Precious Charm game in Coastal Classic

Six-year-old mare Precious Charm showed her trademark grit to overcome a firm Geelong track and a quick back-up, scoring her ninth career win in a thrilling A$200,000 Coastal Classic (1700m) at Geelong on Saturday. Jockey Harry Coffey said the firm nature of the track was a factor as the daughter of Per Incanto only narrowly defeated Verdad and Reset The Jazz. “She might have been feeling that firm ground on the back-up, so it took a lot of urging to get her to win, but she may have been looking…

Warwoven dominant at Eagle Farm

Promising two-year-old Warwoven has stamped himself as the horse to beat in the A$3 million Magic Millions 2YO Classic (1200m) as the son of Cambridge Stud stallion Sword Of State remained unbeaten in two starts with a facile victory at Eagle Farm on Saturday. Carrying 59kg topweight, the Bjorn Baker-trained youngster relaxed beautifully behind the speed and accelerated when a gap presented at the top of the straight for rider Rachel King to score by just over three lengths from runner-up Lumbini. “It’s always great to win and it’s not…

First Five kicks major goal in Trentham feature

Te Rapa visitor First Five delivered on his enormous potential when he gave trainer David Greene his first Group One success when taking out the Gr.1 TAB Telegraph (1200m) at Trentham. Carrying his favourite number 10 saddlecloth, the strapping son of Almanzor took full advantage of that good omen as he dominated the closing stages of the time-honoured sprint feature to head off the challenge of last year’s third placegetter Navigator and the winner of the 2025 contest, Grail Seeker. Successful in the Gr.3 J Swap Sprint (1400m) on his…

La Dorada back to her best in Levin Classic

All eyes and money were on Argo prior to the Gr.2 Levin Track Supporters Levin Classic (1400m), with the world’s leading jockey James McDonald aboard the gelding, but it was La Dorada who scored top honours when returning to her brilliant best in the Trentham feature on Saturday. The Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson-trained filly was victorious over the same track and distance when taking out last season’s Gr.1 Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) on her way to being crowned Champion New Zealand Two-Year-Old. She has been disappointing in her…

Nightline stamps Oaks credentials

Gold Coast trainers Tony and Maddy Sears have another talented stayer on their hands as Nightline gave them back-to-back winners of the Eagle Way (2100m) with a dominant performance at Eagle Farm on Saturday. The father-daughter training combination sent out Beau Dazzler to win the three-year-old feature last year before he returned to place in the Gr.2 Queensland Guineas (1600m) prior to an unplaced tilt at the Gr.1 Queensland Derby (2400m). A New Zealand bred daughter of Redwood, Nightline will now be saved for the Queensland Winter Carnival with Classic…

Cameron scores fourth Phar Lap Trophy

Rider Matt Cameron’s love affair with one of the feature mile races at Trentham each year came to the fore once again when he guided consistent performer Khanshe to a stunning victory in the Gr.3 Ron Stanley Memorial Phar Lap Trophy (1600m) on Saturday. Punters weren’t enamoured with his chances aboard the Fraser Auret-trained Khanshe, allowing the daughter of Mongolian Khan to start at $18 in the Fixed Odds market which was dominated by up and comers Ma Te Wa ($2.90) and Omega Boy ($5). However, those who had followed…

Leonchroi strikes at Geelong

Progressive stayer Leonchroi scored a narrow victory in the Geelong Homes BM70 Handicap (2400m) at the standalone meeting at Geelong on Saturday under a perfectly-timed run by Logan Bates. The Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr-trained son of Contributer looks an improving staying type and had previously finished runner-up to Shockletz at Pakenham. Leonchroi started a $3 favourite in an event that was held up with three late scratchings at the gates with jockey Jason Maskiell taken to hospital after a barrier mishap on Star Testymony. “We were following the…

Wellington Cup looms for One Bold Cat

Robbie Patterson is fizzing to get to the Gr.3 NZ Campus Of Innovation & Sport Wellington Cup (3200m) with his Group One winner One Bold Cat later this month. The Taranaki horseman was confident heading towards the two-mile feature prior to Saturday, but One Bold Cat’s victory in the Listed Vernon & Vazey Truck Parts LTD (2200m) at Trentham has further added to that sentiment. The seven-year-old gelding was dropping back from elite-level company, having last raced when fifth in the Listed Mufhasa Classic (1600m) at the Upper Hutt track…

Lassified too swift in Wellesley Stakes

Talented filly Lassified showed her rivals a clean pair of heels as she dominated proceedings to take out the first stakes race at Trentham on Saturday, the Listed JR & N Berkett Wellesley Stakes (1100m). Cambridge trainer Andrew Forsman hasn’t been afraid of travelling the daughter of Gr.1 Golden Slipper (1200m) winner Stay Inside, having taken her to Tauherenikau to win on debut before tackling the Gr.2 Wakefield Challenge Stakes (1100m) at Saturday’s venue where she performed with credit in running fourth to unbeaten filly Lara Antipova. Rider Bruno Queiroz…