Author: NZRacingDesk

Talented filly Intention (NZ) (Bivouac) made an impressive winning return to the Foxton trials on Tuesday, ticking the first box in a journey towards top three-year-old honours. In a five-start juvenile campaign, Intention upset the market when claiming the Gr.2 Wakefield Challenge Stakes (1100m), and despite attempting to buck for several strides when leaving the barriers, she was just a long neck from taking out the Listed Wellesley Stakes (1100m). Her barrier woes continued when missing away in the Gr.2 Matamata Breeders’ Stakes (1200m), and while she was slow out…

Emily Murphy is joined by Sam Weatherley in this week’s edition to review racing from Hawera, New Plymouth, Rotorua & Oamaru and we hear from NZTR’s Darin Balcombe on changes to feature racedays for the upcoming spring racing carnival. Winter Weigh In, July 21

Tough stayer Wolfgang (NZ) (Puccini) showed enough during a brief Melbourne campaign last spring to warrant a return visit.  The six-year-old is making good progress toward a new campaign, with the aim of crossing the Tasman early in the new season.  “He’s had three gallops this time in, and he didn’t seem blow much at all this morning, he’s more mature now,” said Peter McKay, who prepares the gelding with son Shaun.  “There’s an open handicap mile at Awapuni in early August for a start-off point and then maybe a…

Joe Waldron will be a welcome addition to the southern training ranks at the start of the new season.  Hailing from Otago, the former international eventer has returned to his home region to continue his training career after spending half a dozen years in Melbourne, and he is looking forward to plying his trade on home soil.  “The decision to come home was mainly based around wanting to come home. I was missing the New Zealand lifestyle and family and friends,” he said.  Waldron also cited the increasing competitive nature…

Hall of Fame stallion Savabeel’s nine-year hold on the Centaine Award has been broken by the pride of the Wairarapa, Per Incanto. The Little Avondale Stud star has achieved worldwide progeny earnings of more than $20 million in the 2024-25 season, giving him a comfortable buffer over Savabeel ($17.85 million) in the Centaine standings. Waikato Stud supremo Savabeel continues his dominance of the Grosvenor and Dewar Awards for New Zealand and Australasian progeny earnings, collecting his 10th and ninth title respectively. Per Incanto’s award-winning season has been underpinned by a…

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD NEWSLETTER

Leonard Stewart had been looking forward to Sunday’s Oamaru meeting with a big team of representatives, and he got the results he was after, collecting a winning double and a number of other placings. His run of success began in the opener where Koyama started a narrow second-favourite behind Proserve in the Mariner Suites Oamaru (2200m). In the hands of Yogesh Atchamah, the son of Almanzor settled into a good rhythm in the trail of Vino Valentino, who was cruising into the straight and looked the one to beat. Atchamah…

Close on the heels of a pleasing double at Arawa Park on Saturday, Byerley Park trainer Kylie Hoskin is looking forward to stepping out one of her exciting spring prospects at the Avondale trials on Tuesday. Rising three-year-old colt Geneva showed plenty of ability as a juvenile, winning two trials before scoring on debut at Te Rapa in May, and now Hoskin has got stakes ambitions in the coming months for the Jomara Bloodstock bred and raced son of Time Test. “He is a very smart horse,” Hoskin said. “He…

One of this season’s leading three-year-olds will be restricted to shorter trips in the new term in his transition to the weight-for-age ranks. Dual stakes winner Tuxedo has fashioned an excellent record with three wins and two placings from six appearances, including successes in the Gr.2 Waikato Guineas (2000m) and Gr.3 Wellington Stakes (1600m). “He’s had two months off and his runs were well-spaced, his form line was fantastic,” said Shaune Ritchie, who prepares the son of Tivaci with Colm Murray. Tuxedo also finished runner-up in the $1.5 million Karaka…

When the Selangor Turf Club announced a RM1 million (NZ$395,000) prize for the Selangor Mile (1600m) in June last year, trainer HY Cheng thought that he might have the horse to win the big race for four-year-olds over 1600m. At that time, Lucky Magic had just started his racing career and was unplaced in his first two runs. But Cheng knew this horse was special. The son of Mendelssohn went on to notch four wins and two seconds in his next six starts, ending the 2024 season with a victory…