Audio
AUDIO: Rick Williams
Andrew Bensley talks with The Oaks Studs' general manager Rick Williams on Wednesday after Catalyst's trial win at Taupo. https://soundcloud.com/nz-racing-desk/rick-williams
NZ Racing Desk
New Zealand
A late racing starter but a major investor
Kevin Pratt’s death on Wednesday morning has left behind a racing legacy which mushroomed within just nine years to include a major investment. Pratt (67), who passed away after a short illness, may have been a late starter in horse racing, but he immediately developed a love of the
New Zealand
Regional roadshows postponed
In light of the government announcement on Tuesday night regarding the country returning to a combination of alert levels 2 and 3 from midday Wednesday, New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing has decided to postpone the Regional Roadshows scheduled for the South Island this week. NZTR will be monitoring the situation and
New Zealand
Richards pleased with star triallists
Te Akau trainer Jamie Richards had a strong contingent at the Taupo trials on Wednesday and he came away pleased with how his team performed. Multiple Group One winner Avantage (Fastnet Rock) won her 1100m heat in the hands of Opie Bosson and Richards said she is on target for
New Zealand
Catalyst pleases in Taupo trial
A solid showing in his 1100m trial at Taupo on Wednesday has Catalyst’s (NZ) (Darci Brahma) connections excited ahead of his Sydney spring campaign. The Group One winner jumped well from the gates and went up to sit outside leader Aretha before hitting the lead turning for home and
New Zealand
Hastings targets for Jennifer Eccles
Shaune Ritchie has resisted the temptation to campaign last season’s Gr.1 New Zealand Oaks (2400m) winner Jennifer Eccles (NZ) (Rip Van Winkle) in Sydney, despite receiving a travel exemption to do so. Ritchie, who trains in partnership with Colm Murray at Cambridge, has elected to target Group One
New Zealand
Meetings to be run behind closed doors
Following a meeting between NZTR, stewards and club representatives it has been decided that Wednesday's meeting at Taupo and Friday’s at Waverley will be closed-door events. This is based on the government’s announcement of a return to alert level 3 in the Auckland Super-City
New Zealand
Kiwis given clearance to fly
There was an echoed sigh of relief in Waikato today with a handful of trainers receiving travel exemptions for their staff to fly to Australia. Cambridge trainer Tony Pike, who also heads the New Zealand Traniers’ Association, was one of the recipients of the good news and he has already
Breeding
First foal for Eminent
Brighthill Farm stallion Eminent has welcomed his first foal with the birth of a colt out of High Chaparral mare Rose Meer at Cambridge Stud on Saturday. “I went to Cambridge Stud and couldn’t be happier with him,” Brighthill Farm principal Nick King said. “He is a smart, strong
Breeding
New sponsor for National Breeding Awards
The inaugural National Breeding Awards, to be held in Cambridge later this month, will be sponsored by Hamilton based Ebbett Volkswagen as part of a new partnership agreement with the New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders Association. To be known as the Ebbett VW NZTBA National Breeding Awards, the event will honour
New Zealand
Social Racing descend on Taupo
Brent Cooper’s Social Racing syndicates will be represented by a trio of runners at Taupo on Wednesday, including a debutant for punting group Boys Get Paid. Four-year-old mare Graciano (NZ) (Tavistock) will make her race debut in the Waikato Stud Maiden (1100m) for trainer Stephen Marsh and
New Zealand
Major Taupo focus for Baker and Forsman
Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman will roll out some of their highly regarded unraced three-year-olds as well as a few proven stars at Taupo on Wednesday, while they wait to finalise plans for an Australian-bound contingent. The Cambridge trainers have accepted eight horses, including five debutantes, at