Category: Featured

A long-range plan came to fruition for trainer Matthew Dale at Wyong on Saturday with No Drama’s (NZ) (Ghibellines) victory in the A$160,000 Central Coast Community News Benchmark 78 Handicap (1200m). It was the seventh win of a 26-start career for the Ghibellines gelding, who has also picked up four minor placings and has earned A$302,092 in stakes. Four of those successes have come from just six attempts over the 1200m distance of Saturday’s race. Dale took over the training of No Drama from Lindsey Smith in 2024, and he…

The in-form combination of rider Floor Moerman and trainer Kevin Myers delivered in spades once again on the West Coast circuit as quality mare Bozo (NZ) (Satono Aladdin) produced a mammoth staying performance to claim the time-honoured Vernon & Vazey 0800 Truck Parts Kumara Gold Nuggets (1810m) on Saturday. Moerman, who had tasted success aboard Illicit Dreams (NZ) (Vancouver) for Kenny Rae earlier in the day, had produced winning trebles at both the Omoto meeting on 3 January and at Reefton four days later, with the Omoto victories coming aboard…

While Cambridge trainer Stephen Marsh is currently inspecting yearlings on the Gold Coast, he will take time out to watch how one of his main Gr.1Trackside New Zealand Derby (2400m) contenders in Ammirati (NZ) (Savabeel) performs at Ellerslie on Sunday as he takes the next step on his path to the blue riband classic on 7 March. The son of Savabeel will have his first start over a middle distance when he tackles the Listed Trackside Gingernuts Salver (2100m) at the Derby venue, where he will start as one of…

One of the most talked about Gr.1 Trackside New Zealand Derby (2400m) candidates faces his first acid test over a staying distance when he tackles the Listed Trackside Gingernuts Salver (2100m) at Ellerslie on Sunday, The Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott-trained Yamato Satona (NZ) (Satono Aladdin) set tongues wagging with an incredible win on debut over 1400m at Rotorua back in October, where he came from near last on the home turn to gather in the front runners in the shadows of the winning post. O’Sullivan and Scott indicated then…

Well-respected Kiwi horseman Todd Pollard will join the training ranks next month after securing boxes at Eagle Farm in Brisbane. He departs Archibald Racing, where he has worked for the past five years and has led the Queensland operation for more than three-and-a-half years, producing consistent results for the operation. During his time as assistant trainer, Pollard worked closely with Group One winners Mo’unga, Zaaki, Bois d’Argent and Sunshine In Paris, as well as a number of other stakes performers. “I am very excited to announce that I am setting…

Impressive debut winner Waka has returned home to Surrey Farm, near Bulls, ahead of his second-up assignment at Wanganui on Saturday. The three-year-old son of Hello Youmzain was born and raised at the Rangitikei property of owner-breeders Christopher and Susanna Grace, whose familiar gold and green colours he carried to a dominant debut victory at New Plymouth last month. Trainer Mark Forbes was pleased with the win and said the gelding will continue to improve with time. “He has shown us a lot at home. He has still got a…

Promising filly Lucy In The Sky will launch her bid for higher age group honours when she resumes at Ellerslie. The Cambridge Stud-bred and raced daughter of Hello Youmzain will kick off in the Elsdon Park 3YO (1200m) on Sunday before she returns to stakes company. The Tony Pike-trained Lucy In The Sky made a good impression as a juvenile with a debut victory at northern headquarters. That form proved to be significant with runner-up Miss Ziggy subsequently placing in the Gr.3 Barneswood Farm Stakes (1200m) and third placegetter Lollapalooza…

Riccarton trainers Michael and Matthew Pitman are prospecting gold in Kumara this weekend. The father-and-son duo are targeting Saturday’s Vernon & Vazey 0800 Truck Parts Kumara Gold Nuggets (1810m) with Ocean Light and Charbano, and they are hoping they can get their hands on the spoils. The West Coast feature has been in the crosshairs for the Christchurch horsemen with Ocean Light and they are pleased with him heading into the race despite his last start unplaced run in the Kurow Cup (1400m). It was the five-year-old gelding’s first unplaced…

Kevin and Stephen Gray will be on a fact-finding mission when they head north to Ellerslie on Sunday. The Palmerston North trainers will return to the Auckland track with their promising three-year-old Loose Jewels, who will give them a gauge of his Derby credentials. The son of Turn Me Loose holds a nomination for the Gr.1 Trackside New Zealand Derby (2400m) at Ellerslie in March, and while they believe he will stay the distance, he has yet to be tested over further than a mile in his five starts to…

New Zealand is in the fortunate position of having an outstanding group of young stallions starting to make their mark, and the progeny of these exciting up-and-comers will be in demand at Karaka 2026.  ACE HIGH  Ace High Rich Hill Stud’s Ace High is the sire of 62 winners from 106 runners, with four individual stakes winners including Molly Bloom (NZ) in the Group One New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m). Molly Bloom came from Ace High’s first crop and was bought for $150,000 from Book 1 of Karaka 2022. The current season has seen She’s…