Author: NZRacingDesk

The Lindsay Park team of Ben, Will and J D Hayes concede the Gr.1 Moir Stakes (1000m) will not be an easy assignment for Oak Hill (NZ) (Per Incanto), but the stable is confident the sprinter can turn around his form.  A first-up winner over the 1000m journey at Moonee Valley last month, Oak Hill returns to the track and trip for Saturday’s Group One contest looking to put behind him a disappointing fifth of seven when sent out favourite at his most recent outing.  That was in the Listed Carlyon Stakes (1000m) and Ben Hayes said the stable had subsequently…

Erin Leighton will continue her comeback to raceday riding when she heads to Otaki on Saturday to pilot debutant Sea Wolf in the AR Painters Maiden (1400m) for employer Roydon Bergerson. The 33-year-old hoop’s name had been absent from the racebook for three years following injury, but she made her return last Saturday at Wanganui where she had two rides, and scored a placing aboard the Bergerson-trained Our Giulia. Leighton is rapt to be back in the saddle on raceday, admitting she missed the thrill of competition. “I love it.…

Gr.1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) hopeful Mark Twain has landed in Melbourne and will commence his path towards the iconic feature at The Valley on Saturday. While the A$200,000 So You Think Stakes (1500m) wasn’t the original plan for the six-year-old son of Shocking, trainers Roger James and Robert Wellwood elected to head over to Melbourne early after inclement weather curtailed their plans in New Zealand. “He has travelled over well and settled in nicely, he looks great,” Wellwood said. “It wasn’t our first pick of races, he was due to…

Ka Ying Rising (NZ) (Shamexpress) this morning effortlessly completed fast-work preparations for the HK$3.72 million Class 1 HKSAR Chief Executive’s Cup Handicap (1200m) at Sha Tin on Sunday (7 September), when the world’s highest-rated sprinter bids to extend his winning streak to 13 straight races. Partnered by regular rider Zac Purton, Hong Kong’s reigning Horse Of The Year sauntered down the back straight on Sha Tin’s dirt track before upping the tempo over the final 400m, clocking 24.1s and pleasing trainer David Hayes. “It was just typical Ka Ying Rising…

Parting with a lot of coin for a relatively unproven racehorse is a risky proposition for most. So, when Darcy Mangan and his fellow directors of Ace Bloodstock were advised by renowned bloodstock agent Phil Cataldo to buy into a maiden winner named Niance (NZ) (Swiss Ace), who then failed to fire at her subsequent three starts, there was, understandably, some trepidation. As history shows, that punt two years ago has paid huge dividends, with Niance flourishing since crossing the ditch. The now six-year-old, who is trained out of Cranbourne…

La Dorada (NZ) (Super Seth) is one of two three-year-old fillies taking on the older horses in the Group 1 Moir Stakes at Moonee Valley. New Zealand filly La Dorada will attempt to become the third of her age group to win the Group 1 Moir Stakes at Moonee Valley.  A Group 1 winner as a two-year-old, La Dorada joins fellow three-year-old filly Esha (Extreme Choice) when makes her seasonal return in the Moir Stakes (1000m) on Saturday, looking to join She Will Reign (Manhattan Rain) and Coolangatta (Written Tycoon) as three-year-old filly winners.  La…

Jimmysstar (NZ) (Per Incanto) will follow the successful path of former stablemate Bella Nipotina (Pride Of Dubai) into October’s A$20 million The Everest (1200m), with the dual Group One winner to begin his spring campaign in Sydney on Saturday. Trainer Ciaron Maher on Monday confirmed Jimmysstar’s spring will begin on Saturday in the $1 million Gr.3 Concorde Stakes (1000m) Randwick, which would allow the horse two prep runs before The Everest on October 18. After the Concorde, it is planned Jimmysstar will run in the $1 million Gr.2 Premiere Stakes…

Mark Walker joins Gareth Hall to talk about Te Akau’s prospects this Saturday. LISTEN HERE

Top quality performer Grail Seeker (NZ) (Iffraaj) will be heading in a new direction on Saturday when she attempts to add to her record at the highest level. The daughter of Iffraaj will spearhead a four-strong Wexford Stables assault on the Gr.1 Proisir Plate (1400m) at Ellerslie in her pursuit of a third top-flight title. Grail Seeker was an emphatic first-up winner of the event last season, then named the Tarzino Trophy and raced at Hastings, before also claiming the Gr.1 Telegraph (1200m) at Trentham later in the season. “She’s…

Two popular members of Kevin Myers’ stable in Aljay (NZ) (Rock ‘n’ Pop) and Verry Flash (NZ) (Zed) are heading for a well-earned retirement following successful careers with combined earnings of nearly $1 million. The Wanganui horseman purchased Aljay for $39,000 at New Zealand Bloodstock’s Ready To Run Sale in 2019, having prepared his star half-brother Tallyho Twinkletoe (NZ) (St Reims) to win a Grand National Hurdles (4200m), and played a large role in his successes in the Australian Grand National Hurdle (4200m) and Steeplechase (4500m). While his sibling thrived…