Author: NZRacingDesk

A stakes test is looming for exciting three-year-old Churmatt following his debut win at Rotorua on Wednesday. The son of Churchill had shown plenty of ability at the trials, including winning his 850m heat at Te Awamutu last month, and was backed into equal favouritism for the Seeka Select Excellence 1230 at Arawa Park. Under jockey Michael McNab, he jumped well from his ace barrier and was able to maintain his advantage on the fence. Co-favourite Marzenie sat outside him, ensuring an honest tempo throughout. Upon entering the straight, Churmatt…

The 2025/26 racing season marked the beginning of a new era for nonagenarian trainer Leonard Stewart as his granddaughter Lacy Stewart joins him in partnership. Based out of the Phar Lap Raceway, Stewart has had the assistance of Lacy for a number of years, and it was only a matter of time before her name was in the racebook alongside his. “She’s been helping me for the last few years, so it was well overdue to happen,” Stewart said. “We get on pretty well, we see eye-to-eye and there’s never…

The Lindsay Park stable will be shooting for a fourth straight win in the P B Lawrence Stakes when they saddle two runners at Caulfield. Mr Brightside (NZ) (Bullbars) won the Group 2 race over 1400m in consecutive years before Gentleman Roy (So You Think) completed the treble for the stable last year. Ben, Will and J D Hayes will this year be represented by Here To Shock (NZ) (Shocking) and Evaporate (NZ) (Per Incanto) who will be entering the contest first-up having performed solidly in jump-outs. Evaporate will be…

Tavis Court (NZ) (Tavistock) looks to have found his niche in small fields, and trainer Anna Clement has found him another intimate contest on Saturday. The 10-year-old gelding had just three other rivals when winning over 1200m at Hawera two starts back before finishing runner-up against five competitors over 1100m at Otaki a fortnight ago. He will face four opponents in the Paslode Open (1400m) at New Plymouth on Saturday, including local Group One winner Ladies Man (NZ) (Zed), who has been lumbered with a 66kg impost. Tavis Court has…

Highly regarded colt Geneva has passed every test with flying colours and is in the right order to continue that trend at Ruakaka. An impressive winner on debut, he has again made all the right moves ahead of his first black type test in Saturday’s Gr.3 Cambridge Stud Northland Breeders’ Stakes (1200m). “He’s just ticked all the boxes and done everything we’ve asked of him every step along the way, he hasn’t ever been under a ride yet so it’s all in front of him,” trainer Kylie Hoskin said. “He’s…

While there was a lot number of disappointed people the Randwick meeting last Saturday was called off, there was possibly no more so than Victorian trainer Gavin Bedggood. The Bedggood-trained St Lawrence (NZ) (Redwood) was down to run in the Premier’s Cup Prelude (1800m) on Saturday but after a deluge of rain on Friday night, the majority of the meeting was abandoned. One race that was not was the Premier’s Cup Prelude which has been shifted to the Kensington track on Wednesday with all scratchings from Saturday reinstated and run…

Champion trainer Ciaron Maher has been pleased with the progress of his Kiwi-bred Group One winner Jimmysstar (NZ) (Per Incanto) ahead of what he hopes to be a lucrative spring campaign. Last month, a deal was brokered between managing owner Aziz “Ozzie” Kheir and the TAB to represent their slot in October’s A$20 million The Everest (1200m), and Maher couldn’t be any happier with the six-year-old gelding. The winner of last season’s Gr.1 Oakleigh Plate (1200m) and Gr.1 All-Aged Stakes (1400m) made his first public appearance of the season when…

A return to racing on Awapuni’s grass track is inching ever closer, and it passed its first test for that return following a successful set of trials on the surface on Tuesday. 30 horses line-up over five heats at the track and RACE’s General Manager of Racing Brad Taylor received positive reports at the conclusion of the trial meeting. “The feedback was very positive from the riders,” he said. “As expected with the surface we have, there was a little bit of the sand kicking back, but all-in-all it was…

Emily Murphy brings you Winter Weigh In, your place for Thoroughbred racing news, reviews and insights throughout the colder months. We recap the Historic Grand National Steeple and Hurdle from Riccarton as well as looking forward to some spring features. Winter Weigh In, August 11