Category: Gallops

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Sam Bergerson, New Zealand’s leading trainer, was recognised by his peers when receiving the top gong at the Entain Industry Excellence Awards on Sunday night. Bergerson is part of the Te Akau Racing juggernaut, training in partnership with Mark Walker for the last two seasons, securing the trainers’ premiership last season and currently leads this year’s premiership with 127 wins and more than $9.1 million in stakes earnings. The 31-year-old’s achievements were recognised on Sunday night, receiving the Equine Licence Holder Excellence Award before being bestowed the overall Supreme Entain…

Alice Jeffries didn’t always see a future for herself in the breeding industry, but a very special filly played a key role in getting her to where she is today, working as Cambridge Stud’s Assistant Yearling Manager, and receiving Entain’s Newcomer Excellence Award on Sunday. Growing up on a sheep and beef farm in Tauranga, Jeffries’ father Warwick Jeffries delved into breeding on a small scale and was rewarded in a big way, breeding glamour mare Legarto out of his mare Geordie Girl. Before she was a three-time Group One…

Caitlin O’Sullivan Doyle has been immersed in racing from a young age and she was recognised for her individual contribution to the industry at Entain’s Industry Excellence Awards on Sunday. A daughter of hall-of-fame jockey turned Group One-winning trainer Lance O’Sullivan, O’Sullivan Doyle took out the National Racing Woman of the Year category for her pursuits in marketing and communications, alongside work as a presenter and ambassador. “I was super excited to just be nominated, alongside some very worthy finalists,” O’Sullivan Doyle said. “To win was great, it was an…

Waikato horseman Simon Lawson has an eye for a bargain, and the product of one of his purchases turned into his first stakes winner over the weekend. As Waikato Stud’s dry mare manager for a couple of years, Lawson was looking to get into breeding himself a few years ago and an unplaced mare called Mohegan Star caught his eye on online auction house gavelhouse.com, and he secured the daughter of Reliable Man with a final bid of $1,100. She quickly proved to be an astute purchase, with her half-brother…

Goodwood Stud’s William Fell is enjoying an exciting ride with unbeaten star steeplechaser Jesko. While it has been an unforeseen outcome, it’s nevertheless a successful one with the son of the late Atlante quickly rising to the top of the jumping ranks. The late bloomer won three on the flat before a successful transformation for trainers Shaun and Hazel Fannin with the former also taking the reins. Jesko began his hot run at Wanganui before claiming the Manawatu Steeplechase (4000m) and Wellington Steeplechase (4900m) titles. “It wasn’t what we were…

One half of New Zealand’s most dominant thoroughbred training partnership has been recognised at the Industry Excellence Awards, with Sam Bergerson claiming the supreme Entain Excellence Award at a function at Ellerslie last night (29 June). Bergerson (31) has been in partnership with Mark Walker at Te Akau Racing for the past two seasons, and has quickly established himself as one of New Zealand’s most talented trainers, winning the New Zealand Trainers’ Premiership in 2023/24. With Mark Walker now largely based at Te Akau’s Melbourne stable, Bergerson has led the…

It felt as though Triston Moodley had an angel on his shoulder as he steered Beetlegeuse (NZ) (Rageese) to victory in the Northland Business Systems (1600m) at Ruakaka on Saturday. A son of Rageese, Beetlegeuse was bred by Windsor Park Stud co-owner Gina Schick, who races the four-year-old in the care of Sam Mynott. Just over a month ago, tragedy struck the Schick family, with 10-year-old Jimmy losing his life in an ATV accident. In the maiden contest, Moodley wore the familiar Windsor Park colours – including Jimmy’s favourite cap,…

David Greene has enjoyed a multitude of success with the progeny of Songbird, and that continued at Ruakaka on Saturday with Free Bird (NZ) (Tarzino) breaking maiden status in the Ruakaka Your Best Bet In Winter (1200m). A half-sister to Greene’s first Group winner Stolen Dance (NZ) (Alamosa), Free Bird showed promise at the trials, before placing in her first start in early January. She followed up that effort with a sixth placing, and was subsequently sent for a break before returning in the far north. In a market largely…

Ashley Dascombe couldn’t have dreamed for a better start to his riding stint in New Zealand, guiding Our Daymo (NZ) (Zed) to victory on his opening day at the races at Trentham. The Englishman arrived in the country just over a month ago, and basing himself with accomplished trainer Raymond Connors, he was presented with a golden opportunity aboard the hurdle debutant, who was a two-time winner on the flat in just nine starts.   In conditions beyond the point of a Heavy 10, Our Daymo closed a $2.90 second-favourite…