Category: Gallops

Abu Dhabi (NZ) (Haradasun) will make his much-anticipated return to jumping when he contests the Fairview Motors Waikato Hurdle (3200m) at Te Rapa on Saturday. The nine-year-old gelding placed in the race two years ago before falling in his debut steeplechase at his next start and was off the racing scene before making his return on the flat last month. The son of Haradasun has a solid record over hurdles, winning two and placing in three of his seven starts, including victory in the 2022 edition of the Great Northern…

A difficult draw in the Gr.1 Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) has prompted Chris Waller to scratch dual acceptor Firestorm (NZ) (Satono Aladdin) in preference for the Gr.2 Dane Ripper Stakes (1300m) at Eagle Farm, paving the way for first emergency and barn mate Coleman (Pierata) to take his place in the Group One. Waller had initially hoped to run the daughter of Satono Aladdin in the day’s main feature but said drawing barrier 16 made her task hard. “If she had a good draw she would definitely be running (in the…

Former jockey Herbie Rauhihi, who was revered by many young hoops in the Central Districts, has passed away, aged 86. One of those impressionable young riders was Noel Harris, who would go on to become one of New Zealand’s most decorated jockeys. Harris looked up to Rauhihi from the outset of his riding career and he said Rauhihi made a big impression on him in his formative years in the saddle. “He was a champion guy,” Harris said. “He rode for my Dad, Eric Ropiha, and all the good trainers…

He may have been away in Australia, but that didn’t stop Robbie Patterson from stealing the show on his home track on Tuesday, combining with Triston Moodley to win four consecutive races on the apprentice-only card. The New Plymouth horseman engaged 11 runners in the rescheduled meeting and two of those stepped out in race four, where lightly-tried mare Freebelle skipped through the testing ground to break maiden status ahead of Crafty Colin and her stablemate O’Ceirins Belle. Patterson had been confident of a bold performance from the daughter of…

Six-year-old gelding Tai has been a work-in-progress for breeder-owner-trainer Joanne Moss, and she was rewarded with her patience with a maiden win at New Plymouth on Saturday. The half-brother to Moss’ Group Three winner Doctor Askar was just having his second raceday start, and first since making his debut at the Taranaki track two years ago. After dislodging local apprentice Elle Sole in the prelim, Tai took his place in barrier seven and pressed forward to settle just behind the speed. Sole asked him to improve from the 600m, and…

It was a sense of déjà vu for Triston Moodley as he took out the apprentice-only day at New Plymouth on Tuesday after riding four winners for local trainer Robbie Patterson. The northern hoop won the contest last year when piloting five winners, and he was delighted to repeat the feat this year. “You don’t always get days like that, and I was very happy to be able to win it again,” he said. “I love riding at Taranaki, it is a lovely course. It is a quirky course and…

Star galloper Mr Brightside (NZ) (Bullbars) has begun his build-up towards a spring campaign, with the Group One Memsie Stakes shaping as his potential return again, should things go to plan. After an autumn campaign in Victoria this year which included Mr Brightside claiming his ninth career Gr.1 win with a victory in the Futurity Stakes, the seven-year-old was taken to Hong Kong for the Gr.1 Champions Mile in late April, but failed to fire when finishing last in the field of 13. “He’s back in work. He’s great,” Mr…

Jo Rathbone has spent most of her life immersed in the world of jumps racing, with a celebrated riding career, a couple of champion horses, and a rising profile in the training ranks already to her name. Growing up in the equestrian scene, Rathbone got a taste of the racing industry in her early teens, and after relocating to Palmerston North for university, a new door opened for the talented horsewoman. “I used to do a lot of eventing growing up and when I was about 14, I started riding…

The Peters’ family and trainer Michael Grantham have outlined Ascot carnival plans for Luvnwar (NZ) (War Decree) after she doubled up at Pinjarra on Saturday, attacking the line strongly to claim an impressive win in the Hygain Handicap (1400m). Punters had to wait until the final race on the programme, but the four-year-old justified her $1.60 TAB Touch quote, coming away to defeat Speed Demon by a neck margin after jockey Clint Johnston-Porter weaved a path between runners. It’s a cameo winter campaign only for Luvnwar, she’s done enough this…

Stephanie Faulkner was in the spotlight on her home track of Phar Lap Raceway on Tuesday, collecting a fitting victory for the connections of He’s Tunza Grunt (NZ) (Pure Champion) in the Dunstan Horsefeeds Waimate Cup (1600m).  The meeting was initially set to be run on Sunday, but after heavy rain through the week, it was rescheduled to Tuesday, and that was telling in the testing track conditions on course. One runner that was always going to appreciate the ground was He’s Tunza Grunt, Faulkner’s four-win galloper who came into…