Category: Gallops

Byerley Park conditioner Barbara Kennedy made her first foray to the South Island on Saturday a successful one as her handy mare Pour The Wine dominated her rivals in the closing stages of the Listed Speight’s Timaru Stakes (1200m) at Riccarton. The Daniel Nakhle-bred and part-owned daughter of Telperion had been struggling to recapture her form of old that had seen her finish in the top three in 13 of her 31 starts, and it had been nearly two years since she had featured in the winners’ enclosure. A last…

A clever ride and some good old-fashioned kiwi grit resulted in Savabeel filly Acer (NZ) (Savabeel) collecting her maiden victory in some style as she took out the Listed Grangewilliam Stud Oaks Prelude (1800m) at New Plymouth. Consistent rain during the week and some heavy showers earlier in the day presented a very testing Heavy10 track surface, which had many struggling to cope with conditions a long way from the winning post. Wexford Stables pair Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott prepare Acer, who appealed as one who would get through…

Up-and-comer Taken (NZ) (Ardrossan) recorded his sixth win from only 12 career starts with another impressive performance in the A$150,000 A Caulfield Kind Of Summer Handicap (1700m) at Caulfield on Saturday. The New Zealand-bred gelding made a big impression with his progress through the grades last year, stringing together five consecutive victories at Pakenham on April 24, Sandown on May 24, Flemington on June 7, Flemington on June 21 and Caulfield on November 15. That winning sequence came to an end when he was unplaced in the A$1 million Supernova…

Prominent owner David Archer’s silks have been carried to victory in some of New Zealand’s most prestigious races, and in March, he is hoping he can tick off another – the $4 million NZB Kiwi (1500m). Archer has teamed up with NZB Kiwi Slot Holder The King’s Men to contest the southern hemisphere’s richest three-year-old race with his Group One-performed filly Belle Cheval (NZ) (Savabeel), and he is excited about the joint venture. “Cameron George (The King’s Men member) came to us initially,” Archer said. “We have had five others (Slot Holders)…

The Karaka Millions twilight meeting is always a key focus for Te Akau Racing, and they are set to have another strong hand in this year’s edition. The country’s leading stable has had a stranglehold on the TAB Karaka Millions 2YO (1200m) in recent years, winning eight of the last nine editions of the race, and they will be represented in this year’s running by a trio of juveniles. Unbeaten Group Two winner Kinnaird will lead the stable’s charge, with trainers Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson also upbeat about the…

Some of the most respected names in the New Zealand thoroughbred industry will be out in force at Karaka over the next few days during the milestone 100th edition of the National Yearling Sale. NZB’s annual showpiece gets underway with the Karaka Millions twilight race meeting at Ellerslie on Saturday, followed by Book 1 on Sunday and Monday, Book 2 on Tuesday and the inaugural Karaka Summer Sale on Thursday. Vendors have embraced the significance of this occasion, including Cambridge Stud, who will offer their yearlings exclusively at Karaka this…

Yulong Investments have furthered their position among New Zealand’s racing ranks this week with the purchase of eye-catching Gr.2 Sir Patrick Hogan Stakes (2000m) winner Ohope Wins (NZ) (Ocean Park). The Australian-based racing and breeding operation, owned by Zhang Yuesheng, has made a play for some of the country’s top three-year-old fillies this season, and they have been rewarded through the success of Group One winner Well Written, who will put her unbeaten record on the line in tomorrow’s $1.5 million TAB Karaka Millions 3YO (1600m) at Ellerslie. The Stephen…

Saturday is shaping to be a busy day for Allan Sharrock, with stakes assignments both at home and away for the New Plymouth trainer. He will be represented at Ellerslie by his promising two-year-old Ka Ron (NZ) (Hello Youmzain) in the $1 million TAB Karaka Millions 2YO (1200m), while he will have eight runners at his home meeting, including two stakes contenders. Hello Youmzain gelding Ka Ron has impressed in both of his starts to date, finishing runner-up behind subsequent Group Two winner and Karaka Millions favourite Kinnaird, and he…

First-time travellers Arkansaw Kid and Torture (NZ) (Sword Of State) will fly the Lindsay Park flag at Ellerslie with a third member of the party to be on hand for the defence of a stable title early next month. The former will step out in Saturday’s Gr.1 Sistema Railway (1200m) while the Hayes brothers will have another crack at the TAB Karaka Millions 2YO (1200m), this time with stakes-winning filly Torture. To be ridden by Opie Bosson, double millionaire sprinter Arkansaw Kid booked his berth across the Tasman with victory…