Video
Video: Two Illicit
Trainer Roger James discusses the prospects of smart filly Two Illicit, who takes on the boys in the Gr.2 Legacy Lodge Waikato Guineas (2000m)
NZ Racing Desk
New Zealand
On The Rocks attempts to defend crown
On The Rocks (NZ) (Alamosa) will attempt to defend his Group One crown in the Herbie Dyke Stakes (2000m) at Te Rapa on Saturday. The Pam Gerard and Michael Moroney-trained gelding takes some mixed form into the race, including a last start sixth-placing in the Gr.1 Thorndon Mile (1600m)
New Zealand
Well-bred Sinarahma lands Wairarapa Breeders'
Five-year-old mare Sinarahma (NZ) (Darci Brahma) landed some valuable black-type when taking out the Listed Property Brokers Wairarapa Thoroughbred Breeders' Stakes (1600m) at Tauherenikau on Thursday. The Allan Sharrock-trained daughter of Darci Brahma had been luckless at her previous outing at Trentham and despite covering ground in the mid-stages,
New Zealand
Class gallopers to the fore at Tauranga trials
Group One winners Bostonian (NZ) (Jimmy Choux) and Melody Belle (NZ) Commands) showed they are on track for their upcoming Australian campaigns with forward showings in a special 1050m trial at Tauranga on Thursday. With the abandonment of the Taupo trials on Tuesday due to firm conditions, two open class
New Zealand
Dragon ready to fire for Guineas
Winning Saturday's Gr.2 Legacy Lodge Waikato Guineas isn't a critical element of Dragon Leap's (Pierro) campaign, according to Matamata trainer Lance O'Sullivan. O'Sullivan, who trains the rising star Pierro three-year-old in partnership with Andrew Scott, has made it clear
Breeding
Group One entire retired
Group One-winning miler Wyndspelle (NZ) (Iffraaj) has been retired after suffering an injury while preparing for a tilt at the Gr.1 Haunui Farm WFA Classic (1600m) later this month. Prepared at Otaki by Johno Benner and Hollie Wynyard through the latter half of his career, Wyndspelle was a model
New Zealand
Shark circling Group One sprint
It’s hard to believe that outstanding galloper Te Akau Shark does not have a Group One win to his name, but the striking chestnut with a cult-following is strongly favoured to put that misnomer to bed on Saturday at Te Rapa. The Jamie Richards-trained gelding is set to commence
New Zealand
Za Za Gabor starting to reach potential
Pam Gerard has had a high opinion of Za Za Gabor for some time and the five-year-old mare is starting to live up to those expectations. The daughter of O’Reilly was stakes-placed as a three-year-old before going on to win two races at four. She has come of age
New Zealand
Sydney goals for Glory Days
Group One-winning stayer Glory Days (NZ) (Red Giant) will make her raceday return at Awapuni on Friday and trainer Bill Thurlow is hoping it is the start of a path towards the Gr.1 Sydney Cup (3200m). The seven-year-old mare ran home well to finish third in the Sydney Cup
Australia
Futurity then All-Star Mile for Kolding
Epsom Handicap and Golden Eagle winner Kolding (NZ) (Ocean Park) is sitting pretty among the top 10 in voting for the A$5 million All-Star Mile and trainer Chris Waller hopes he can pick up another Group One win on the way to the rich race. Kolding, who resumed from
International
New association strikes at Karaka
Last week’s New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale was the birthplace for a new association between Singapore-based New Zealand trainer Stephen Gray and prominent Perth syndicator Peter Morley of Belhus Racing Stables. Morley recently visited Gray’s training operation in Singapore and liked what he saw, deciding to extend
Australia
Miami Bound trip comes to fruition
A Super Bowl trip two years in the making has come to fruition for the trainer and owners of New Zealand-bred Gr.1 Victoria Oaks (2500m) winner Miami Bound (NZ) (Reliable Man). The group, led by Melbourne Cup-winning trainer Danny O’Brien, purchased Miami Bound out of Westbury Stud’s