Category: Featured

Peter and Shaun McKay were contemplating the racing future of seven-year-old gelding Giacomo, but he proved he is still up to the task when defending his crown in the Holster Engineering Lally & Symes South Waikato Cup (2000m) at Matamata on Wednesday. The son of Puccini took up his typical front-running role, but he wasn’t given it all his own way, with My Maebelline Girl serving it up to him down the back straight and wrestling away the lead. That placed Giacomo in the uncustomary position of having something to…

An elite-level test looms for promising juvenile Seize The Day following his comfortable maiden victory in the AKW Farrier LTD 2YO (1200m) at Matamata on Wednesday. Trained locally by Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson, the Te Akau two-year-old was a beaten favourite on debut at Ellerslie last month, placing behind Summer Schemer and subsequent Group One performer State Of Valour. His conditioners were confident of an improved result on Wednesday and the son ofI Am Invincible didn’t disappoint, sitting parked throughout and bounding away in the concluding stages under jockey…

There’d arguably be few horses trialling better in Sydney in recent weeks than Group 1 winner Globe (NZ) (Charm Spirit) but co-trainer Mick Price is wary a drying track will make him vulnerable first-up at Rosehill on Saturday. A somewhat surprise winner of the Group 1 Caulfield Stakes back in the spring, Globe and stablemate La Fracas have been sent north in the hope Sydney has one of its wet autumn carnivals and they can strike. Price, who co-trains with Michael Kent Jnr, said all options are open for Globe…

The juvenile fillies maiden over 1000m at Warwick Farm on Wednesday featured some very expensive fillies, but it was a Kiwi bred that took the prize with Satono Aladdin filly Satono Glow (NZ) (Satono Aladdin) creating a fine impression with a debut win. Trained by John O’Shea and Tom Charlton, Satono Glow won her only previous trial at Hawkesbury and was expected to run well with Dylan Gibbons in the saddle. Satono Glow ambled out of the gates and settled last before rounding them up after turning for home to…

New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing (NZTR) and RACE Inc. would like to thank trainers, owners, participants, members, sponsors and volunteers for their patience and support during what has been a difficult period for racing at RACE Awapuni. Background The RACE Awapuni track had been experiencing performance issues, which ultimately led to a full reconstruction of the surface. After several years of work, the track returned to racing on 25 April 2025. Unfortunately, a slip in the first race resulted in the meeting being abandoned, and there has been no racing at…

Even with the ultimate NZB Kiwi victory signed and delivered by Well Written (Written Tycoon) on Champions Day, there’s been no let-up for the unbeaten filly’s trainer Stephen Marsh. On Saturday Marsh is planning to have up to 15 starters at the Racing Tauranga feature meeting and the day before he has another double-figure contingent engaged at Pukekohe’s lower-key fixture. “No, it’s been pretty much business as usual around here,” Marsh said on Wednesday. “As much as I’d like to take a break there’s been no let-up, that will have…

Rosso (Camelot) will head for a deserved break following the market elect’s failure to handle track conditions at Ellerslie in the Gr.2 Auckland Cup (3200m). The imported stayer enjoyed a smooth passage on the fence under expatriate Kiwi jockey Michael Dee before drifting out of contention in the straight to finish second last. That disappointing outcome aside, the imported son of Camelot has made impressive strides during his first New Zealand campaign. “He couldn’t win a midweeker in Melbourne and has gone from there to being favourite for the Wellington…

David Hayes hopes China Win (NZ) (Super Seth) can warrant last-minute selection for the HK$26 million 149th BMW Hong Kong Derby (2000m) when he contests Wednesday night’s Class 3 Lyttelton Handicap (1800m) under Zac Purton.   Currently rated 67, China Win is aiming to emulate Beauty Alliance, who last season secured the final BMW Hong Kong Derby spot with victory in this race at Happy Valley, earning a 12-point rating rise (65 to 77) and his place in the contest, which is finalised by the selection panel, who will determine…

The retirement of five-time Group One winner Legarto (NZ) (Proisir) has been confirmed by her principal owners Philip and Catherine Brown. When the six-year-old won Saturday’s Gr.1 Bonecrusher New Zealand Stakes (2000m) it was accepted that was her final race in this country, but the possibility remained that she would have one further start in the Gr.1 Australian Cup at Flemington on March 28. However, following discussions between Legarto’s ownership group, which includes trainers Ken and Bev Kelso, the decision has been made to bring down the curtain on her…

Moxie (Strasbourg) gave trainer and part-owner Ken Harrison his biggest thrill in racing at Ellerslie last Saturday when recording his first stakes win in the Gr.2 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Classic (1400m), and now he is eager for more. “We are over the moon, it was a great result,” Harrison said. The Cambridge horseman said his four-year-old mare has come through the race in great order and he is now weighing up his options with the daughter of Strasbourg. “She has come through it great,” he said. “We may give…