Category: Featured

Both the pedigree and the racetrack performances of Manifique (NZ) (Savabeel) make her a major drawcard in the latest fortnightly auction on gavelhouse.com. Bidding currently stands at $27,000 for the royally bred Group Two performer and is due to close around 7.30pm on Monday. Manifique is by New Zealand’s 10-time champion sire Savabeel, who is also putting together an outstanding record as a broodmare sire. His daughters have produced the Group One winners Never Been Kissed (NZ) (Tivaci), Icebath (NZ) (Sacred Falls), Savatoxl (Kuroshio), Beauty Eternal (Starspangledbanner), Warmonger (NZ) (War…

Peter Moody has indicated Desert Lightning (NZ) (Pride of Dubai) may be ready for a step up in trip this campaign. Desert Lightning is set to kick off his latest campaign that could lead the gelding to a start in the Caulfield Cup. The Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman-trained six-year-old is down to run first-up in the Group 2 P B Lawrence Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on Saturday. Desert Lightning is one of ten runners in Saturday’s race following the scratching of the Chris Waller-trained Full Count Felicia. Saturday’s outing…

The Oaks Stud’s silks were to the fore in the Gr.3 Cambridge Stud Northland Breeders’ Stakes (1200m) six years ago when carried to victory by Catalyst, and this year they are hoping to feature once more. Farm principal Dick Karreman will be represented by two fillies in this year’s running at Ruakaka on Saturday, including Group One performer Tajana (NZ) (Darci Brahma) and Cashla Bay (NZ) (U S Navy Flag). The Andrew Forsman-trained Cashla Bay recorded her second career victory when winning at the Northland track first-up a fortnight ago,…

Allan Sharrock isn’t expecting first-up fireworks from Ladies Man on his home track on Saturday, with the focus on upcoming Group One targets. The New Plymouth trainer is satisfied with his stable star’s progress ahead of his resuming run in the Paslode Open Handicap (1400m) to kick-start a campaign aimed at weight-for-age prizes. “I’m pretty happy with him, but with the weight it’s going to be tough on him,” Sharrock said. After apprentice Frankie Barrett’s claim, Ladies Man will still lump 62kg in his first outing for six months. “I…

Donna Logan will be back in the black-type frame with her young stable at Ruakaka on Saturday, presenting the promising Yokozuna in the Gr.3 Cambridge Stud Northland Breeders’ Stakes (1200m). After seven years training in Singapore, Logan returned to New Zealand late last year and has already made her presence felt, picking up six wins from less than 30 starters in a rebuilding phase for the accomplished horsewoman. Among her just-turned three-year-old contingent is Yokozuna, a son of Fierce Impact that she purchased out of the Karaka Yearling Sales last…

Luminance has proven herself up to black-type level on a heavy surface and trainer Kurtis Pertab is looking to put that ability to the test on a better track when she contests Saturday’s Gr.3 Cambridge Stud Northland Breeders Stakes (1200m) at Ruakaka. The daughter of Time Test continued to improve through her juvenile season, culminating in a maiden victory against the older horses at Wellington, and just came up short to Platinum Diamond in the Listed Ryder Stakes (1200m) last month. That performance was a rewarding result for Pertab, who…

It’s not every day that you get to compete for $100,000 on your backdoor step, and Debbie Harris is hoping to make the most of that opportunity this weekend. The New Plymouth trainer is set to line-up her in-form gelding Urenui in the $100,000 ITM New Plymouth Interprovincial (1600m), and the six-year-old has momentum on his side. The son of Derryn has finished runner-up in his two starts this preparation, with both proving to be good form races. Chase, the winner of Urenui’s first-up run last month, went on to…