Leonard Stewart had been looking forward to Sunday’s Oamaru meeting with a big team of representatives, and he got the results he was after, collecting a winning double and a number of other placings. His run of success began in the opener where Koyama started a narrow second-favourite behind Proserve in the Mariner Suites Oamaru (2200m). In the hands of Yogesh Atchamah, the son of Almanzor settled into a good rhythm in the trail of Vino Valentino, who was cruising into the straight and looked the one to beat. Atchamah…
Category: Gallops
Exciting spring plans for promising youngster
Close on the heels of a pleasing double at Arawa Park on Saturday, Byerley Park trainer Kylie Hoskin is looking forward to stepping out one of her exciting spring prospects at the Avondale trials on Tuesday. Rising three-year-old colt Geneva showed plenty of ability as a juvenile, winning two trials before scoring on debut at Te Rapa in May, and now Hoskin has got stakes ambitions in the coming months for the Jomara Bloodstock bred and raced son of Time Test. “He is a very smart horse,” Hoskin said. “He…
Tuxedo to target early Group One features
One of this season’s leading three-year-olds will be restricted to shorter trips in the new term in his transition to the weight-for-age ranks. Dual stakes winner Tuxedo has fashioned an excellent record with three wins and two placings from six appearances, including successes in the Gr.2 Waikato Guineas (2000m) and Gr.3 Wellington Stakes (1600m). “He’s had two months off and his runs were well-spaced, his form line was fantastic,” said Shaune Ritchie, who prepares the son of Tivaci with Colm Murray. Tuxedo also finished runner-up in the $1.5 million Karaka…
Lucky Magic strikes in rich Selangor Mile
When the Selangor Turf Club announced a RM1 million (NZ$395,000) prize for the Selangor Mile (1600m) in June last year, trainer HY Cheng thought that he might have the horse to win the big race for four-year-olds over 1600m. At that time, Lucky Magic had just started his racing career and was unplaced in his first two runs. But Cheng knew this horse was special. The son of Mendelssohn went on to notch four wins and two seconds in his next six starts, ending the 2024 season with a victory…
Son of Snitzel to Clearview Park
Clearview Park Stud in Timaru has announced the arrival of its exciting new stallion Snapback, a son of champion sire Snitzel, ahead of the e 2025 breeding season. Trained by the Peter and Paul Snowden and raced in the China Horse Club colours, Snapback was a talented two-year-old with strong metropolitan form and is now set to launch a stud career built on performance, pedigree, and presence. The brown entire was a winner over 1300m at two and Group Two placed when runner-up to Cifrado in the BRC Sires’ Produce…
Lindsay Park stars gearing up for return
The Lindsay Park team of Ben, Will and J D Hayes are excited by the progress their New Zealand bred stables stars are making in preparation for their spring campaigns. Mr Brightside (NZ) (Bullbars) is back galloping and is due for a jump-out early next month as he gears towards a first-up run in the Gr.1 Memsie Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on August 30. The gelding was just pipped in that race last year by Pinstriped before returning to winning form in Gr.1 Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m) at Flemington two…
Royal result for Wilsons in Oamaru Cup
Bevan and Robyn Wilson brought a formidable trio of chances into Sunday’s Crombie and Price Ltd Oamaru Cup (1600m) and all three ran with great merit, but none more so that the winner, Royal Valour (NZ) (Belardo). The Ashburton couple had accepted into the feature with Royal Valour, Lord Darci and Victorian Charm, all of which they bred and own, and each horse was well-fancied in the market, closing second, third and fourth favourite behind Iffididit. As anticipated, Royal Valour was a stride slow away from the barriers and jockey…
Candle lights up in River Plate Trophy
Richard Didham maintained the perfect strike rate with a pair of ex-Hastings gallopers at Oamaru on Sunday, headlined by Candle’s (NZ) (Super Easy) success in the Glenmoa Farms Ltd River Plate Trophy (1200m). Candle, alongside her stablemate Speed Dial (NZ) (Time Test), was formerly in the care of Hawke’s Bay conditioners Guy Lowry and Leah Zydenbos, and the mare joined Didham’s Aylesbury stable recently after collecting three wins in the north. The daughter of Super Easy covered extra ground to finish a respectable eighth in her debut for Didham earlier…
Gringotts aiming for Winx Stakes return
Group One winner Gringotts (NZ) (Per Incanto) has continued to improve with each campaign and connections expect that to again be the case as the rising six-year-old closes in on his seasonal return. After capturing the Big Dance (1600m) and The Gong (1600m) at the end of last spring, Gringotts returned in the autumn to claim the scalps of Fangirl and Ceolwulf in the Gr.1 George Ryder Stakes (1500m). He ended his preparation with a midfield finish in the Gr.1 Doncaster Mile, beaten less than two lengths, and trainer Ciaron…
El Vaquero outshines juveniles at Oamaru
Progressive colt El Vaquero (NZ) (Ferrando) completed the southern juvenile season on a winning note at Oamaru on Sunday, outclassing his rivals to claim the One Smart Coffee (1200m). The striking son of Ferrando had over raced when fancied on debut back in April, but since, has shown good improvement, going down by narrow margins on two occasions to Te Akau filly Cool Aza Rene. There was no Cool Aza Rene in the field at Oamaru and El Vaquero comfortably held favouritism, closing at $2.10 over fillies Ripa Time ($6)…