Category: Gallops

Having become the most improved galloper in the north this season, the Tony Pike-trained Agera (NZ) (Complacent) may be given his chance at racing’s elite level in the TAB Mufhasa Classic (1600m). The Trentham weight-for-age feature on December 6 has been penciled in by connections and any continuation of the wet weather may well confirm the mission. After winning just two of his 18 starts up to the end of last season, Agera has been a revelation over the past four months, beginning with a Cambridge Polytrack double in August.…

Group Three winner Spencer (NZ) (Derryn) will have a new trainer next to his name in the racebook when he heads to Wanganui on Saturday to contest the Manawatu ITM 1340. Previously trained by Erin Hocquard in Waverley, Spencer has recently joined the Matamata barn of Peter and Shaun McKay, for whom he will have his first start this weekend. The six-year-old son of Derryn was a standout for Hocquard, having won eight and placed in five of his 26 starts for the South Taranaki horsewoman, including victory in last…

Malaysian buyers made a resounding statement at the recent New Zealand Bloodstock Ready to Run Sale, securing an impressive 44 lots with a combined spend of $1.93 million. Held at Karaka, the sale featured a vibrant catalogue of two-year-olds, and Malaysia’s presence was felt across a wide spectrum of vendors and sires. Out of 353 catalogued lots, 265 were sold—of which Malaysian buyers accounted for 12%, a significant footprint in one of the Southern Hemisphere’s premier juvenile auctions. Leading the Malaysian charge was Mr Charles Leck, who acquired seven lots…

Sir Peter Vela joined Gareth Hall for an extended chat live from Pencarrow Stud to speak on his life and background which led him into the racing & breeding game. The Amazing Life & Story Of Si… – Giddy Up – Apple Podcasts

It will be a full circle moment for Group One performer Wild Night (NZ) (Vanbrugh) when he returns to Windsor Park Stud following his retirement from racing this week. Bred by the Cambridge farm, the six-year-old gelding is by their Group One-producing sire Vanbrugh and out of Supreme, who is also the dam of Group Two winner Play That Song. Wild Night was offered through Windsor Park Stud’s 2021 New Zealand Bloodstock Book 1 Yearling Sale draft where he was purchased by Te Akau Racing principal David Ellis for $50,000.…

Meaningful Star (Pivotal) shone brightly last Saturday when runner-up in the Gr.2 Tauranga Stakes (1530m) and he could now get the opportunity to defend his crown in the Gr.3 Great Northern Challenge Stakes (1600m) at Ellerslie on Saturday week. The seasoned campaigner rocketed home late and came within a short head of usurping Agera in the Tauranga Stakes, pleasing part-owner and co-trainer Grant Cooksley. “It was a good run. A couple of more strides and he would have been in front,” said Cooksley, who trains in partnership with Bruce Wallace.…

Late maturer Queen Of Kings (NZ) (Prince Of Brooklyn) has a gilt-edged opportunity at Phar Lap Raceway on Wednesday to add to her record. The five-year-old has been in fine touch this preparation and looks a leading chance in the Jon Snow & Echoes Of Heaven Handicap (1600m). A daughter of Prince Of Brooklyn, she broke her maiden at Oamaru during the winter and two runs back doubled her tally when successful in an open handicap at Ashburton where race rival Iffididit finished third. In between times, she has posted…

With a quinella in Saturday’s Gr. 1 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) done and dusted, trainer Pam Gerard is now setting about confirming summer plans for Romanoff (NZ) (Belardo) and Affirmative Action (Yes Yes Yes). The obvious route for the latest pair of Ballymore Stables stars is towards Ellerslie in late January for the $1.5 million TAB Karaka Millions 3YO (1600m), followed six weeks later by the $4 million NZB Kiwi (1500m), but Gerard is not rushing into defined decisions. “I stayed down in Christchurch until…

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The 100th National Yearling Sale in New Zealand will feature a refreshed format to celebrate the milestone. Off the back of another record-breaking Ready to Run Sale, New Zealand Bloodstock has catalogued 1009 yearlings to be offered at Karaka from January 25-29. Book 1 will be conducted across two days, composed of 567 horses with Book 2 to follow with a further 281 yearlings, while a third session has also been re-introduced with 161 yearlings catalogued to sell on the Thursday for the new Karaka Summer Sale. “Coming off the back off what…