Blind Raise to take on Cox Plate challenge

New Zealand-bred colt Blind Raise (NZ) (Ace High) will take his place in Saturday’s A$6 million Gr.1 Cox Plate (2040m) at Flemington, with trainers Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young electing to chase one of Australian racing’s biggest prizes rather than a more conventional three-year-

Well Written withdrawn from Golden Eagle

The spring campaign of Well Written (Written Tycoon) is over. New Zealand’s darling of the turf has spiked a temperature in Sydney, which has ruled her out of next week’s A$10 million Gr.1 Golden Eagle (1500m) at Randwick. “Well Written has contracted a viral infection over

Hawea out of NZ 1000 Guineas

Former Gr.1 Barneswood Farm New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) favourite Hawea (Hellbent) has been withdrawn from the southern classic and will head for a freshen-up following her last-placed finish in the Gr.2 Soliloquy Stakes (1400m) at Ellerslie on Saturday. The Hellbent filly had been eye-catching

Ka Ying Rising beaten narrowly in The Everest

David Hayes has lamented a poor barrier draw after Ka Ying Rising’s (NZ) (Shamexpress) 21-race winning streak came to a dramatic end in the AU$20 million Gr.1 The Everest (1200m) at Randwick Racecourse on Saturday. Ka Ying Rising was trapped wide under Zac Purton after jumping

Ohope Wins remembered for her kindness and talent

Kind, athletic, willing to learn, and immensely talented. These are the memories Andrew Scott has of Ohope Wins (NZ) (Ocean Park), the dual Oaks winner he and Lance O’Sullivan prepared for the first part of her career. Ohope Wins, transferred to the Sydney stable of Chris Waller in March,

King back to gallop Warwoven

Sydney jockey Rachel King will return to Melbourne to partner Warwoven (Sword Of State) in a track gallop and give the final tick of approval for a Cox Plate start at Flemington. King partnered the Bjorn Baker-trained Warwoven to victory in the Caulfield Guineas on October 10 and headed

Mr Brightside set to race on in 2027

Mr Brightside (NZ) (Bullbars) will race on in 2027, but a decision is pending on whether he runs again this spring. The Lindsay Park team of Ben, Will and J D Hayes will wait until acceptance time before deciding whether to start Mr Brightside at Flemington. Mr Brightside is likely

Cross Tasman overcomes wide run for tough Randwick win

Progressive New Zealand-bred gelding Cross Tasman (NZ) (Super Seth) overcame a taxing run to record the fifth and most impressive win of his career in the A$160,000 HKJC World Pool Handicap (1400m) on Everest Day at Randwick. Sent out as a $2.15 favourite for Saturday’s

Saintly Dancer shows her class in Thousand Guineas

New Zealand-bred filly Saintly Dancer (NZ) (St Mark’s Basilica) completed a notable spring double with victory in the A$1.5 million Gr.1 Stow Storage Thousand Guineas (1600m) at Caulfield on Saturday. The daughter of St Mark’s Basilica became the sixth filly in the last 30

Asturia puts her name into contention for Riccarton fillies feature

Te Akau Racing looks to have another strong hand in the upcoming Group One features for the three-year-olds at Riccarton next month with Asturia (NZ) (Almanzor) laying down a stern challenge to all Gr.1 Barneswood Farm New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) candidates with a stunning victory at

Rareza back with a vengeance at Otaki

Underrated mare Rareza (NZ) (Exosphere) showed just how potent she can be when she gets a run to suit as she stormed home from near last to take out the open 1200m contest at Otaki, the Vets on Riverbank Handicap (1200m). The Cody Cole-prepared daughter of Exosphere finished runner-

War Machine back to brilliant best in Harry White Stakes

A year after taking on Ka Ying Rising (NZ) (Shamexpress) in the Gr.1 The Everest (1200m), the connections of War Machine (NZ) (Harry Angel) were happy to be a big fish in a smaller pond on Saturday. The Group One-winning gelding returned to winning form with a determined