Category: Featured

Canterbury gelding Matscot (NZ) (Haradasun) is once again set to fly the southern flag in the North Island next month when he crosses the Cook Strait to contest the Gr.1 Howden Insurance Mile (1600m) at Te Rapa. The eight-year-old son of Haradasun ran third in the race last year, when it was run as the Arrowfield Stud Plate at Matamata, and trainers Sharon Robertson and Alan Reeves are looking forward to returning to Waikato with their charge in a bid to go two better in the mile feature. Matscot made…

Following his successful stint in New Zealand over summer, expat Kiwi jockey Rory Hutchings is set to return to his homeland next month. While he spent several months in New Zealand at the start of the year, this trip will be a hit-and-run mission for the Sydney-based hoop, who has answered the call of leading New Zealand stable Te Akau. He has been booked to ride Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson’s Group One winner Quintessa (Shamus Award) in the Gr.1 Proisir Plate (1400m) at Ellerslie on September 6, and he…

Cambridge trainer Mark Treweek continued his great record on his local synthetic track on Wednesday when Seamsew (Brazen Beau) took out the Saddley Warehouse (970m). The seven-year-old son of Brazen Beau jumped away well from his wide gate and was sent straight to the front by apprentice jockey Rihaan Goyaram. Seamsew continued to lead the pack into the turn and was asked to improve by Goyaram, and he quickly responded, opening up several lengths on his rivals. Race favourite Electric Zou closed quickly late, but came up a long head…

Tommy Berry can make a case for Gringotts (NZ) (Per Incanto) upsetting the apple cart in the Winx Stakes. All eyes will be on the return of star mare Via Sistina in the Winx Stakes but rival jockey Tommy Berry believes it just might be the right race at the right time for Gringotts in the gelding’s bid for a second major. Gringotts will kick off his campaign in Saturday’s Randwick feature having captured his maiden Group 1 win in the George Ryder Stakes (1500m) last campaign. While several of Gringott’s rivals are better known over longer journeys,…

Timaru trainer Stephanie Faulkner looks to have her hands on another exciting ex-Hong Kong galloper, with stakes winner Leedox (NZ) (Time Test) set to make his New Zealand return. Faulkner had plenty of success with fellow former Hong Kong galloper Green Luck, who claimed last year’s Gr.3 Canterbury Gold Cup (2000m) and North Canterbury Cup (2000m). Following his retirement late last year, Faulkner was on the lookout for a replacement, and her connection with Green Luck led to Leedox joining her barn in March. Initially trained by Andrew Forsman, Leedox…

Tony Gollan joined Racing Pulse with Michael Felgate to discuss how Antino is tracking ahead of another spring campaign.  Antino all set for the biggest preparation of his career – Racing Pulse with Michael Felgate – Omny.fm

Canterbury jockey Brett Murray will be out to continue his winning run at Riccarton on Thursday after riding home his 100th winner at Oamaru last Friday. The 30-year-old hoop went into the North Otago meeting on 98 wins and came within one of the coveted milestone when riding home Quartz Queen (NZ) (Belardo) to victory in the Oamaru Scaffolding (1200m). “I was very confident about Quartz Queen of Kelly Shearing’s because she went well over National Week in a much stronger race,” Murray said. “She is a front-runner and Oamaru suits…