Author: NZRacingDesk

Spiritus (NZ) (Ancient Spirit) will become the first North Island representative for southern sire Ancient Spirit on Wednesday at Pukekohe, and the juvenile has made a good impression on his trainer in the lead-up. Standing at White Robe Lodge, the multiple Group Two-winning son of Invincible Spirit has had a handful of runners closer to home, including placegetter Bobby Mcgee. Sourced from the Mosgiel nursery, Spiritus entered the care of experienced horseman Chad Orsmby, who couldn’t speak more highly of the gelding. “He’s my first (Ancient Spirit) in training and…

Stakes targets are in the offing for Te Aroha mare Debit (NZ) (Darci Brahma), with trainer Peter Lock impressed with the way she has returned this year.  The five-year-old daughter of Darci Brahma had a perfect spring preparation last year, winning all three of her starts, extending her envious record to four wins and a placing from five career starts.  Lock elected to bring her south to the Foxton trials on Tuesday, along with a couple of stablemates, and he was pleased with the way she went, finishing fourth in…

Emily Murphy brings you Winter Weigh In, your place for Thoroughbred racing news, reviews and insights throughout the colder months. This week we wrap the action from a busy long weekend of domestic racing. Plus, Victorian commentator Matt Hills joins the show to talk about his upcoming trip to Trentham. Winter Weigh In, June 23

The emergence of the Victorian-based Taken (NZ) (Ardrossan) is another winning story for a New Zealand breeding and ownership group established to support the three-year-old’s young sire.  The Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr-trained son of Ardrossan made it four wins on the bounce when he carried 60kg to victory at Flemington last Saturday.  He was bred by the Dewar Partnership, established to promote the Waikato Stud stallion through the early stages of his career.  “Taken has come a long way and is out of a good staying family and…

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD NEWSLETTER

After a phenomenal few months for Waikato Stud’s stallion roster, the world-renowned nursery will offer six select progeny of those high-flying sires at this week’s NZB National Weanling Sale at Karaka. Quality offerings from Waikato Stud at the National Weanling Sale are nothing new. Their previous graduates include this year’s catalogue cover horse Jedibeel (NZ) (Savabeel), who was a $35,000 purchase in 2020. He has gone on to earn A$917,650 from a 22-start, eight-win career to date, including a victory in the Group Two Challenge Stakes (1000m) at Randwick in March. The 2025…

Hong Kong-based trainer David Hayes has welcomed changes to the Spring Carnival protocols announced by Racing Victoria on Monday, declaring his star galloper Ka Ying Rising (NZ) (Shamexpress) a likely challenger for the 2026 Gr.1 Champions Sprint (1200m) on the final day of Melbourne Cup Week. The Australian Hall Of Fame trainer had campaigned against international horses that were not contesting the Caulfield or Melbourne Cups or Cox Plate having to have a further CT scan before each new race in Australia. The newly announced RV change to drop that…

After a phenomenal few months for Waikato Stud’s stallion roster, the world-renowned nursery will offer six select progeny of those high-flying sires at this week’s NZB National Weanling Sale at Karaka. Quality offerings from Waikato Stud at the National Weanling Sale are nothing new. Their previous graduates include this year’s catalogue cover horse Jedibeel (NZ) (Savabeel), who was a $35,000 purchase in 2020. He has gone on to earn A$917,650 from a 22-start, eight-win career to date, including a victory in the Group Two Challenge Stakes (1000m) at Randwick in March. The 2025…

The Taplin name has been absent from New Zealand racebooks over the past couple of years, but that all changed on Saturday at Tauranga when emerging apprentice Jack Taplin rode his first winner aboard Pacifico. Indentured to Cambridge trainer Stephen Marsh, Taplin had ridden Group One winner Mercurial and Group One performer Harlech on his opening day at the races at Te Rapa and then came close to breaking through during the week at Cambridge, with a runner-up result aboard Billy Lincoln. Prepared by Andrew Forsman, Pacifico was Taplin’s sole…

Bernie’s Ego scored a popular victory at Te Aroha on Sunday when taking out the Bottle O Maiden (1150m) for trainer and part-owner Frank Neill. The Te Awamutu horseman had been pleased with the eight-year-old son of Ego heading into the weekend, but wasn’t confident of a positive result over the short trip, which was shared by punters, who let him drift out to $41.80 at the jump. However, Bernie’s Ego belied those odds when storming home late out wide in the hands of apprentice jockey Joe Nishizuka to score…