Category: Gallops

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)…

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Handy mare Shelbyrock’n (NZ) (Rock ‘N’ Pop) continued the winning run of pacemakers at New Plymouth on Saturday when she streeted her rivals by more than fifteen lengths in the last race on the card, the Seaton Park 1600 (1600m). The 2023 Interprovincial (1600m) winner on the track has always been a difficult customer to head off when she can get terms to her liking out in front and rider Ellie Sole made full use of the seven-year-old mare’s front running ability as she led clearly from the minute the…

The rookie pair of Joshua Brown (NZ) (Dalghar) and his owner-trainer Lance Gussey took out one of New Zealand racing’s biggest winter prizes in Saturday’s $120,000 Listed Sinclair Electrical & Refrigeration Opunake Cup (1400m) at New Plymouth. Things have happened quickly for Joshua Brown, who made his debut only 15 months ago in April 2024, and also for Cambridge-based Gussey and his wife Angela. With only five horses in work, Gussey now boasts four wins from just 20 career starters. Gussey is continuing the thoroughbred legacy of his late father,…

New Plymouth trainer Tawhiti Hina saddled back-to-back winners on his home track on Saturday with full-sisters Za Spirit (NZ) (Charm Spirit) and Charm Zafarm (NZ) (Charm Spirit). Hina has seven horses in training and had won nine races in his career before Saturday’s dream afternoon. He had trained two winners in a day once before, with Side Piece (NZ) (Jon Snow) and Summer Breeze (NZ) (Zed) combining for a pair of victories in $17,000 maiden races at Waverley on April 21. But Saturday’s heroics in races worth $50,000 and $40,000…

Ace Lawson-Carroll completed his first 50-win season with an early double at Rotorua on Saturday, including a perfectly judged front-running ride on Diomedes (NZ) (Echoes of Heaven) in the Arawa Park Hotel Rotorua (1560m). The 20-year-old apprentice went into Saturday’s meeting with 48 wins to his name from 609 rides this season. That put him in 17th on the national premiership. He was ranked fourth among apprentices behind Lily Sutherland (64 wins), Triston Moodley (52) and Amber Riddell (50). Lawson-Carroll moved to 49 with a four-length victory on favourite Moelle…

A well timed run by rider Michael McNab aboard the lightly raced Jelly Roll (NZ) (Swiss Ace) paved the way for the four-year-old to break his maiden status in spectacular style at Rotorua on Saturday. The Samantha Logan-trained and owned son of Swiss Ace was having just his third start and had looked a galloper of some promise when finishing fourth in both of those efforts. With the Heavy 10 rated Rotorua track expected to play in favour of those handy to the pace for the first few races, the…

The tenacity displayed by Snazzytavi during her stellar racing career has stood her in good stead in a battle off the track. The Cambridge Stud-owned mare has been fighting an acute case of laminitis for months, but now the signs indicate she is on the road to recovery. “While she remains at Matamata Veterinary Services, a dedicated team of vets and farriers have painstakingly repaired her laminitic feet and she is finally heading in the right direction,” Chief Executive Officer Henry Plumptre said. “We acknowledge the care and dedication shown…

New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing (NZTR) and Racing Te Aroha are proud to announce a significant milestone in the history of New Zealand jumps racing. The revered Great Northern Hurdle and Great Northern Steeplechase will now be known as the Great New Zealand Hurdle and Great New Zealand Steeplechase, marking a new chapter for these iconic events. The renaming reflects the races’ relocation to Te Aroha and their continued importance on the national racing calendar. Racing Te Aroha President Raewyn Armstrong shared her thoughts on the change. “The Great Northern Hurdle…

Saturday’s Novara Park (1400m) at Rotorua will be the first raceday appearance in six months for talented mare Fabulous Gal. From a 15-start career, Fabulous Gal has recorded two wins, four placings and three fourths. She began her career with Matamata trainers Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott, for whom she scored a stylish maiden win on her home track in January of 2023 before contesting the Listed Oaks Prelude (1800m) and the Gr.1 New Zealand Oaks (2400m). She had a change of scenery last year and moved to the Te…