Racing
Paul Nelson and Corrina McDougal will line up a powerful trio of runners in their attempt to claim another Buckley Contracting Hawke’s Bay Hurdle (3000m) at Woodville on Sunday. The Hastings-based partnership have Taika (NZ) (Mettre En Jeu), Dictation (NZ) (Tavistock) and The Bambino (NZ) (Rock 'n&
Racing
Jerricoop (NZ) (Zed) showed his prowess early as a steeplechaser when coming out on top in a thrilling finish to Sunday’s K & R Steeplechase (3500m) at Te Aroha. The son of Zed headed north from Harvey Wilson’s Waverley base to make his debut over the bigger fences,
Racing
Consistent galloper Great Escape (NZ) (Iffraaj) was a popular winner at Waverley on Saturday. The five-year-old daughter of Iffraaj is co-owned by William and Rosie Fell’s Goodwood Stud and Rosie’s sister Kelly Myers was entrusted with riding the mare in the Ultrascan – Mike O’Keefe
Racing
Talented steeplechaser Smug (NZ) (Complacent) will be out for redemption at Trentham on Thursday when he contests the 139th running of the Grant Plumbing Wellington Steeplechase (4900m). The Chris Wood-trained gelding emerged on the scene when first past the post in the maiden steeplechase at this meeting last year,
Racing
In the twilight of her career, underrated mare Kaimai Queen (NZ) (Atlante) added valuable black-type to her record when second in Saturday’s Listed Team Wealleans Tauranga Classic (1400m). Despite all four victories and the lion’s share of her career earnings coming on heavy tracks, Kaimai Queen started
Racing
Emerging top hurdler Squire (NZ) (Savile Row) will bid for his first prestige jumping crown at Te Rapa on Saturday as the gelding takes on the Fairview Motors Waikato Hurdle (3200m). The Peter and Jessica Brosnan-trained gelding won the maiden hurdle at the same meeting 12 months ago and
Racing
Evergreen galloper Bradman was back in the winner’s circle at Trentham on Wednesday, as he nears his swansong early in the new season. A winner of nine previous races including the Listed Lightning Handicap (1400m) in 2024, Bradman was back on favourable heavy conditions in the Grant Plumbing 30th
Racing
A revitalised former National winner and a rising star claimed top honours in Wednesday’s rescheduled jumping features at Trentham. The Manawatu ITM Manawatu Hurdles (2500m) went the way of Happy Star (NZ) (Fabulous), a horse that is no stranger to feature success having won the Hawke’s Bay Hurdle
Racing
Talented stablemates Nedwin (NZ) (Niagara) and Dictation (NZ) (Tavistock) will return to the jumping scene at Trentham on Saturday where they will contest the Manawatu ITM Manawatu Steeplechase (4000m) and Manawatu ITM Manawatu Hurdles (2500m) respectively. Nedwin is vying for another feature crown after winning last year’s Pakuranga Hunt
Racing
Weather, weight and poor barriers pose a challenge for Andrew Forsman as the Cambridge horseman readies for a busy trans-Tasman weekend. Forsman has been campaigning his promising filly Single Red (NZ) (Vanbrugh) in Queensland over the past month, and having proven herself up to the mark against the three-
Racing
Retired superstar jumper The Cossack (NZ) (Mastercraftsman) is enjoying the next phase of his career as a sporthorse, fittingly with former co-trainer Corrina McDougal. The Mastercraftsman 12-year-old, known as ‘Crafty’, was a cult horse of the jumping scene, winning a total of 19 races - 15 of those
Racing
Palmerston North trainer Stephen Gray will support the return to racing at Hastings on Thursday, bringing a team of three across to the venue’s first meeting since September 2024. Following a slip in the first race on day two of the 2024 Hawke’s Bay Spring Carnival, a big