The Pencarrow Stud colours of Sir Peter Vela have been carried by some outstanding fillies over the years including ‘Cups Queen’ Ethereal, whose rise to stardom started with a win in the Group I Queensland Oaks in 2001. The Queensland Oaks is the target race for the latest Pencarrow Stud bred and raced winner in Chispa (NZ) (Savabeel), who scored a dominant victory at the Randwick meeting on Wednesday for the Chris Waller stable. The Savabeel filly only started racing this year with a debut second and then a maiden…
Category: Featured
Lock on the hunt for black-type with Debit
Te Aroha trainer Peter Lock is looking forward to resuming his talented mare Debit (NZ) (Darci Brahma) at Otaki on Saturday where he is hoping to get her on a path towards attaining black-type. The six-year-old daughter of Darci Brahma has shown plenty of ability for Lock, winning four of her first five starts before disappointing last spring when unplaced in both of her outings, with Lock citing feet issues for her subpar showings. “It has been a bit of a frustrating time,” Lock said. “We had a couple of…
Charlton Using Scone To Get Group 1 Winner Back In Line
The strength of the Group 1 form around classy galloper Linebacker (NZ) (Super Seth) tells trainer Tom Charlton he can show at Scone on Saturday that he’s on target for a return to that level. A Group 1 winner himself, Linebacker hasn’t contested a race below Group 3 level (if you include the Golden Eagle) since his debut win and with 59kg Charlton said the Listed $200,000 Darley Luskin Star Stakes (1300m) is a nice springboard. It’s no surprise that the Stradbroke is on the four-year-old’s agenda and from that…
Breslin dreaming of scoring Melbourne Cup start
Mike Breslin is hoping the horse he named after one of his favourite footballers, Peter Crouch, can earn him a ticket into Australia’s most coveted race. The Awapuni trainer has travelled across the Tasman with his quality stayer Crouch (NZ) (Tarzino), who will line-up in the Listed Andrew Ramsden (2800m) at Flemington on Saturday, with the winner earning a ballot exempt entry into November’s Gr.1 Melbourne Cup (3200m). The six-year-old son of Tarzino has already proven himself over two miles, finishing runner-up in the last two editions of the Gr.3…
Te Akau score home juvenile quinella
Te Akau Racing continued their juvenile dominance at their home meeting at Matamata on Wednesday when taking out the quinella in the Entain/NZB Insurance Pearl Series (1200m) courtesy of Honour Roll (NZ) (Savabeel) and The Queen’s Sword (NZ) (Sword Of State). Honour Roll was having his second start after placing on debut at Tauherenikau in February, while The Queen’s Sword was making her debut after winning her 800m trial at Avondale last month. Honour Roll rocketed out of the gates and was sent straight to the front by jockey Michael…
Surprise packet eyes stakes victory
Physique and pedigree didn’t point to Grocer’s Girl (NZ) (Tarzino) emerging as a two-year-old black-type prospect, but stakes success now beckons in her final appearance of the season. The Tony Pike-prepared daughter of Tarzino has been unlucky in two starts to date and will look to turn her fortunes around in the Listed Cloudsoft Accounting Champagne Stakes (1600m) at Ellerslie. “She has surprised us to be fair, she’s a lovely, big scopey type with natural ability and because of that she’s come to it a lot earlier than what we…
Quality quintet live on Gavelhouse Plus
The Gavelhouse Plus May Premium Broodmare Sale is live featuring five Lots and bidding is set to close from 7pm (NZT) on Wednesday 20th May. Marsh Racing’s recently retired Hitabell (NZ) (Embellish) and Glamour Tycoon (AUS) (Written Tycoon) are the first two Lots in the sale followed by Haunui Farm and Frantic Bloodstock’s trio of mares; Rondinella (NZ) (Ocean Park), Sudbina (NZ) (Almanzor) and Tinnelly (NZ) (O’Reilly). Both Rondinella and Sudbina are offered in foal to the now Coolmore Australia domiciled Super Seth. The Marsh Racing mares are available for…
The $1300 stayer chasing a Melbourne Cup golden ticket
When The Western Front (NZ) (War Decree) won a 2500-metre BM84 Handicap at Flemington on ANZAC Day, the gelding’s legion of owners were cock-a-hoop. So, imagine the scenes in the owners’ area at Flemington on Saturday if The Western Front gets the job done in the Andrew Ramsden, given the 2800-metre Listed event carries with it a golden ticket in this year’s Melbourne Cup. Trained by Ben, Will and JD Hayes, the Western Front is raced by Ace Bloodstock, a Victorian-based syndicator with a rich history spanning over 30 years…
Brown Reunites with Jimmysstar for Group One Assault
The Ciaron Maher stable is acutely aware of the task confronting Jimmysstar (NZ) (Per Incanto) every time he steps out. The New Zealand-bred galloper is regarded one of Australia’s best, but his racing pattern means he can be vulnerable. Jimmysstar has an enviable record, 11 wins from 26 starts and more than A$8.5 million in prize money which Maher and connections hope he can build upon in the Gr.1 Doomben 10,000 (1200m) on Saturday. Importantly, jockey Ethan Brown has been granted a release from Hong Kong to fly in and ride Jimmysstar on Saturday. Brown has ridden the gelding in his last…
Mr Brightside set for spring
Champion miler Mr Brightside (NZ) (Bullbars) has recovered well from minor surgery and will return to racing in the spring. Following a 2025 spring campaign that concluded with a fifth-placed finish in the Gr.1 Champions Mile at Flemington in November, Lindsay Park announced its stable star would be sidelined for the autumn, as he required minor surgery to remove a very small chip in his left-fore fetlock. Co-trainer JD Hayes on Monday said Mr Brightside’s rehabilitation program has been a success. “He’s in good order, the champ, and he’s about…