Racing
Promising stayer Blue Breeze took the first step on the path to a potential Melbourne Cup bid with a dominant first -up victory over 1400m at Pukekohe on Saturday. Sporting the colours of his new part-owners, Cambridge Stud couple Brendan and Jo Lindsay, the Bullbars six-year-old was expected to be
Australia
Expat New Zealand jockey James McDonald is excited for the season ahead with dual Group One winner Verry Elleegant after her two recent trials in Sydney. The Chris Waller-trained mare created quite a following last season after her heroics in autumn, taking out the Gr.1 Vinery Stud Stakes (2000m)
Racing
Mathew Gillies has gained a doctor's clearance to ride Gagarin in Saturday's Racecourse Hotel & Motor Lodge 145th Grand National Steeplechase (5600m) at Riccarton. The jumps jockey was concussed in a fall at Riccarton last Saturday, an injury that led to him missing the winning ride
Australia
Two progressive gallopers by Windsor Park Stud stallion Charm Spirit will clash in Saturday’s VRC Member Helen Saffin Handicap (1400m) at Flemington when the Anthony Freedman-trained Heirborn and Phillip Stokes-prepared Sansom go head-to-head. The recently-turned three-year-olds were both late-season juvenile winners, with Heirborn a dominant winner at Bendigo at
Racing
Waipukurau farmer Simon Wilson started the racing season off in perfect style at Riccarton last Saturday, recording his first stakes victory as a trainer when Dez took out the Gr.3 Winter Cup (1600m). “I was really happy, he tried really hard,” Wilson said. “He ran a tough race, Chris
Racing
Group One performer Aalaalune will kick-off her three-year-old season in the Tee Café @ Ruakaka Races (1000m) on Sunday and her path this season hinges on her performance at the Northland track. The daughter of Reliable Man had a pleasing juvenile season. While not quite managing to win as a two-year-old,
International
The world has a new richest race, with the announcement of the creation of the US$20 million Saudi Cup (1800m), to be run at King Abdulaziz Racetrack in Riyadh on February 29. The race will be run on dirt and have a maximum field of 14 starters. The race
Racing
Trudy Thornton will cut an imposing figure to her rival jockeys as she walks out to ride at Pukekohe on Saturday. Thornton stood herself down from her final ride at Te Rapa last weekend after her mount Mister Gerinomo clipped heels in an incident that led to Anna Jones copping
Racing
Bill Thurlow could have another promising mare on his hands after Calling Us Home won the Carole Buick 1100 convincingly by 2-1/2 lengths at Woodville on Thursday. The Waverley trainer is in for an exciting season with Group One stayer Glory Days and Group One performer Beyond The Fort,
Racing
Daytona Red looked a promising proposition heading into last season, however, a tendon injury cut short those plans. The Shaune Ritchie-trained six-year-old won the Listed New Zealand St Leger (2500m) at Trentham in March 2018, but was forced to sit on the sidelines after suffering an injury in his subsequent
Breeding
Saturday’s Gr.3 Winter Cup (1600m) added some black-type lustre to a brief foray into thoroughbred breeding for Carole and Doug Isaacson. The time-honoured Riccarton feature was won in strong style by Dez, who was bred by the Dannevirke couple in unusual circumstances. Doug Isaacson is a respected name
International
When expat Kiwi trainer Stephen Gray was told he had saddled his 700th winner at Kranji with five-year-old gelding Larry on Sunday, his face lit up with surprise and delight first, but a more solemn sense of self-reflection and nostalgia soon took over. The boy from Waverley has come a