Category: Featured

Progressive four-year-old Cross Tasman (NZ) (Super Seth) recorded his fourth victory at start number seven when landing the TAB Handicap (1500m) at Rosehill for the in-form stable of John O’Shea and Tom Charlton. The son of Super Seth was perfectly positioned one-out and one-back under Dylan Gibbons and put his rivals to the sword when presented at the top of the straight, going on to score by three and a quarter lengths. The winning rider reported the gelding didn’t relish the Heavy 8 conditions but was a class above his…

A sage ride by Michael Dee has aided Supernima (NZ) (Super Seth) to claim a gutsy victory in the Thank You Volunteers Trophy (1400m) at Flemington on Saturday. The Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman-trained son of Super Seth had a declared change of tactics with the intention to settle further back. But Dee summed up the situation perfectly after jumping away well and there being little to no pressure on leader Prancing Spirit (Sir Prancealot), electing to roll forward and sit outside the pacemaker as the contest turned into a…

The Nathan Doyle-trained Aroha Stone (NZ) (El Roca) scored a deserved victory in the Thank You Noel Cuthbert Handicap (1500m) at Rosehill on Saturday. The four-year-old daughter of El Roca was partnered by Regan Bayliss who said the mare relished the Heavy 8 conditions and atoned for a luckless effort at Randwick a fortnight ago. Aroha Stone defeated the favourite Changing Colours (The Autumn Sun) by three-quarters of a length to notch the fourth win of her career from 15 starts with a further five minor placings. “I really liked…

Former Kiwi Bella Montagna claimed a deserved metropolitan success when landing the Ranvet Handicap (2400m) at Rosehill on Saturday for trainers Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott. Given a perfect ride by Josh Parr, the four-year-old daughter of Belardo overcame barrier 12 to find the fence midfield and tracked into the race effortlessly on the rain-affected track, going on to score by a length and a half from Forbidden Riff and Bestower. The victory continued the good partnership between stable and rider, with Parr successful on his past three rides for…

Expat Irish jockey Joe Doyle scored an emotional victory in front of his visiting parents at Trentham on Saturday when taking out the Gr.2 Harcourts Thorndon Mile (1600m) aboard Doctor Askar (NZ) (Derryn). The pair settled off the pace early and had just three runners behind them when turning for home, but Doyle guided his charge out wide where he was able to chase down Marotiri Molly (NZ) (Per Incanto) to win by half a head. “I got a good drag into it off Pitman’s horse (Mystic Park (NZ) (Ocean…

Classy southern stayer Mayor Of Norwood (NZ) (Ghibellines) showed he will be more than a runner’s chance in the Gr.3 NZ Campus of Innovation & Sport Wellington Cup (3200m) at Trentham in a fortnight when he lumped the topweight of 61kgs to a comprehensive victory in the Skevingtons Waikouaiti Cup (2200m) at Wingatui on Saturday. The Brian and Shane Anderton-prepared seven-year-old had taken the 2025 version of the race and was looking to go back-to-back, albeit with an extra 2.5kgs on his back for regular pilot Corey Campbell. Punters felt…

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…

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,”…

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…

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…