Category: Gallops

The 41st Asian Racing Conference (ARC) closed in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on Thursday night with New Zealand announced as the host of the 42nd ARC in 2028. Mr Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges, Chair, Asian Racing Federation and Chief Executive Officer, The Hong Kong Jockey Club, hailed the Conference in Riyadh as an enduring success which highlighted the sport’s greatest opportunities and also its challenges. Praising the work of the Conference host, the Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia and His Royal Highness Prince Bandar bin Khalid Al Faisal, and the ARC Organising Committee,…

Stakes winning juvenile De Armas has been sold to OTI Racing and will soon join the stable of Chris Waller in Sydney. The daughter of Ardrossan won two of her three starts for trainer Johno Benner with her most recent effort being a luckless fourth in the Karaka Millions 2YO (1200m) after enduring a wide passage throughout, yet still savaging the line. A five length winner on debut, De Armas won the Listed Counties Challenge Stakes (1100m) at her second start before her run in the Karaka Millions. “OTI have…

Karaka 2026 marked the 100th National Yearling Sale in New Zealand, and it was one for the record books. After an action-packed refreshed format, results have been accumulated from the Book 1, Book 2 and inaugural Karaka Summer Sale sessions, that took place from 25 – 29 January. The new condensed sale format saw several records being surpassed and increases across all key sale indicators. With 79 less horses catalogued, turnover was up almost $10 million on last year, with returns to consignors and breeders totalling over $96 million. Increases…

Cambridge mare Imprevu will be seeking to shed her bridesmaid tag when she heads to Matamata on Saturday to contest the Listed Lisa Chittick Champagne Stakes (1400m). For the second successive year, the daughter of Wrote finished runner-up on Karaka Millions night, finishing behind Moschino in the Jo Giles Stakes (1400m) after being runner-up to Konasana in last year’s Gr.2 Westbury Classic (1400m). They join her growing list of placings, including the Gr.3 Rotorua Stakes (1400m) and Listed Legacy Lodge Sprint (1200m), and trainer Janenne Dalley is keen to buck…

Noble Knight has ventured to Southland just once before, winning last year’s Invercargill Gold Cup (2600m), and he will be out to keep his 100 percent strike rate intact in the region when he heads to Ascot Park on Saturday to defend his crown in the Olphert Contracting LTD-sponsored event. The Prebbleton gelding heads into the race in good form, having won the Marlborough Cup (2000m) at Riccarton last month after finishing runner-up in the Waikouaiti Cup (2200m) at Wingatui a week prior. “It was a good win last start…

Kris Shailer won the Gr.3 Matamata Slipper (1200m) four years ago with Alabama Gold when training in partnership with Stephen Autridge, and this year he is hoping to win it in a solo capacity. Shailer now heads Waikato Stud’s Courtza Park operation where he trains a small race team for the farm on top of his primary commitments of breaking in and pre-training. He has a near faultless record in that role, recording three wins and a runner-up result from just four starts this term, and he said he is…

Unbeaten filly Lara Antipova will head Te Akau’s assault on their home track two-year-old features on Saturday. Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson’s speed demon has been untested in either of her appearances and will face her sternest test in the Gr.2 J Swap Contractors Ltd Matamata Breeders’ Stakes (1200m). Meanwhile, stablemates Kinnaird and Out Of The Blue will fly the stable flag in the Gr.3 Fairview Matamata Slipper (1200m) following unplaced runs in the Karaka Millions 2YO (1200m). Lara Antipova romped home by eight lengths in her Te Aroha debut…

During a spring campaign in which she pushed Via Sistina (Fastnet Rock) first-up, beat all bar Mr Brightside (NZ) (Bullbars) second-up, and contested a Gr.1 Cox Plate (2040m), Aeliana (NZ) (Castelvecchio) never quite pleased trainer Chris Waller. While she put in some exciting performances on the track, the champion horseman admitted she never looked the part. “She ate well through the spring, her bloods were good, but she never looked well,” Waller said. “She looked light.” The fact Aeliana’s appearance was having no bearing on her appetite or her form led Waller to the conclusion she was still…

David Hayes calls the legendary Silent Witness (El Moxie) “the first great sprinter” and “the best he ever saw”, and delights in having a horse that has equalled his incredible feat of 17 straight victories. The Australian Racing Hall of Fame trainer said it would be a “great thrill” to surpass the Hong Kong hero as his charge, Ka Ying Rising (NZ) (Shamexpress), enters final preparations in the bid to claim a Hong Kong record 18th consecutive win in the HK$13 million G1 Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup (1400m) on Sunday,…

Waikato Stud have announced unbeaten Group One winner Return To Conquer (Snitzel), a son of Champion Sire Snitzel, will join their star-studded roster this season. “We’re very excited and proud to stand such a top-class racehorse with a beautiful pedigree and impeccable looks,” said stud principal, Mark Chittick. “He will complement our broodmare band extremely well and to have Kia Ora remain in him adds to the excitement; the Australasian industry will get every opportunity to support him at this introductory fee of $15,000 plus GST, LFG. “To stand a…