Author: NZRacingDesk

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Whether it is considered an ambitious move or not to take on the Gr.1 All Aged Stakes (1400m) so soon, Tony Gollan has just as higher aims for Antino (NZ) (Redwood) closer to home as the topline Queensland galloper returns to the races this Saturday. Antino trialled last week at Eagle Farm finishing behind Rothfire (Rothesay) with a heavier staff rider aboard, and since then Gollan has been happy for his versatile six-year-old to line up in the All Aged over the 1400-metre trip at Randwick before a campaign over longer trips in Brisbane. “He was getting a…

Sidelined jockey Darren Danis passed the first test in his journey to return to the saddle when he competed in the Ultimate Athlete Obstacle Race at Mount Maunganui Beach last Saturday. Danis sustained a fractured C4 and C5 vertebrae following an incident at the Waipa trials in November last year, and last weekend’s challenge was an important milestone in his recovery. The 32-year-old hoop had wanted to compete in the obstacle race and he was given the green light by his doctor to return to light physical activity just over…

International racing journalist Andrew Hawkins’ imagination was captured by two things as a child, thoroughbred racing and the Canberra Raiders, and on Saturday he was able to combine his two loves. As a teenager, with the hope of one day racing his own horse, Hawkins designed a set of silks based on the colours of his three-time NRL Premiership-winning Canberra Raiders, and on Saturday he realised that dream when watching Bona Sforza carry those silks to victory in the Listed Welcome Stakes (1000m) at Riccarton Park in Christchurch. It was…

Multiple Group-winner Nereus is being set for a Queensland campaign after powering into second in Saturday’s Listed Hawke’s Bay Cup (2200m) at Trentham. The Waikato Stud-owned son of Savabeel has a strong affinity with the Upper Hutt course, having won the Gr.2 Awapuni Gold Cup (2400m) last year before finishing sixth in the Listed Mornington Cup (2400m) in Victoria. His trainers Shaune Ritchie and Colm Murray opted to take a different path with the gelding this season, winning the Gr.3 Counties Cup (2100m) before testing his abilities over the two…

Quirky three-year-old Croupier has one more box to tick to book his passage to Brisbane. He might be a handful at times but has an abundance of ability and comeback trainer Andrew Campbell has plans in place for Ace High’s son to showcase that talent at the Queensland winter carnival. Croupier was a luckless fifth on debut behind stakes winner Super Photon last month at Trentham and returned there on Saturday to post a narrow victory over 1400m after racing greenly. “It was a tough watch, but he was good…

Michael McNab earned a great deal of praise after Force Of Nature (NZ) (Savabeel) won Sunday’s Inspire Racing Sprint (1200m), but the top jockey was quick to credit his mount who made a big impression when resuming in the Te Rapa contest. A lightly-raced four-year-old, Force Of Nature was appearing for the first time since late November, where he finished third in a competitive Stella Artois Championship Qualifier behind Frostfair. It was the lowest placing he had recorded all preparation, after winning two in a row through maiden and Rating…

Karman Line (NZ) (Myboycharlie) has proven to be an enigma for Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott throughout her career, but the Group Three winner was right back to her best when taking out the BCD Group 1400 at Te Rapa on Sunday. The daughter of Myboycharlie has mixed her form from the outset and while she won the Lisa Chittick Plate (1400m) and Gr.3 Rotorua Stakes (1400m) last term, she missed the top five in her opening four appearances this season, albeit in strong company. A fourth placing behind Chattahoochee…

Midnight Edition (NZ) (Wrote) narrowly missed out on a feature three-year-old crown in December and he’ll have a shot at redemption in a fortnight after defeating a quality field at Te Rapa on Sunday. Midnight Edition caused a major market upset when dead-heating the Gr.2 Auckland Guineas (1400m) on Boxing Day, but was relegated to second position after an enquiry by the connections of Yaldi. The son of Wrote has been tested at a range of difference distances this campaign, but has found his sweet spot at 1200m, the distance…

Trainer Dom Sutton is planning to keep Gr.1 Australian Guineas winner Feroce (NZ) (Super Seth) to races up to a mile during this year’s Spring Carnivals, with the rich Golden Eagle set to be his major target. The three-year-old gelding is having a spell after finishing sixth in the Gr.1 Australian Cup at Flemington on March 29 in his first try over 2000m, which came against seasoned older horses at weight-for-age. A runner-up in the Gr.1 Caulfield Guineas last spring, Feroce’s autumn preparation was highlighted by his win in the…