Author: NZRacingDesk

Stakes tests are in the offing for Rangiotu galloper Chase (NZ) (Zed) if he performs up to expectations in the Wanganui-Taranaki Racehorse Owners Association Open 1600 at Wanganui on Saturday.  The Group One performer will be fresh-up after finishing unplaced in the Gr.3 Phar Lap Trophy (1600m) at Trentham in January, and trainer Stephen Nickalls has been pleased with his progress leading up the weekend.  “Chase is really well, we went to the Levin jump-outs yesterday (Tuesday) just to have a good hit-out, he ran third and did everything right,…

Shaun and Emma Clotworthy will break new ground in their training careers at Randwick on Saturday, with their first Australian runner coming in the form of the Gr.1 Australian Derby (2400m) second-favourite Willydoit (NZ) (Tarzino). The Byerley Park couple unveiled the talented son of Tarzino in November and he was immediately stamped as a Derby prospect, a promise fulfilled five starts later when he bolted away with the $1.25 million Gr.1 New Zealand Derby (2400m) at Ellerslie on Champions Day. Willydoit caught the hearts of the New Zealand public while…

Lindsay Park are hoping for a confidence boosting result this weekend with their talented three-year-old Evaporate (NZ) (Per Incanto) in the Gr.3 Carbine Club Stakes (1600m) at Randwick. The New Zealand-bred son of Per Incanto has shown plenty of ability on the track this season but has been winless since the Gr.2 Stutt Stakes (1600m) at The Valley in September, his fourth consecutive victory before placing in the Gr.1 Caulfield Guineas (1600m). He returned to his homeland last month where he finished runner-up behind Damask Rose (NZ) (Savabeel) in the…

Multiple Group One winner Grail Seeker (NZ) (Iffraaj) made a big impression ahead of a possible Australian feature target at the Ellerslie trials on Tuesday afternoon. The daughter of Iffraaj has only had three raceday appearances this season, and in that time picked up both the Gr.1 Tarzino Trophy (1400m) and Gr.1 Telegraph (1200m), accumulating more than $500,000 in prizemoney. Starting favourite in the Gr.1 BCD Group Sprint (1400m) in early February, Grail Seeker struck firmer track conditions than she would typically fancy but still finished sixth in a high-class…

Quality six-year-old mare Lekvarte (NZ) (Reliable Man) recorded a hard-fought Group Two victory when landing the Emancipation Stakes (1500m) at Rosehill on Tuesday. The Joe Pride-trained mare was previously a three-time winner at Group Three level and narrowly prevailed from favourite Lazzura who was held up before making late-ground to finish second.   A ten time winner, Lekvarte’s best form had been on firmer ground than the heavy8 presented on Tuesday, and she had previously been unplaced in five attempts on heavy going. “Gee she sprinted quickly on that ground…

Favourite backers breathed a collective sigh of relief when a small margin victory went the way of $1.50 chance Ceolwulf (NZ) (Tavistock) in a photo-finish to the Gr.2 Neville Sellwood Stakes (2000m) at Rosehill on Tuesday. The Joe Pride-trained four-year-old carried 59.5kg topweight to wear down Just Fine by a nose with Our Gold Hope in third. “It wasn’t really the result that counted today – it is easy to say that after a race – but it is more about the performance,” Pride said. “I’ll be honest, he presented…

Foxton trainer Gail Temperton feels she has some unfinished business with the Gr.3 Manawatu Breeders’ Stakes (2040m) and she is hoping to rectify that on Saturday at Wanganui.  Temperton placed in last year’s edition of the race with Royal Flower (NZ) (Proisir), a mare she bred and races with her partner Stanley Alexander under their Taikorea Thoroughbreds banner, and she is hoping for an improved result this weekend.  The six-year-old daughter of Proisir has been raced sparingly since last autumn, having the one run in spring before returning to the…

A start in next Saturday’s Southern Alps Challenge (1600m) is in the offing for Ears Back (NZ) (Jakkalberry), but the talented mare must overcome recent barrier woes in her lead-up run at Ashburton on Thursday to make the $350,000 target. A six-year-old by Jakkalberry, Ears Back has seven wins to her name including this season’s Timaru Cup (1600m). She was among the favoured runners in the Listed Hazlett Stakes (1400m) in February but uncharacteristically failed to load and was late-scratched. The mare returned to Wingatui last month and finished sixth…

It’s a best of season one! Michael looks back at all of the big moments, notable interviews, re-rides the emotional rollercoasters, and dives back into some of his favourite moments, before a final check-in and update on Mickey G. Guerin Report – Ep.31 – Best Of

Connections of top-class mare Joliestar (Zoustar) will wait until later this week before making a call on her involvement at Randwick at the weekend. A start in Saturday’s Gr.1 TJ Smith Stakes (1200m) is in the balance for Chris Waller’s representative due to Sydney’s inclement weather and no chances will be taken with Cambridge Stud’s high-profile daughter of Zoustar. “It would be nice to give her one more run before we tip her out for a spell and then come back for the spring,” Cambridge Stud chief executive Henry Plumptre…