Category: Featured

The barrier draw is complete for the $4m NZB Kiwi taking place Saturday at Ellerslie.  Romanoff (NZ) (Belardo) was offered by Haunui Farm in Book 2 of Karaka 2024, where he was bought by Ballymore Stables/Paul Moroney Bloodstock/Catheryne Bruggeman for $75,000. He has had nine starts for two wins, two placings and $485,575 in prize-money, headed by Group One glory in the New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) in November. He is eligible for the $1m Bonus Pool. To Bravery Born  (NZ) (Snitzel) was bought by Te Akau Racing’s David Ellis for $200,000 from…

Smart four-year-old Linebacker (NZ) (Super Seth) will contest the Gr.1 Canterbury Stakes (1300m) fresh-up on Saturday, in a campaign focused on Doncaster redemption. The John O’Shea and Tom Charlton-trained gelding was luckless in the Gr.1 Doncaster Mile (1600m) last year when eighth and steps straight into elite-level company on Saturday when resuming. “He couldn’t be going any better,” O’Shea said. “He is always a bit suspect first-up, particularly at that level. But I have never run him first-up at 1300m since his first start in a race. “1300m is a…

The career of Pride Of Jenni (Pride Of Dubai) was at the crossroads 18 months ago but at Flemington on Saturday she can become the first two-time winner of the All-Star Mile. Pride Of Jenni suffered a bleeding attack when finishing last in the Champions Mile at Flemington in November 2024 prompting owner Tony Ottobre to announce her retirement. The now eight-year-old returned the following March to win first-up over 1800m and Pride Of Jenni gathered another three wins through 2025 including the Group 1 Empire Rose Stakes (1600m) during…

War Machine (NZ) (Harry Angel) will chase a second Group 1 win when he lines up in the Newmarket Handicap at Flemington. A field of 15 is set to do battle down the famous Flemington straight six in the Newmarket Handicap. In what was a ‘who will be there and who won’t’ discussion in the days leading up to Wednesday’s acceptances, the highly rated three-year-old Tentyris (Street Boss) is among the 15 chasing Group 1 glory and joins an honour roll that dates back to 1874. Tentyris will be looking…

Mark Baker might be off trainer Mitch Freedman’s Christmas card list this year after the Hallmark Stud principal drew the outside gate for his gelding Asakura (Churchill) at the $4 million NZB Kiwi (1500m) barrier draw at Karaka on Tuesday night. “We will cross out Hallmark Stud going forward,” Freedman quipped. “You can’t do anything about those barrier draws. “He has got gate speed and a little bit of versatility for a lightly raced horse. We will just work through some options there and communicate with Dean (Yendall, jockey) about…

Last year’s Gr.1 New Zealand Derby (2400m) hero Willydoit (NZ) (Tarzino) is returning home. The son of Tarzino was a standout three-year-old last term for trainers Shaun and Emma Clotworthy, winning four of his six starts, including the New Zealand Derby. MyRacehorse Australia bought 50 percent of the gelding mid-season, with the Clotworthys and Bryan Black retaining the remainder of the ownership. He crossed the Tasman to run fourth in the Gr.1 Australian Derby (2400m) before joining the stable of leading Australian trainer Ciaron Maher, for whom he has had…

Well-travelled horseman Henry Dwyer will bid for further overseas honours with a two-pronged attack on Champions’ Day this weekend. The Ballarat trainer has forsaken Australian opportunities with imports Paradise Storm (Masked Marvel) and Cote Atlantique (Kodiac) in favour of riches at opposing ends of the distance scale on offer at Ellerslie on Saturday. The French-bred Paradise Storm will take aim at the Gr.2 Trackside Auckland Cup (3200m) while Irish native Cote Atlantique will tackle the Gr.3 Haunui Farm King’s Plate (1200m), with the duo to arrive on Thursday morning. Dwyer…

A sparkling track gallop at Cranbourne from Jimmysstar (NZ) (Per Incanto) has Ciaron Maher considering an unlikely start in the Gr.1 Newmarket Handicap.   Maher said he would confer with the sprinter’s owners before deciding whether to accept in the Group One sprint over 1200m at Flemington on Saturday.   The Maher team had been planning for the gelding’s return in the Gr.1 William Reid Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield on March 21 before heading to Sydney for the Gr.1 T J Smith (1200m) at Randwick on April 4 and the…

Lyle Hewitson hopes a favourable tempo can bring the best out of Ready To Run graduate Storming Dragon (Star Turn) when Jamie Richards’ runner tackles the Class 3 New Lantao Bus Handicap (1200m) at Happy Valley on Wednesday night (4 March).   Lucky Planet, Matters Most, Metro Power and Beauty Glory have led and won races this season, setting up the possibility of a potent speed battle, one which could play into the hands of fast-closer Storming Dragon.   Hewitson said: “I’ve only ridden him over 1650 (metres) and although…

Well Written (Written Tycoon) may carry the colours of thoroughbred industry giant Yulong Investments, but she has an army of other part-owners who will be cheering her home in Saturday’s $4 million NZB Kiwi (1500m) at Ellerslie. The undefeated Group One-winning filly has 16 individual ownership interests, with Yulong holding the controlling interest, and all her connections are equally enjoying the journey she is taking them on. Well Written has won all five of her starts to date for trainer Stephen Marsh, with Yulong buying their interest in the filly…