Palmerton North mare Manzor Blue (NZ) (Almanzor) caused a major upset when taking out the Gr.3 NZ Campus Of Innovation & Sport Wellington Cup (3200m) at Trentham on Saturday. The five-year-old daughter of Almanzor had previously only raced up to rating 75 grade and was taking a massive jump up to Group company on Saturday, a step punters thought was too far and they let her drift out to an 86-1 outsider. From her outside draw she was taken straight to the back to settle at the rear of the…
Category: Featured
Wrote To Arataki claims second Geoffrey Bellmaine
Seven-year-old mare Wrote To Arataki (NZ) (Wrote) landed her second Gr.3 Geoffrey Bellmaine Stakes (1200m) three years after her first, with a strong front-running success under Dean Yendall at Caulfield on Saturday. The Matthew Williams trained daughter of Wrote has competed in the race in four consecutive years, with fourth and third placings in the mare’s feature between her 2023 and 2026 victories. Wrote To Arataki had a length to spare over fellow Kiwi bred mare Damask Rose (NZ) (Savabeel), with Bossy Benita (So You Think) in third. Williams said…
Special Sakura causes upset at Ellerslie
Taranaki visitor Special Sakura (NZ) (Staphanos) upset the applecart when she led from go to whoa to bring up just her third career victory, and first at black-type level, when winning the Listed Fulton Family Stakes (1500m) at Ellerslie. The four-year-old daughter of Novara Park stallion Staphanos had finished close up in second behind Romilly (NZ) (So You Think) in a rating 75 contest at the course when brought north by trainer Janelle Millar on New Year’s Day. Millar produced stable star Final Return (NZ) (Reliable Man) to run a…
Game Stylish Secret bags another Caulfield win
Trainer Mick Nolan’s Stylish Secret (NZ) (Sweet Orange) produced a plucky front-running performance to deny in-form mare Sun Gift (NZ) (Savabeel) when winning the Ule Hoof Oil Handicap (2400m) at Caulfield on Saturday. Given a perfect ride by apprentice Luke Cartwright, Stylish Secret enjoyed a breather mid-race and filled up the lungs enough to stave off the challenge of Sun Gift as the pair cleared out by more than three lengths from third-placed American Wolf (NZ) (Tivaci). The diminutive son of Sweet Orange carried just 52.5kg after Cartwright’s claim and…
Patterson goes back-to-back in Lowland
Robbie Patterson looks to have another serious Gr.1 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai New Zealand Oaks (2400m) contender on his hands following Ultimate Habit’s victory at Trentham on Saturday. The promising daughter of Embellish broke through for her maiden win in the Gr.2 Jennian Homes Lowland Stakes (2100m), a race Patterson won last year with Leicy Lucy before she won the Oaks, and he is looking forward to shooting for back-to-back wins in the Classic at its new home of Ellerslie next month. “We are definitely going to go to the…
Liguria takes out Ellerslie juvenile feature
Exciting filly Liguria (NZ) (Snitzel) opened her winning account in fine style with a courageous victory at stakes level when she claimed the Gr.3 Colin Jillings 2YO Classic (1200m) at Ellerslie. The impeccably bred daughter of Snitzel didn’t disgrace herself when finishing fourth on debut at the venue on Boxing Day and that experience stood her in good stead for Saturday’s juvenile feature that carries the name of the late New Zealand training legend Colin Jillings. Bearing the colours of Cambridge Stud principals Brendan and Jo Linday, who bred and…
Oaks plan falling into place for promising filly
A long-range plan for Crimson Sky continues to gain momentum and another encouraging performance at Trentham will confirm a crack at the end goal of the Gr.1 New Zealand Oaks (2400m). The Cody Cole-trained three-year-old will round off her preparation for the Al Basti Equiworld Dubai-sponsored Classic in Saturday’s Gr.2 Jennian Homes Lowland Stakes (2100m). “The three-week gap to the Oaks will give us a nice opportunity to take her to Ellerslie for a gallop, she has trialled there and another look around will be really beneficial,” Cole said. The…
Anderton hoping for late birthday presents this weekend
Brian Anderton, a doyen of South Island racing, celebrated his 89th birthday on Thursday, and the Wingatui horseman is hoping he can collect some late birthday presents this weekend. The White Robe Lodge principal will be chasing Group success in the North Island on Saturday after sending eight-win gelding Mayor Of Norwood north to Trentham to contest the Gr.3 NZ Campus Of Innovation & Sport Wellington Cup (3200m). Anderton, who trains in partnership with his son Shane, said the seven-year-old son of Ghibellines has handled the marathon trip with aplomb and…
Cartwright reuniting with old boss in Wellington Cup
Expat Australian hoop Matt Cartwright is looking forward to teaming up with his old boss at Trentham on Saturday when he rides Interpretation in the Gr.3 NZ Campus Of Innovation & Sport Wellington Cup (3200m). The Group Three-winning stayer is trained by leading Australian horseman Ciaron Maher, who Cartwright used to ride work for when based in Melbourne, and the New Zealand-based jockey said he knows the Irish-bred gelding well. “I had a great connection and relationship with Ciaron Maher during my apprenticeship when I was in Australia. I am…
Remutaka Classic plans come together for Shaking Stevens
A plan concocted nearly a year ago will reach its climax at Trentham on Saturday when South Canterbury raider Shaking Stevens lines up in the Life Direct Remutaka Classic (2100m). The $350,000 feature is one of the innovation races introduced to the thoroughbred calendar in the 2023-24 season under the strategic partnership between TAB NZ and Entain and is restricted to horses that had won no more than one race at the start of the current season. Shaking Stevens was a single race winner for his original trainer Stephen Marsh…