New Zealand
Group Two winning mare Aretha (NZ) (Charm Spirit) has been retired after trailing the field home in the Gr.2 Foxbridge Plate (1200m) last Saturday, with a stallion yet to be selected for the daughter of Charm Spirit. The winner of the Gr.2 Matamata Breeders’ Stakes (1200m) at two,
Australia
The weights for the A$5.15 million Gr.1 Caulfield Cup (2400m) and A$8 million Gr.1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) have been released by Racing Victoria, with the Kiwi contingent featuring prominently. Pre-weights Melbourne Cup favourite Surprise Baby has been handed 54.5kg in both races, 1kg more
Australia
Lance O’Sullivan, who trains in partnership with Andrew Scott, was pleased with the fresh-up run of quality four-year-old Dragon Leap (Pierro), who finished 8th in the Gr.2 Tramway Stakes (1400m) at Randwick on Saturday. The son of Pierro was only two lengths from the winner Dreamforce and will
Australia
Promising filly La Vernazza (NZ) (More Than Ready) will head to the spelling paddock after pulling up injured last week. The Brendan and Jo Lindsay-owned filly had joined trainer Jamie Richards’ Sydney team ahead of the spring, however, she will now be put on ice until next year. “She injured
Australia
Trans-Tasman trainer Michael Moroney will head to the races for the first time in five months on Saturday when he goes to Flemington to watch Tofane (NZ) (Ocean Park) compete in the Gr.2 Bobbie Lewis Quality (1200m). With the COVID-19 outbreak in Victoria, Moroney felt it was wise to
New Zealand
Almost two years after suffering serious head injuries in a race fall, apprentice jockey Sarah Macnab has made a fine start to the 2020-21 season. The Wanganui-based rider kicked home a treble on her home track last Saturday, including a win in the Foxton Cup (2040m) on the highly promising
Australia
Former New Zealand galloper Simply Optimistic (Encosta De Lago) recorded his first victory for trainers Trent Busuttin and Natale Young when successful in a benchmark 78 race over 1200m at Geelong on Sunday. The six-year-old gelding was formerly trained by Busuttin and Young’s stable foreman Brendon Hawtin, and they
New Zealand
Thomas Russell’s hands-on involvement with racing was cut short just over six years ago through a life-threatening injury, but the former jockey and trainer is still enjoying the thrill of the thoroughbred sport as a part-owner and jockey’s agent. Russell (38), who has been a tetraplegic since a
Australia
A patient approach with three-year-old colt Tanaawol (NZ) (Savabeel) paid off for trainers Ben Hayes and Tom Dabernig at Geelong on Sunday. The son of Savabeel was having just his second career start, but showed plenty of improvement from his debut performance in April where he disappointed when finishing last.
New Zealand
Lightly raced three-year-old Atishu (NZ) (Savabeel) proved she was up to stakes class when finishing runner-up in the Listed Wanganui Guineas (1200m) on Saturday. Racing in the silks of syndicator Go Racing, the daughter of Savabeel was having just her second career start after finishing second on debut at Taupo
Australia
Young Werther (NZ) (Tavistock) showed he has the potential to follow in his namesakes footsteps when winning over 1500m on debut at Geelong on Sunday. Named after another son of Tavistock, former Hong Kong Horse of the Year and Hong Kong Derby (2000m) winner Werther, Young Werther showed a brilliant
New Zealand
The Ken and Bev Kelso-trained Princess Kereru (NZ) (Pins) has been retired after finishing 11th in Saturday’s Gr.2 Foxbridge Plate (1200m). The seven-year-old daughter of Pins finished nine-and-a-half lengths in arears of impressive winner Avantage, a far cry from her best form where she was a Group Three