Category: Featured

Group One hope The Dirty Dee will spearhead a strong team at Trentham for Robbie Patterson and unlike a number of trainers, he’s unconcerned about the prospect of rain-affected ground on Saturday. The New Plymouth conditioner is bullish about the chances of his daughter of Derryn in the Gr.3 NZB Desert Gold Stakes (1600m) as she works her way toward the Gr.1 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai New Zealand Oaks (2400m) at Ellerslie. “A wet track definitely won’t worry her, and I gave her a good jump-out on Monday and she…

Freddie Time has been Southland trainer Kelvin Tyler’s sole representative in the north over the last couple of months, but the Southland trainer has sent up some reinforcements as he looks to plunder the spoils on offer at Trentham in the coming weeks. “There is a bit of safety in numbers, I have brought some nice horses up,” Tyler said. “They are big and strong fields though, so we certainly aren’t getting ahead of ourselves.” Stakes performer Prince Alby has returned north to target the Gr.3 NZ Campus Of Innovation…

Ready to Run Sale graduate Speed Dragon (NZ) (Darci Brahma) delivered a milestone moment for his trainer Francis Lui with a spectacular come-from-behind victory in the A$4.2m Group Three January Cup (1800m) at Happy Valley on Wednesday.  Speed Dragon, who was passed in at the 2021 Ready to Run Sale, has now had 16 starts in Hong Kong for four wins, a placing and HK$9.8m in stakes – the equivalent of more than NZ$2.1m, which is over 10 times his reserve at the Ready to Run Sale. The six-year-old’s stunning finish from…

Troubled but talented mare Tarvue (NZ) (Tarzino) will chase successive Flemington victories when she lines up in the staying event on the card this Saturday. The John Sadler-trained daughter of Tarzino is on the quick back-up after she saluted at headquarters last weekend. “She’s had lots of feet problems which have really interrupted her career so far,” Sadler said. “I don’t think we’ve ever seen the best of her until possibly last Saturday where we saw a glimpse of what we’ve been hoping for.” Sadler gave credit to renowned farrier…

Troubled but talented mare Tarvue (NZ) (Tarzino) will chase successive Flemington victories when she lines up in the staying event on the card this Saturday. The John Sadler-trained daughter of Tarzino is on the quick back-up after she saluted at headquarters last weekend. “She’s had lots of feet problems which have really interrupted her career so far,” Sadler said. “I don’t think we’ve ever seen the best of her until possibly last Saturday where we saw a glimpse of what we’ve been hoping for.” Sadler gave credit to renowned farrier…

Bidding to equal Silent Witness’ long-standing record for the most consecutive wins by a Hong Kong, China-trained horse, Ka Ying Rising (NZ) (Shamexpress) swept to an imperious barrier trial victory at Sha Tin this morning (Thursday, 15 January) ahead of his tilt at history on 25 January. Preparing to chase a 17th straight victory when he contests the HK$13 million G1 Centenary Sprint Cup (1200m) at Sha Tin next week, Ka Ying Rising cruised over 1200m on Sha Tin’s dirt course under Zac Purton, clocking 1m 10.36s, and beating stablemate…

Stakes targets are in the offing for in-form gelding Brave Spirit (NZ) (Swiss Ace) if he continues his purple patch of form in Saturday’s Hope & Sons/Adam’s Plumbing Open 1400 at Wingatui. The consistent six-year-old was runner-up first-up in his stable debut for trainer Jospeh Waldron at Riccarton in October before going one better at the Christchurch track a month later. He then stepped up to Open company for the first time at Wingatui on Boxing Day where he was victorious in his 1200m contest. Waldron has been pleased with…

Stephen Marsh will be chasing a third victory in Saturday’s Gr.2 Thorndon Mile (1600m) at Trentham and is confident he has the firepower on reasonable ground to go close. The Cambridge trainer’s hopes of retaining the Harcourts-sponsored crown rest with Queen Zou (Zoustar) after reclaiming the title last year with Provence (NZ) (Savabeel) following the stable’s 2017 win with Thee Auld Floozie (NZ) (Mastercraftsman). Queen Zou earned top honours on New Year’s Day in the Gr.2 Rich Hill Mile (1600m) at Ellerslie with 53kg and the Zoustar mare will carry…

A nail may have scuppered her early summer targets, but Taranaki mare Hi Yo Sass Bomb (NZ) (Complacent) is back on track and thriving ahead of her resuming run in Saturday’s Gr.2 Harcourts Thorndon Mile (1600m) at Trentham. The seven-year-old daughter of Complacent was in red-hot form over spring, winning the Gr.3 Grangewilliam Stud Breeders’ Stakes (1400m) and Gr.3 Thompson Handicap (1600m) in October. Trainer and part-owner Kim Reid then set her sights towards elite-level targets, eyeing the Gr.1 Mufhasa Classic (1600m) at Trentham last month, but a stray nail…

Unbeaten Sword Of State colt Warwoven (NZ) (Sword Of State) remains the horse to beat in Saturday’s A$3 million Magic Millions 2YO Classic (1200m) after the race favourite drew barrier six. The juvenile has been dominant in his two starts to date, winning at Randwick in December before a commanding 3.3-length victory at Eagle Farm on January 3. Trainer Bjorn Baker is chasing his third win in the feature after scoring with O’ Ole (Ole Kirk) last year and Unencumbered (Testa Rossa) in 2014. “I think it is an ideal…