Dual Group One winner Ladies Man (NZ) (Zed) has been retired. Bred by Grangewilliam Stud, Ladies Man, a son of their resident stallion Zed, was the younger half-brother to Gr.1 Auckland Cup (3200m) winner Ladies First, and accordingly bore the weight of expectation from a young age. Like his older sibling, he joined the New Plymouth barn of Allan Sharrock and quickly showed his propensity for racing, placing in his first two starts as a three-year-old before winning his maiden over 1400m. He continued his upward trajectory, winning a further…
Category: Gallops
Bright future tipped for well-bred three-year-old
A bright future is being tipped for well-bred three-year-old Day One (Wootton Bassett) following his maiden victory in the Barfoot & Thompson 1600 at Ellerslie on Thursday. He had shown a lot of promise at the trials before running fifth on debut over 1400m at Arawa Park last month, and trainers Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson had been pleased with his subsequent progress. He jumped away well from his wide gate on Thursday, but there was plenty of speed inside him and jockey Opie Bosson was forced to ease his…
Ka Ying Rising draws unfamiliar barrier in G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint
Ka Ying Rising (NZ) (Shamexpress) has been thrust into unknown territory after drawing barrier one for the first time in his career as he attempts to defend his HK$28 million G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint (1200m) title at Sha Tin on Sunday (14 December). Conceding it was not ideal to draw the inside barrier in the 13-horse field, trainer David Hayes said the world’s highest-rated sprinter simply had to jump fast and either take a sit or lead if Zac Purton is unhappy with the pace. “So, I think Zac…
Birchley chasing third Karaka Million
Sunshine Coast trainer Liam Birchley knows what it takes to win the Listed TAB Karaka Millions 2YO (1200m) having trained two previous winners, and the Queensland conditioner will again be targeting the Ellerslie feature. Birchley prepared Hardline to win in 2015 and Sister Havana in 2010, while Sarge In Charge finished second for the stable in 2009. Two-year-old filly Dream Roca is being readied for the January 24 contest, with the daughter of El Roca set to line up over 1000m at Eagle Farm this weekend. Runner up to Lady…
Brilliant filly Well Written claims TAB slot for The NZB Kiwi
New Zealand racing’s hottest property, Well Written, is locked in for the $4m The NZB Kiwi, after connections of the unbeaten filly signed up for the TAB slot, held by Entain New Zealand. The daughter of Written Tycoon has won all three of her career starts in dominant fashion, topped off by her Group 1 1000 Guineas victory at Riccarton last month. The Cambridge-based filly will now be set for the richest 3-year-old race in the Southern Hemisphere on 7 March at Ellerslie, with lead-up runs planned on Boxing Day and…
Progressive Mollify loving life in New Zealand
Emerging stayer Mollify looks to have another gilt-edged opportunity to further her record on Friday and progress toward more lucrative middle-distance assignments. The Cambridge Stud-bred and owned daughter of So You Think has thrived in a more rural environment since returning from Australia and promises another bold showing in The Duncan Dental Tauranga Twilight Cup (2100m). Mollify can kick-start a potentially lucrative weekend for the farm and private trainer Lance Noble with Jaarffi, Frostfair and Daring Dame in action at Te Rapa on Saturday. She has won two of her…
Hurdle unearths another exciting sprinter
Nikki Hurdle had the ride of her life with Group One performer Express Yourself, and just six months after her retirement, the Palmerston North horsewoman looks to have her hands on another exciting sprinter. Express Yourself recorded six wins and eight placings from 22 starts, highlighted by her runner-up performance in last year’s Gr.1 Telegraph (1200m), where she was piloted by Hurdle’s jockey son, Ryan Hurdle. Her syndicate of owners offered her on gavelhouse.com earlier this year, where she was purchased by Wairarapa thoroughbred nursery Little Avondale Stud for $102,500.…
Blue Sky At Night seeking to defend Waikato Cup crown
Summer has arrived, and Shelley Hale is hoping so too will Blue Sky At Night’s form, as she gets set to defend her crown in Saturday’s Gr.3 SkyCity Hamilton Waikato Cup (2400m) at Te Rapa. Her victory in last year’s running kicked off a lucrative summer, which culminated in victory in the Gr.3 Avondale Cup (2400m), a double Hale is hoping to repeat. “We will be trying hard,” the Cambridge trainer said. While pegged as a wet-tracker earlier in her career, Hale said Blue Sky At Night has shed that…
Draw another barrier to Gringott’s weighty task
In-form miler Gringotts has history against him in The Ingham. Already needing to set a modern-day weight-carrying record to win the $2 million The Ingham, favourite Gringotts will now have to do it from the outside barrier. The Ciaron Maher-trained five-year-old has come up with gate 24 in the capacity field of 20 plus four emergencies, adding a fresh layer of difficulty to his task of lumping topweight of 61kg, eight kilos over the minimum. The last horse to successfully carry a comparable impost was Monton, who won the 2011 renewal with 58kg. Despite the…
Here To Shock’s uphill battle in Supernova defence
Here To Shock is trained by Ben, Will and JD Hayes – who provide the only three runners backing up from the inaugural edition of the $1 million slot race. They will also saddle up last year’s runner-up Arkansaw Kid and 2024 fifth placegetter Roll On High, who is also owned by Slade Bloodstock and was previously trained by Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman. The presence of Private Eye casts a huge shadow over the event and he is $2.25 favourite with Sportsbet. Slade quipped the best chance of Private…