Category: Featured

New Zealand’s top-rated performer El Vencedor (NZ) (Shocking) will contest all three legs of the spring Triple Crown series. Stephen Marsh’s four-time elite level winner is making pleasing progress toward his resuming run in the Gr.1 Proisir Plate (1400m) on September 6 at Ellerslie, where he will stretch his legs later this week. “He will trial on Thursday over 1100m, it will be a quiet trial and then he’ll be ready to kick off,” the Cambridge trainer said. “I thought he galloped brilliantly between races at Te Rapa and he…

Group One performer Wild Night (NZ) (Vanbrugh) is one step closer to his raceday return following a pleasing exhibition gallop at Te Rapa on Saturday. Wild Night worked alongside multiple Group One winner Legarto (NZ) (Proisir) and co-trainer Sam Bergerson was pleased with what he saw. “I was really pleased with his gallop and Opie (Bosson, jockey) said he felt great,” said Bergerson, who trains in partnership with Mark Walker. “Obviously, he’s battled soundness issues throughout his career, but he’s coming back from a good, long spell, and seems to…

Antino (NZ) (Redwood) will be tackling a much stronger Gr.1 Memsie Stakes (1400m) that the version he was unplaced in last year, but Tony Gollan is convinced his veteran stable star is a more seasoned horse in 2025. The seven-year-old son of Redwood resumes in the 1400-metre Group One that is the spring kick-off point for a number of the Spring Carnival’s potential headline acts. The Queensland star has been based at Cranbourne for around a fortnight and Gollan is thrilled with the way he has settled in ahead of his third Victorian spring campaign. “He’s a…

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It was a sentimental moment at Te Rapa on Saturday when Don’s Legacy broke through for his maiden win in the Noverre Mile (1600m) for owner-trainer Dennis Nunn. The six-year-old gelding was bred by Nunn’s close friend Don Wilson and was gifted to Nunn by Wilson’s widow Dorothy Wilson following his passing five years ago. Nunn took a patient approach with the Bullbars gelding’s development, and was rapt to get the victory at his 12th start. “It has been a while coming,” Nunn said. “It was great to get the…

Four-time Gr.1 winner and European superstar, PADDINGTON, has had his first Southern Hemisphere foals arrive on the ground at Windsor Park. “Both his foals are outstanding” commented Rodney Schick. “They have substance and quality. His own attributes are evident in his foals.” Paddington ex. Black QueenPhoto: supplied Paddington ex. The Flying MulletPhoto: supplied First on the ground was a colt from a Mastercraftsman mare, The Flying Mullet. This chestnut colt is from a medium-sized mare from the family of Her Royal Highness and Kingsguard. He is correct, has leg and strength. I’m thrilled with him”.…

Cody Cole is happy to play a waiting game with Landlock before confirming the three-year-old’s main goals for the season. The Matamata trainer has circled the Listed Sir Colin Meads Trophy (1200m) on September 6 as the talented son of Merchant Navy’s resuming run and will firm up plans after the Ellerslie race. Landlock performed well in top company last term with a debut win and runner-up finishes in the Gr.1 Sistema Stakes (1200m) and Gr.2 Wakefield Challenge Stakes (1100m). In between times, he was fifth in the $1 million…

Lhasa proved he is more than a synthetic track specialist when he nearly caused an upset when finishing runner-up in Saturday’s Gr.2 Foxbridge Plate (1200m) at Te Rapa. The Hellbent gelding has recorded six of his seven career victories on the polytrack, and it was his sole victory on the grass at Trentham back in March that enticed owner-trainer Mark Treweek to try his charge on the turf once more. He selected the Foxbridge Plate as his target, and Lhasa went into the race in good form, having won two…