Category: Gallops

Next week’s historic National Yearling Sale at New Zealand Bloodstock’s Karaka complex will include many tales from the past century of annual thoroughbred auctions. As a precursor to that banter, RaceForm spoke to four veteran vendors – Brian Anderton, Buzz Williams, Ron Chitty and Garry Chittick – for their memories of an event that has been such a part of their lives. The oldest member of the octogenarian quartet, rising 89-year-old Brian Anderton, is also the most travelled in sending his annual draft to market from White Robe Lodge, Mosgiel.…

David Hayes is confident Ka Ying Rising (NZ) (Shamexpress) remains in peak form as the world’s highest-rated sprinter chases history in the HK$13 million G1 Centenary Sprint Cup (1200m) at Sha Tin on Sunday (25 January). Unbeaten in 16 starts since 12 February, 2024, Ka Ying Rising will equal Silent Witness’ record for a Hong Kong-trained horse of 17 victories in a row if he eclipses six rivals in this weekend’s Group 1 double-header, which also features Romantic Warrior’s clash with Voyage Bubble in the HK$13 million G1 Stewards’ Cup…

Cambridge Stud are under no illusions about the task ahead of Silver Wedding (Zoustar) at Ellerslie on Saturday, with connections hoping she has one more peak performance to come. The Ciaron Maher-trained four-year-old will tackle the Gr.3 Elsdon Park Aotearoa Classic (1600m) ahead of a spell. “There wasn’t any obvious black-type races in Brisbane or Sydney and this one was on the radar, so we brought her over and win, lose or draw she’ll have four weeks at the farm at Karaka and then go back to Sydney,” Cambridge’s chief…

Kylie Williams is hoping she will have plenty to celebrate when she is sunning herself in Rarotonga on Sunday. The Canterbury hoop will head to Ellerslie on Saturday for just the third time in her three-decade career where she will ride the Andrew Carston-trained Miss Ziggy in the $1.5 million TAB Karaka Millions 3YO (1600m). The meeting will also present Williams with another opportunity to ride alongside her Australian-based son Logan Bates, who is crossing the Tasman to partner the Cindy Alderson-trained Jigsaw in the Gr.1 Sistema Railway (1200m). He…

Andrew Forsman has fond memories from the annual Karaka Millions meeting, and he is hoping to record some more when he heads to Ellerslie on Saturday for the blockbuster twilight event. The trans-Tasman trainer won the 2021 edition of the TAB Karaka Millions 3YO (1600m) with Aegon, a horse he raced with the Zame Partnership, and trained in partnership with his mentor Murray Baker. Now training in a solo capacity, Forsman will be seeking to double his tally in the $1.5 million feature this weekend where he will have a…

Champion trainer Chris Waller might not have to look too far or wait too long to fill the giant void left by the retiring great Via Sistina after giving stablemate Aeliana (NZ) (Castelvecchio) a glowing assessment ahead of her autumn return. Aeliana has only had the one trial this year to prepare her for the autumn, but her part-owner Denise Martin of Star Thoroughbreds, said the trainer had spoken of his optimism for Aeliana’s upcoming campaign after noting a significant change in the four-year-old mare following her summer break. “Chris…

Bargain buy Midnight Dart (NZ) (Derryn) will be out to get the party started for his throng of next generation owners when the Lisa Latta-trained juvenile contests the $1 million TAB Karaka Millions 2YO (1200m) at Ellerslie on Saturday. The colt by Derryn was bought by Latta’s son Josh Herd for $20,000 from the Grangewilliam Stud draft at Karaka last year and was one of the first horses qualified for the Ellerslie feature when winning on debut at Trentham. Midnight Dart subsequently finished fourth to Karaka Millions favourite Kinnaird and…

The stage is set for a trans-Tasman showdown in the $1m TAB Karaka Millions 2YO (1200m) at Ellerslie on Saturday, with Wednesday morning’s barrier draw strengthening the claims of some of the biggest players. A full field of 14 plus two emergencies has been assembled for the 19th edition of the Karaka Millions 2YO, including three Australian-trained raiders. As has so often been the case throughout the last decade, the local contingent is headed by Te Akau Racing. The tangerine powerhouse has won eight of the last nine runnings of this juvenile…

Multiple Group One winner Ceolwulf (NZ) (Tavistock) will be a notable absentee from the Warwick Farm barrier trials after suffering a minor setback. Trainer Joe Pride reported the horse was being treated for a graze to his leg after seemingly becoming cast in his box, ruling him out of his scheduled 900m heat on Thursday. It was to have been his first appearance of the year and while not ideal, Pride said it should have minimal effect on Ceolwulf’s build-up as he prepared to return in the Apollo Stakes (1400m)…