Author: NZRacingDesk

Rugged mare Nigella Lane (NZ) (Niagara) got the big race win she has deserved all season when she ground down gallant pacemaker Dark Destroyer (NZ) (Proisir) to take out the Listed Campbell Infrastructure Rotorua Cup (2200m) on Saturday. The Ralph Manning-prepared daughter of Niagara has been a model of consistency without tasting victory in her last five starts with placings in the Listed Wairarapa Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1600m), Listed Kaimai Stakes (2000m) and an unlucky runner-up finish in the Manawatu Breeders’ Sakes (2050m) after winning the Thames Cup (1600m) at…

Impeccably bred three-year-old filly Madiyya (NZ) (Super Seth) recorded her first metropolitan success when cruising to victory in the Assured Insurance Brokers Handicap (1400m) at Caulfield on Saturday. Prepared by Ben, Will and JD Hayes, the daughter of Super Seth was given a perfect ride by Luke Currie, who settled the mare midfield before tracking the leaders into the turn and once balanced up the chestnut filly dashed away to notch her second career victory from three starts. Bred and raced by Trelawney Stud, Madiyya is a half-sister to dual…

Matamata trainer Andrew Scott brought up his 1000th win in New Zealand when exciting talent Tomodachi (NZ) (Tarzino) took out the Gr.3 Rotorua ITM Stakes (1400m) at Arawa Park on Saturday. Heading into this weekend, New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing statistics credited Scott with 998 winners in New Zealand. He and training partner Lance O’Sullivan picked up a win with Tristar (NZ) (Exceedance) at Trentham in the early part of the afternoon, then reached the milestone in the $100,000 fillies and mares’ feature at Rotorua. “They tell me that’s my 1000th…

Promising jockey Liam Kauri jumped at the chance to ride for one of New Zealand’s biggest stables at Trentham on Saturday, guiding Tristar to victory in the Leica Lucy 3YO (1200m). The $35,000 race was Kauri’s 20th win in a career that has been plagued by long stints on the sidelines with injuries. The 25-year-old took special satisfaction from Saturday’s success aboard the Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott-trained Tristar. “It’s the biggest stable I’ve ever ridden for, so this was a huge opportunity for me,” Kauri said. Saturday’s Trentham assignment…

Trainer Gavin Sharrock rocked punters once again with another promising young horse from his Stratford -based operation when Country Salon (NZ) (Darci Brahma) overcame a slow start to bury his race rivals late in the piece as he took out the Ladies Man 2YO (1200m) on a testing Heavy 10 surface at Trentham. The son of Darci Brahma had been fancied on debut when finishing fifth at Waverley last month behind Saturday’s race favourite Belzoni (NZ) (Belardo). That experience did him the world of good although those who supported him…

Hugh Bowman has described Fast Network (NZ) (Wrote) as one of Hong Kong’s most progressive horses as Dennis Yip’s emerging talent squares off against a highly-competitive field in the Class 2 Pok Fu Lam Reservoir Road Handicap (1200m) at Sha Tin on Saturday (10 May). Chasing his fifth victory of the season, Fast Network meets three fellow last-start winners – Bottomuptogether (Shamus Award), Invincible Shield (I Am Invincible) and Gustosisimo (Exceed And Excel) – as well as a host of other genuine contenders, including Wunderbar (Written Tycoon), the only horse…

The TAB Racing Club’s debut season has already produced multiple highlights for its more than 10,000 members, and Cambridge trainers Shaune Ritchie and Colm Murray are excited to unveil another bright prospect in the dark blue and red colours at Trentham on Saturday. An initiative by Entain Australia and New Zealand to promote racehorse ownership among TAB customers, the TAB Racing Club is free to join. Its members have already had cause for celebration, with four-year-old mare Bella Regazza winning at Ascot Park in November and two-year-old filly In Haste…

Kevin and Stephen Gray have four talented up-and-comers entered for Trentham on Saturday, along with an exciting international jockey recruit, but the prospect of a testing track has dented the confidence of the Palmerston North stable. The father-son team will be represented by Cooper (NZ) (Tivaci) in the $50,000 Australian Turf Club Autumn Sprint Final (1200m), Albarossa (Vino Rosso) and Cosentino (NZ) (El Roca) in the Leica Lucy 3YO (1200m), and Tycoon Boss (Street Boss) in the Doctor Askar Maiden (1000m). “We’re taking a really, really nice team to Trentham,”…

Southland trainer Robert Dennis ticked off a career milestone with his 100th winner on Friday, thanks to a determined front-running performance by Chevron (NZ) (El Roca) in the Doug Horrell Contracting/Ricki Egerton Dagging Handicap (1600m) at Riverton. Dennis had brought up his 99th winner with On Song at Riverton on April 21 and went on to record three seconds, a third, a fourth and two fifths through the couple of weeks since. But Chevron delivered in style as the $2.10 favourite in Friday’s $22,000 open handicap. Ridden by apprentice jockey…

While most trainers would be rapt with an inside draw in a Group One feature, Phillip Stokes said it was far from ideal for his two mares in the Gr.1 The Goodwood (1200m) at Morphettville.  Stokes saddles Stretan Angel (Harry Angel) and Climbing Star (NZ) (Zoustar) in the 1200m set weight plus penalties contest on Saturday with the mares drawing gates one and three respectively.  “I’m not happy with those draws,” Stokes said.  “I would prefer to be drawn middle to out with both of them, especially with the way they race at Morphettville, getting off the rails.  “It…