Category: Gallops

Cancer survivor Mr Malek (NZ) (Swiss Ace) broke a long winless streak with a thrilling victory in the S$110,000 Kranji Sprint (1200m) in Singapore on Saturday. Remarkably, the six-year-old son of Swiss Ace was second-up after a neck cancer that required surgery. That happened after an underwhelming campaign late last year, which culminated in an unplaced run in the Singapore Gold Cup (2000m) in November. After five months on the sidelines, Mr Malek was not only back trialling, but also thriving, so much so that his first-up run in the…

The Gr.3 Winter Cup (1600m) at Riccarton in August is now firmly in the sights of Sea Shepherd (NZ) (Zacinto) following his win at Wingatui on Sunday. The four-year-old gelding settled off the pace for jockey Corey Campbell in The Mosgiel Tavern (1400m) before working his way forward on the fence to sit in just behind leader So Natural. Campbell found a gap between runners and was able to outstay In Disguise to win by a neck, with a further 1-1/4 lengths back to Leica Star in third. “I was…

South Auckland apprentice jockey Kendra Bakker is still on cloud nine after recording her first win at Avondale on Saturday. The 22-year-old hoop was having her ninth raceday ride and she was delighted to get $31 outsider Innocent Victim (Maurice) over the line for employer Steven Cole.  “I was super happy to get the win,” Bakker said. “I was watching his trial form and his one trial on the heavy looked like he kicked on a bit, so I was hoping that he was going to handle the track well,…

By Joshua Smith, LOVERACING.NZ News Desk Hastings trainer Paul Nelson is looking forward to heading to his home meeting on Monday where he will line-up a handful of runners, including his star jumper The Cossack (NZ) (Mastercraftman). The Champion Jumper will return to the flat in The TLJ Handicap (2200m) to keep him up to the mark following his win in the Ken & Roger Browne Memorial (3900m) at Te Rapa last month. Nelson, who trains the gelding in partnership with Corinna McDougal, has eyed the Signature Homes Waikato Steeplechase…

The early signs are good for multiple Group One winning stallion U S Navy Flag, who shuttles to the Oaks Stud in Cambridge. The regally-bred son of War Front heads a strong group of first season sires by winners in New Zealand, with six individual winners posted since February. On Saturday, U S Navy Flag was represented by his first stakes winner when Chantilly Lace (NZ) (U S Navy Flag) trounced her rivals in the Listed Castletown Stakes (1200m) at Wanganui, having previously been stakes-placed. Also victorious was the Peter…

Talented filly Red Card (Ribchester) made it successive stakes victories when leading throughout to land the Listed Queensland Day Stakes (1200m) at Eagle Farm on Saturday for trainer James Cummings. The daughter of Haunui Farm shuttler Ribchester had previously won the Listed Denise’s Joy Stakes (1100m) at Scone and has now won five of her 10 starts, with a further two placings. Sent out a $3.60 second favourite, Red Card dominated her rivals under James McDonald, winning by more than two lengths from Milane and Golden Boom. “She’s been a…