Lightly raced six-year-old The Scunner (NZ) (Shamexpress) showed his last start runner-up finish at Group Three level was no fluke as he backed that effort up with another professional display to capture the Gr.3 Taylor Property Plus Spring Sprint (1400m) at Trentham. The Ashley Meadows-prepared son of Shamexpress was having just his 15th career start on Saturday but showed he has now hit his straps with a vengeance as he downed the top two favoured runners in the contest, Riccarton visitor Mystic Park (NZ) (Ocean Park) and Cambridge raider Kitty…
Category: Featured
That’s Gold fulfils early promise with Bonecrusher triumph
Chris Wood has had faith from day one that his promising youngster That’s Gold (Lucky Vega) would make an impact on the track, and he repaid that on Saturday when taking out the Gr.3 Bonecrusher Stakes (1400m) at Pukekohe. The three-year-old son of Lucky Vega had shown plenty of ability for Wood as an early juvenile, placing in two starts and running fourth in the Listed Counties Challenge Stakes (1100m), but a win remained elusive. He returned as a three-year-old and placed first-up at Te Aroha in October before breaking…
Mr consistency heads to Ballarat Cup
Ocean Beyond (NZ) (Ocean Park) may not be the friend of the punter, but what he is he’s a consistent money spinner for his connections. The Simon Ryan-trained galloper will try to collect his biggest prize on Saturday when he runs in the $500,000 Listed Ballarat Cup (2000m) and attempt to build on his A$535,475 bankroll. Now an eight-year-old, Ocean Beyond has been winless since May 2022 when successful in the Listed Straight Six (1200m) at Flemington. After originally starting out with Daniel Bowman at Warrnambool, which included a win on Ballarat Cup Day in 2021, Ocean Beyond then had a stint with Andrew Bobbin before…
Master Fay set to take flight in Concorde
It may no longer be on the big stage of Karaka Millions night, but a win in Saturday’s Gr.3 Concorde Stakes (1200m) at Pukekohe would mean just as much to trainer Chad Ormsby. The Cambridge horseman is targeting the feature sprint with stable favourite Master Fay (Deep Field), who took out last year’s running on the highly anticipate meeting at Ellerslie on the eve of New Zealand Bloodstock’s National Yearling Sales. It was Master Fay’s second start in New Zealand following his comeback from Hong Kong, where he won his…
Twain ready for Concorde as Bell eyes another Railway
Ultra-consistent sprinter Twain (NZ) (Per Incanto) is ready to take an important step to his main summer target when he lines up in the Gr.3 Concorde Stakes (1200m) at Pukekohe Park on Saturday. In 14 starts dating back to his debut in July last year, the Per Incanto gelding has won seven times and never finished further back than fourth. As a son of 2013 Gr.1 Sistema Railway Stakes (1200m) winner Fleur de Lune (NZ) (Stravinsky), it’s no surprise that the late January Ellerslie sprint is his prime assignment, and…
Mystic Park primed for Trentham sprint
Riccarton trainers Michael and Matthew Pitman love a trip north to Trentham, and they are once again looking forward to heading to the Upper Hutt track this weekend with a trio of contenders. Trentham has been a happy hunting ground for the father-and-son duo, who have recorded some of their biggest wins at the track, including Savvy Coup’s (NZ) (Savabeel) Gr.1 New Zealand Oaks (2400m) triumph and Enzo’s Lad’s (Testa Rossa) back-to-back victories in the Gr.1 Telegraph (1200m). “It is probably my favourite track,” Michael Pitman said. “It has been…
Manners the key for Taylor Square in Bonecrusher
Paul Mirabelli may have lost Group One performer Shoma (NZ) (Contributer) from his Cambridge stable, but he believes he still has plenty of three-year-old firepower in his barn. While still a maiden after 10 starts, Shoma impressed when placing in last month’s Gr.1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) at Riccarton, with that performance generating plenty of overseas interest in the son of Contributer. A deal was subsequently brokered with expat Kiwi trainers Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young, and he will continue his racing career from their Cranbourne barn. “People obviously…
South Island & Central Districts On-Farm Parades Kick off Road to Karaka 2026
The on-farm parades for the Karaka 2026 South Island vendors are scheduled for Thursday 18 & Friday 19 December, and then making its way through the Central Districts Monday 22 & Tuesday 23 December All prospective buyers are welcome to attend to inspect yearlings ahead of Karaka 2026, while enjoying New Zealand’s finest equine properties and hospitality. NZB and NZ-based agents are also available to inspect on your behalf should you require a head start on inspections and evaluations. Get in touch with NZB team for any assistance. View and download the schedule here. View…
La Dorada’s half-brother makes winning start
A four-horse field has thrown up a minor upset at Geelong on Thursday, as the $6.50 outsider, Mark Walker’s well-bred colt Golden Pulse, saluted smartly on debut in the 1147-metre two-year-old maiden. The Yulong-owned son of Tivaci was the only colt in the field and the least favoured of the quartet, but travelled into contention strongly under Beau Mertens and finished far too well for Eternal Joy ($2.90) and Got Tickets ($3.20). Though Golden Pulse hadn’t been a standout in his jumpouts, assistant trainer Ben Gleeson felt that was far…
Ka Ying Rising gallop pleases Hayes ahead of LONGINES Hong Kong International Races
Ka Ying Rising, the world’s top-rated sprinter, has delighted David Hayes in his final fast turf gallop ahead of the LONGINES Hong Kong International Races (LONGINES HKIR) on 14 December as a string of local contenders sharpened preparations with barrier trials at Sha Tin today (Thursday, 4 December). Ka Ying Rising will attempt to match Golden Sixty’s feat of winning 16 races in a row – a streak bettered only by Silent Witness (17 wins) as a Hong Kong, China-trained horse – when he tackles the HK$28 million G1 LONGINES…