Kevin and Stephen Gray have four talented up-and-comers entered for Trentham on Saturday, along with an exciting international jockey recruit, but the prospect of a testing track has dented the confidence of the Palmerston North stable. The father-son team will be represented by Cooper (NZ) (Tivaci) in the $50,000 Australian Turf Club Autumn Sprint Final (1200m), Albarossa (Vino Rosso) and Cosentino (NZ) (El Roca) in the Leica Lucy 3YO (1200m), and Tycoon Boss (Street Boss) in the Doctor Askar Maiden (1000m). “We’re taking a really, really nice team to Trentham,”…
Category: Featured
Chevron cracks century for Dennis
Southland trainer Robert Dennis ticked off a career milestone with his 100th winner on Friday, thanks to a determined front-running performance by Chevron (NZ) (El Roca) in the Doug Horrell Contracting/Ricki Egerton Dagging Handicap (1600m) at Riverton. Dennis had brought up his 99th winner with On Song at Riverton on April 21 and went on to record three seconds, a third, a fourth and two fifths through the couple of weeks since. But Chevron delivered in style as the $2.10 favourite in Friday’s $22,000 open handicap. Ridden by apprentice jockey…
Stokes pair out to rebound in Group One
While most trainers would be rapt with an inside draw in a Group One feature, Phillip Stokes said it was far from ideal for his two mares in the Gr.1 The Goodwood (1200m) at Morphettville. Stokes saddles Stretan Angel (Harry Angel) and Climbing Star (NZ) (Zoustar) in the 1200m set weight plus penalties contest on Saturday with the mares drawing gates one and three respectively. “I’m not happy with those draws,” Stokes said. “I would prefer to be drawn middle to out with both of them, especially with the way they race at Morphettville, getting off the rails. “It…
Gillies gearing up for riding return at Wanganui
One of the country’s most successful jumps jockeys in Mathew Gillies will make a welcome return to the riding ranks at Wanganui on Sunday. Originally hailing from Palmerston North, the Auckland-based hoop won the National Jumps Jockeys’ Premiership in the 2013-24 season and has steered home a total of 101 winners, including six in Australia. Through this period, Gillies won a number of prestige races while also spending time on the sidelines through injury, but it was the COVID-19 outbreak that kept him out of the saddle after Grand National…
Tomodachi leading Wexford charge in mares’ feature
Wexford Stables will head to Arawa Park on Saturday with the defending Gr.3 Rotorua ITM Stakes (1400m) champion Karman Line, but her stablemates won’t be making a repeat crown an easy task. The biggest threat on recent form is Tomodachi, a shortening $2.90 race-favourite who earned her first black-type credentials when booming home into third in the Listed City Of Napier Sprint (1200m). The daughter of Tarzino recorded impressive sectionals in that event on a Soft5 track, and with conditions likely to worsen, trainers Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott are…
Forgotten galloper makes comeback
After 13 months off the scene, Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young’s stable stalwart Forgot You (NZ) (Savabeel) will make his return to the races on Saturday at Caulfield. After most recently racing in March last year, the dual Group Two winner is set to line up in the Thoroughbred Club of Australia Handicap (1400m). “He did a suspensory ligament, he’s been at Lee Evison’s, he’s obviously rehabbed him,” Busuttin said. “Touchwood, at the moment, he’s looking good.” Forgot You has had two jumpouts leading into his comeback run on Saturday,…
Mapperley Stud 2025 service fees
Mapperley Stud has announced Champion son of Galileo – Armory will stand for a fee of $10,000+gst this season. Armory will be standing his 4th season at stud in 2025 and has been heavily supported by New Zealand breeders since his arrival covering 350 mares across his first 3 seasons. “Breeders were attracted to his elite Gr.1 form as a 2 year-old, where he won the Gr.2 Futurity Stakes and Gr.3 Tyros Stakes before placing in 3 Gr.1 contests including a 2nd to Champion 2 year-old Pinatubo” “Breeders also like to see…
White Robe Lodge announce service fees
Iconic Southern nursery White Robe Lodge has kept things simple for breeders this season with their stallion roster of three – Alflaila, Ancient Spirit and Ghibellines – all to stand at $7,000+GST. New addition Alflaila has been positively-received with the well-related multiple Group Two winner providing breeders with access to the highly sought-after Dark Angel sire-line. “It’s great timing with Dark Angel being the Champion Sire of Britain and Ireland last year and with his sire-son Harry Angel being one of the most exciting stallions across the Tasman,” White Robe…
Marotiri Molly poised to cap off breakout season
Marotiri Molly will aim to complete her season on a high note at Arawa Park on Saturday, taking on her own sex in the Gr.3 Rotorua ITM Stakes (1400m). Prepared by Matt Dixon at Foxton, Marotiri Molly has conquered all before her since opening her preparation in late August, winning four of nine races including the Gr.2 Manawatu Challenge Stakes (1400m), and placing behind gun mare La Crique in the Gr.2 Auckland Thoroughbred Breeders Stakes (1400m). After running a creditable fifth-equal in the Gr.1 Thorndon Mile (1600m) in January, Dixon…
Rough Habit next for Kiwi raider
It may have not been the result he was after, but Andrew Campbell was pleased with Croupier’s run at Eagle Farm last Saturday, and will press on towards his intended feature targets. Following two wins in New Zealand, Croupier made his Australian debut over a mile at the Brisbane track last weekend where he finished fourth in the hands of former New Zealand-based jockey Mark Du Plessis. “I thought it was a good run, maybe he (Du Plessis) should have hooked him out wide instead of going to the rail,”…