Author: NZRacingDesk

Te Akau Racing looks set to be a major player on the all-weather track at Riccarton with a particularly strong hand to play in the age group event on Wednesday’s card. Trainers Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson will be represented by the in-form duo of Queen Of Naples and Porcia Catonis in the Red Rose Raceday – 24 July Three-Year-Old (1400m). Stablemate Vivacious also looks a strong chance in the Join TAB Racing Club Rating 74 off the back of two wins on the bounce. Queen Of Naples (NZ) (Darci…

Ann Browne, widely known as Mrs Browne, is a trailblazer and heroine in New Zealand racing, and would be the first to share her passion for jumpers.   As Ann Fraser, Browne spent her early years living on a farm off the East Coast of the North Island where her horse-oriented family felt anything but isolated. “All of my relations are from Gisborne and I grew up on a farm inland from Tikitiki, off the East Coast,” Browne said. “I lived there until I was 14, until my father bought a…

It will be a case of one and done for New Zealand-bred sprinting sensation Ka Ying Rising (NZ) (Shamexpress) in his Australian spring campaign, with trainer David Hayes confirming the A$20 million The Everest (1200m) will be his sole target down under. “It’s been decided that we’ll give Ka Ying Rising one run in The Everest and then the owner is keen to concentrate on Hong Kong,” Hayes told the South China Morning Post. “He’s avoiding the temptation of the big money in Australia. He’s decided win, lose or draw, to…

Rich Hill Stud is a prominent player in the 2025 National Online Breeding Stock Sale on Gavelhouse Plus, offering more than 10 percent of the 87-lot catalogue. The Rich Hill consignment features 10 mares, six of which are in foal to the stud’s promising sire Ace High. Two others are carrying pregnancies to the well-performed Rich Hill resident Shocking, while another is in foal to Embellish (NZ). “There’s certainly some nice young mares from good families, and most of them are going to have foals on the ground within the…

Emily Murphy brings you Winter Weigh In, your place for Thoroughbred racing news, reviews and insights throughout the colder months. The team look back at racing from Te Rapa, and trainer Tony Pike joins the show to chat about his apprentice jockeys and horses for the spring. Winter Weigh In, July 7

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New Zealand-bred three-year-old Public Attention will continue his racing career in Hong Kong following his recent sale. The grey son of Written Tycoon was bred by the late Sir Patrick Hogan and Lady Justine Hogan out of Legramor, a daughter of their dual Group One winner Katie Lee, and he was offered through Carlaw Park’s 2023 New Zealand Bloodstock Book 1 Yearling Sale draft where he was purchased by Coolmore’s Tom Magnier for $160,000. Public Attention was raced by Coolmore, in association with several partners, including Sir Peter Vela, and…

Memories of a former high-class performer were revived when Peter Fitzgerald recently made a return to the winner’s circle. The Otaki horseman celebrated his first success in three decades when Revo broke his maiden on the polytrack at Awapuni last Friday. Fitzgerald enjoyed top-flight success in the early 1990s with the free-going chestnut Captain Cook, who won six races including the Gr.1 International Stakes (2000m) at Te Rapa where he beat Fun On The Run. He subsequently took a lengthy break from training before returning and now has Revo and…

Te Akau’s Cranbourne barn has welcomed some exciting reinforcements ahead of spring racing, headlined by $3.5 million NZB Kiwi (1500m) heroine Damask Rose. The rising four-year-old mare was a standout for trainers Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson in her three-year-old term, winning three of her five starts in her homeland, including the $1.5 million Karaka Millions 3YO (1600m) and NZB Kiwi, accruing more than $2 million in earnings. Having taken out two of New Zealand’s richest races, her connections have now set their sights on securing the lion’s share of…

Arron Lynch and Right Now (NZ) (Wrote) have caused a boilover in the Kevin Lafferty Hurdle at Warrnambool on Sunday, holding tough at long odds. Trained by Bevan Laming, Right Now couldn’t go the 3900 metres in the Australian Hurdle last start, but the drop back to 3200m looked suitable and he travelled comfortably throughout. Lynch pinched runs up the inside and went from second last to first down the side, but there was still the matter of holding off Loft ($1.35) and Normandy Bridge ($5). But even with the…