Cambridge trainers Roger James and Robert Wellwood sent a pair of up-and-coming three-year-old fillies to Trentham on Saturday for the time-honoured Gr.3 NZB Desert Gold Stakes (1600m) and received the perfect return when they formed the quinella in the event after a thrilling home straight battle. Stablemates Fairy Dream (NZ) (Proisir) and Waimea Bay (NZ) (Savabeel) were having just their third and second career starts respectively in the seventh event of the prestigious NZB Filly of the Year Series, however, the pair belied their lack of raceday experience as they…
Author: NZRacingDesk
Memorable Trentham double for Pitmans
Trentham has long been Michael and Matthew Pitman’s favourite track, and that sentiment was further enhanced on Saturday after they recorded a memorable double at the Upper Hutt track. The meeting kicked off in perfect fashion for the Riccarton trainers, with the father-and-son partnership recording their 600th victory together when Enterprise Gem (NZ) (Reliable Man) took out the Happy Hire 2100. “We thought we would get it (600 wins) at the Coast but it couldn’t happen at a better place, this is my favourite track, I just love coming here,”…
Chitty eyeing next Karaka Chapter
Haunui Farm Managing Director Mark Chitty is eagerly looking forward to Karaka 2026 for a multitude of reasons. The sale marks 100 years of National Yearling Sales in New Zealand and while the third-generation stud master is proud to present a 40-strong draft across Books 1, 2 and the Summer Sale, it is also an opportunity to reflect on the journey. “It’s a milestone for New Zealand, in terms of the thoroughbred industry,” Chitty said. We were recounting the other day, the first Haunui associated yearling went through the ring…
Millions of Reasons to Buy Yearlings at Karaka 2026
With a global reputation built up through 100 years of high-quality graduates, there should be no shortage of reasons for buyers to flock to Karaka later this month for the NZB National Yearling Sale. But if anyone needs any extra convincing, there are some lucrative incentives to make it well worth getting involved during Karaka 2026. Karaka Millions Series Dual Karaka Millions heroine Probabeel (NZ) The most established of these incentives is the Karaka Millions Series, which was launched with the inaugural running of the Karaka Millions 2YO (1200m) back…
Karaka the Shop Window for New Zealand’s Top Stallions
The progeny of New Zealand’s top stallions consistently make their mark across Australasia and Hong Kong, and there is no better place to secure this season’s crop of their yearlings than Karaka 2026. ALMANZOR Almanzor Cambridge Stud’s Almanzor has been in incredible form in recent weeks, with four new Group winners since November 22 including his latest Group One winner. Having previously made his mark as a classic sire through the deeds of Group One Victoria Derby (2500m) winner Manzoice, Almanzor has shown a different kind of influence through these last few weeks. First Five (NZ)…
NZB Unveil Stunning New Karaka Millions Trophies
Just one week out from the iconic TAB Karaka Millions Raceday, where NZB graduates will take to the track for their share of $4.6m in stakes, NZB has unveiled new custom made trophies for winning connections of the $1m TAB Karaka Millions 2YO (1200m) and $1.5m TAB Karaka Millions 3YO (1600m) races. Crafted by master jeweller Nicola (Nic) Cerrone, director and creative mind behind Melbourne-based Cerrone Jewellers, the trophies are stamped with his signature artisan craftmanship that has earned him a loyal following for more than 50 years. The ownership group in both sale…
Cross Tasman’s Saturday test
Saturday’s final event at Rosehill is the biggest test of Cross Tasman’s (NZ) (Super Seth) career, but it is also an audition for bigger things later in the year. The Super Seth four-year-old is a horse that Randwick trainers John O’Shea & Tom Charlton can see lining up in rich races next spring. The gelding is after a hat-trick of wins to start the prep and Charlton keen to see how he performs at his first start in Saturday metro grade. “Ideally, if everything goes to plan, he might be one we’ll…
Warwoven in doubt for Magic Millions
Warwoven (Sword Of State), the raging favourite for Saturday’s Listed Magic Millions 2YO Classic (1200m), is in doubt for the A$3 million race after exhibiting signs of lameness on the eve of the event. As is custom prior to the Magic Millions feature, Queensland stewards carried out Friday morning veterinary inspections and Warwoven was found to be lame in the off foreleg. The Sword Of State colt’s stablemate Masvingo (Zourstar), who is owned in similar interests, was also lame, in the near foreleg, with the Bjorn Baker-trained pair to be given until early Saturday…
Downey and Gamble ride highs and lows amidst Victoria bushfires
In the midst of an experience they would never wish to relive, Gareth Downey and Mel Gamble found solace last Saturday when Chica Mojito finally got the win she deserved in the A$500,000 The Lakes Mile at Wyong. Unfortunately the former New Zealand couple weren’t able to enjoy the action at one of the biggest fixtures on the New South Wales track, committed instead to the challenges of the north-east Victoria bushfires involving their workplace, Lindsay Park Racing. The Hayes family’s private training and spelling property at Creightons Creek, 150 kilometres north-east of…
Gerard Doubles Down on The NZB Kiwi
Matamata trainer Pam Gerard has doubled her representation in the $4 million NZB Kiwi (1500m), with Slot Holder Auckland Thoroughbred Racing (ATR) announcing Affirmative Action (AUS) (Yes Yes Yes) as their representative in the Southern Hemisphere’s richest three-year-old race. The Yes Yes Yes gelding will join stablemate Romanoff (NZ) (Belardo) in the Champions Day feature at Ellerslie on 7 March, after he secured the Canterbury Jockey Club’s slot after beating Affirmative Action by the barest of margins in the $700,000 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai 53rd New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) at…