Author: NZRacingDesk

Highview Stud stallion Divine Prophet sired a new stakeswinner on Saturday with Fortunate Kiss (Divine Prophet) a deserved winner in the Listed A$300,000 Glasshouse Handicap (1400m) at the Sunshine Coast on Saturday. With nine top five finishes in previous black type races, it was better late than never for the Lloyd Kennewell and Lucy Yeomans trained mare Fortunate Kiss held off the late charge of Oughton to score by just over a quarter of a length to get her first black type victory. Stable rep Ross O’Sullivan expected a forward…

Joe Pride has been heartened by the performances of a horse from a rival yard this season as he begins to plot a spring carnival path for dual Group One winner Ceolwulf (NZ) (Tavistock). The Warwick Farm conditioner watched with interest as Antino (NZ) (Redwood) thumped his rivals in the Gr.2 Hollindale Stakes (1800m) and the Gr.1 Doomben Cup (2000m) over the Queensland winter, the efforts elevating the Tony Gollan-trained galloper to the second line of early Cox Plate markets behind Via Sistina. While Antino has always shown talent, it…

Waikato horseman Peter Grey celebrated his first winner in the training role at Tauranga on Sunday, breaking maiden status alongside his filly Slick Chick (NZ) (Reliable Man). A daughter of Reliable Man, Slick Chick defied her $57 closing price when finishing third to Leprekhan at Wanganui last month, but remained among the outsiders in the Tremains Real Estate Maiden 2100 and settled last early in the hands of Bridget Grylls. Exiting the straight, Uhtred took control of the race and had several runners off the bit nearing the 800m, where…

Empire State (NZ) (Tavistock) has grown in confidence throughout the season and he put that on display at Te Rapa on Saturday, breaking through for an impressive maiden success in the Irwin’s Truck and Bus Hurdle (2800m). The six-year-old by Tavistock was having his eighth attempt over the smaller fences, having shown improvement at each start this campaign. He put the writing on the wall when finishing into third behind Jerricoop last month at Te Aroha, but was still slightly underrated in the market on Saturday, closing at $8.20 with…

A promising future over fences awaits Malborough Bay (NZ) (Darci Brahma), who showcased his ability on rain-affected tracks with a gritty victory in Saturday’s John F Grylls Memorial Classic (1400m) at Te Rapa.   The son of Darci Brahma had four previous wins to his credit, all on soft or heavy ground, and indicated he was ready to strike again with a narrow second to Joshua Brown at the venue last month. Among the better-backed runners in an even Rating 75 contest, Malborough Bay found cover three-wide in a compact…

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Quirky but talented mare Miss Tarzy has come from last win the Leilani Series Final (1400m) under a patient Jett Stanley ride. The daughter of Tarzino was sent out a $51 chance but defied the punters in the last to close over the top of Sassy Boom who had looked poised for victory. Prepared by Anthony and Sam Freedman, Miss Tarzy has now won five of her 19 starts with a further seven placings but is usually seen to best effect at a mile and beyond. Connections have hailed the…

Smart three-year-old staying filly Shockletz has overcome a wide barrier to win the Mahogany Challenge Final (2500m) at Flemington on Saturday under a well-judged Harry Coffey ride. Prepared by Ciaron Maher, the daughter of Shocking recorded the third victory of the campaign and relished the step up in distance, narrowly getting the better of Ant who made a dashing late run nearer the rails. “She was drawn really wide (13) and Harry was initially going to be posted deep but he rolled the dice and decided to go a little…

Four-year-old mare Good Banter was back in the winner’s circle when narrowly prevailing in the Catanach’s Jewellers Handicap (2000m) at Rosehill on Saturday for trainers John O’Shea and Tom Charlton. The daughter of Tavistock hadn’t greeted the judge first since her triumph in the Gr.3 Adrian Knox Stakes (2000m) in April of last year but had shown positive signs in trackwork before her success on the improving Soft 7 surface. Ridden by Dylan Gibbons, Good Banter settled just forward of midfield and enjoyed a clear passage despite ducking in late…

Winter specialist Caitlyns Wish was in her element in the extremely testing conditions at Te Rapa on Saturday and scored a determined front-running victory in the Group One Turf Bar Sprint (1200m). The $40,000 open handicap was the seventh win of a 24-start career for the daughter of Belardo, with all of those victories coming on heavy tracks. She has made a habit of winning at Te Rapa around this time of year, taking out a 1200m three-year-old race in July of 2023 and a 1200m open handicap last June.…