Category: Featured

Talented staying mare Dreams Come True (NZ) (Staphanos) made it back-to-back victories at Sandown when coming from last in a small field to claim the Tile Importer Handicap (2400m) on Wednesday. The Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr-trained five-year-old was given a no-panic ride by Jamie Melham as she waited for the runs to come to stave off runner-up Jabbawockeez (NZ) (Redwood). The daughter of Staphanos had to survive a protest to claim her fourth victory from ten starts. “I thought it was a very good effort,” Kent Jnr said.…

Group One winner Linebacker (NZ) (Super Seth) tuned up for forthcoming spring assignments with a trials victory over 1000m at Hawkesbury on Monday in the hands of Zac Lloyd. The imposing son of Super Seth was having his second trial and came from just behind Espionage (Zoustar) to glide past that rival over the concluding stages. It was the second trial for the John O’Shea and Tom Charlton-trained four-year-old who will resume in Saturday week’s Gr.2 Tramway Stakes (1400m) at Randwick. “It has been difficult getting them ready with the…

Mark Twain’s (NZ) (Shocking) Gr.1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) preparation looks to have hit a small snag, with forecast rain likely to lead to his withdrawal from Sunday’s Clotworthy Racing Open 1600 at Te Aroha. “With the weather forecast, he will have to be a doubtful starter, which is a shame because it is a crucial run in a build-up towards Melbourne,” said Roger James, who trains the gelding in partnership with Robert Wellwood. “The weather is looking bad, and it is a Heavy10 already, so it is probably unlikely (that…

Platinum Diamond (NZ) (Hello Youmzain) will put her undefeated Heavy track record on the line when she heads to Wanganui on Saturday to contest the Listed HS Dyke Wanganui Guineas (1200m). After finishing fourth on a Soft5 track at Hawera on debut in May, the daughter of Hello Youmzain won her next three starts, including the Listed Castletown Stakes (1200m) and Listed Ryder Stakes (1200m) at Otaki on Heavy10 tracks. While Platinum Diamond’s form is on Heavy surfaces, Latta was looking forward to testing her filly on better footing, however,…

Midnight Delight (NZ) (Captain Rio) didn’t reach the heights expected of her by Waverley horseman Bill Thurlow on the track, but she’s proving her worth as a broodmare for the family. The daughter of Captain Rio is the dam of Mister Fletcher, a son of Almanzor who has won two of his six starts, and his half-brother Landman (NZ) (Hello Youmzain) will get an early crack at a black type when he runs in Saturday’s Listed HS Dyke Wanganui Guineas (1200m). Midnight Delight was offered as a weanling at Karaka…