Category: Gallops

Te Akau’s black type troops will be out in force on Saturday with leading hopes chasing down elite level honours and a quartet of contenders in the hunt for the richest purse on offer at Ellerslie. Unbeaten filly Lara Antipova (Russian Revolution) will start a short-priced favourite in the Gr.1 Sistema Stakes (1200m), although trainers Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson also expect a bold showing from stablemate Out Of The Blue (NZ) (Tivaci). An uncharacteristic last-start failure aside, Towering Vision’s (NZ) (Circus Maximus) form entitles him to respect in the…

The second running of the $4 million NZB Kiwi (1500m) at Ellerslie on Saturday is already a major triumph for Karaka nursery Haunui Farm. The stud has a remarkable five graduates chasing the richest prize in Australasia for three-year-olds with Romanoff (NZ) (Belardo), He Who Dares (NZ) (Snitzel), L’Aigle Noir (NZ) (Ribchester), War Princess (NZ) (U S Navy Flag) and Lollapalooza (NZ) (El Roca) in contention for the Southern Hemisphere’s richest three-year-old race. “The amazing thing is that it’s a different style of race, someone has to pick your horse…

Pam Gerard started the week by farewelling her stable star Savaglee (NZ) (Savabeel) and she is hoping to end it on a high when she heads to Ellerslie on Saturday to line-up two runners in the second running of the $4 million NZB Kiwi (1500m). Romanoff (NZ) (Belardo) and Affirmative Action (Yes Yes Yes) have featured prominently among New Zealand’s three-year-old ranks this season, headed by their quinella in November’s Gr.1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) at Riccarton. Romanoff’s victory in that race secured the Canterbury Jockey Club’s NZB Kiwi…

Bulls trainer Raymond Connors has a sense of déjà vu with his quality stayer Trav (NZ) (Almanzor) ahead of Saturday’s Gr.2 Trackside Auckland Cup (3200m) at Ellerslie. The son of Almanzor was strong late when finishing fourth in last year’s Gr.3 Wellington Cup (3200m) ahead of his victory in the Auckland Cup, and he put in a near identical performance at Trentham in January when finishing fifth, giving Connors the confidence to press on to try and defend his crown in the Auckland Cup. “He is pretty similar (to last…

Regular rider Nash Rawiller will be in the opposition corner for Gringott’s (NZ) (Per Incanto) resumption. As Ciaron Maher prepares for the return of Gringotts in the Canterbury Stakes at Randwick, a rival jockey has inadvertently given a major push for one of the race’s key players. Nash Rawiller developed a strong partnership with Gringotts at the tail end of his most recent campaign, collecting back-to-back victories in the Big Dance and The Gong. Horse and jockey were penciled in to reunite in Saturday’s Group 1 Canterbury Stakes (1300m), but…

The barrier draw is complete for the $4m NZB Kiwi taking place Saturday at Ellerslie.  Romanoff (NZ) (Belardo) was offered by Haunui Farm in Book 2 of Karaka 2024, where he was bought by Ballymore Stables/Paul Moroney Bloodstock/Catheryne Bruggeman for $75,000. He has had nine starts for two wins, two placings and $485,575 in prize-money, headed by Group One glory in the New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) in November. He is eligible for the $1m Bonus Pool. To Bravery Born  (NZ) (Snitzel) was bought by Te Akau Racing’s David Ellis for $200,000 from…

Smart four-year-old Linebacker (NZ) (Super Seth) will contest the Gr.1 Canterbury Stakes (1300m) fresh-up on Saturday, in a campaign focused on Doncaster redemption. The John O’Shea and Tom Charlton-trained gelding was luckless in the Gr.1 Doncaster Mile (1600m) last year when eighth and steps straight into elite-level company on Saturday when resuming. “He couldn’t be going any better,” O’Shea said. “He is always a bit suspect first-up, particularly at that level. But I have never run him first-up at 1300m since his first start in a race. “1300m is a…

The career of Pride Of Jenni (Pride Of Dubai) was at the crossroads 18 months ago but at Flemington on Saturday she can become the first two-time winner of the All-Star Mile. Pride Of Jenni suffered a bleeding attack when finishing last in the Champions Mile at Flemington in November 2024 prompting owner Tony Ottobre to announce her retirement. The now eight-year-old returned the following March to win first-up over 1800m and Pride Of Jenni gathered another three wins through 2025 including the Group 1 Empire Rose Stakes (1600m) during…

War Machine (NZ) (Harry Angel) will chase a second Group 1 win when he lines up in the Newmarket Handicap at Flemington. A field of 15 is set to do battle down the famous Flemington straight six in the Newmarket Handicap. In what was a ‘who will be there and who won’t’ discussion in the days leading up to Wednesday’s acceptances, the highly rated three-year-old Tentyris (Street Boss) is among the 15 chasing Group 1 glory and joins an honour roll that dates back to 1874. Tentyris will be looking…

Mark Baker might be off trainer Mitch Freedman’s Christmas card list this year after the Hallmark Stud principal drew the outside gate for his gelding Asakura (Churchill) at the $4 million NZB Kiwi (1500m) barrier draw at Karaka on Tuesday night. “We will cross out Hallmark Stud going forward,” Freedman quipped. “You can’t do anything about those barrier draws. “He has got gate speed and a little bit of versatility for a lightly raced horse. We will just work through some options there and communicate with Dean (Yendall, jockey) about…