Author: NZRacingDesk

Late starter Jack Morrison will be presented with another ideal opportunity on his home polytrack course at Awapuni on Sunday to make up for lost time. The son of Darci Brahma has proved himself to be an all-weather specialist and will chase further success in the BJW Motors 2022 Ltd Handicap (1700m). Jack Morrison has posted six wins and a minor placing from his eight appearances on the synthetic surface at Awapuni and was most recently a game fifth in the $100,000 TAB Polytrack Championship (2000m) at Cambridge. “It looks…

Group Three winner Lupo Solitario has returned to New Zealand, and the care of his former trainer Danica Guy, following a six-month racing stint in Hong Kong. The now five-year-old son of Satono Aladdin had seven starts in the competitive racing jurisdiction for trainer Frankie Lor, but a race fall at Sha Tin in February knocked his confidence and a decision was made to send him back to his homeland after three subsequent unplaced runs. He has returned to Guy’s Matamata stable, where he was among the more exciting prospects…

Palmerston North trainers Kevin and Stephen Gray are hoping to pick up a couple of winners’ cheques this weekend as they prepare to line-up a quintet of runners at Hawera and Awapuni. The father-and-son combination will take just the one runner to Hawera on Saturday, with debutant placegetter Ready Response to contest the Canter 4 Cancer Maiden 1400. Stephen Gray has been pleased with the way the four-year-old son of Better Than Ready has come through his debut run over 1200m a fortnight ago and he is looking forward to…

The first foal by Cambridge Stud stallion Chaldean has hit the ground with a filly foal out of the winning Burgundy mare Top Note born at Pencarrow Stud. The bay filly was bred by Lachlan Fitt and Cameron Rodger and stems from the family of Gr.1 New Zealand Oaks winner Belle En Rouge. “She’s out of a maiden mare but has a lot of quality about her,” stud manager Leon Casey said. “She’s got good leg under her and good rein and has a fair bit of class about her.”…

Synthetic specialist Gemma Flitz (NZ) (Telperion) continued her purple patch of form on Riccarton’s polytrack on Thursday when taking out the Stable Books and Ardex Supporting NZ Trainers Open (1200m). It caps an outstanding preparation for the daughter of Telperion, who has won three and placed in three of her six starts this year, highlighted by her last-start victory in the $100,000 Polytrack Championship (1200m). Gemma Flitz was sent out a $1.80 favourite to repeat that result on Thursday, but she didn’t have things all her own way. While perfectly…

Joshua Brown’s (NZ) (Dalghar) victory in last month’s Listed Opunake Cup (1400m) was more than 30 years in the making for the Gussey family, and on Saturday he will be seeking to add to his burgeoning record in the Gr.2 Waikato Stud Foxbridge Plate (1200m) at Te Rapa. The Dalghar six-year-old was bred by Ronald Gussey, who trained for more than three decades, and while he recorded eight victories on the track, a stakes win remained elusive. It would be as a breeder that he would realise that dream, but…

Maiden winner Ferocious Frankie (NZ) (Darci Brahma) steps out for the first time as a three-year-old for trainers Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young when the well-related filly contests the Drummond Golf Plate (1200m) at The Valley on Saturday. A winner at Cranbourne on debut in May, Ferocious Frankie is a $6.50 chance in a small field of six. “She’s a full sister to Sierra Sue who won a couple of Group Ones for us. She is very similar to her sister.,” Busuttin said. “She has got ability, no question, but…

Trainer Chris Waller will have a strong hand in the Gr.1 Winx Stakes (1400m) at Randwick on Saturday with five runners headed by stable star Via Sistina (Fastnet Rock). But four-year-old stablemate Aeliana (NZ) (Castelvecchio) is the horse Waller believes could be her heir apparent. The established star and rising young talent clash for the first time in the Randwick feature, with Via Sistina a $2.30 favourite for back-to-back titles and New Zealand bred Aeliana ($7.50) facing her maiden test in open company. “She is the unknown,” Waller said of…

Twain (NZ) (Per Incanto) will be out to replicate the deeds of his dam when he heads to Te Rapa on Saturday to contest the Gr.2 Waikato Stud Foxbridge Plate (1200m) at Te Rapa. His dam, Fleur de Lune, was runner-up in the race in 2011 for trainer Lee Somervell before going one better a year later, and trainer John Bell believes Twain can match that feat. The five-year-old son of Per Incanto hasn’t put a foot wrong so far in his career, winning six and placing in three of…

Emotions will run high if war horse Mali Ston (NZ) (El Roca) can go one better in Saturday’s Gr.2 Foxbridge Plate (1200m) at Te Rapa. The eight-year-old will again resume in the Waikato Stud-sponsored feature and trainers Darryn and Briar Weatherley have been delighted with his progress. Bred and raced by Markwood Lodge, Mali Ston has been given a thorough grounding for his return after finishing a first-up second behind Bonny Lass 12 months ago. “He didn’t get all favours, he was completely off the bridle at the 600 and…