Queen Elizabeth next for exciting Tisse

Taranaki gelding Tisse (NZ) (Belardo) took an impressive step forward to his major summer target in a couple of weeks when dominating the Bill Tito Book Repair Specialist 2100 at Trentham on Sunday. The Allan Sharrock-trained five-year-old has been in a purple patch of form, winning one and finishing runner-up in three of his last five starts, and he was duly backed into $1.70 favouritism for his weekend assignment. From his outside barrier in the eight-horse field, Tisse was taken back to settle at the rear of the field by…

Queen Elizabeth next for exciting Tisse

Taranaki gelding Tisse (NZ) (Belardo) took an impressive step forward to his major summer target in a couple of weeks when dominating the Bill Tito Book Repair Specialist 2100 at Trentham on Sunday. The Allan Sharrock-trained five-year-old has been in a purple patch of form, winning one and finishing runner-up in three of his last five starts, and he was duly backed into $1.70 favouritism for his weekend assignment. From his outside barrier in the eight-horse field, Tisse was taken back to settle at the rear of the field by…

To Bravery Born continues impeccable fresh record

Trainers Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson now have their sights set on the Gr.3 Cambridge Stud Almanzor Trophy (1400m) at Ellerslie for To Bravery Born (NZ) (Snitzel) on Karaka Millions night following his eye-catching first-up win at Te Rapa on Saturday. The three-year-old gelding has a strong first-up record, having won on debut as an early two-year-old before repeating the result when fresh-up at Ellerslie in January. He then resumed as a three-year-old with victory over 1100m at Taupo in August before continuing his strong fresh sequence on Saturday. Despite…

Dashing Dixie Karaka Millions bound

Wexford Stables’ exciting juvenile filly Dashing Dixie (NZ) (Alabama Express) is TAB Karaka Millions 2YO (1200m) bound following her debut victory at Te Rapa on Saturday. The daughter of Alabama Express had placed in her two trials over 800m leading into her first raceday appearance, and trainers Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott were hopeful of a bold showing. In a compact field of four, Dashing Dixie jumped away well and maintained her advantage on the rail to take up the pace making role. She was eyed by Sword Of Stars…

To Bravery Born continues impeccable fresh record

Trainers Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson now have their sights set on the Gr.3 Cambridge Stud Almanzor Trophy (1400m) at Ellerslie for To Bravery Born (NZ) (Snitzel) on Karaka Millions night following his eye-catching first-up win at Te Rapa on Saturday. The three-year-old gelding has a strong first-up record, having won on debut as an early two-year-old before repeating the result when fresh-up at Ellerslie in January. He then resumed as a three-year-old with victory over 1100m at Taupo in August before continuing his strong fresh sequence on Saturday. Despite…

Sharp ‘N’ Smart takes Waikato Cup in thrilling finish

Former Gr.1 New Zealand Derby (2400m) winner Sharp ‘N’ Smart returned to the scene of that 2023 triumph to take out the Gr.3 SKYCITY Hamilton Waikato Cup (2400m) in a thrilling three-way finish to the Te Rapa staying feature. A triple Group One winner as a three-year-old, the Team Rogerson-prepared son of Redwood hadn’t been seen in the winners’ enclosure since his Derby triumph as the now six-year-old took on the best Australasia had to offer on both sides of the Tasman while also suffering through some injury and illness…

Karaka Millions beckons Birchley’s Dream Roca

Trainer Liam Birchley has long earmarked the Listed TAB Karaka Millions 2YO (1200m) for highly promising juvenile Dream Roca, and the daughter of El Roca took another step in the direction of the Ellerslie feature with a dominant win at Eagle Farm on Saturday. Dream Roca finished runner-up on debut over 1000m in October and showed the benefit of raceday experience as she closed over the top of favourite Star Of Jamaica to score over the same course and distance by two lengths on Saturday. “The fence was pretty hot…