Author: NZRacingDesk

Dictation (NZ) (Tavistock) has encountered more than his share of misfortune through the early part of his hurdling career, but he and jockey Mathew Gillies turned that around and made their own luck in the Fairview Motors Waikato Hurdle (3200m) at Te Rapa on Saturday. The winner of three of his seven starts over hurdles before Saturday’s $60,000 feature, the Paul Nelson and Corrina McDougal-trained Dictation also threw away a likely Sydenham Hurdle (3100m) victory with a costly late blunder at Riccarton last August, followed by a luckless second at…

Exciting sprinter Twain (NZ) (Per Incanto) will head to the spelling paddock off the back of an impressive performance in Saturday’s Bayleys Country Sprint (1200m) at Te Rapa. The four-year-old son of Per Incanto has proven to be a winning machine since commencing racing in July last year, with five victories from just eight starts before lining up on Saturday. Trainer John Bell has made no secret of his regard for Twain and was confident of another big effort provided he mastered the left-handed way of going at Te Rapa…

Rising star War Machine will start the popular elect in Saturday’s Gr.1 Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) at Eagle Farm, carrying not only the hopes of punters and his connections, but the heartfelt weight of two powerful legacies. The four-year-old has won five of his 12 starts since being purchased from New Zealand including his two outings from his new quarters with trainers Ben, Will and JD Hayes. Jockey Tim Clark will sport a black armband on Saturday in the A$3 million feature in memory of two pivotal figures who helped shape…

Three weeks on from a dominant performance over the same course and distance, Uderzo (NZ) (Vadamos) will return to Te Rapa on Saturday in search of a repeat result in the Skycity Hamilton Mile (1600m). Uderzo has been a strong performer throughout an 11-start campaign as a six-year-old this season, including a third in the Gr.2 Rich Hill Mile (1600m) in January and a huge finish from the back of the field for fourth in the Gr.3 Easter Handicap (1600m) in April. But the Vadamos gelding’s first win of the…

Ascot Park trainer Robert Dennis will head to Oamaru on Sunday with four leading chances, all of whom began their careers in the North Island. Dennis will be represented by the formerly Karen Fursdon-trained Vino Valentino in the Female Jockey Tribute Day (2200m), the former Lauren Brennan runner Sir Sterling in the Donna Wilson (1400m), the formerly Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott-trained Forseti in the Debbie Henderson (1200m), and the ex-Andrew Forsman runner Magnastar in the Debbie Kennedy (1200m). Sir Sterling performed to a high level in the north, winning…

Rising star War Machine will start the popular elect in Saturday’s Gr.1 Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) at Eagle Farm, carrying not only the hopes of punters and his connections, but the heartfelt weight of two powerful legacies. The four-year-old has won five of his 12 starts since being purchased from New Zealand including his two outings from his new quarters with trainers Ben, Will and JD Hayes. Jockey Tim Clark will sport a black armband on Saturday in the A$3 million feature in memory of two pivotal figures who helped shape…

Former Singapore superstar Lim’s Kosciuszko (Kermadec) may have found his old spark, as he prepares for his second Australian start on Saturday. The Dan Meagher-trained seven-year-old was a potential starter in the Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap at Eagle Farm this weekend, but a logistical issue led to that plan being aborted and instead, he’ll line up at Sandown in a 1400-metre handicap en route to the Winter Championship over 1600m at Flemington. Lim’s Kosciuszko finished third in the Listed Straight Six at Flemington at his Australian debut, where he raced…

Kiwi-bred sprinting sensation Ka Ying Rising’s (NZ) (Shamexpress) star continues to rise, with the son of Shamexpress rated the world’s best turf horse in the latest Longines World’s Best Racehorse Rankings. Bred by Marton horseman Fraser Auret under his Grandmoral Lodge Racing, the four-year-old gelding has been an unstoppable force for trainer David Hayes in Hong Kong, winning 13 of his 15 starts in the competitive racing jurisdiction. He is undefeated in the current term, recording eight successive victories, including the Gr.1 Chairman’s Sprint Prize (1200m), Gr.1 Queen’s Silver Jubilee…

Entries are now open for NZB’s Karaka 2026, with the iconic week on the international sales calendar due to take place at the Karaka Sales Centre from Sunday 25 January, marking the 100th National Yearling Sale in New Zealand.  As recently announced, a new sales format will be launched at Karaka 2026, ensuring that the quality of the 100th National Yearling Sales catalogue is in line with the momentous occasion.  Book 1 will be conducted across two full days, composed of approximately 580 horses. Book 2 will immediately follow with a…

Pier is likely to shoot for a Listed consolation prize at Eagle Farm on Saturday after being balloted out of his main Winter Carnival goal – the Gr.1 Stradbroke Handicap (1400m). In his current preparation, the Darryn and Briar Weatherley-trained son of Proisir has found some of his best form since his Group One-winning three-year-old days. He resumed with a flying finish for second in the Listed City Of Napier Sprint (1200m) at Trentham in April, beaten by a half-head by Slipper Island and finishing in front of next-start Gr.3…