Te Akau Racing will hold a strong hand on Proisir Plate Day at Ellerslie on Saturday, particularly in the age group features. Exciting three-year-old Hostility will kick-off his spring preparation in the Listed Sir Colin Meads Trophy (1200m), for which he is a $2.70 favourite with TAB bookmakers. A $1.65 million New Zealand Bloodstock Ready to Run Sale purchase by Te Akau Racing principal David Ellis, the son of I Am Invincible impressed as a juvenile, finishing runner-up in both of his starts, including the Gr.1 Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes…
Author: NZRacingDesk
Ceolwulf barking up the right tree in Chelmsford
Controversy marred Ceolwulf’s (NZ) (Tavistock) return in the Gr.1 Winx Stakes (1400m) but trainer Joe Pride has taken a philosophical view of Chad Schofield’s ride, backing horse and jockey to make amends at Randwick. Schofield was criticised on social media for scouting wide on Ceolwulf around the home turn as eventual winner and runner-up, Via Sistina (Fastnet Rock) and Aeliana (NZ) (Castelvecchio), saved ground closer to the inside. Ceolwulf flashed home to finish fourth, beaten 2-1/2 lengths, and while Pride said Schofield may have taken a different option if given his time again, he was equally adamant it was…
Cox Plate not off the table for Linebacker
Co-trainer Tom Charlton has a novel take on Linebacker (NZ) (Super Seth) being dealt an early slice of bad luck by drawing an outside gate for his Gr.2 Tramway Stakes (1400m) return at Randwick. “One way of looking at it is we’d rather get it out of the way early,” Charlton said. “It’s his first-up run and it’s a run that is going to get him to his next couple of runs so it’s not the end of the world by any means. “He’s got good improvement from Saturday.” As is the case for many of…
Oak Hill set to rebound at The Valley
The Lindsay Park team of Ben, Will and J D Hayes concede the Gr.1 Moir Stakes (1000m) will not be an easy assignment for Oak Hill (NZ) (Per Incanto), but the stable is confident the sprinter can turn around his form. A first-up winner over the 1000m journey at Moonee Valley last month, Oak Hill returns to the track and trip for Saturday’s Group One contest looking to put behind him a disappointing fifth of seven when sent out favourite at his most recent outing. That was in the Listed Carlyon Stakes (1000m) and Ben Hayes said the stable had subsequently…
Leighton defying the odds with riding comeback
Erin Leighton will continue her comeback to raceday riding when she heads to Otaki on Saturday to pilot debutant Sea Wolf in the AR Painters Maiden (1400m) for employer Roydon Bergerson. The 33-year-old hoop’s name had been absent from the racebook for three years following injury, but she made her return last Saturday at Wanganui where she had two rides, and scored a placing aboard the Bergerson-trained Our Giulia. Leighton is rapt to be back in the saddle on raceday, admitting she missed the thrill of competition. “I love it.…
Mark Twain commences Melbourne spring campaign
Gr.1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) hopeful Mark Twain has landed in Melbourne and will commence his path towards the iconic feature at The Valley on Saturday. While the A$200,000 So You Think Stakes (1500m) wasn’t the original plan for the six-year-old son of Shocking, trainers Roger James and Robert Wellwood elected to head over to Melbourne early after inclement weather curtailed their plans in New Zealand. “He has travelled over well and settled in nicely, he looks great,” Wellwood said. “It wasn’t our first pick of races, he was due to…
Superstar sprinter primed for return
Ka Ying Rising (NZ) (Shamexpress) this morning effortlessly completed fast-work preparations for the HK$3.72 million Class 1 HKSAR Chief Executive’s Cup Handicap (1200m) at Sha Tin on Sunday (7 September), when the world’s highest-rated sprinter bids to extend his winning streak to 13 straight races. Partnered by regular rider Zac Purton, Hong Kong’s reigning Horse Of The Year sauntered down the back straight on Sha Tin’s dirt track before upping the tempo over the final 400m, clocking 24.1s and pleasing trainer David Hayes. “It was just typical Ka Ying Rising…
Ace Bloodstock’s Niance punt pays off
Parting with a lot of coin for a relatively unproven racehorse is a risky proposition for most. So, when Darcy Mangan and his fellow directors of Ace Bloodstock were advised by renowned bloodstock agent Phil Cataldo to buy into a maiden winner named Niance (NZ) (Swiss Ace), who then failed to fire at her subsequent three starts, there was, understandably, some trepidation. As history shows, that punt two years ago has paid huge dividends, with Niance flourishing since crossing the ditch. The now six-year-old, who is trained out of Cranbourne…
La Dorada in Group 1 dash first-up
La Dorada (NZ) (Super Seth) is one of two three-year-old fillies taking on the older horses in the Group 1 Moir Stakes at Moonee Valley. New Zealand filly La Dorada will attempt to become the third of her age group to win the Group 1 Moir Stakes at Moonee Valley. A Group 1 winner as a two-year-old, La Dorada joins fellow three-year-old filly Esha (Extreme Choice) when makes her seasonal return in the Moir Stakes (1000m) on Saturday, looking to join She Will Reign (Manhattan Rain) and Coolangatta (Written Tycoon) as three-year-old filly winners. La…
Jimmystar begins Everest build-up
Jimmysstar (NZ) (Per Incanto) will follow the successful path of former stablemate Bella Nipotina (Pride Of Dubai) into October’s A$20 million The Everest (1200m), with the dual Group One winner to begin his spring campaign in Sydney on Saturday. Trainer Ciaron Maher on Monday confirmed Jimmysstar’s spring will begin on Saturday in the $1 million Gr.3 Concorde Stakes (1000m) Randwick, which would allow the horse two prep runs before The Everest on October 18. After the Concorde, it is planned Jimmysstar will run in the $1 million Gr.2 Premiere Stakes…