Category: Gallops

In the spring, it was Via Sistina (Fastnet Rock). This campaign, it has been Autumn Glow (The Autumn Sun). Aeliana (NZ) (Castelvecchio) has been in the shadow of two superstar stablemates for most of her past six starts but at Rosehill on Saturday, the mare gets her time to shine in the Ranvet Stakes (2000m). Not only will she be chasing her first success since thumping her ATC Australian Derby rivals 12 months ago, she is also shaping as the horse to help James McDonald equal Damien Oliver’s Australian record…

Ben Hayes believes Evaporate (NZ) (Per Incanto) is a Group 1 winner in waiting, but with star mare Autumn Glow (The Autumn Sun) among his George Ryder Stakes opponents at Rosehill, he concedes connections might have to wait a little longer. The winner of six of his 21 starts, Evaporate almost captured an elusive major last start when he was edged out by Tom Kitten (Harry Angel) in the All-Star Mile (1600m) at Flemington to record his fourth Group 1 placing. Hayes has pinpointed the Doncaster Mile (1600m) as the…

Emerging three-year-old Flashback (NZ) (Darci Brahma) has progressed well during his fledgling career and higher honours beckon the son of Darci Brahma at Trentham on Saturday. Trainer Stephen Marsh believes the Gr.2 Taylor Property Plus Wellington Guineas (1600m) sets up as an ideal opportunity for The Oaks Stud-bred and raced representative to further his record. “It’s a good target for him and not as strong a race as I thought it would be, so I think he’s a really good chance,” he said. “Racing is improving him and the big…

Deep South trainer Robert Dennis is looking north optimistically with a trio of stakes runners across Saturday’s Riccarton Park and Trentham meetings. Dennis, a member of Southland’s famous racing and breeding family, has become a genuine force since re-establishing himself at his Ascot Park base, preparing 34 winners last season and another 19 in the current term. On Saturday he will be represented by three feature race starters, Ziggy Stardust (NZ) (Turn Me Loose) and Champagne Linda in the Gr.3 Donaldson Brown South Island Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1600m) at Riccarton,…

A busy time on-farm and a lack of suitable races has prompted Waverley trainer Joanne Moss to send her stable star Doctor Askar (NZ) (Derryn) across the Tasman to join champion trainer Chris Waller. The five-year-old gelding has won seven of his 22 starts, with a further seven placings, with the Gr.2 Thorndon Mile (1600m) victory in January a career highlight to date. Doctor Askar is the sole horse in training for Moss, who along with partner Isaac Lupton, operates a dairy farm in South Taranaki alongside their horse interests.…

A fresh and raring to go Jimmysstar (NZ) (Per Incanto), taking on a classy field of sprinters – including a hard-fit Jigsaw (Manhattan Rain) in career-best form – it looks a mouthwatering William Reid Stakes on Saturday. Jimmysstar is a triple G1 victor, a winner of five first-up efforts from seven, and was super behind the world’s best sprinter, Ka Ying Rising (NZ) (Shamexpress), at his last go over 1200m in the Everest. At $1.90, the son of Per Incanto is the market’s clear top pick and another positive for…

Sending Warwoven (Sword Of State) into the Golden Slipper on a seven-day back-up has never been Plan A, but the forecast for rain in Sydney has trainer Bjorn Baker warming to the challenge. Two horses have won the race on a quick turnaround in recent years, Kiamichi (Sidestep) in 2019 and Shinzo (Snitzel) three years ago, and should Rosehill be wet on Saturday, Warwoven’s race fitness could become an advantage. The colt, who has barrier 14, was a $7 chance on Wednesday, while stablemate and pre-draw equal favourite Paradoxium (Extreme…

Promising filly Summer Schemer (Dirty Work) will have the opportunity at Pukekohe to press her claims for a crack at an upcoming elite-level prize. She will step out in Friday’s trackside.co.nz (1200m) off the back of an impressive debut victory with trainers Shaune Ritchie and Colm Murray keen to then raise the bar with the youngster. “If she runs well, she’ll go on to the Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes (Gr.1, 1400m), but she would obviously need to win or be unlucky not to win and come through the race well…

For decades the magic waters of Karioitahi Beach on Auckland’s south-west coast have done wonders in reviving the careers of racehorses. Now they’re being put to the test with proven performer Habana (Zoustar), who is set to have his first start for Waiuku trainers Moira and Kieran Murdoch in the Nikau Contractors 1400 at Pukekohe Park on Friday. Karioitahi Beach gained fame as far back as the 1960s, when Clyde Conway put the crashing breakers and black sand to fruitful use with champion jumper Smoke Ring and a string of…

Pride Of Jenni (Pride Of Dubai) has taken a step closer to her second-up assignment with a gallop at Caulfield. Ciaron Maher took advantage of taking a small team of horses away from Cranbourne for gallops at Caulfield on Tuesday morning. One of those horses was evergreen Trelawney Stud bred mare Pride Of Jenni who is building towards a start on Saturday week. Maher indicated the Gr.1 Australian Cup (2000m) at Flemington was the likely next assignment for Pride Of Jenni while the Gr.1 Queen Of The Turf Stakes (1600m)…