Category: Gallops

A two-step home track plan for promising Matamata youngster Justin Case will come into play on Wednesday. Raced by breeder Waikato Stud with Ohukia Lodge’s Jamie Beatson, the well-related son of Banquo will run in the Entain/NZB Insurance Pearl Series 2YO (1100m) with a crack at the Gr.3 Fairview Matamata Slipper (1200m) to follow on February 14. Justin Case was a spring trial winner at Taupo before he was put aside after finishing runner-up in his race day debut in early November. “It was aways the plan after Pukekohe to…

Zac Purton lauded trainer Manfred Man’s horsemanship after Patch Of Cosmo (NZ) (Super Seth) successfully returned from injury to stake a claim for the HK$13 million Hong Kong Classic Mile (1600m) at Sha Tin on Sunday. Sidelined since March, 2025 after suffering a tendon injury, Patch Of Cosmo eclipsed a classy group of rivals to win by a neck from Aerodynamics and Pope Cody in 1m 34.53s after jumping from barrier nine. Rated 77 pre-race, the Super Seth gelding deserves his place in the Hong Kong Classic Mile, according to…

Six-time Group One-winning sprinter Ka Ying Rising (NZ) (Shamexpress) has been crowned Timeform’s Horse of the Year (2025). Trained by David Hayes, last season’s Hong Kong Horse of the Year (2024/25) also earned the accolade as Timeform’s Champion Sprinter (2025). A record-breaking phenom, Ka Ying Rising has earned HK$122.57 million and has won 17 of 19 career starts, including 16 in succession – equal to Golden Sixty’s record and one shy of Silent Witness’ all-time record in the city (17). According to Timeform, New Zealand-bred Ka Ying Rising had five…

Shaune Ritchie and Colm Murray elected to take a detour to Pukekohe on Sunday with their Gr.1 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai New Zealand Oaks (2400m) bound filly Tajana (NZ) (Darci Brahma), and it looks to have paid off. The Oaks Stud-bred and raced filly also accepted for the Gr.3 NZB Desert Gold Stakes (1600m) a day prior, but following a week of wet weather coupled with the long journey south to Trentham, the Cambridge trainers elected for a target closer to home. “It was hard with the weather and the…

This time last year Stratford trainer Gavin Sharrock experienced the hype of Karaka Millions week with his then two-year-old Daylight Robbery, and 12 months on he is hoping two of his stablemates can successfully launch their bids towards the Gr.1 Trackside New Zealand Derby (2400m) in March. Homebred gelding Country Salon (NZ) (Darci Brahma) will be first-up in the Race Images 1340 at Wanganui on Monday, where Sharrock expects him to be competitive following his runner-up trial over 1200m at Foxton earlier this week. “He is very well in himself,”…

Group One winning gelding War Machine (NZ) (Harry Angel) will be seen in an early feature sprint when he lines up in the Gr.2 Australia Stakes (1200m) this Friday night. Usually run at Moonee Valley, this year’s edition will be run under lights at Southside Pakenham with the Moonee Valley track under reconstruction. War Machine announced himself as one of the top sprinters in the country winning the Gr.1 Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) in the Winter, resuming with an equally impressive victory in the Gr.2 Gilgai Stakes (1200m) with 60kg in…

Join a full team this week on Weigh In. Guy Heveldt, Aidan Rodley and Emily Murphy break down the action from stakes racing at Trentham. They also rewind back to last Sunday at Ellerslie where some key contenders went around ahead of Saturday’s Karaka Millions race night. Weigh In, January 18

Queensland trainer Liam Birchley is no stranger to success in the richest two-year-old race in New Zealand, the $1million TAB Karaka Millions 2YO (1200m), and he is hoping to replicate the winning feeling next weekend as he prepares to line-up a pair of quality fillies in the Ellerslie dash for cash. Birchley produced Sister Havana (NZ) (General Nediym) to win the 2010 edition of the event and followed that up again in 2015 with Hardline (NZ) (Showcasing) after first finishing second with Sarge In Charge (NZ) (Golan) in 2009. His…

Stakes targets are looming for well-related filly Quello Dolce (NZ) (U S Navy Flag) after she posted her second successive win in the Aztech Engineering LTD Sprint (1200m) at Trentham on Saturday, but she will have to wait until ANZAC Day to get her chance at black-type. Bred by Westbury Stud General Manager and New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing Chairman Russell Warwick and his wife Lesley, Quello Dolce is by U S Navy Flag and out of Group One winner Il Quello Veloce, and she is raced by the couple in…

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD NEWSLETTER