Racing
Wexford Stables came out of their winter hibernation in the best possible fashion at Ellerslie on Saturday when Pounce (NZ) (Almanzor) posted their first win of the season in the Gr.3 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Sunline Vase (1200m). The daughter of Almanzor jumped away well and secured the coveted
Racing
Trainers Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson have been waiting for better tracks to step out their promising filly Asturia (NZ) (Almanzor), and she rewarded their patience with an impressive debut win in the Rich Hill Stud 1400 at Ellerslie on Saturday. The daughter of Almanzor had progressed nicely in her
Racing
When Cooper Stumbles was handing out saddlecloths at Wingatui as a child, he dreamed of sitting atop them as a jockey, so it was only fitting that his first win in that role came at the Otago track on Friday. Now based in Matamata, where he is apprenticed to Te
Racing
Following his heroics in last month’s Grand National Steeplechase (5600m) at Riccarton, Lord Spencer (NZ) (Zed) will return to the flat at New Plymouth on Saturday in the NZB Airfreight Road To Jericho (3210m). The JJ Rayner-trained gelding has been the standout jumper over winter, posting four successive
Racing
It is often said that a picture paints a thousand words, and one in particular has been speaking volumes to Ruakaka trainer Michelle Bradley as she prepares She’s No Saint (Prague) for the Gr.3 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Sunline Vase (1200m) at Ellerslie on Saturday. “I took a
Racing
Expat Australian jockey Matt Cartwright is living the dream in New Zealand as he gets set to partner two favourites on Proisir Plate Day at Ellerslie on Saturday. The Cambridge-based hoop will reunite with New Zealand’s darling of the turf, Well Written (Written Tycoon), in the Gr.1
Racing
Chris Wood won the Pakuranga Hunt Cup (4300m) as a jockey in 1980 aboard Le Roy (NZ) (Sovereign Ruler), and 46 years on he matched that feat as a trainer courtesy of Smug (NZ) (Complacent) in Thursday’s The Valley Toyota-sponsored feature. The nine-year-old son of Complacent
Racing
Amateur jockey Lucy Klee had a memorable day at Te Aroha on Thursday when recording her first win in the saddle aboard Because (NZ) (Savabeel) in the Jason Roberts BYL Livestock Amateur Riders 2200, and the aspiring apprentice is hoping it is the first of many. “It was a great
Racing
Matamata trainers Peter and Jessica Brosnan scored the perfect result at Te Aroha on Thursday when they quinellaed the Vet Associates Equine Pakuranga Hunt Open Hurdle (3100m) with Squire (NZ) (Savile Row) and Jake (NZ) (War Decree). Squire, who finished runner-up in the race last year behind Hill Of
Racing
Jumps trainers have had a frustrating run of postponements of their feature meetings this year, with the latest being Te Aroha’s Pakuranga Hunt meeting last Saturday, which was postponed to Thursday due to the heavy rain forecast for last weekend. One trainer that was pleased with the delay was
Racing
Apprentice jockey Cooper Stumbles will return home to ride at Wingatui on Friday, where family members are hoping they will be cheering home his first winner. The Waikato-based rider, who has 11 raceday rides under his belt, is one race shy of a full book of rides, with his
Racing
Matamata trainer Pam Gerard has elected to bypass Saturday’s Gr.1 Proisir Plate (1400m) with Affirmative Action (Yes Yes Yes), which will allow the Stephen Marsh-trained Tardelli to make the 16-horse field. Affirmative Action resumed with a pleasing fourth placing in the Gr.2 Foxbridge Plate (1200m)