Category: Featured

Tomasina’s (NZ) (Darci Brahma) victory in the Dynes Transport Tapanui Cup (1335m) at Gore on Sunday couldn’t have come at a better time for owner Stanley Jones. He is in hospital recuperating from surgery after breaking his leg this week and trainer Sabin Kirkland said his mare’s win would be a great tonic for Jones. “I am very happy, especially for the owner’s sake,” Kirkland said. “He fell over and broke his femur this week, so he is in hospital and had a major operation. I am sure he was…

Mark Newnham reached a significant milestone on Saturday at Sha Tin as leading Karaka graduate, Invincible Ibis (Hellbent), passed yet another crucial test on his march towards the HK$13 million Hong Kong Classic Mile (1600m) – the opening leg of the Four-Year-Old Classic Series – on 1 February. Celebrating his 100th Hong Kong training win with the young gun’s victory in the Class 3 Poinsettia Handicap (1600m), Newnham joined Caspar Fownes at the top of the trainers’ championship on 25 victories this term over Danny Shum (23 wins) and David…

Join Pip Morris, Emily Murphy and Bruce Sherwin as they break down the action from Manawatu Cup day out of Trentham. Plus the latest NZB Kiwi slot has been announced, they found out the latest. Weigh In, December 21

The Dirty Dee’s (NZ) (Derryn) Oaks preparation hit a slight snag this week when trainer Robbie Patterson was forced to scratch her from Saturday’s Gr.3 Eulogy Stakes (1600m), but he is hoping to get her quickly back on track. The three-year-old daughter of Derryn garnered plenty of attention following her impressive debut victory at New Plymouth last month, drawing comparisons to her former Oaks-winning stablemate Leica Lucy (NZ) (Derryn). Those comparisons were further enhanced when she finished runner-up over 1400m at Trentham a fortnight ago, the same position Leica Lucy…

Trainer Stephen Marsh had a massive grin on his face at Te Rapa on Saturday and it wasn’t just because promising stayer Roctave had overcome some mid-race difficulties to win the MVP Cars 2100 (2100m) and secure his place in the Dunstan Horsefeeds Stayers Championship Final (2400m) at Ellerslie on Boxing Day. Marsh also took stable stars El Vencedor and Well Written to Te Rapa for an exhibition gallop to complete their Boxing Day preparations for the Gr.1 Cambridge Zabeel Classic (2000m) and Gr. 2 Jimmy Schick Shaw’s Auckland Guineas…

Last month’s $600,000 Group 1 Barneswood Farm 53rd New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) is proving to be the early form race for the $4 million NZB Kiwi (1500m), with runner-up Lollapalooza (NZ) (El Roca) announced as the third confirmed runner for the Champions Day feature. The Graham Richardson and Rogan Norvall-trained filly will join race winner Well Written, alongside Gr.1 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) winner Romanoff, in the southern hemisphere’s richest three-year-old race after being selected by the Barneswood Brady Nakhle Slot Holder partnership. Well Written was the horse…

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New Zealand-bred gelding Step Aside (NZ) (Redwood) took his earnings to the brink of half a million dollars with a well-timed finish in Saturday’s A$160,000 Petaluma Handicap (1300m) at Randwick. Originally purchased for just $2,300 on Gavelhouse.com, the Chris Waller-trained son of Redwood has now won six races in his 26-start career, backed up by five second placings and four thirds. The six-year-old has earned A$480,400 for his OTI Racing ownership syndicate. Step Aside is proving to be particularly effective at the 1300m distance. Saturday’s race was his 11th attempt…

Matamata visitor Sagunto etched his name into the folklore of the Gr.3 Humphries Construction Manawatu Cup (2300m) when he claimed his third victory in the race with a brilliant front-running performance at Trentham. Successful in the Group Three contest in 2022 and again in 2023, the Peter and Shaun McKay-trained 10-year-old had been battling to recapture his best form in his current campaign, although he had given plenty of cheek from in front before fading to midfield in the Gr.3 Waikato Cup (2400m) at Te Rapa last weekend. That run…

Lux Libertas has come close in several stakes races, but she was able to shed her bridesmaid tag at Trentham on Saturday when taking out the Gr.2 Bramco Granite & Marble Manawatu Challenge Stakes (1400m). The five-year-old mare was first-up since her runner-up performance in the Listed Tauranga Classic (1400m) in June, and she was kept safe by punters as a $6.60 third elect. She jumped away well under leading Central Districts hoop Bruno Queiroz, who gave her a beautiful trip in the one-one position before finding clear running room…