New Zealand
Tony Pike feels the time is right to take on older horses at weight-for-age with his top three-year-old Field Of Gold (Starspangledbanner). The Cambridge trainer bypassed the Gr.1 New Zealand Derby (2400m) last week in favour of Sunday’s Gr.1 Bonecrusher New Zealand Stakes
New Zealand
Although busy on day three of the New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling sale, trainer Andrew Forsman was keeping a wary eye on the final fields for the prestigious Auckland Cup raceday at Ellerslie on Sunday. Forsman and training partner Murray Baker will have three of their Cambridge stable members in
Australia
Trans-Tasman trainer Michael Moroney will saddle a pair of light-weight chances in Saturday’s Gr.1 Newmarket Handicap (1200m) with four-year-old gelding Poland (So You Think) joined by Kiwi mare Roch ‘N’ Horse (NZ) (Per Incanto) in the time-honoured handicap. A daughter of Per Incato,
Breeding
Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young were able to secure their pick of the fillies at New Zealand Bloodstock’s National Yearling Sale on Wednesday when outlaying $475,000 for lot 467, the Written Tycoon filly out of Phoenix Park’s draft, in conjunction with bloodstock agent Andrew Williams. The Cranbourne
Breeding
Strong demand for quality lots concluded Day Two of Book 1 at New Zealand Bloodstock’s 96th National Yearling Sales Series. The second day of trading at Karaka 2022 saw a further 220 yearlings catalogued. The aggregate increased 19% on last year’s combined Book 1 results at the end
Australia
An elevated temperature causing Callsign Mav (NZ) (Atlante) to miss a lead-up race will not dent the gallopers attempt at the Australian Cup. The former New Zealand galloper missed out on starting in the Gr.2 Peter Young Stakes (1800m) at Caulfield on February 26 with an elevated temperature
Breeding
Te Akau principal David Ellis has bought plenty of quality fillies at Karaka over the years, so it was a bold statement when he labelled lot 410, the Fastnet Rock full-sister to Group One winner Unforgotten, as the best filly he has seen at New Zealand Bloodstock’s sales
Breeding
The pairing that bought last Saturday’s Gr.1 New Zealand Derby (2400m) winner Asterix (NZ) (Tavistock) went back to the Karaka well on Tuesday to try and replicate their success. Bloodstock agent Bruce Perry went to $450,000 to secure Asterix out of Curraghmore’s 2020 New Zealand Bloodstock
Breeding
There were smiles, handshakes and even a few tears of joy on the afternoon of the second day of the National Yearling Sale at Karaka when a pair of South Island breeding operations struck gold with youngsters from their respective drafts. North Canterbury-based Beaufort Downs is an up and
Breeding
Fresh from their stunning Gr.1 New Zealand Derby (2400m) triumph at Ellerslie on Saturday, Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott were back in the limelight at Karaka on Tuesday. The pair purchased three individuals on the first day of the New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale and midway through
Australia
One time Melbourne Cup (3200m) favourite Surprise Baby (NZ) (Shocking) will return to Flemington on Saturday to contest another Group One feature, the Australian Cup (2000m). The son of Shocking has had just two runs since finishing 13th in the 2020 Melbourne Cup, resuming just over a year later at
New Zealand
The connections of Mohaka (NZ) (Nadeem) are hoping she can repay their faith on Sunday after they made the late nomination payment for the Gr.2 Barfoot & Thompson Auckland Cup (3200m) at Ellerslie this weekend. The six-year-old mare has been in good form of late, placing behind