Author: NZRacingDesk

Mark Walker joins Gareth Hall to talk about Te Akau’s prospects this Saturday. LISTEN HERE

Top quality performer Grail Seeker (NZ) (Iffraaj) will be heading in a new direction on Saturday when she attempts to add to her record at the highest level. The daughter of Iffraaj will spearhead a four-strong Wexford Stables assault on the Gr.1 Proisir Plate (1400m) at Ellerslie in her pursuit of a third top-flight title. Grail Seeker was an emphatic first-up winner of the event last season, then named the Tarzino Trophy and raced at Hastings, before also claiming the Gr.1 Telegraph (1200m) at Trentham later in the season. “She’s…

Two popular members of Kevin Myers’ stable in Aljay (NZ) (Rock ‘n’ Pop) and Verry Flash (NZ) (Zed) are heading for a well-earned retirement following successful careers with combined earnings of nearly $1 million. The Wanganui horseman purchased Aljay for $39,000 at New Zealand Bloodstock’s Ready To Run Sale in 2019, having prepared his star half-brother Tallyho Twinkletoe (NZ) (St Reims) to win a Grand National Hurdles (4200m), and played a large role in his successes in the Australian Grand National Hurdle (4200m) and Steeplechase (4500m). While his sibling thrived…

Tackling Group Ones on either side of the Tasman is nothing new for Ken and Bev Kelso, and they will do exactly that this weekend. In Australia, the Matamata trainers will head to The Valley on Saturday to test the talent of their rising star Alabama Lass (Alabama Express) in the Gr.1 Moir Stakes (1000m). The four-year-old daughter of Alabama Express is unbeaten in Australia, having won her only start there in the Listed HKJC World Pool Sprint Classic (1100m) at Flemington in March, and the Kelsos have been pleased…

VRC Derby aspirant Engine Of War (NZ) (Circus Maximus) made a winning Australian debut from the quarters of Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr when saluting at Sandown on Wednesday over 1500m. The son of Circus Maximus finished third at his only start in New Zealand for Andrew Forsman before being purchased by micro-share syndicator MyRacehorse. Transferred across the Tasman, Engine Of War showed good ability in two jump outs before his winning performance at Sandown. Ridden by Mark Zahra, Engine Of War sat behind a modest tempo and found…

Daring Dame (NZ) (Almanzor) broke through for an elusive win when taking out the Kensington Tavern 1200 at Ruakaka on Wednesday. The four-year-old daughter of Almanzor had shown plenty as a three-year-old, placing in all four of her starts, but a win eluded her. She strengthened with a spell and pleased when winning her 950m trial at Cambridge last month, giving punters the confidence to back her into an even money favourite on Wednesday. From the ace barrier, she settled in the trail behind Man o’ Slew (NZ) (Reliable Man)…

The TAB Racing Club’s silks were to the fore at Ruakaka on Wednesday, with three-year-old filly Transcend carrying them to victory in The Homestead Sports Bar & Bistro 1200. The daughter of So You Think had one previous run as a juvenile, finishing runner-up to subsequent stakes performer Country Salon at Trentham in May, and readied for Wednesday’s first-up run with a runner-up trial performance over 950m at Cambridge last month. She caught the eye of punters, who backed her into $2.60 favouritism on Wednesday, and she duly delivered. Transcend…

Group Two winner Tuxedo (NZ) (Tivaci) will test his talent at weight-for-age for the first time when he heads to Ellerslie on Saturday to contest the Gr.1 Proisir Plate (1400m). The Shaune Ritchie and Colm Murray-trained gelding had a pleasing three-year-old season last term, winning three of his six starts, including the Gr.2 Waikato Guineas (2000m), Gr.3 Wellington Stakes (1600m), and finishing runner-up to Damask Rose (NZ) (Savabeel) in the Karaka Millions 3YO (1600m). The son of Tivaci continued his winning ways first-up this season when victorious over 1400m at…

Chad Ormsby’s confidence is growing in exciting sprinter Master Fay (Deep Field) as he counts down to the exciting sprinter’s first public appearance for the season. The Cambridge-based horseman couldn’t be happier with the Group-winning son of Deep Field, who will enjoy an outing at Ellerslie next Tuesday. “He’ll step out in a trial and he’s right on target, he’s an older horse now and he looks fantastic,” Ormsby said. “He’s bucking and kicking like a two-year-old, he’s really in his prime now. “We’ll have seven or eight at the…

New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing (NZTR) and Hawke’s Bay Racing Inc. (HBRI) have presented to Club Members proposals for the future of racing in the Hawke’s Bay region. The Forum marked the first formal opportunity for the Club’s full membership to consider these proposals, which set out a two-part strategy: restoring racing at Hastings Racecourse in the short term, while advancing plans for a new long-term Greenfields racing precinct venue in Flaxmere. The proposals form part of NZTR’s national infrastructure strategy, which recognises Hawke’s Bay as a key regional centre for…