Category: Featured

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…

At the end of a two-horse war that lasted the length of the Morphettville straight and brought the crowd to their feet, Karaka graduate American Wolf (NZ) (Tivaci) came out on top in Monday’s A$350,000 Group Two Adelaide Cup (3200m). Victorian-based expat New Zealand trainers Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young paid $110,000 to buy American Wolf from Book 1 of Karaka 2023, where he was offered by Waikato Stud. American Wolf has now had 16 starts for three wins, five placings and A$416,585 in stakes. Ridden in Monday’s two-mile feature…

After coming within inches of the upset of the season in Saturday’s $4 million NZB Kiwi (1500m), rising star Belle Cheval (NZ) (Savabeel) is set to head to Sydney for the Gr.1 Vinery Stud Stakes (2000m). The Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson-trained filly put in a massive effort to go down by a short head to hot favourite Well Written (Written Tycoon) in the marquee race on Champions Day. Now plans are being put in place for her to travel to Sydney and take on the likes of Gr.1 New…

Group Two Waikato Guineas winner Autumn Glory (NZ) (Ocean Park) is set to join the training partnership of Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr as she prepares for a possible start in the Gr.1 Australian Oaks (2400m) at Randwick on April 11. The Ocean Park filly has been one of the leading performers of the New Zealand classic season, finishing runner-up in both the Gr.1 New Zealand Oaks (2400m) behind Ohope Wins and last Saturday’s Gr.1 New Zealand Derby (2400m), where she chased home stablemate Road To Paris. Autumn Glory,…

Fast Network (NZ)(Wrote) reaffirmed his standing among Hong Kong’s top sprinters with a determined victory in the HK$3.72 million Class 1 Essex Handicap (1200m) at Sha Tin on Sunday, providing trainer Dennis Yip with a timely reward for the gelding’s consistent campaign. The five-year-old had already shown his quality earlier in the season when finishing third behind champion sprinter Ka Ying Rising (NZ) (Shamexpress) in both the Gr.1 Hong Kong Sprint (1200m) and the Gr.1 Centenary Sprint Cup (1200m). With the superstar absent this time, Fast Network capitalised to secure…

Road To Paris (NZ) (Circus Maximus) crowned a momentous week for Windsor Park Stud when he provided the farm’s resident sire Circus Maximus with his first elite level success on Champions’ Day at Ellerslie. The Roger James and Robert Wellwood-trained representative triumphed in the Gr.1 New Zealand Derby (2400m) in the hands of Geroge Rooke for Queensland breeder-owners Ron and Judi Wanless. His victory came hard on the heels of Windsor Park, with Mapperley Stud and Lion Rock Racing, signing Savabeel’s Gr.1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) winner Savaglee (NZ)…

Most trainers dream of competing in the Gr.1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) and Palmerston North horsewoman Lisa Latta may have found her horse to get her to Flemington on the first Tuesday in November. Talented stayer Manzor Blue (NZ) (Almanzor) once again proved her staying qualities at Ellerslie on Saturday when finishing runner-up behind Australian raider Paradise Storm (Masked Marvel) in the Gr.2 Auckland Cup (3200m). It comes just over a month after her victory in the Gr.3 Wellington Cup (3200m) at Trentham, and Latta was delighted to see the daughter…

You could be forgiven for thinking you were watching winter racing at Riverton on Sunday, with horses competing on a Heavy9 surface, but that played right into the hands of local wet track specialist Sight To See (NZ) (Time Test) in the AB Lime & Caldwell Contracting Wyndham Cup (2000m). The Kelvin Tyler-trained mare’s previous two victories had come on rain-affected going, and punters flocked to her when the wet weather arrived, backing her into a $3.40 favourite. From her wide draw, she settled towards the rear of the field…