lukfook Jewellery Cup Handicap (1200m) and boosted his Four-Year-Old Classic Series prospects with a smart win for Manfred Man and Zac Purton on an eventful day at Sha Tin on Saturday. Purton, who bagged a treble to extend his championship lead to 22 wins, spoke cautiously about Patch Of Stars drawing a tricky barrier nine in the build-up to the race. But in the event, he was able to manoeuvre the All Too…

Zambardo is one of the most improved horses in the country with a Gr.1 Mackinnon Stakes placing at Flemington. Michael Kent (junior) says It wasn’t all plane sailing when he arrived in their care from NZ. Michael Kent Jnr 14.11.25 – Racing HQ with Steve Hewlett – Apple Podcasts

Join Guy Heveldt, Emily Murphy and Jayne Ivil as they dissect the racing from Riccarton as NZ Cup Week comes to a close. National Thoroughbred Week gets under way, and we talk to Vicky Leonard to find out what we need to know about this great initiative. Weigh In, November 16

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Former Gr.1 New Zealand Derby (2400m) winner Asterix (NZ) (Tavistock) returned to top form and scored his first Australian victory in the A$300,000 NZB The Beauford (2300m) at Newcastle on Saturday. The Chris Waller-trained gelding showed signs that he might be finding form with a close last-start fifth in the A$500,000 St Leger (2600m) at Randwick on October 18, and his stamina and class were on full display on Saturday as he outstayed his 11 rivals in the hands of jockey Jason Collett. “I thought his run was great the…

Promising New Zealand-bred galloper Taken (NZ) (Ardrossan) won four races in a row to close out his last campaign, and he picked up where he left off with a first-up victory at Caulfield on Saturday. The A$130,000 RM Williams Handicap (1400m) was Taken’s first raceday appearance since June, and he finished second at Cranbourne on October 20 in his only preparatory trial. Ridden by Ethan Brown for trainers Mick Price and Michael Kent Jr, the four-year-old dug deep in the straight despite a tiring three-wide run, snatching victory by a…

Expat New Zealand trainer John Sargent expected a strong showing from Meridiana (NZ) (Preferment) at Newcastle on Saturday, and that was exactly what he got in the A$160,000 Lees Racing ‘Legend’ Mile (1600m). The New Zealand-bred mare was heading into the Benchmark 78 handicap after a last-start second in the A$500,000 Four Pillars (1500m) at Rosehill on November 1. “She was a bit stiff in that race,” Sargent said. “She couldn’t get out when we wanted to and it cost her the race, because they weren’t really coming from the…