Waller joins elite club with 200th Group One

Expat Kiwi trainer Chris Waller joined an elite club at Doomben on Saturday when recording his 200th Group One win courtesy of Birdman (Free Eagle) in the Doomben Cup (2000m). The Hall of Fame trainer became the first Kiwi and third Australian-based trainer to reach the mark, joining legendary horsemen

Sharrock collects winning double at New Plymouth

Local trainer Allan Sharrock and red-hot apprentice Toni Davies combined to produce a winning double at New Plymouth on Saturday with Fulla Grace (NZ) (Ocean Park) and Belle Tribute (NZ) (Contributer). The victory on Belle Tribute for Davies, who currently enjoys a two-kilogram apprentice claim, was her eighth in the

Prima Bella flies to first-up success

New Zealand-bred mare Prima Bella (NZ) (Per Incanto) made a stylish return at Randwick on Saturday with a victory in her first raceday appearance for almost nine months. The A$160,000 Uphire Handicap (1000m) was the Per Incanto five-year-old’s first start since September 3, and she had built

Gear change working wonders for New Plymouth gelding

A gear change looks to have worked wonders for promising three-year-old Skattebo (NZ) (Nadeem), who scored his second successive win in winkers at his home track of New Plymouth on Saturday when taking out the Hirepool New Plymouth 1600. From his ace draw, he was stoked up early by jockey

Pudding strikes at Sandown

With a last-start Group Three placing in Adelaide under his belt, accomplished Kiwi-bred gelding Pudding (NZ) (Tavistock) ventured to Victoria on Saturday and landed a deserved victory in the A$150,000 MRC Life Member David Sims 90th Birthday (1800m) at Sandown. Saturday’s Benchmark 100 handicap was a step

All-the-way win for Khor at Sandown

Any doubts about Khor’s (NZ) (Savabeel) stamina were put to bed by the Kiwi-bred gelding’s never-say-die performance in the A$130,000 The Big Screen Company Handicap (2400m) at Sandown on Saturday. All of the Savabeel gelding’s previous victories had come over distances ranging from 1600m to

Thebudgiesmugla ready to strut his stuff in staying test

His current connections can't lay claim to coming up with his name, but they are hoping Thebudgiesmugla (NZ) (Redwood) can continue making a name for himself as a stayer of promise. The former New Zealander rises to 2400 metres for the first time this preparation in Saturday'

Exit Fee lands last-gasp win at Randwick

Talented gelding Exit Fee (NZ) (Ten Sovereigns) returned to winning form with a late lunge to take out the A$120,000 TAB Highway Handicap (1200m) at Randwick on Saturday. Although he had gone winless in eight runs dating back to another Highway Handicap victory at Rosehill in February of

Bulgari caps consistent form with Ellerslie success

Promising galloper Bulgari (NZ) (Hello Youmzain) capped a run of consistent form of late with a last to first performance to take out the Trackside.co.nz 1500 at Ellerslie on Saturday. The Darryn and Briar Weatherley-prepared colt had been threatening to win at short notice with a series of

Wexford filly pounces at Ellerslie

Promising juvenile filly Pounce (NZ) (Almanzor) did just that at Ellerslie on Saturday when running over the top of her rivals to take out the MyRacehorse 1100 for trainers Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott. The daughter of Almanzor jumped away well under Jasmine Fawcett, who elected to take her

Smug to renew rivalry with West Coast

Last year’s Hawke’s Bay Steeplechase (4800m) was one of the spectacles of the season, with Smug just nabbing Champion jumper West Coast on the line after the pair went head-to-head from the 800m. That effort told on Smug, who was sent for a spell after two subsequent runs,

West Coast to kick-off jumping season at Te Rapa

Jumps fans will rejoice this weekend when they get to see Champion Jumper West Coast (NZ) (Mettre en Jeu) return over fences in the Waikato Hunt Cup (3900m) at Te Rapa on Sunday. The Hamilton track has been a happy stomping ground for the 10-year-old gelding, who has won both