Author: NZRacingDesk

Hong Kong-based trainer David Hayes has welcomed changes to the Spring Carnival protocols announced by Racing Victoria on Monday, declaring his star galloper Ka Ying Rising (NZ) (Shamexpress) a likely challenger for the 2026 Gr.1 Champions Sprint (1200m) on the final day of Melbourne Cup Week. The Australian Hall Of Fame trainer had campaigned against international horses that were not contesting the Caulfield or Melbourne Cups or Cox Plate having to have a further CT scan before each new race in Australia. The newly announced RV change to drop that…

After a phenomenal few months for Waikato Stud’s stallion roster, the world-renowned nursery will offer six select progeny of those high-flying sires at this week’s NZB National Weanling Sale at Karaka. Quality offerings from Waikato Stud at the National Weanling Sale are nothing new. Their previous graduates include this year’s catalogue cover horse Jedibeel (NZ) (Savabeel), who was a $35,000 purchase in 2020. He has gone on to earn A$917,650 from a 22-start, eight-win career to date, including a victory in the Group Two Challenge Stakes (1000m) at Randwick in March. The 2025…

The Taplin name has been absent from New Zealand racebooks over the past couple of years, but that all changed on Saturday at Tauranga when emerging apprentice Jack Taplin rode his first winner aboard Pacifico. Indentured to Cambridge trainer Stephen Marsh, Taplin had ridden Group One winner Mercurial and Group One performer Harlech on his opening day at the races at Te Rapa and then came close to breaking through during the week at Cambridge, with a runner-up result aboard Billy Lincoln. Prepared by Andrew Forsman, Pacifico was Taplin’s sole…

Bernie’s Ego scored a popular victory at Te Aroha on Sunday when taking out the Bottle O Maiden (1150m) for trainer and part-owner Frank Neill. The Te Awamutu horseman had been pleased with the eight-year-old son of Ego heading into the weekend, but wasn’t confident of a positive result over the short trip, which was shared by punters, who let him drift out to $41.80 at the jump. However, Bernie’s Ego belied those odds when storming home late out wide in the hands of apprentice jockey Joe Nishizuka to score…

Expat Mauritian jockey Abhay Seesa made the perfect start to his riding career at Te Aroha on Sunday when winning the JT Carter Plumbers Amateur Riders (2200m) aboard Dancin In The Dark for his employer Ralph Manning. Seesa has been working for the Cambridge horseman for the last couple of years, and he was excited to bring up his first win for Manning. “I was very excited as it was my dream,” Seesa said. “To get my first win with my first ride was great, and it was great to…

Danny O’Brien had his sights on starting Grinzinger Belle (NZ) (Shamexpress) in the Gr.1 Tattersall’s Tiara Stakes (1400m) at Eagle Farm for some time, but he knew there was a caveat on this plan as she was to be sold at the Chairman’s Sale in May. Luckily for O’Brien, after Yulong Investments purchased the mare for $1.45 million from her owner John Wheeler, they elected to leave her with him and allow him to fulfil his plan. Now the O’Brien stable is hoping they can impress the behemoth ownership group…

Emily Farr made a promise to her father before his recent passing and she came closer to fulfilling that on Sunday at Te Aroha, when guiding Leitrim Lad (NZ) (Tavistock) to success in the K and R Steeplechase (3500m). A mainstay in New Zealand’s jumps jockey ranks, Farr has missed the majority of the past two seasons whilst being in her homeland of Wales, caring for her parents. After a tough battle with dementia, her father sadly passed earlier this year, and she arrived back in the country less than…

Last year’s Great Northern Hurdles (4200m) winner Lord Spencer (NZ) (Zed) gave warning to his rivals ahead of the upcoming features with a storming victory over the shorter distance at Te Aroha on Sunday. The quirky galloper is often seen lagging at the back in his races and producing a big finish, but with the side winkers applied for the Silver Fern Farms Hurdle (3100m), he was far more prominent, settling midfield under a tight hold. Verry Royal led up throughout the early and mid-stages, and when the pressure came…

Southern apprentice Kendra Bakker made an emotional return to the winner’s circle at Riccarton Park on Saturday, riding two of the three winners prepared by her mentor, Lance Robinson. The 24-year-old commenced her apprenticeship in the North Island, before making the move to Christchurch to base with Robinson in March 2024. She gained good momentum in the back half of last season, but was ruled out early this term after sustaining a trackwork injury. After a long recovery period, Bakker returned to riding in late May and had a good…

After finishing second in three of her previous four starts, Taimate Diva (NZ) (Telperion) went one better at Riccarton on Saturday with a relentless front-running performance in the SVS Open Handicap (2000m). The six-year-old Telperion mare kicked off her super-consistent run of autumn and winter form with a runner-up finish in the Riverton Cup (2147m) on April 19. She was unplaced in the Gr.3 Canterbury Gold Cup (2000m) a week later, but bounced back strongly with close seconds in a 2200m open handicap at Wingatui on June 1 and a…