Author: NZRacingDesk

Riccarton trainer Andrew Carston will have a strong hand at his home track’s synthetic meeting on Thursday, with 10 stable runners to go around. He will have a three-pronged attack in the Book A Suite Mid-Winter Xmas Races 21 June Rating 65 (1400m), spearheaded by Tough Time. The five-year-old gelding was in pleasing form over summer, winning his last two outings, and will look to pick up where he left off when first-up on Thursday, where he will jump from barrier five with jockey Leah Hemi aboard. “He was really…

Hurdle racing’s new star The Cunning Fox (NZ) (Reliable Man) will not try to replicate his super jumping form on the flat, with the emerging grey galloper to miss Saturday’s Listed Andrew Ramsden (2800m) at Flemington. Co-trainer Patrick Payne said on Tuesday he has decided the Australian Hurdle (3900m) at Sandown on June 1 is a better option, rather than racing on the flat at Flemington. “He’s come through Warrnambool really well and I nominated him (for the Ramsden) just to have a look, but I just think we will…

Talented Lindsay Park filly Chase Your Dreams (NZ) (Contributer) will press on to the Gr.1 Queensland Oaks (2200m) next month after running second in the SA Fillies Classic (2500m). The $2.80 chance was beaten home only by Danny O’Brien’s Litzdeel but her run despite doing plenty wrong was pleasing to her training trio. “She still ran a credible second doing a few things wrong, we just need to iron those things out,” JD Hayes said. “She just hung in on the straight, which was a bit annoying and she was…

Will Featherstone is the latest English jumps jockey to answer New Zealand’s call, travelling across the world to further his riding career on Kiwi soil. The 21-year-old has family roots in racing, following in his father’s footsteps in becoming a point-to-point jockey, and he has been race-riding for the past four seasons, while working under Jamie Snowden. “I’ve always ridden horses, I can’t remember a time that I didn’t,” Featherstone said. “I got into racing pretty much straight away really, I’ve always wanted to be a jockey because my Dad…

Ascot Park trainer Sabin Kirkland is a big fan of Riccarton’s synthetic track, and so is his stakes winner Buoyant (NZ) (Dalghar), who will be out to keep his unblemished record intact on the surface on Thursday.  The six-year-old son of Dalghar was victorious on the track three years ago before returning to the surface earlier this month where extended his unbeaten streak to two after taking out his 1200m event.  The Southland galloper has remained in Canterbury and will have his third crack on the polytrack in Thursday’s Happy…

Stephen Autridge will be well-represented in a race at Matamata on Wednesday that means a great deal to the local horseman. Autridge is likely to present both Afterglo and Miriam in the Toby Autridge Memorial (1100m), a race run to remember the life and achievements of his late brother, a talented former jockey and trainer who passed away three years ago. “The first time we ran this race it was about the same date as his passing, but a changed date doesn’t matter, it’s great,” Autridge said. “It’s good to…

Emily Murphy brings you Winter Weigh In, your place for Thoroughbred racing news, reviews and insights throughout the colder months. This week Sam Weatherley recaps the flat features from Rotorua and Hamish McNeill weighs in on the start of the jumps racing season. Winter Weigh In, May 12 – YouTube

Gifted Ace High filly She’s A Dealer (Ace High) will cross the Tasman later this week in a bid to make her mark at the highest level. Trained by Roger James and Robert Wellwood, the three-year-old will make her Australian debut at Randwick and a continuation of her hot domestic form will then see her travel further afield. “She will fly over to Sydney next Sunday and race on May 24 in a Benchmark 72 for three-year-olds over 1800m,” Wellwood said. “If she can win or run very well, we…

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD NEWSLETTER

Cody Cole gave a late call to Craig Grylls to partner his three horses at Wanganui on Sunday, and as he has done throughout the season, the premiership-leading hoop guided each to victory in their respective races. The first of the Cole-Grylls treble was Full Of Courage (NZ) (Puccini), a promising three-year-old who delivered on his short-priced favouritism in the Remembering Raymond Double MDN 3YO (1600m). Grylls settled the gelding in midfield while Alliance (NZ) (Almanzor) pulled his way to the front, leading the field by a margin into the…