Author: NZRacingDesk

Yulong Investments have furthered their position among New Zealand’s racing ranks this week with the purchase of eye-catching Gr.2 Sir Patrick Hogan Stakes (2000m) winner Ohope Wins (NZ) (Ocean Park). The Australian-based racing and breeding operation, owned by Zhang Yuesheng, has made a play for some of the country’s top three-year-old fillies this season, and they have been rewarded through the success of Group One winner Well Written, who will put her unbeaten record on the line in tomorrow’s $1.5 million TAB Karaka Millions 3YO (1600m) at Ellerslie. The Stephen…

Saturday is shaping to be a busy day for Allan Sharrock, with stakes assignments both at home and away for the New Plymouth trainer. He will be represented at Ellerslie by his promising two-year-old Ka Ron (NZ) (Hello Youmzain) in the $1 million TAB Karaka Millions 2YO (1200m), while he will have eight runners at his home meeting, including two stakes contenders. Hello Youmzain gelding Ka Ron has impressed in both of his starts to date, finishing runner-up behind subsequent Group Two winner and Karaka Millions favourite Kinnaird, and he…

First-time travellers Arkansaw Kid and Torture (NZ) (Sword Of State) will fly the Lindsay Park flag at Ellerslie with a third member of the party to be on hand for the defence of a stable title early next month. The former will step out in Saturday’s Gr.1 Sistema Railway (1200m) while the Hayes brothers will have another crack at the TAB Karaka Millions 2YO (1200m), this time with stakes-winning filly Torture. To be ridden by Opie Bosson, double millionaire sprinter Arkansaw Kid booked his berth across the Tasman with victory…

Next week’s historic National Yearling Sale at New Zealand Bloodstock’s Karaka complex will include many tales from the past century of annual thoroughbred auctions. As a precursor to that banter, RaceForm spoke to four veteran vendors – Brian Anderton, Buzz Williams, Ron Chitty and Garry Chittick – for their memories of an event that has been such a part of their lives. The oldest member of the octogenarian quartet, rising 89-year-old Brian Anderton, is also the most travelled in sending his annual draft to market from White Robe Lodge, Mosgiel.…

David Hayes is confident Ka Ying Rising (NZ) (Shamexpress) remains in peak form as the world’s highest-rated sprinter chases history in the HK$13 million G1 Centenary Sprint Cup (1200m) at Sha Tin on Sunday (25 January). Unbeaten in 16 starts since 12 February, 2024, Ka Ying Rising will equal Silent Witness’ record for a Hong Kong-trained horse of 17 victories in a row if he eclipses six rivals in this weekend’s Group 1 double-header, which also features Romantic Warrior’s clash with Voyage Bubble in the HK$13 million G1 Stewards’ Cup…

Cambridge Stud are under no illusions about the task ahead of Silver Wedding (Zoustar) at Ellerslie on Saturday, with connections hoping she has one more peak performance to come. The Ciaron Maher-trained four-year-old will tackle the Gr.3 Elsdon Park Aotearoa Classic (1600m) ahead of a spell. “There wasn’t any obvious black-type races in Brisbane or Sydney and this one was on the radar, so we brought her over and win, lose or draw she’ll have four weeks at the farm at Karaka and then go back to Sydney,” Cambridge’s chief…

Kylie Williams is hoping she will have plenty to celebrate when she is sunning herself in Rarotonga on Sunday. The Canterbury hoop will head to Ellerslie on Saturday for just the third time in her three-decade career where she will ride the Andrew Carston-trained Miss Ziggy in the $1.5 million TAB Karaka Millions 3YO (1600m). The meeting will also present Williams with another opportunity to ride alongside her Australian-based son Logan Bates, who is crossing the Tasman to partner the Cindy Alderson-trained Jigsaw in the Gr.1 Sistema Railway (1200m). He…

Andrew Forsman has fond memories from the annual Karaka Millions meeting, and he is hoping to record some more when he heads to Ellerslie on Saturday for the blockbuster twilight event. The trans-Tasman trainer won the 2021 edition of the TAB Karaka Millions 3YO (1600m) with Aegon, a horse he raced with the Zame Partnership, and trained in partnership with his mentor Murray Baker. Now training in a solo capacity, Forsman will be seeking to double his tally in the $1.5 million feature this weekend where he will have a…

Champion trainer Chris Waller might not have to look too far or wait too long to fill the giant void left by the retiring great Via Sistina after giving stablemate Aeliana (NZ) (Castelvecchio) a glowing assessment ahead of her autumn return. Aeliana has only had the one trial this year to prepare her for the autumn, but her part-owner Denise Martin of Star Thoroughbreds, said the trainer had spoken of his optimism for Aeliana’s upcoming campaign after noting a significant change in the four-year-old mare following her summer break. “Chris…