Category: Featured

Trainer Joe Pride is content with the preparation Ceolwulf (NZ) (Tavistock) has had leading into his return outing at Randwick. While the prospects of a wet track are not ideal, Pride said ‘it is what is’ and would not be swayed from running the gelding first-up in the Gr.1 Winx Stakes (1400m) on Saturday. The forecast for rain during the week is unlikely to see any improvement on a track that was rated a Heavy 10 on Tuesday afternoon. Randwick lost a meeting on August 9 when heavy rain on…

Te Akau trainer Mark Walker is bidding to win his second Gr.1 Moir Stakes in the space of three years this spring with his three-year-old filly La Dorada (NZ) (Super Seth). The Karaka Millions winner will attempt to join Imperatriz (I Am Invincible) on the honour roll of the 1000-metre dash at Moonee Valley on September 6 and while Walker suggested that it may be premature to draw comparisons between the pair, he did note that La Dorada is already ahead of Imperatriz in one area. “You’re always hopeful but…

Could Mr Brightside (NZ) (Bullbars) begin his spring campaign a week earlier than expected in this Saturday’s Gr.1 Winx Stakes in Sydney? While Mr Brightside was expected to kick off his upcoming preparation in the Gr.1 Memsie Stakes at Caulfield on August 30, Lindsay Park’s flagbearer does feature in the nominations for the 1400m Group One contest coming up this weekend. Randwick has been a happy hunting ground for Mr Brightside, as it’s where he’s won two Doncaster Miles and been placed in the 2023 King Charles Stakes and 2024…

Group One performer Hi Yo Sass Bomb (NZ) (Complacent) showcased that she’s on target for an exciting spring campaign when winning her 1000m heat at the Foxton trials on Tuesday. The seven-year-old daughter of Complacent was having her second trial this preparation, having run third over the same track and distance a fortnight ago, and trainer Kim Reid has been pleased with her progression. “We were looking for a nice forward run to see where she is at and we are really happy with her,” Reid said. “It was a…

Following a track inspection on Tuesday, the decision has been made to delay the return to racing at Awapuni’s grass track. The surface was initially out of commission for 19 months as it underwent an extensive renovation, and it was set to commence racing on ANZAC Day earlier this year, however, that meeting was abandoned following a slip in the opening race. The track has subsequently undergone further remedial work, and the club has called upon the expertise of Flemington track manager Liam O’Keefe to assist in that process. A…

The polytrack surface brings out the best in enigmatic mare Mars (NZ) (Zoustar) and her connections are hoping that trend continues on Wednesday. The well-bred daughter of Zoustar will run in the Richard Bright Memorial (1550m), the main event on the Waikato Racing Club’s card on her home all-weather track at Cambridge. Mars is undefeated in three appearances on the course, including two wins this preparation with an unplaced performance on a heavy grass track in between times. Vinnie Colgan has been aboard the five-year-old in all her outings this…

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Emily Farr was a tired but happy rider at Woodville on Sunday after she recorded her 100th win in the saddle in New Zealand. The 34-year-old hoop had been back in the country for just over 24 hours when hopping aboard the Lydia Pickford-trained Keepz Occurring for the NZ Farmers (3000m), and she showed no signs of jet lag when guiding her charge to a 2-3/4 length victory. “I was super stoked,” Farr said. “It is something that I have wanted to do for a while, and to get it…

Group One performer Meritable quenched his thirst after a four year winning drought when victorious in the VS Equine Dannevirke (1200m) at Woodville on Sunday. The seven-year-old son of Snitzel performed with distinction as a three-year-old for former trainers Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman, winning one and finishing runner-up in three of his five starts in New Zealand, including second placings in the Gr.1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) and Gr.2 James and Annie Sarten Memorial Stakes (1400m). He subsequently continued his racing career in Australia where he ran fourth…