Promising three-year-old Ribkraka (NZ) (Ribchester) thrived on a change of venue to deliver a front-running victory for Wexford Stables trainers Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott at New Plymouth on Saturday. Entered for both the AB Electrical 3YO (1400m) at New Plymouth as well as a similar three-year-old contest a Te Rapa, O’Sullivan and Scott rolled the dice and sent the son of Ribchester down country and it paid off handsomely as Khavish Chowdhoory had him rolling from barrier rise and looking the winner a long way out. Chowdhoory applied the…
Author: NZRacingDesk
Change in tactics pays winning dividend for Uderzo
Underrated galloper Uderzo (NZ) (Vadamos) took up pacemaking duties at Te Rapa on Saturday for the first time in his career, and it proved a masterstroke for trainers Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott as he never looked like being headed in the KPMG 1600 (1600m). The six-year-old gelding is far better known as a get back and charge home type so many were surprised when apprentice Rihaan Goyaram bounced him straight to the front and set up a leisurely tempo from race favourite Witz End (NZ) (Savabeel). It was evident…
Nelson and McDougal’s jumpers shine at Te Rapa
The powerful jumping stable of Hastings trainers Paul Nelson and Corrina McDougal sprung to life for the 2025 season on Saturday with a feature double at Te Rapa. Nelson and McDougal secured their first jumps success of the winter with the up-and-comer Taika (NZ) (Mettre en Jeu) in the $40,000 Jones Trucking Hurdle (2800m). Just over an hour later, seven-time hurdle winner Nedwin (NZ) (Niagara) made a seamless switch to the bigger fences in the $40,000 Dunstan Horsefeeds Steeplechase (3900m). Both winners carried the colours of the meeting’s major sponsor.…
Geneva impressive on debut
Good looking colt Geneva (NZ) (Time Test) looked to have a bright future for owners Jomara Bloodstock as he powered home to make a winning debut in the Direct Fats & Oils 2YO (1100m) at Te Rapa. The Kylie Hoskin-prepared son of Time Test came into the contest off the back of three trials, two of which he won including the last at Ruakaka over 1050m last month. Despite plenty of confidence in the Hoskin camp and from rider Kelly Myers, Geneva was somewhat overlooked by punters as he started…
Winter specialist to kick-off at New Plymouth
Homebred gelding Tobias (NZ) (Complacent) was a revelation for owner-trainer Tony Dravitzki last winter, and the Stratford horseman is hoping he can find a similar vein of form over the colder months this year. The now seven-year-old son of Complacent won four races on the bounce last winter, including the New Plymouth Interprovincial (1600m), before running fourth in the Gr.3 Metric Mile (1600m) at Wanganui. Dravitzki has been pleased with the way his seven-win gelding has come up this time in and is looking forward to kicking off his preparation…
Rathbone heading north with promising stayer
Wanganui trainer Jo Rathbone has taken a golden opportunity to give a number of her stable a trip away to Ellerslie this weekend. Rathbone had not initially nominated for the Sunday meeting, but after seeing the initial line-up of runners, she has accepted with four horses, including progressive stayer Overdraft (NZ) (Burgundy) and the versatile Billy Boy (So You Think). “I saw that the fields were a little bit weak up there, so as a bit of an afterthought I late nominated all of them,” she said. “Billy Boy has…
Former Hong Kong galloper seeking breakthrough win
Former Hong Kong galloper Compulsory (No Nay Never) has been a model of consistency for Tim and Margaret Carter since joining their Cambridge barn late last year, and he will be out to score a breakthrough victory in the JRA Trophy 1400 at Ellerslie on Sunday. The six-year-old son of No Nay Never placed in just one of his 20 starts in Hong Kong for trainers Tony Millard and Michael Chang, but has thrived since arriving in New Zealand, placing in four of his five starts for the Carters. The…
Filly set to add to Sharrock’s top tally with family
In-form filly Belle Tribute (NZ) (Contributer) is the latest rising star from a family that Allan Sharrock has enjoyed a remarkable run of success with. The daughter of Contributer will bid to complete a hat-trick of victories when she heads a sizeable team for the Taranaki trainer at his local meeting at New Plymouth on Saturday. Belle Tribute will run in the AB Electrical 3YO (1400m) and will be shooting for Sharrock’s 40th win with the progeny of Maroof’s daughter Bellaroof. “I bought her as a yearling (for $40,000) and…
Stakes performers on the market on gavelhouse.com
The latest fortnightly auction on gavelhouse.com offers buyers a golden opportunity to add black-type performance to their broodmare band. The catalogue for the current auction, which closes on Monday evening, features stakes performers Macaluso (NZ) (Savabeel), Expressiveness (NZ) (Shamexpress) and Miss Layla (NZ) (Burgundy). Opportunities are few and far between for buyers to get their hands on stakes-performed daughters of Hall of Fame sire and emerging powerhouse broodmare sire Savabeel, and it’s even rarer for his daughters to have the precociousness to perform up to black-type level as two-year-olds. Macaluso…
Wet track to suit in-form Ahuriri
Stakes winner Ahuriri (NZ) (Almanzor) showed a welcome return to form on a wet track last start and trainer Chris Waller hoped a similar surface at Randwick could help her to continue in that vein. The mare ploughed through the heavy 9 conditions over 1900m at Canterbury last month to record her first win since the 2024 VRC St Leger (2800m). She steps up to 2400m in Saturday’s PF Civil Handicap on a track anticipated to be at the extreme end of the ratings spectrum. “She won a St Leger at Flemington this time last year…