Riccarton trainers Michael and Matthew Pitman love a trip north to Trentham, and they are once again looking forward to heading to the Upper Hutt track this weekend with a trio of contenders. Trentham has been a happy hunting ground for the father-and-son duo, who have recorded some of their biggest wins at the track, including Savvy Coup’s (NZ) (Savabeel) Gr.1 New Zealand Oaks (2400m) triumph and Enzo’s Lad’s (Testa Rossa) back-to-back victories in the Gr.1 Telegraph (1200m). “It is probably my favourite track,” Michael Pitman said. “It has been…
Category: Gallops
Manners the key for Taylor Square in Bonecrusher
Paul Mirabelli may have lost Group One performer Shoma (NZ) (Contributer) from his Cambridge stable, but he believes he still has plenty of three-year-old firepower in his barn. While still a maiden after 10 starts, Shoma impressed when placing in last month’s Gr.1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) at Riccarton, with that performance generating plenty of overseas interest in the son of Contributer. A deal was subsequently brokered with expat Kiwi trainers Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young, and he will continue his racing career from their Cranbourne barn. “People obviously…
South Island & Central Districts On-Farm Parades Kick off Road to Karaka 2026
The on-farm parades for the Karaka 2026 South Island vendors are scheduled for Thursday 18 & Friday 19 December, and then making its way through the Central Districts Monday 22 & Tuesday 23 December All prospective buyers are welcome to attend to inspect yearlings ahead of Karaka 2026, while enjoying New Zealand’s finest equine properties and hospitality. NZB and NZ-based agents are also available to inspect on your behalf should you require a head start on inspections and evaluations. Get in touch with NZB team for any assistance. View and download the schedule here. View…
La Dorada’s half-brother makes winning start
A four-horse field has thrown up a minor upset at Geelong on Thursday, as the $6.50 outsider, Mark Walker’s well-bred colt Golden Pulse, saluted smartly on debut in the 1147-metre two-year-old maiden. The Yulong-owned son of Tivaci was the only colt in the field and the least favoured of the quartet, but travelled into contention strongly under Beau Mertens and finished far too well for Eternal Joy ($2.90) and Got Tickets ($3.20). Though Golden Pulse hadn’t been a standout in his jumpouts, assistant trainer Ben Gleeson felt that was far…
Ka Ying Rising gallop pleases Hayes ahead of LONGINES Hong Kong International Races
Ka Ying Rising, the world’s top-rated sprinter, has delighted David Hayes in his final fast turf gallop ahead of the LONGINES Hong Kong International Races (LONGINES HKIR) on 14 December as a string of local contenders sharpened preparations with barrier trials at Sha Tin today (Thursday, 4 December). Ka Ying Rising will attempt to match Golden Sixty’s feat of winning 16 races in a row – a streak bettered only by Silent Witness (17 wins) as a Hong Kong, China-trained horse – when he tackles the HK$28 million G1 LONGINES…
Ears Back returns to happy hunting ground
Canterbury mare Ears Back’s best form has been in the North Island this year, and she has crossed the Cook Strait once more to try to add to her stakes haul. The seven-year-old daughter of Jakkalberry recorded her first black-type win in the Listed AGC Training Stakes (1600m) at Wanganui in May and doubled her stakes tally when taking out the Gr.3 Metric Mile (1600m) at Trentham in September. She subsequently posted two unplaced runs in her home region, however, Blackadder said she did have her excuses for finishing last…
McDonald crowned World’s Best Jockey again
New Zealand jockey James McDonald has won the Longines World’s Best Jockey title for the second consecutive year and third time overall. The 33-year-old, who is based in Australia, also won the Longines World’s Best Jockey Award in 2022. On his way to claiming the 2025 title, McDonald won 12 of the world’s Top 100 Group or Grade 1 races. His qualifying victories included the Longines Hong Kong Cup, Longines Hong Kong Mile, Queen Elizabeth Stakes, Ladbrokes Doomben 10,000, and the Ladbrokes Cox Plate. McDonald dominated this year’s award, holding…
Waitak ticks all boxes ahead of Mufhasa Classic
Waitak’s class and versatility will stand him in good stead at Trentham where he chases a fourth top-flight title. He has triumphed over 1200, 1600 and 2040m at the highest level on good, soft and heavy tracks and Wexford Stables have him in tip-tip order for Saturday’s Gr.1 TAB Mufhasa Classic (1600m). “He’s been an amazing racehorse for us and goes well on all kinds of going, he’s quite versatile and definitely enjoys getting his toe in the ground,” said Andrew Scott, who trains in partnership with Lance O’Sullivan. “He’s…
A month of milestones for Moodley
It’s been an eventful year for apprentice jockey Triston Moodley, but it is ending on a high. The talented rider was sidelined for three months after he sustained a head injury at the Waipa trials in July, but he made a pleasing recovery and has made an instant impact on his return to the track. The last month has been particularly fruitful for Moodley, who was victorious aboard the Andrew Forsman-trained Force Of Nature in the Listed Legacy Lodge Sprint (1200m), doubling his career stakes tally, and last Friday he…
Wrights celebrate second Jericho Cup win
The past few days have been a case of pinch me once, pinch me twice as Glen Massey couple Ian and Shelley Wright have celebrated Farag’s second consecutive win in Australasia’s longest flat race, the A$300,000 Jericho Cup. First run in 2018 to commemorate the Australian and New Zealand light horse involvement in World War l, the Jericho Cup is restricted to Australian and New Zealand-bred horses. Farag, by Sacred Falls out of a Yamanin Vital mare from the South Island’s famous ‘Flight’ family, won last year’s race by 20…