Author: NZRacingDesk

Grail Seeker (NZ) (Iffraaj) has added two Group One victories to her record this season and she will attempt to make it a third when she heads to Randwick on Saturday to tackle the All Aged Stakes (1400m). The lightly-raced mare has just had three runs this season, winning the Gr.1 Tarzino Trophy (1400m) at Hastings last September before doubling up in the Gr.1 Telegraph (1200m) at Trentham in January. She didn’t handle the firm going when sixth in the Gr.1 BCD Group Sprint (1400m) at Te Rapa a month…

Cambridge trainer Chris Wood will head north to Ellerslie on Saturday with a trio of runners, headlined by his in-form gelding You Say D’Orsay, who will be aiming to secure an early easter treat in the Gr.3 Manco Easter Handicap (1600m). The four-year-old son of Under The Louvre just went down by a head to Saturday race-rival Sacred Satono over 1300m at Ellerslie a fortnight ago, and Wood is hoping his charge can turn the tables on the Group One performer this weekend. “He went a good race last time…

Prince Alby (NZ) (Sacred Falls) has seen plenty of New Zealand this season, but he won’t have to travel far to defend his crown in Saturday’s Kennedy Building Riverton Cup (2147m). A winner of nine races and more than $300,000 in prizemoney, Prince Alby earned a deserved victory in last year’s local feature, form he continued into the new season finishing fourth in the Listed Metropolitan Handicap (2600m) and third in the Listed Dunedin Gold Cup (2400m). The son of Sacred Falls earned two points in the Southern Cups Bonus…

Hollie Wynyard is in the process of relocating her training base, but it will be a quartet of strong chances at Ellerslie on Saturday that has her immediate attention. The Cambridge trainer’s runners are spearheaded by talented youngster Toretto (NZ) (Ardrossan) in the Listed Skycity Star Way Stakes (1200m), with Up The Anti (Manco 2100m), Colorado Silver (trackside.co.nz, 1600m) and Pitkin County (KRA Trophy, 1400m) strong supporting acts. Wynyard and her partner, jockey Ryan Elliot, are currently developing a new property. “We bought 30 acres up Victoria Road so we’re…

Stephen Marsh will have numbers on his side on Saturday when he looks to build on his personal best tally of black type winners in a season. The Cambridge trainer has 14 stakes victories to his credit, two behind the Te Akau duo of Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson, and he will be heavy handed in two of the feature contests at Ellerslie. Marsh has Kiwi Skyhawk (NZ) (Contributer), Bourbon Proof and Roctave (NZ) (Roc de Cambes) in the Gr.3 Trelawney Stud Championship Stakes (2100m) with Sneak Peek (NZ) (Almanzor)…

Group One-performing sprinter Sacred Satono (NZ) (Satono Aladdin) will have just his third start over a mile at Ellerslie on Saturday, with a bold showing opening up further opportunities in spring. Placed in both the Gr.1 Telegraph (1200m) and Gr.1 Tarzino Trophy (1400m) this season, trainers Bruce Wallace and Grant Cooksley felt it was the right time to test their charge over a mile once more. His two previous mile tests netted unplaced runs in the Karaka Millions 3YO (1600m) and Aotearoa Classic (1600m), and they are hoping it’s third…

In-form three-year-old Atmospheric (NZ) (El Roca) will be given his first tilt at stakes level when he heads to Ellerslie on Saturday to contest the Gr.3 Trelawney Stud Championship Stakes (2100m).  The lightly-tried son of El Roca hasn’t finished outside of the money in his six starts to date, with his four starts this preparation netting two wins and two placings, and trainer Cody Cole believes he deserves his chance at adding some black-type to his name before heading for a spell.  “He seems to be coping with the preparation…

Saturday will prove to be a lucrative day for the winning connections of the Southern Cups Bonus Series as it comes to a head in the Kennedy Building Riverton Cup (2147m).  Robert Dennis is intent on ensuring his owners scoop the $50,000 winner takes all bonus, with the Ascot Park trainer currently sitting in pole position in the series with his mare Loftys Gift (NZ) (Ghibellines) (eight points) following her win in the Listed Dunedin Gold Cup (2400m) and runner-up performance in the Gore Cup (2000m).  She subsequently trekked north…

Little Avondale Stud created a slice of New Zealand racing history when they successfully brokered a deal to stand Little Brose (Per Incanto) at their Wairarapa farm. Principals Sam and Catriona Wiliams pulled off a breeding coup with the high-class colt, the first ever Australian Group One-winning two-year-old over 1200m to debut at stud in this country. He will stand his first season in 2025 at $15,000 + GST alongside his sire and stud stalwart Per Incanto, who off the back of a stellar season will serve a limited book…

Rising talent Zormella (NZ) (Almanzor) contested the NZB Kiwi (1500m) at Ellerslie last month, and on Saturday she will return to the Auckland venue as a key player in the Gr.3 Trelawney Stud Championship Stakes (2100m). The daughter of Almanzor was a late inclusion in the southern hemisphere’s richest three-year-old race after stablemate Dealt With (NZ) (Ace High) was ruled out of the $3.5 million contest. At just her third start, she was far from disgraced and showed her class when returning to Rating 65 company last-start putting over three…