Author: NZRacingDesk

Group Two-winning mare Marotiri Molly (NZ) (Per Incanto) was in full flight at the Foxton trials on Tuesday as she readies for further black-type assignments. From the early stages of her career, Marotiri Molly gained a reputation of running her rivals off their feet at the trials and this occasion was no different. Lining up over 850m, she jumped on even terms but swiftly broke the line to lead, continuing to extend that margin as she cruised to the line to win the heat by seven lengths with her regular…

Family runs deep and fast for Northland couple Dirk and Nicci Oberholster who are enjoying a magical run with their small broodmare band. The Totara Park Stud principals are breeding from three closely related mares from the family of superstar Winx, with half-sisters Miss Vegas and Miss Bluebell combining at the weekend for a memorable winning double. Carlton House’s unraced daughter Miss Vega was firstly to the fore at Trentham as the dam of Vegas Queen (NZ) (Proisir), who produced a tenacious performance to land the Gr.2 Wellington Guineas (1400m).…

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The popular National Online Breeding Stock Sale is due to take place again on Gavelhouse Plus this July with dates now confirmed for the popular stand-alone breeding sale. Breeders will have the opportunity to offer quality broodmares as well as stallion shares and nominations at a key time ahead of the breeding season. Over the past three years the sale toppers have included Yearn (NZ) (Savabeel), Chanel’s Choice (Redoute’s Choice) and Dee and Gee (NZ) (Darci Brahma) who fetched $195,000, $115,000 and $105,000 respectively. The Sale has been a great source of investment potential, with future progeny going on…

The Australian racing scene has been swimming in premier sprint races over the past month or so, but there is a chance the most revealing performance of the autumn is yet to be seen. Last Saturday, we saw the Gr.1 William Reid Stakes (1200m) at The Valley and the Gr.1 Galaxy (1100m) at Rosehill with next month’s Gr.1 T J Smith Stakes (1200m) still to come, but, despite its restricted clauses, this Saturday’s A$500,000 World Pool Classic (1100m) at Flemington could offer the best view into the future of Australasia’s…

Michael Kent Jnr fears Warmonger (NZ) (War Decree) might have picked the wrong year to be heading to the Gr.1 Tancred Stakes (2400m), but the Cranbourne trainer is taking solace from the fact the Group One winner is returning to something like his best. The four-year-old will look to post his first win since last year’s Gr.1 Queensland Derby (2400m) in Saturday’s 2400-metre Group One at Rosehill. Top international Dubai Honour (Pride Of Dubai), rejuvenated import Vauban (Galiway), Gr.1 Caulfield Cup (2400m) winner Duke De Sessa (Lope de Vega) and last past winner Arapaho (Lope de Vega) are among those likely to…

Quality European galloper Alflaila has been secured for stud duties by White Robe Lodge, introducing one of the world’s great sire-lines to New Zealand through his champion sire Dark Angel. Bred and raced by the famed Shadwell operation, Alflaila’s racing career is defined by resilience, consistency, and elite-level talent, as evidenced by back-to-back victories in the fiercely competitive Gr.2 York Stakes (2100m), a race that has tested some of Europe’s best middle-distance horses. A winner on debut as an early two-year-old over 1200m, Alflaila would train-on to showcase his class…

Pearl Of Alsace came desperately close to a fairytale finish to her racing career, with the Group One performer retiring off the back of a second placing in Saturday’s Gr.3 Cuddle Stakes (1600m). A serious talent from day one, the daughter of Tavistock rose rapidly through the grades in her first racing preparation for trainers Shaune Ritchie and Colm Murray, winning her first five appearances culminating in the 2023 edition of the Cuddle Stakes. Stepping up to elite-level in the Gr.1 New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1600m), she lost no…

Pam Gerard came close to scoring Group One success in Australia earlier this month when runner-up in the Australian Guineas (1600m) with her star three-year-old Savaglee, and she is hoping she can go one better when she returns across the Tasman with a well-credentialled stablemate. Fellow three-year-old Dubai Gold came within a long neck of upstaging hot-favourite Leica Lucy in last Saturday’s Gr.1 New Zealand Oaks (2400m) at Trentham, giving Gerard the confidence that she is up to an Australian campaign. “She has gone super, she was amazing,” the Matamata…

David Walsh’s golden run continued at Riccarton on Saturday when he collected a winning double at his home track courtesy of in-form runners Zelia and Toa Haka, and now he has his sights on black-type targets. The former champion jockey returned to the training ranks this season and he has now won four and placed in five of his 12 starts since his comeback, with the pair adding two wins apiece to his tally. Juvenile filly Zelia has shown a lot of promise for Walsh this season and continued her…