New Zealand
Stakes performer Sugah Sweet showed she is back to her best when comfortably taking care of a handy line-up in the Poverty Bay Turf Club Cup (1400m) at Taupo on Monday. Trainer Bryce Newman and jockey Masa Hashizume were seeking redemption at the South Waikato track after Sugah Sweet tailed
New Zealand
It may have taken a little longer than desired, but enigmatic galloper Lanikai finally broke through for his maiden victory at Taupo in the Mort Weber – Good Sorts in Racing (1800m) on Monday. The four-year-old son of Ocean Park had shown plenty of promise for trainer Tony Pike, placing in
New Zealand
Riccarton trainers Michael and Matthew Pitman are looking forward to heading south to Kurow on Monday where they will have a two-pronged attack in the meeting’s feature, the Kurow Cup West Coast Steeplechaser (1400m). Both Zoulander (NZ) (Zoustar) and Epee Beel (Epaulette) head into the race in good form,
New Zealand
The owners of Damask Rose (NZ) (Savabeel) have been given a late Christmas present, with Te Akau Racing selecting the exciting filly to represent their slot in the inaugural $3.5 million NZB Kiwi (1500m) on Champions Day at Ellerslie on 8 March. The daughter of Savabeel, who was purchased
New Zealand
Leading Australian jockey Blake Shinn will return to ride in New Zealand on Boxing Day where he is hoping he can unwrap some late Christmas presents at Ellerslie. The 37-year-old hoop had a memorable day at Pukekohe’s Boxing Day meeting last year where he rode the Lance O’Sullivan
New Zealand
Don Goodwin, the breeder of 11-time Group One winner Verry Elleegant, has passed away, aged 86. Goodwin was a proud student of thoroughbred pedigrees, and it was this passion that led him to acquiring Verry Elleegant’s dam, Opulence, to send to Grangewilliam Stud stallion Zed, for whom he was
New Zealand
Te Akau Racing will be well-represented in each of the four stakes races at Trentham’s LawnMaster Christmas At The Races meeting on Saturday. A pair of exciting juveniles in Cool Aza Rene and Marokopa Falls will kick off stakes proceedings when they meet for the first time in the
New Zealand
Four has been Buoyant’s favourite number since his return to New Zealand, with the Group Three winner having recorded that placing in all three of his starts this preparation, and owner-trainer Sabin Kirkland is hoping to break that sequence when he heads to Gore on Sunday. The six-year-old son
New Zealand
Te Akau Racing, the country’s leading stable, has captured some of the biggest prizes in New Zealand racing this year, and trainers Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson are keen to add their home cup, the Listed Team Wealleans Matamata Cup (1600m), to their trophy cabinet on Friday. “You would
New Zealand
Dual Group One winner La Crique(NZ) (Vadamos) will bid to add another elite level scalp to her record when she heads to Ellerslie on Boxing Day to tackle the Gr.1 Cambridge Stud Zabeel Classic (2000m). The daughter of Vadamos came close to adding a third Group One title
New Zealand
Former New Zealand Horse of the Year Sharp ‘N’ Smart(NZ) (Redwood) is set to head to Trentham on Saturday to kick-off his summer campaign and ready for a Group One assignment at the Upper Hutt track next month. The son of Redwood was runner-up in the Gr.1 Thorndon
Breeding
Blue Sky At Night (NZ) (Shamexpress) gave owner-breeder’s Isabel and Alistaire Barker a massive thrill last Saturday at Te Rapa when taking out the Gr.3 Waikato Cup (2400m), extending the couple’s great association with her family. “It was pretty amazing,” Isabel Barker said. “She is a very