New Zealand
Superstar filly Velocious cemented herself atop the country’s two-year-old ranks with a tenacious victory in Saturday’s Gr.1 Sistema Stakes (1200m) at Ellerslie. Velocious burst onto the juvenile scene on debut at Te Rapa in November, the daughter of Written Tycoon swiftly collecting black-type honours
New Zealand
Whangaehu has taken a significantly different route to the Gr.2 Barfoot & Thompson Auckland Cup (3200m) than Bill Thurlow’s last contender, but the Waverley trainer is hopeful he can produce an identical result on Saturday at Ellerslie. Thurlow prepared his former star mare Glory Days to an emphatic
New Zealand
Lynsey Satherley’s affinity with underrated stayers continued at Ellerslie on Saturday, guiding My Maebelline Girl (NZ) (Shamoline Warrior) to victory and a place in next week’s Gr.2 Barfoot & Thompson Auckland Cup (3200m). Satherley secured the ride aboard Cup favourite Asterix (NZ) (Tavistock) after a sterling effort
New Zealand
Underrated mare Maria Farina outsprinted several of the country’s top gallopers to secure Saturday’s Gr.3 Haunui Farm King’s Plate (1200m) at Ellerslie. The daughter of Contributer has flown relatively under the radar this season, despite having accumulated six career victories, including the Listed Lightning Handicap (1200m)
New Zealand
Te Akau Racing make their presence felt in a volume of top-flight New Zealand races, with Karaka Millions, Guineas, and weight-for-age crowns in constant flow. However, the iconic Gr.1 Trackside New Zealand Derby (2400m) is one that has eluded the Matamata giant since cult hero Gingernuts
New Zealand
Legarto catapulted herself into the spotlight in last year’s A$1 million Gr.1 Australian Guineas (1600m), and Te Akau Racing is hopeful another Kiwi filly can follow suit in the Flemington feature on Saturday. That filly is Quintessa, a daughter of Shamus Award that has only once finished
New Zealand
Tony Pike certainly knows how to win a Derby, but the Cambridge trainer is taking a philosophical approach into this year’s edition. Pike has collected two Gr.1 New Zealand Derby (2400m) titles in recent years with Rangipo (Stryker) (2016) and Sherwood Forest (Fastnet Rock) (2020), and he will
New Zealand
Harlow Rocks announced herself into the Oaks equation last-start behind Molly Bloom, and won’t have the star filly to contend with in Wednesday’s Gr.2 Little Avondale Lowland Stakes (2100m) at Hastings. Under the care of Cambridge conditioner Tony Pike, Harlow Rocks was a gallant pacemaker in
New Zealand
All roads now lead to the Gr.1 Sistema Stakes (1200m) for Captured By Love (Written Tycoon), after the talented juvenile maintained her unbeaten status in the Gr.2 J Swap Contractors LTD Matamata Breeders’ Stakes (1200m). Local powerhouse stable Te Akau Racing have been victorious in the last two
New Zealand
This Saturday’s juvenile features at Matamata are set to paint a clearer picture for upcoming Group One targets, and Te Akau Racing co-trainer Sam Bergerson is hoping for good showings from his high-class trio. Bergerson, who trains in partnership with Mark Walker, will prepare Move To Strike
New Zealand
The tangerine and blue silks of Te Akau Racing command respect at each Riccarton Park meeting, and the stable will present another strong team of runners across the 10-race card on Friday. A gate malfunction causing a false start marred an impressive four-win haul by Te Akau a
New Zealand
Simon and Katrina Alexander are hopeful the best of La Crique’s (NZ) (Vadamos) season is yet to come, with the Group Oner winner heading south on Saturday to tackle the Gr.1 Trackside Otaki-Maori WFA Classic (1600m) at Otaki. A daughter of Vadamos, La Crique resumed after a