Author: NZRacingDesk

Progressive galloper Force Of Nature (NZ) (Savabeel) returned to racing with a vengeance as he took out the feature event at Pukekohe, the Listed Legacy Lodge Sprint (1200m), courtesy of a rails-hugging ride from Triston Moodley. The Tony Rider-bred and owned son of Savabeel swept through the grades during the autumn and winter months, winning three of his four starts before finishing sixth of eight runners at Te Rapa in early August where he was found to be lame in a hind leg following the run. Trainer Andrew Forsman wasn’t…

Group One winner Captured By Love (Written Tycoon) returned to the scene of her biggest win and was right back at the peak of her powers in the Gr.3 Windsor Park Stud Canterbury Breeders’ Stakes (1400m) at Riccarton on Saturday. The daughter of Written Tycoon showed her class as a three-year-old with a brilliant victory in the Gr.1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) during last season’s New Zealand Cup Carnival in Christchurch, and she was also a placegetter in the Gr.2 Sarten Memorial (1400m), Gr.2 Hawke’s Bay Guineas (1400m) and…

Progressive sprinter Platinum Attack (Santos) finally got the firm track conditions he thrives on at Riccarton on Saturday to serve up a stunning performance when winning the Listed Donaldson Brown Pegasus Stakes (1000m). The Lisa Latta-trained speedster hadn’t been seen on raceday since finishing sixth in Listed company at Trentham back in April when clearly unsuited by the tricky wet underfoot conditions that day. Given a long break by Latta, the five-year-old son of Santos was fitted for his reappearance on Saturday with two trials which included a win over…

Cambridge-based horseman Nick Kneebone tasted his first success in the training ranks when two-year-old gelding Speed Demon (NZ) (Yes Yes Yes) caused a minor upset in the Hallmark Stud 2YO (1100m) at Pukekohe. Most attention before the start was centred around the Stephen Marsh runners Rupeni (Home Affairs) ($4.00) and well-backed debutant Perfect Pour (NZ) (Dundeel) ($2.40), who headed the market after some impressive raceday and trial form respectively. In contrast, Speed Demon, a son of former The Everest (1200m) winner Yes Yes Yes, was allowed to drift out to…

After recording her 1,000th win in the saddle in September, veteran jockey Kylie Williams had just one final goal she wanted to achieve before hanging up her riding boots – ride against her son, Logan Bates. That dream will become a reality at her local track of Riccarton Park on Saturday, with Australian-based Bates returning home to ride during New Zealand Cup Week in Christchurch. The 24-year-old hoop landed back in New Zealand on Friday afternoon and he is looking forward to competing against his Mum. “The main reason (to…

Cambridge trainer Roger James is already the most successful trainer in the history of the Gr.1 New Zealand Derby (2400m) with six wins to his credit, and on Thursday he and training partner Robert Wellwood unveiled another Classic type when Road To Paris (NZ) (Circus Maximus) swept to victory at Avondale. The three-year-old son of Circus Maximus relished the step up to 1400m when winning the Funtime Catering Maiden after finishing seventh over 1200m on debut at Ellerslie in October.  “We said at the end of his two-year-old preparation that…

There is never a soft Group One option during Melbourne Cup week, but Sydney trainer Joe Pride is hoping he has picked that softer option on the final day of the carnival at Flemington.  Pride had the option of remaining at 1600m with Ceolwulf (NZ) (Tavistock) in the Gr.1 Champions Mile (1600m) or stepping up to the 2000m of the Gr.1 Champions Stakes.  Ceolwulf will contest the former on Saturday where he will be pitted against the likes of Mr Brightside (NZ) (Bullbars), Pericles (Street boss), Pride Of Jenni (Pride Of Dubai) and Treasurethe Moment (Alabama Express) and in the process bypass an assignment against Via…

The A$2 million Listed Five Diamonds (1800m) is anything but an afterthought for Lindsay Park raider Rise At Dawn (NZ) (Almanzor), his trainers confident the race is an ideal fit for the dual stakes winner. Co-conditioner Will Hayes says Saturday’s Rosehill feature has been earmarked for the gelding for some time and the rails draw has only enhances his chances. “This was our spring grand final,” Will Hayes said. “It’s an incredible race, the Five Diamonds, being restricted to five-year-olds at set weights and penalties. “We felt it was the perfect profile, and we think he’s going to thrive…

Champion jockey Opie Bosson will miss all three days of the New Zealand Cup Carnival in Christchurch after a fall at Avondale on Thursday. Bosson rode Karyon into a fourth placing in the Avondale Main Street Rating 60 (1200m), but was dislodged after the finish line when his mount abruptly ducked outwards while pulling up. He was stood down for the remainder of the Avondale card and now faces a longer stint on the sidelines. “He went to the doctor this morning and unfortunately didn’t pass his concussion test,” Bosson’s…

A relentlessly wet spring has provided a frustrating start to the season for David Greene, but things might be turning the corner as the Te Rapa trainer prepares to unleash his emerging star First Five in Saturday’s Listed Legacy Lodge Sprint (1200m) at Pukekohe. Greene opened his winning account for 2025-26 when Goldiluxe took out the Avondale Main Street Rating 60 (1200m) on Thursday, and now he is excited to see First Five get underway in what could be a career-best season. “Goldiluxe won pretty well at Avondale on Thursday…