Author: NZRacingDesk

Waikato Stud will have strength in numbers to add to its success rate in the Gr.1 Queensland Derby (2400m) and boost its seasonal tally at the top level. The premier farm has bred and sold two past winners of the Eagle Farm Classic in Brambles (2012) and Lachlan River (2005), while Kukeracha (2021) was a graduate of the Matamata nursery. Saturday’s edition of the Ladbrokes-sponsored event will feature a quartet of homebred and sold contenders in King Of Thunder (NZ) (Tivaci), Party Crasher (NZ) (Ocean Park) and the Cliff Brown-trained…

There could be two sets of War Machine’s racing colours in next month’s $3 million Stradbroke Handicap if mare Coeur Volante (NZ) (Proisir) can make an impressive debut for her new trainers in Brisbane on Saturday. Like last Saturday’s dominant Group 3 BRC Sprint winner War Machine (NZ) (Harry Angel), Coeur Volante also carries the same navy blue and gold colours of major owner Rupert Legh, with both horses now with the Lindsay Park yard after coming out of the Mike Moroney stable following his death earlier this year. War…

A Cox Plate tilt at The Valley in Melbourne or a crack at back-to-back wins in the King Charles III Stakes in Sydney. They are races Joe Pride is yet to decide between for Ceolwulf’s (NZ) (Tavistock) major target as the trainer begins the dual G1 winner’s build-up towards his spring campaign later this year. The G1 King Charles III Stakes is over 1600m at Randwick in October and is held a week before the Cox Plate at The Valley, which is over 2040m. Ceolwulf returned to Pride’s stables from…

Wexford Stables’ three-year-olds prevailed in the survival of the fittest at Tauranga on Wednesday, with Prudentia (NZ) (Proisir) and Macallan (NZ) (Ardrossan) each breaking maiden status in the extremely testing conditions. The opening race of the day had revealed a true Heavy10 track, with rain continuing to fall in the Bay Of Plenty, but that was of no concern to Prudentia, who lapped up the surface in the Tauranga Racecourse Event Centre Maiden (1400m). A half-sister to classy wet-track gallopers Cork (NZ) (Complacent) and Little Bit Of Love (NZ) (Time…

The Lord Mayors Cup has a history of throwing up an emerging stayer and the Chris Waller stable is hoping that is again the case for the lightly raced Kadavar (NZ) (Tarzino). Three of the past four winners – Eliyass (2024), Bois D’Argent (2023) and Polly Grey (NZ) (Azamour) (2021) – have gone on to either win or place at Group 1 level. Kadavar underlined his promise last campaign with a hat-trick of victories, culminating in his Christmas Cup (2400m) triumph over subsequent Sydney autumn carnival star Alalcance. Waller’s assistant trainer Charlie Duckworth said they had high hopes for the four-year-old, who had been earmarked as…

Group One performer Faraglioni (NZ) (El Roca) showed she is back on track this preparation following her comfortable 1000m trial victory at Foxton on Tuesday. The six-year-old mare put in a subpar showing when finishing last in the Listed City Of Napier Sprint (1200m) at Trentham last month, with a subsequent blood test revealing she had an iron deficiency. Trainer and part-owner Josh Shaw gave his pride and joy a few weeks in the paddock, and he was a relieved man on Tuesday when watching her dominate her heat. “She…

Southern mare Ears Back (NZ) (Jakkalberry) will be seeking to end her season on a high when she heads to Wanganui on Saturday to contest the Listed AGC Training Stakes (1600m). Rangiora trainer John Blackadder sent the six-year-old mare north for a two-run campaign, and while things didn’t go to plan in her opening target, the Listed Rangitikei Cup (1600m), he is confident she can bounce back this weekend. “She was quite unlucky last start,” Blackadder said. “She was travelling pretty well and then hit a real heavy spot on…

Te Akau’s southern arm have a busy week ahead, with a big team at Thursday’s Riccarton Synthetic meeting before talented juvenile Cool Aza Rene treks to Wingatui on Sunday. The Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson-trained gallopers will be out in force in each of the Rating 75 contests on the polytrack, with Mitre Peak, Alminette and Beau Brummell taking their place in the Racecourse Hotel and Motor Lodge Rating 75 (1600m). A mare by More Than Ready, Mitre Peak (More Than Ready) was only narrowly beaten when resuming behind subsequent…

Pedigree enthusiasts would have noted the result of Monday’s 3000-metre Benchmark 70 at Mornington immediately, with two kiwi bred full brothers of Melbourne Cup winners fighting out the finish. The seven-horse field contained Affluential (NZ) (Zed), the brother of late 2021 Cup winner Verry Elleegant, and Heir To The Throne (NZ) (Pentire), the brother of 2015 Cup victor Prince Of Penzance. And as it turned out, the pair would quinella the race, with just a nose separating the well-related stayers in a thrilling go on the line. John Leek Jnr’s…

Cambridge Stud owned Joliestar (Zoustar) will have to overcome a wide draw if she’s to add a third Group One to her sparkling CV. Chris Waller’s four-year-old mare has drawn barrier 13 of 14 in the Gr.1 Kingsford Smith Cup (1300m) at Eagle Farm on Saturday. In her favour however will be the man aboard, with James Mcdonald set to reunite with the daughter of Zoustar for the first time since The Everest (1200m) in October last year. Since then, Joliestar has won the Gr.1 Newmarket Handicap (1200m) under Damian…