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AUDIO: Jamie Richards
Andrew Bensley speaks with Jamie Richards after his successful day at Te Rapa despite the defeat of star mare Melody Belle https://soundcloud.com/nz-racing-desk/jamie-richards-sat-13-feb
NZ Racing Desk
New Zealand
Royal Performer upsets in Group One feature
Well-travelled galloper Royal Performer spoilt the party for the many supporters of race favourite Melody Belle when he caused an upset by racing away with Saturday’s Gr.1 Herbie Dyke Stakes (2000m) at Te Rapa. The large on-course crowd were on hand to witness Melody Belle try and break
New Zealand
Super seven for Avantage in Te Rapa sprint feature
In what most pundits deemed a match race between Avantage and Levante, it was marvellous mare Avantage who triumphed as she made it seven career Group One wins when taking out a superb victory in the Gr.1 BCD Group Sprint (1400m) at Te Rapa. The opportunity to see two
New Zealand
Tokorangi gets deserved stakes victory in Waikato Guineas
Consistent performer Tokorangi finally got the luck she needed when she stormed to victory in the Gr.2 Legacy Lodge Waikato Guineas (2000m) at Te Rapa. The Mike Moroney and Pam Gerard-trained three-year-old had had to settle for minor placings in several stakes races prior to Saturday’s effort, having
Australia
Widdup sets Icebath a cool autumn agenda
Brad Widdup says everything is on track for the return of progressive mare Icebath (NZ) (Sacred Falls), who tackles the Gr.3 Triscay Stakes (1200m) at Randwick. Icebath, who was just pipped in a thriller by Collette in the $7.5 million Golden Eagle at her final spring outing, will
Australia
Trainer wary as mare resumes off Cup prep
It takes a special horse to come off a Melbourne Cup preparation and return to win a weight-for-age sprint but Verry Elleegant (NZ) (Zed) might just be good enough to do it. That is the mindset trainer Chris Waller is adopting ahead of the mare's resumption in Saturday&
New Zealand
Callsign Mav thriving ahead of Te Rapa sprint
Callsign Mav (NZ) (Atlante) upset the apple cart when winning at odds of 82-1 in the Gr.1 Tarzino Trophy (1400m) at Hastings last September, but he won’t start at such a lucrative price when he contests another 1400m weight-for-age feature on Saturday. The John Bary-trained gelding came of
New Zealand
Otaki pair primed for Te Rapa features
Johno Benner and Hollie Wynyard have yet to saddle a winner at Te Rapa, but classy three-year-olds Montre Moi (NZ) (Showcasing) and Key (Exceed and Excel) give them two chances to open their account with Group Two success on Saturday. The Otaki trainers are no strangers to plundering northern spoils,
New Zealand
Southern Ocean riding the crest of a wave
Southern Ocean (NZ) (Ocean Park) is riding the crest of a wave at the moment. The promising four-year-old has won three races from just five starts and was runner-up in his other two outings. The son of Ocean Park finished runner-up to subsequent Gr.3 Wellington Cup (3200m) winner Waisake
Breeding
New Zealand Stakes Winner Tops Goffs February Sale
Rubira was the headline act of the Goffs February Online Sale on Wednesday with Alex Elliott going to €100,000 to secure the daughter of Lope De Vega. A winner of the 2018 Listed Champagne Stakes (1600m) in New Zealand for Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman, Rubira was offered in
Australia
Crosshaven’s connections counting All-Star votes
With no three-year-old currently occupying a spot in the top 10 places on The All-Star Mile leaderboard, co-trainer Ben Hayes is hoping his galloper Crosshaven (Smart Missile) can provide the x-factor into the A$5 million race at Moonee Valley on March 13. Crosshaven finished third when resuming in last
Breeding
Entries Open for NZB’s South Island Sale
Entries for New Zealand Bloodstock’s South Island Sale are now open, with the Sale set to be held on NZB’s online subsidiary Gavelhouse Plus for the second year in a row. As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, NZB made the decision to develop a premium online auction