Category: Gallops

Gifted Te Akau jumper The Mighty Spar added to his unblemished jumping record at Casterton when taking out the Moredun Hill Steeplechase (3800m) at the course on Sunday. On a three-race winning streak, The Mighty Spar had earned his lofty 75kg impost in the open contest, but had the services of top hoop Steven Pateman, who allowed the gelding to settle into a comfortable rhythm in midfield. He continued to make up ground with his effective jumping style and joined Fabalot in the lead a long way out, outmuscling the…

A pedigree close to the hearts of Beaufort Downs has added another black-type strike to the North Canterbury farm’s roll of honour. Homebred filly Platinum Diamond won last month’s Listed Castletown Stakes (1200m) at Otaki and returned there on Saturday to add the Listed Ryder Stakes (1200m) to her record. The Lisa Latta-trained daughter of first season champion sire in waiting Hello Youmzain has won three on the bounce following a debut fourth and will now enjoy a break before targeting the new season’s age group features. Beaufort Downs is…

Barring a scare at penultimate fence, rising star Billy Boy (So You Think) produced what all the punters anticipated when he powered away with the Apparelmaster Waikato (3500m) at Te Aroha on Sunday. Easily recognisable with his massive frame, Billy Boy has become a fan favourite in the jumping caper this season, winning both the Manawatu Hurdles (2500) and Wellington Hurdles (3200m) to maintain his unbeaten status. Switching to the bigger fences for the first time, Billy Boy was backed as though unbeatable in the market, closing at $1.30 with…

Versatile galloper Leitrim Lad (NZ) (Tavistock) bounced back into winning form over the bigger fences at Te Aroha on Sunday, claiming a comfortable victory in the Te Aroha Veterinary Services Te Aroha Cup (3500m). A winner of 11 races on the flat, Leitrim Lad has successfully stepped into the jumping role over the past couple of seasons and impressed when winning a restricted open steeplechase at the course in mid-June. The son of Tavistock didn’t back up that performance when finishing midfield in the Waikato Hunt Cup (3900m) last time…

Talented hurdler Our Daymo (NZ) (Zed) did it the tough way to maintain his unbeaten status over fences at Te Aroha on Sunday. A capable flat performer, Our Daymo switched over to jumping at just his ninth start and took to the new role immediately, defeating a subsequent winner in Quid at Trentham in late June. The son of Zed appeared on the flat in between that race and Sunday’s Peter and Jess Brosnan Hurdle (3100m), where he closed second-favourite behind Jerricoop. In the hands of English hoop Ashley Dascombe,…

Apprentice jockey Ace Lawson-Carroll is recuperating in Waikato Hospital after sustaining serious injuries in a shocking race fall at Te Rapa on Saturday. Lawson-Carroll was one of four riders taken to hospital after the fall, alongside Ashlee Strawbridge, Rihaan Goyaram and Hayley Hassman. His fellow jockeys were cleared of any serious injury, but Lawson-Carroll went into surgery on Saturday night, having an operation on his femur. The 20-year-old is indentured to Byerley Park trainers Shaun and Emma Clotworthy, and the former was pleased to share that Lawson-Carroll was feeling positive…

Three-year-old gelding Arcadia Park (NZ) (Ocean Park) proved the superior stayer when taking out the Listed Belmont Classic (2200m) in impressive style on Saturday. Ridden by Clint Johnston-Porter, Arcadia Park worked to the front inside the final furlong and despite a determined chase from the well-fancied filly Fancy Red, proved too tough in the run home to score by just over a length. Arcadia Park continued his winning ways, notching a hat trick of victories and second straight feature after claiming the Listed Aquanita Stakes (2019m) at Bunbury for trainer…

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Hardy three-year-old Stylish Secret will ensure trainer Mick Nolan can savour his 70th birthday celebrations after a strong win in the MRC Chairman’s Club Handicap (2400m) at Caulfield. The diminutive son of Sweet Orange has taken his connections on an enjoyable ride with his three victories to date, with Saturday’s triumph the gelding’s first since landing the Derby Trial last spring. Ridden by Craig Williams, Stylish Secret came from just beyond the speed to run down Verona Rupes. From 15 starts, Stylish Secret has won on three occasions and is…

Enigmatic galloper Diamond Jak exacted the perfect revenge when he came with a perfectly timed run to take out Saturday’s feature flat race at Te Rapa, the Callinan Family Taumarunui Gold Cup (2100m) after being narrowly denied success in the 2024 version of the event. The Mark Brosnan-trained rising seven-year-old had beaten narrowly by Saturday’s race rival Hula Beat in a stirring finish in 2024 and brought good form to the 2025 edition although this was tempered by his knack of missing the jump in his races and setting himself…