Category: Gallops

Sunday’s Glenmoa Farms Ltd River Plate Trophy (1200m) at Oamaru is an unexpected detour for Epee Beel in her build-up to the Gr.3 Winter Cup (1600m) at Riccarton on August 2. Epee Beel is a proven big-race performer over the course and distance of the Winter Cup, having taken out the Listed NZB Insurance Stakes (1600m) last year and the Gr.3 South Island Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1600m) in March. Trainers Michael and Matthew Pitman had no hesitation in pointing her towards the $110,000 feature on the opening day of this…

Mostly For Show (NZ) (Vadamos) will fly the flag for Richard and Chantelle Jolly in Saturday’s Gr.3 South Australian Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) at Morphettville, in what will be the son of Vadamos’ final run before a spell. Twice placed from four starts this campaign, the two-year-old colt has consistently been competitive without getting his nose in front, convincing his trainers to give him one more go this time in. A mix of locals and Victorian raiders have accepted for the A$150,000 contest and though Mostly For Show is among…

As Stephen Gray’s first season back on home soil nears a close, the Palmerston North trainer was rapt to add three more wins to the stable’s tally on the Awapuni Synthetic on Thursday. Formerly training in Singapore, Gray joined his father, Kevin Gray, in partnership this term and the pair have swiftly gained momentum, collecting 21 victories prior to the all-weather meeting. Their first representative, the striking Cosentino (NZ) (El Roca), was backed into $2.10 favouritism in a competitive Tomo’s Aluminium Services 1000 after trading blows with Platinum Designs (NZ)…

Jockey Jake Noonan will be looking to repay the faith of the Patrick and Michelle Payne stable when he partners Bold Soul (NZ) (Embellish) at Flemington. Noonan rides the stayer in the Deane Lester Flemington Cup 1849 (2800m) on Saturday and is looking to strike winning form again on the rising five-year-old.  Bold Soul and Noonan completed a Stakes race treble, winning twice as a three-year-old in Tasmania and once in South Australia with the jockey having ridden the stayer only twice since those three-year-old days.  The most recent was when Bold Soul…

An exceptional 2024/25 Hong Kong racing season came to a close at Happy Valley on Wednesday, wrapping up one of the most memorable chapters in the sport’s history.At the heart of it was New Zealand-bred horse of the year Ka Ying Rising. The superstar sprinter became only the third horse in Hong Kong history to win eight races in a single season, claimed four Group 1 titles, and twice shattered the Sha Tin 1200m course record — breaking a benchmark that had stood since 2007. His unbeaten run stretched to…

Joshua Brown (NZ) (Dalghar) likes to get his own way and tyro trainer Lance Gussey is happy to go with the flow with his black-type contender. The mercurial son of Dalghar has come a long way in a short time and at New Plymouth on Saturday will face his sternest test yet in the Listed Sinclair Electrical & Refrigeration Opunake Cup (1400m). Despite his quirky temperament, Joshua Brown has an abundance of ability and has fashioned the tidy record of three wins and six placings from 12 appearances. “He’s very…

Bevan and Robyn Wilson head into Sunday’s Crombie & Price LTD Oamaru Cup (1600m) with three last-start winners, but things haven’t been smooth-sailing for the Ashburton couple. Lord Darci (NZ) (Darci Brahma) and Victorian Charm (NZ) (Charm Spirit) have had interrupted preparations, with the former having last raced at Wingatui at the start of last month, and their trainers have been trying to play catch-up with the pair. “Not everything has gone according to plan, but we are excited to have three capable horses being there anyway,” Bevan Wilson said.…

Robbie Patterson won’t be short of representatives at his home meeting on Saturday, with 13 runners including a trio of talented performers in the Listed Sinclair Electrical and Refrigeration Opunake Cup (1400m). The New Plymouth horseman has accepted with Belles Beau, Our Jumala and Sinbin, with the former opening a $3.90 favourite in the TAB market. A son of Iffraaj, Belles Beau had to play bridesmaid to Sinbin when resuming at the local course in May, but then went on to stamp his authority in open company at Wanganui, defeating…

Star colt Savaglee (NZ) (Savabeel) is likely to be a notable absentee from all spring feature events. The Group One-winning son of Savabeel has returned from an extended break and is in light work at owner Dick Karreman’s The Oaks Stud. “You won’t see him probably until after Christmas, he could have a run here and then go to Australia,” trainer Pam Gerard said. “Obviously, he’s been off for quite a while for a colt and it’s hard to make a plan until we get him back to the stable…

Lightly-tried three-year-old Ad Vitam broke maiden ranks in impressive fashion at Sandown on Wednesday when swooping under Blake Shinn to score over 1400m. The son of Proisir finished runner-up on debut for Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young and took good improvement and shapes as a horse with a bright future for prominent owners Kevin and Vikki Payne.  “He has benefited from that first start at Sale, with that added experience,” Shinn said. “He was good in the gates, and that gave me a good indication he would jump better. He…