Category: Gallops

In more than three decades’ training Bill Thurlow has yet to race a horse at Matamata, but that’s about to change with two stable members entered for the eastern Waikato venue’s biggest ever race meeting on Saturday. The Waverley horseman, who since the start of the season has been training in partnership with former heavyweight jockey Sam O’Malley, is scheduled to head north with stable members Frank The Tank (NZ) (Burgundy) and Wire Rope (NZ) (Darci Brahma). Both are entered for the $350,000 Comag Wairere Falls Classic (1500m), while Wire…

The world’s best sprinter, Ka Ying Rising (NZ) (Shamexpress), will face nine rivals when he attempts to break Silent Witness’ seventeen race winning streak in the Gr.1 Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup on February 22. The David Hayes-trained and Zac Purton-ridden five-year-old will tackle familiar foes Helios Express and Lucky Sweynesse in the 1400m Group One event, which he prevailed in last year. Former Aussies Copartner Prance, Galaxy Patch and Packing Hermod, last start winner Patch Of Theta, Hong Kong sprint runner up Raging Blizzard, Champions Mile victor Red Lion and…

Last Saturday’s Gr.2 David & Karyn Ellis Fillies Classic (2100m) has proved a fork in the road for a pair of Andrew Forsman-trained fillies earmarked for Oaks ambitions.   The race was won impressively by the Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott-trained Ohope Wins (NZ) (Ocean Park), who swamped Forsman’s gallant runner-up Single Red (NZ) (Vanbrugh) late in the piece.   While Single Red is set to renew her rivalry with Ohope Wins in the Gr.1 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai New Zealand Oaks (2400m) at Ellerslie on February 21, it was…

Promising three-year-old Navy Ensign (NZ) (U S Navy Flag) will be seeking to break through for an elusive maiden victory when he heads to Te Aroha on Wednesday to contest the Taylor Perry Insurance NZB Mega Maiden (1150m). The son of U S Navy Flag was initially purchased as a pinhook prospect by part-owner David Archer out of Haunui Farm’s 2024 New Zealand Bloodstock Book 2 Yearling Sale draft for $47,500, but was retained after he failed to meet his $60,000 reserve at the Ready To Run sale later that…

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Doctor Askar (NZ) (Derryn) is having a few days of R and R in the paddock following a float incident on Saturday that resulted in his late scratching from the Gr.1 Herbie Dyke Stakes (2000m) at Te Rapa. The Waverley gelding looked a strong contender in the $700,000 feature following his last start heroics in the Gr.2 Thorndon Mile (1600m), and trainer Joanne Moss was excited to head north to give her charge his first tilt at elite-level. However, it wasn’t to be, with Doctor Askar becoming fractious in the…

After returning to her best form with a fourth Group One win in Saturday’s Herbie Dyke Stakes (2000m) at Te Rapa, Legarto (NZ) (Proisir) is likely to have just one more start before being going to auction as a broodmare. The six-year-old daughter of Proisir had gone winless for almost a year when she repeated her 2024 Herbie Dyke Stakes win with a dogged victory over Victorian raider Kingswood (Roaring Lion), crediting her jockey Opie Bosson with his 100th elite win and trainers Ken and Bev Kelso with their 15th.…

Late bloomer Autumn Glory (NZ) (Ocean Park) has shown the benefit of careful handling with her emergence as a serious Classic contender. Bred and raced by the Smithies family under their Monovale Holdings banner, the Roger James and Robert Wellwood-trained daughter of Ocean Park rounded off powerfully at Te Rapa on Saturday to claim the Gr.2 Waikato Guineas (2000m). Autumn Glory started at nearly 50 to one and her upset victory has resulted in her promoted to a $4 second favourite for the Gr.1 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai New Zealand…

Numbers (NZ) (Tivaci) firmly advanced his credentials for the remainder of the Hong Kong Four-Year-Old Classic Series with a commanding victory in Sunday’s Gr.3 Centenary Vase Handicap (1800m) at Sha Tin.   The Frankie Lor-trained galloper dominated his six rivals, each with a Group-level winning profile, as he led from start-to-finish on his way to a two-length victory in the HK$4.2 million contest.   The Tivaci gelding went off a strong $1.7 favourite on the strength of an eye-catching front-running victory in December, his first in Hong Kong. The handicapper…

It may not have been by design, but Balcairn trainer Centaine Spittles got her hands back on the Gore Cup following In Vegas’ (NZ) (Telperion) win in the KB Contractors & MLT-sponsored 2200m feature at Wingatui on Saturday. The seven-year-old daughter of Telperion won the southern Cup at Gore last year and Spittles didn’t have any intention of her mare defending her crown, however, the race’s transfer to Wingatui following Gore’s abandonment last week opened up a window of opportunity. “We got a little bit lucky with them putting Gore…