New Zealand
Trainer Ben Foote believes the Cambridge polytrack has been a godsend for the racing industry over winter and he took full advantage of his home track once again on Wednesday. Cathay Empress got Foote’s day off to a winning start in the NZB Pearl Insurance Race (1550m) and two
New Zealand
Paul Harris hopes Thursday's Riccarton Park Function Centre 1400 can become the launchpad to Group race success early next season for new stable recruit Green Luck (Street Cry). The Rangiora trainer welcomed Street Cry seven-year-old gelding Green Luck into his stable earlier this year, the former Australian galloper
International
The Gr.1 King’s Stand Stakes (1000m) on the opening day of Royal Ascot was billed as a match-race between star Australian sprinter Nature Strip (Nicconi) and American speedster Golden Pal (Uncle Mo). But it turned into a one-act affair the minute the US raider fluffed his lines from
Breeding
Trainer Michael O’Callaghan pulled off a remarkable pinhooking feat when he sold Time Test juvenile Crypto Force at Goffs London Sale this week for £900,000. The Curragh horseman had purchased Crypto Force for 160,000gns at the Guineas Breeze-Up Sale and trained him to win a maiden first
New Zealand
A battered and bruised Andrew Calder remains in good spirits after suffering multiple injuries, but with no long-lasting damage, in a nasty fall at Ruakaka on Saturday. The Pukekohe jockey was airlifted to Whangarei Hospital after he had parted company with his mount Lady Deb in Saturday’s two-year-old contest.
New Zealand
Pythagoras (NZ) (Pentire) made a promising start to his steeplechase career three years ago and the nine-year-old has made a return to the fences to try and pick up where he left off. The Peter and Jessica Brosnan-trained gelding won his first two steeplechase starts but subsequently suffered some leg
International
Trainer Peter Ho was not surprised when Dashing Triumph (NZ) (El Roca) defied market expectations to win the Tung Wan Shan Plate (1000m) for Griffins at Sha Tin on Sunday under Dylan Mo despite the El Roca gelding starting at 27-1 on the basis of a modest trial last month.
New Zealand
The Andrew Carston-trained mare Yamuna (NZ) (Iffraaj) impressed when winning the Garrard and Livamol Rating 74 (1600m) at Phar Lap Raceway in Timaru on Sunday. Ridden by stable apprentice Kozzi Asano, the daughter of Iffraaj got off to a good start from barrier five, settling in midfield before gunning down
New Zealand
NZTR CEO Bruce Sharrock has announced the appointment of Darin Balcombe to the role of Chief Operating Officer – Racing & Infrastructure (COO). Balcombe joins NZTR after filling several leadership positions within the industry, most recently being the CEO of Hawke’s Bay Racing Incorporated. While at HBRI he has also
Australia
A bright future is being tipped for promising filly Po Kare Kare (NZ) (Savabeel) after her two-length win at Gosford last Thursday. It was the second victory from four starts for the daughter of Savabeel, who has placed in her other two outings. Trainer Bryce Heys was pleased with the
New Zealand
Comeback horse Alligator Blood’s (All Too Hard) Gr.1 Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) triumph has Cambridge trainer Tony Pike hoping that one of that horse’s most notable rivals can have a similarly successful return to racing next spring. Alligator Blood’s Stradbroke victory was his first trip to the
New Zealand
Stable stalwart Tavi Mac (NZ) (Tavistock) is making timely progress toward another campaign with Group features again featuring on his radar. The Allan Sharrock-trained son of Tavistock has multiple stakes victories among his career tally of 12 wins from 23 appearances and his preparation will be stepped up a gear