Author: NZRacingDesk

A double strike at stakes level, a filly with a black-type future and a welcome family success handed Waikato Stud another rewarding weekend. Von Hauke and Sir Albert delivered home and away victories, while farm graduate Belle Cheval announced herself as a top age group prospect and Baywatch lifted spirits with her breakthrough success. The Cliff Brown-trained Von Hauke had little luck when fourth in last year’s Gr.2 Crystal Mile (1600m) and he made no mistake in the 2025 edition at The Valley on Saturday for the son of Savabeel’s…

It may not be the Cup target they were aiming for, but Wolfgang put himself firmly into Gr.3 Martin Collins New Zealand Cup (3200m) calculations following his victory in the SkyCity Hamilton Waikato Cup Prelude (2400m) at Te Rapa on Monday. The son of Puccini was initially on a spring path towards the Gr.1 Melbourne Cup (3200m), however, those ambitions were shelved following three unplaced runs in Melbourne, and trainers Peter and Shaun McKay elected to bring him back to New Zealand and reassess his plans. The father-and-son training partnership…

Trainer Jamie Richards has been dealt a blow with hugely promising four-year-old Bulb General (NZ) (Embellish) sidelined with injury. The son of Embellish had impressed with three successive Hong Kong victories but will now miss the upcoming four-year-old series. Bulb General sustained a right fore ligament injury which will put him out of action until late this season. “He’s going to have surgery. We’ll take the chip out of his fetlock and give him a bit of time,” Richards told the SCMP. “[The stable] is ticking along nicely, but it’s…

Kim Reid bypassed a Group One in favour of Sunday’s Gr.3 Gee and Hickton Funeral Directors Thompson Handicap (1600m) at Trentham with Hi Yo Sass Bomb (NZ) (Complacent), a decision that paid dividends when the mare led from the outset to claim her third stakes success. After resuming in early September, Hi Yo Sass Bomb showed she was back in a big way when taking out the Gr.3 Grangewilliam Stud Breeders Stakes (1400m) at Hawera earlier this month, coming over the top of her rivals in the hands of Chris…

Trentham’s 1200m chute had posed a query for talented sprinter Ima Brazen One (NZ) (Brazen Beau) in previous starts, but that all changed when the mare made every post a winner in Sunday’s Rothley Sprint (1000m). The daughter of Brazen Beau had missed a top three finish in all three of her prior attempts down the unique dog-leg track, but resuming in a new preparation she was still tipped as the horse to beat, closing a $3.30 favourite ahead of Debit ($4). In the hands of Masa Hashizume, the mare…

Exciting filly Cream Tart (NZ) (Hello Youmzain) is set to line up in one of the major three-year-old races over New Zealand Cup Week following her impressive win in Sunday’s Upper Hutt Car Sales LTD Three-Year-Old (1400m) at Trentham. The well-bred daughter of Hello Youmzain was a standout juvenile winner in early June, before going down to Lubeck when resuming at Rotorua earlier this month. Stepping up to 1400m, she was fancied in a small but tidy field of three-year-olds, which included stakes winners Platinum Diamond, Intention and Bona Sforza.…

Join Emily Murphy and Bruce Sherwin as they dissect the racing from Riccarton and Ellerslie on Saturday. Then Aidan Rodley beams in from Moonee Valley to reflect on the end of an era for the Cox Plate. Weigh In, October 26

Mr Brightside (NZ) (Bullbars) could finish the year as the fourth Australasian horse to top A$20 million in career prizemoney, with connections to decide on a year-ending trip to Perth for the A$1.5m Gr.3 Gold Rush (1400m) in December. Mr Brightside has in recent days firmed from an opening quote of $11 down to $2.70 for the Gold Rush and co-trainer Ben Hayes on Saturday confirmed the star eight-year-old is a chance to make the trip west for a number of reasons. He said the December 15 Gold Rush will…

Last year’s Gr.2 James and Annie Sarten Memorial (1400m) set Savaglee (NZ) (Savabeel) up for Group One glory in Christchurch, and Matamata trainer Pam Gerard is hoping to follow a similar blueprint in 2025.  Gerard guided Savaglee through a superb spring campaign that saw the son of Savabeel win four of his five starts including the Gr.2 Hawke’s Bay Guineas (1400m) at Matamata, the Sarten Memorial – which was rescheduled and moved to Te Aroha due to Te Rapa’s Labour Day meeting being abandoned – and a crowning triumph by…

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