Jockey Jake Noonan will be looking to repay the faith of the Patrick and Michelle Payne stable when he partners Bold Soul (NZ) (Embellish) at Flemington. Noonan rides the stayer in the Deane Lester Flemington Cup 1849 (2800m) on Saturday and is looking to strike winning form again on the rising five-year-old. Bold Soul and Noonan completed a Stakes race treble, winning twice as a three-year-old in Tasmania and once in South Australia with the jockey having ridden the stayer only twice since those three-year-old days. The most recent was when Bold Soul…
Category: Featured
Ka Ying Rising Headlines a Historic Season for Hong Kong Racing
An exceptional 2024/25 Hong Kong racing season came to a close at Happy Valley on Wednesday, wrapping up one of the most memorable chapters in the sport’s history.At the heart of it was New Zealand-bred horse of the year Ka Ying Rising. The superstar sprinter became only the third horse in Hong Kong history to win eight races in a single season, claimed four Group 1 titles, and twice shattered the Sha Tin 1200m course record — breaking a benchmark that had stood since 2007. His unbeaten run stretched to…
Quirky character ready for Cup challenge
Joshua Brown (NZ) (Dalghar) likes to get his own way and tyro trainer Lance Gussey is happy to go with the flow with his black-type contender. The mercurial son of Dalghar has come a long way in a short time and at New Plymouth on Saturday will face his sternest test yet in the Listed Sinclair Electrical & Refrigeration Opunake Cup (1400m). Despite his quirky temperament, Joshua Brown has an abundance of ability and has fashioned the tidy record of three wins and six placings from 12 appearances. “He’s very…
Winter Cup hopes hang in the balance for Wilson trio
Bevan and Robyn Wilson head into Sunday’s Crombie & Price LTD Oamaru Cup (1600m) with three last-start winners, but things haven’t been smooth-sailing for the Ashburton couple. Lord Darci (NZ) (Darci Brahma) and Victorian Charm (NZ) (Charm Spirit) have had interrupted preparations, with the former having last raced at Wingatui at the start of last month, and their trainers have been trying to play catch-up with the pair. “Not everything has gone according to plan, but we are excited to have three capable horses being there anyway,” Bevan Wilson said.…
Quality and quantity for Patterson in local feature
Robbie Patterson won’t be short of representatives at his home meeting on Saturday, with 13 runners including a trio of talented performers in the Listed Sinclair Electrical and Refrigeration Opunake Cup (1400m). The New Plymouth horseman has accepted with Belles Beau, Our Jumala and Sinbin, with the former opening a $3.90 favourite in the TAB market. A son of Iffraaj, Belles Beau had to play bridesmaid to Sinbin when resuming at the local course in May, but then went on to stamp his authority in open company at Wanganui, defeating…
Connections in no hurry with high-class Savaglee
Star colt Savaglee (NZ) (Savabeel) is likely to be a notable absentee from all spring feature events. The Group One-winning son of Savabeel has returned from an extended break and is in light work at owner Dick Karreman’s The Oaks Stud. “You won’t see him probably until after Christmas, he could have a run here and then go to Australia,” trainer Pam Gerard said. “Obviously, he’s been off for quite a while for a colt and it’s hard to make a plan until we get him back to the stable…
Proisir 3YO impresses at Sandown
Lightly-tried three-year-old Ad Vitam broke maiden ranks in impressive fashion at Sandown on Wednesday when swooping under Blake Shinn to score over 1400m. The son of Proisir finished runner-up on debut for Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young and took good improvement and shapes as a horse with a bright future for prominent owners Kevin and Vikki Payne. “He has benefited from that first start at Sale, with that added experience,” Shinn said. “He was good in the gates, and that gave me a good indication he would jump better. He…
NZTR Confirms Relocation of Two Group 1 Races this Spring
New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing (NZTR) has confirmed that two key Spring Group 1 races will be transferred from RACE Awapuni, as the track continues through its Return to Racing protocols. The decision reflects a commitment to delivering early certainty for Trainers and Owners preparing campaigns for Group 1 runners. Key Programme Adjustments (may still be subject to change): Saturday 23 August | RACE Awapuni:Planned return raceday as scheduled Saturday 6 September | RACE Awapuni: Planned raceday as scheduled Saturday 20 September | RACE Awapuni:$100,000 Group 3 Merial Metric Mile (1600m) raceday…
Perfect result for Falconer at Avondale
Cambridge horsewoman Margaret Falconer celebrated a winning double at Avondale on Wednesday with a pair of progressive staying prospects. The first to salute on the midweek card was Hakata Bay (NZ) (Mongolian Khan), a one-win galloper resuming off a spell in the Byerley Park 1400. The son of Mongolian Khan had collected his maiden on a firm surface over the summer, but faced a stark contrast at the Auckland venue, stepping out in the middle of the card on a true Heavy10 track. In the hands of Joe Doyle, Hakata…
Sulabella chasing Rotorua hat-trick
Ruakaka visitor Sulabella (NZ) (Proisir) will be out to keep her perfect record intact at Arawa Park on Saturday, as the mare takes on the open-class gallopers in the Arawa Park Hotel Rotorua 1560. A winner of six races, Sulabella hit a purple patch of form when saluting at the Rotorua course last year at the beginning of July, and in the same race earlier this month she took the top spot once again. Michelle Bradley, who trains the daughter of Proisir, is looking forward to heading back to the…