Author: NZRacingDesk

A decision to bypass the Gr.3 Winter Cup (1600m) a fortnight ago paid dividends for the connections of Pride Of Aspen on Sunday, as the mare went three in a row in the Free Court (2100m) at Hawera. The seven-year-old was prepared for the majority of her career by training partners Johno Benner and Hollie Wynyard, and when the former took a step back from training last term, she moved north to Cambridge with Wynyard. Wynyard identified suitable races for her in the Central Districts through this winter, and after…

Group One performer Faraglioni recorded one of her biggest moments on the track when runner-up in last year’s Gr.1 Tarzino Trophy (1400m), but she won’t feature in the renamed Proisir Plate at Ellerslie next month. The now seven-year-old daughter of El Roca has been retired to the broodmare paddock after injuring a suspensory ligament in June. “She was getting ready for that fillies and mares race at Tauranga (Listed Tauranga Classic) over 1400m at the end of June, but she tweaked a suspensory 10 days before that,” trainer Josh Shaw…

Versatile galloper Gigi (NZ) (Ghibellines) took a step up in grade in his stride at Te Rapa on Saturday, while delivering a special milestone for his trainer Jim Pender. The son of Ghibellines had posted victories on better tracks through the summer, but struck a bottomless surface first-up this preparation at New Plymouth, a performance he was expected to bounce back from. Starting among the better-backed runners in the Fulton Hogan Mile (1600m), Gigi was eased back into midfield by Joe Doyle to find cover early. The top pick in…

Untapped galloper Im Bartholomew (NZ) (Contributer) delivered a maiden victory four years in the making for Tony Dravitzki at Hawera on Sunday. Initially purchased by Dravitzki as a weanling, Im Bartholomew trialled impressively at Waverley in September 2023 and was subsequently sold to Australia. In the care of Victorian trainer Henry Dwyer, he produced a fourth from four starts, the last of those coming in December last year. Dravitzki had remained in the ownership of the gelding, and following his most recent effort, the opportunity presented to purchase Im Bartholomew…

Timaru galloper He’s Tunza Grunt (NZ) (Pure Champion) capped off a coming-of-age winter campaign with a commanding performance to win the Heatstore Open Handicap (1800m) at Riccarton Park on Saturday. Starting his preparation in May, He’s Tunza Grunt was a 68-rated horse, but took a big leap in the ratings when causing a minor upset in the Waimate Cup (1600m) second-up. He took the step up in his stride from there, placing in open company in the Amberley Cup (1600m) and Oamaru Cup (1600m), but struck unsuitable track conditions when…

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Talented sprinter Oak Hill (NZ) (Per Incanto) resumed from a short winter break with an impressive victory at The Valley over 1000m with connections hoping the win is a pre-cursor to bigger things. Prepared by Ben, Will and JD Hayes, Oak Hill was originally prepared by the late Mike Moroney and  Glen Thompson and maintained his unblemished record since joining his new quarters. A winner at his first start for the Lindsay Park team in May, Oak Hill was patiently ridden by Blake Shinn to come from last in the…

A decision to head to the races earlier than intended with Midnight Scandal (NZ) (Belardo) has paid dividends for trainers Simon and Katrina Alexander. The Te Awamutu couple were weighing up between trialling their mare or lining her up in the Dunstan Horsefeeds 1200 at Te Rapa on Saturday, eventually opting for the latter. From their outside gate in the eight-horse field, jockey Matt Cameron elected to settle Midnight Scandal off the pace at the rear of the pack. Cameron asked his charge to gradually improve from the 600m, and…

Marton visitor Captains Run (NZ) (Nom du Je) proved his eye-catching run for second in last week’s Koral Steeplechase (4250m) was just what he needed as he went one better to capture the 150th running of the Racecourse Hotel & Motor Lodge Grand National Steeplechase (5600m) at Riccarton on Saturday. Billed as a two-horse war between favourite Jesko (NZ) (Atlante), who had won the Koral the week before and West Coast (NZ) (Mettre En Jeu) who was looking for his fourth win in the event, the unpredictability of racing came…

Lightly-raced six-year-old mare Jennivamoose (NZ) (Vadamos) scored a comfortable victory in the Donnellans The Tyremen Handicap (2500m) at The Valley on Saturday under a patient Harry Coffey ride. Prepared by Ciaron Maher for Tony and Lynn Ottobre’s Cape Schanck Racing, Jennivamoose was dropped out to near the rear of the field by Coffey but quickened readily when asked. The daughter of Vadamos looped the field and ran out a length and a quarter winner over fellow Kiwi breds Bluestone (NZ) (Reliable Man) and Flamin’ Romans (NZ) (Ghibellines). “It was a…