Author: NZRacingDesk

Enigmatic stayer Diamond Jak (NZ) (Jakkalberry) was on his best behaviour for the second start in a row when he strode clear in the closing stages to capture the Russell & Yvonne Green Memorial (2000m) at Matamata. The Jakkalberry seven-year-old has kept both his trainer Mark Brosnan and various jockeys on their toes with his barrier manners on occasion, but has never lacked real ability with his mind fully on the job, as he showed once again with a determined performance to register his seventh career victory. Fresh off a…

Speedy mare I’munstoppable (NZ) (Charm Spirit ) never gave her rivals a look in as she maintained a powerful gallop in front throughout to capture the Colchester Engineering Ltd (1200m) on her home track at Matamata. The former Gr.3 Cambridge Breeders’ Stakes (1200m) winner hadn’t been seen on raceday for nearly 300 days after finishing last of eleven at Te Rapa back in December last year. Trainers Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott backed off her when she didn’t come up as well as they would have liked for an autumn…

War Princess (NZ) (U S Navy Flag) was the hottest favourite on the card at Hawera on Saturday, and she lived up to her $1.40 odds with an effortless and confidence-boosting victory in the NZB RTR 3YO (1400m). The daughter of U S Navy Flag showed enormous promise as a two-year-old last season, winning her first two starts by a combined margin of four and a half lengths. She earned herself a shot at the big time, where she finished 11th in the Gr.1 Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) in…

Local trainer Robert Dennis won half of the eight-race card at Ascot Park on Friday, culminating with a special win by Sir Sterling in the Vale Tony Dennis (1400m). The $40,000 race was run a month after the passing of Robert Dennis’ father, the multiple Group One-winning horseman Tony Dennis. “It’s been a terrific day – it’s always great to train any winner, so to get four is hugely rewarding,” Robert Dennis said. “Winning the race named for Dad was a nice cherry on top.” Sir Sterling went into Friday’s…

New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing (NZTR) is pleased to confirm the final list of 10 New Zealand stakes races that will form part of the $1 million Bonus Eligible Race Pool attached to The NZB Kiwi (1500m), the Southern Hemisphere’s richest three-year-old race. In addition to the $4 million base stake of The NZB Kiwi (1500m), a further $1 million will be distributed in bonuses to horses that win one of the designated lead-up races and go on to place in the top three of The NZB Kiwi, staged on Champions…

Foxton trainer Matt Dixon sees Saturday’s Gr.3 Grangewilliam Stud Taranaki Breeders’ Stakes (1400m) as an ideal target for Marotiri Molly in almost every way – apart from the Hawera weather and track conditions. Marotiri Molly’s rating of 100 is the highest in the field for the $100,000 fillies and mares’ feature. She has won six of her 16 starts and more than $245,000 in stakes, headed by a victory in last season’s Gr.2 Manawatu Challenge Stakes (1400m) and a third placing in the Gr.2 Auckland Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1400m). The…

Lochmara Bay has been knocking on the door of a maiden win and trainer David Walsh is hoping she can secure it at Phar Lap Raceway on Sunday when she contests the Ecoglo International NZ 1200. The four-year-old daughter of Sweynesse has finished runner-up in three of her four starts this preparation, all over 1400m, and Walsh is hoping a drop back in distance will benefit his mare. “She has been racing really well and has led at the 200m several times and has got run down, so I thought…

Lance Gussey is hoping to put a last-start disappointment behind him when Joshua Brown lines up in the Listed Team Wealleans Matamata Cup (1600m) on Saturday. Gussey trains and part-owns the Dalghar gelding, whose rise through the ranks during the winter months culminated in an impressive victory in the Listed Opunake Cup (1400m) at New Plymouth in July. That performance earned Joshua Brown a shot at the Gr.2 Foxbridge Plate (1200m) at Te Rapa on August 23, but he never fired a shot and finished at the tail of the…

Darrell Hollinshead has two strong chances at Matamata to continue the good run of recent form of his boutique stable. The Te Awamutu trainer produced Bak Da Angel to score last weekend at Te Rapa where stablemate Digger also placed and Rosetown Princess and Ramblin’ Rose will represent the team on Saturday. Russell & Yvonne Green Memorial (2000m) contender Rosetown Princess has been in good touch this preparation and was an open handicap winner at New Plymouth three runs back. She then ran fifth at Te Aroha before the Redwood…

Kiwi jockey Masa Hashizume will step onto the Flemington turf for the first time this weekend when he attempts to qualify Bulls gelding Trav for next month’s Gr.1 Melbourne Cup (3200m). The 29-year-old hoop partnered the Raymond Connors-trained six-year-old to a memorable victory in the Gr.2 Auckland Cup (3200m) at Ellerslie in March, and the Manawatu horseman has stuck with Hashizume ever since. The pair have recorded two fourth placings in their two appearances together this season, including an eye-catching effort out wide at Ellerslie a fortnight ago. Hashizume was…