Author: NZRacingDesk

Promising three-year-old filly Shameless Star (NZ) (Shamexpress) continued a week of milestone successes for the Didham family at Waverley on Sunday. The daughter of Shamexpress delivered her co-trainer Peter Didham’s 100th training victory in the NZB Mega Maiden Series (1200m), just two days after the Awapuni horseman got his first win in partnership with his son, Trent Didham, courtesy of Danjuro (NZ) (Saxon Warrior) at Otaki. Shameless Star had appeared three times as a juvenile, the third of those contesting the Gr.1 Manawatu Sires Produce Stakes (1400m) at the end of…

Join Guy Heveldt, Emily Bosson and Jayne Ivil as they review a Group 1 weekend. They’re joined by Lance O’Sullivan who talks about the stables favourite in Waitak, and hear from Kylie Williams who reflects on 1000 wins. Weigh In, September 28

Well-related stayer Notabadspillane (NZ) (Time Test) has a prestigious Cups target in his sights after a comprehensive victory in the Inspire Racing St John’s Old Boys Syndicate (2100m) at Te Rapa on Saturday. The Shaun Phelan-prepared galloper had been a comfortable winner over a similar distance at the course a fortnight ago, and with regular rider Elen Nicholas in the saddle, he started favourite for the $65,000 contest ahead of Tisse and Tregor. Nicholas showed intent early from the gate, pressing forward to lead early before allowing Talentoso to cross…

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Smart four-year-old Evaporate bounced back from a setback to win Saturday’s Gr.3 Sandown Stakes (1500m) in gallant fashion, defeating favourite Transatlantic by a nose. Lumping 59kgs and racing three-wide early in the piece, jockey Blake Shinn threw the map out of the window and elected to roll forward and dictate the running on the son of Per Incanto, who ran out a deserved winner. Trainers Ben, Will and JD Hayes will now target the Gr.1 Toorak Handicap (1600m) with the gelding who finished fifth in the Gr.2 P.B Lawrence Stakes…

Saturday’s Howden Insurance Mile (1600m) at Te Rapa took Waitak (NZ) (Proisir) past the million-dollar barrier and added another triumphant chapter to his unique Group One record. The $400,000 weight-for-age showpiece was Waitak’s 12th appearance at Group One level. Those dozen races have been spread across his two, three, four, five and now six-year-old seasons, and they have ranged from 1200m all the way up to 2400m. Before Saturday, Waitak’s career highlight came with his stunning burst from the back of the field to win the Gr.1 Sistema Railway (1200m)…

Six-year-old mare She’s Unusual was a well-supported winner of the Irresistible Pools & Spas Handicap (1900m) at Rosehill on Saturday. The daughter of Unusual Suspect was perfectly ridden by Zac Lloyd, tracking the leader Nkosi before unleashing a devastating sprint to score by just over three lengths. Sporting the colours of OTI Racing for trainers John O’Shea and Tom Charlton, the Randwick conditioners believe the mare is best-suited by a space between runs. “Bar one hiccup this preparation, she has been superb,” Charlton said. “We probably really learnt how to…

Te Akau Racing’s involvement in the Group One raceday at Te Rapa on Saturday was significantly depleted by scratchings due to heavy track conditions, but it was a completely different story at Riccarton. Spring racing was in full swing in Christchurch, with the track upgraded to Good4 and those familiar tangerine silks carried to three highly impressive victories. Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson’s biggest win of the day came in the $50,000 Join TAB Racing Club Mile Prelude (1400m), where Stonybreck blew his rivals away by five lengths. The Tavistock…

Well-respected South Island rider Kylie Williams brought up a significant career milestone when she steered Riviera Rebel (NZ) (Pure Champion) to a convincing victory in the feature flat event at Riccarton, the Waimakariri Businesses North Canterbury Cup (2000m). Williams had been steadily closing in on 1000 career wins in the saddle and after taking out the first race on the card on Miss Ziggy (NZ) (Brazen Beau) to sit on 999, she became the first female rider in New Zealand history to reach 1000 winners with a typically well-judged effort…

Talented colt Magic Carpet (NZ) (Satono Aladdin) chose the ideal moment to break his maiden status when he produced a dogged effort to claim victory in the Gr.2 Timberspan Hawke’s Bay Guineas (1400). Prepared at Cambridge by Stephen Marsh, the son of Satono Aladdin had looked to have plenty of ability when finishing third at his first two starts, with Marsh confident that if he received even luck in running on Saturday he was definitely not a forlorn hope. Those circumstances played out perfectly for the Marsh runner as rider…