The connections of Dictation (NZ) (Tavistock) have a love-hate relationship with Riccarton, and they are hopeful of leaning towards the latter after Saturday’s Hospitality NZ Canterbury 136th Hospitality NZ Canterbury 136th Grand National Hurdles (4200m). While the Hawke’s Bay gelding has competed in the last two editions of the Grand National Festival of Racing, he has yet to contest the feature hurdle, something he will change on Saturday. The nine-year-old son of Tavistock missed the 2024 running after he stumbled over the final hurdle and lost his rider in the traditional lead…
Category: Featured
Weight O’Leary’s biggest concern in Grand National title defence
Weight is trainer Dan O’Leary’s biggest concern ahead of Captain Runs’ (NZ) (Nom du Jeu) defence of the Racecourse Hotel & Motor Lodge 151st Grand National Steeplechase (5600m) at Riccarton on Saturday. The now 11-year-old gelding carried 66kg to victory in last year’s edition but has been lumbered with five kilograms more on Saturday. “The extra weight is against him, that is my main concern,” O’Leary said. “Most of the field is carrying 65kg and he and Nedwin are carrying 71 and 70.” However, Captains Run has proven he can handle…
Crockett Looking For Rejuvenated Leovanni To Step Up Again
Cameron Crockett is a very hands on trainer and he knew something wasn’t quite right with Leovanni (NZ) (Leovanni) when she returned to work for her second preparation with him. He’d spent $40,000 to buy the mare, but in her first two starts she was being hesitant at the jump in country maidens, costing her any chance, and he wondered if he’d done the right thing. Cut to present day and Leovanni heads to Randwick on Saturday looking for four straight wins, stepping out of Highway grade, in the MM…
Livamol Classic and NZ 2000 Guineas retain Group One status
The Livamol Classic (2040m) and New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) have retained Group One status this season following a vote by the Asian Pattern Committee (APC). Both races were subject to the vote after failing to meet the required international race rating standard in their last three editions, with the race rating based upon the first four placings. The New Zealand Pattern Committee’s submission to the APC noted the NZ 2000 Guineas as a critically important race to not only New Zealand racing but also the wider industry as a…
Southern sojourn to continue for Wire Rope
Bill Thurlow is likely to extend the southern stay of his in-form sprinter Wire Rope (NZ) (Darci Brahma). The Waverley trainer will run the son of Darci Brahma in Saturday’s Vernon & Vazey Truck Parts Open (1400m) at Riccarton off the back of his Rating 75 success last weekend before handing over the reins. Wire Rope will remain at southern headquarters in the care of local trainer Anna Furlong. “He won’t come straight home, the plan was to run him in these two races all going well and he’ll probably…
Hamilton trainers chasing polytrack riches
Skymax (NZ) (Ferrando) and Novak’s (NZ) (El Roca) winter preparations have been geared towards Friday’s TAB Polytrack Championship (2000m) at Cambridge, and trainers Graeme and Debbie Rogerson, and Clinton Isdale, are hoping the pair can claim the lion’s share of the $75,000 purse on offer. Skymax has been a standout at the track, winning by eight lengths over 2000m in May before beating Novak by four lengths over the same distance a fortnight later. The daughter of Ferrando was then freshened before resuming at the track late last month where…
Phantom Major Breaks Through in Style at Canterbury
Promising four-year-old Phantom Major (Snitzel) broke through in impressive fashion with victory in Wednesday’s $100,000 Schweppes Handicap (1200m) at Canterbury, producing a powerful finishing burst at just his second race start. An entire son of Snitzel, Phantom Major has been given plenty of time by champion trainer Chris Waller, making his long-awaited debut at Newcastle last month where he finished a close second in a 1250m maiden. Phantom Major settled towards the rear of the field before unleashing an explosive turn of foot in the straight to score by a…
Memsie looms larger for Aeliana after trial mishap
The Gr.1 Memsie Stakes (1400m) has emerged as a more serious first-up option for star mare Aeliana (NZ) (Castelvecchio) after a barrier incident ruled her out of a Warwick Farm trial on Tuesday. The multiple Group One winner got her hind leg caught in the starting gates before the opening heat and was withdrawn before the trial. Trainer Chris Waller said Aeliana had responded well to treatment, with the mare receiving anti-inflammatories and regular ice hosing, and there were no immediate signs of any significant injury. “Minimal swelling and she’s…
Star Ballot shines at Riccarton
Local trainers Michael and Matthew Pitman were confident of a bold showing from Star Ballot (NZ) (Tarzino) at Riccarton’s synthetic meeting on Wednesday, and the gelding duly delivered when taking out the Betavet Natural Solutions Open (2200m). The father-and-son duo weren’t shy in sharing their opinion pre-race and punters heeded their advice, backing the eight-year-old gelding into a $3.30 favourite. The son of Tarzino settled midfield under jockey Matt Cartwright and the pair stalked Purple Prose (NZ) (Embellish) for much of the journey. Cartwright presented Star Ballot four wide at…
Lupo Solitario on track for elite-level debut
Danica Guy can’t wait to get to Ellerslie next month where her Group Three winner Lupo Solitario (NZ) (Satono Aladdin) is set to have his first tilt at elite-level in the Gr.1 Proisir Plate (1400m). The now six-year-old gelding was a standout for the Matamata trainer as a three-year-old, winning three of his six starts, including the Gr.3 Bonecrusher Stakes (1400m) where he beat subsequent Group One winner Orchestral, before he was sold to Hong Kong interests. He had seven starts in the competitive racing jurisdiction for trainer Frankie Lor,…