New Zealand
Rising ten-year-old Irish Excuse (NZ) (No Excuse Needed) peeled back the years as he gave his rivals weight and a beating to land his 16th career victory when taking out a rating 93 1200m contest at Riccarton Punters had expected the Ellis Winsloe-trained gelding to need his first-up run but
Australia
A minor surgery has worked the oracle with Wairere Falls (NZ) (Savabeel) who broke maiden ranks at Geelong on Friday. The three-year-old son of Savabeel was having just his third career start, and first since a gelding operation, finishing strongly to win the 1200m event. Wairere Falls, who races in
New Zealand
A typically patient ride from the evergreen Chris Johnson paved the way for local runner Yannick (NZ) (Burgundy) to take out the opening event at Riccarton on Saturday as racing returned to the South Island for the first time since the easing of Covid-19 pandemic restrictions. Johnson showed all his
Australia
Top Sydney jockey James McDonald has been suspended for three weeks over his ride on the Joe Pride-trained Threeood at Randwick. Racing NSW stewards, led by Marc Van Gestel, chaired an inquiry on Friday after earlier charging McDonald for failing to take all reasonable and permissable measures to win or
Australia
Three-time Group One winner Humidor (NZ) (Teofilo) has been put on notice by trainer Lindsey Smith heading into Saturday’s Gr.3 Strickland Stakes (2000m) at Belmont. The seven-year-old gelding hasn’t been living up to expectations for the dual-state conditioner, and if he fails to place this weekend a
New Zealand
Riccarton trainers Michael and Matthew Pitman have a host of horses ready to race and the stable will be well represented when racing returns in the South Island on Saturday on their hometrack. The leading conditioners accepted with 27 horses, with four likely to be balloted and Michael Pitman is
New Zealand
The Ross Beckett-trained Blair Flight (NZ) (Zacinto) will meet a Heavy track for the first time when lines-up at Riccarton on Saturday, but that hasn’t deterred TAB bookmakers. The Petone pundits have installed the five-year-old gelding as a $5 favourite in the Janet Francis Handicap (1400m) ahead of Apellido
New Zealand
The Racing Industry Transition Agency (RITA) today advised New Zealand racing codes of forecasted funding in 2020/21 of $139.6m which is the same level as was budgeted for the 2019/2020 season before the impacts of COVID-19. This is despite fewer thoroughbred and harness races planned for the
International
Globe-trotting jockey Alan Munro partnered two-year-old New Zealand-bred gelding Mighty New (NZ) (Red Giant) to an impressive Class 4 victory in a 1200m race at Seoul last weekend, which may pave the way for further Kiwi exports to South Korea. The son of Red Giant was one of nine horses
New Zealand
A return to racing in the South Island isn’t the only thing filly and mare owners will be excited about this weekend. Canterbury Jockey Club’s NZB Insurance Pearl Series race (1200m) on Saturday will give Pearl Series registered fillies and mares their first opportunity since the COVID-19 lockdown
New Zealand
The Bjorn Baker-trained Crack Me Up (NZ) (Mossman) will be looking to rebound from his subpar performance in the Gr.1 Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) when he contests the Listed Civic Stakes (1350m) at Rosehill on Saturday. The Stradbroke was the New Zealand-bred gelding’s sole run in Queensland and his
New Zealand
Central Districts trainer Chrissy Bambry wasted no time putting wins on the board at the first Lower North Island thoroughbred meeting following a COVID-19 enforced hiatus. Recent stable addition Spring Tide was an emphatic maiden winner in the opening event over 800m, while two-races later Speed Call made a one-act