Racing
The Chittick Family Fillies’ Classic (1100m) at Taupo has a prestigious honour roll and has duly been elevated to Listed status this season, and it has attracted a field to suit on Sunday. Matamata trainers Ken and Bev Kelso have a strong record in the race, having won it with
Racing
Oamaru’s meeting on Friday will kick off the new racing season for the lower South Island, and Riverton trainer Ebony Turner is hoping to continue her winning momentum. She was once again in the thick end of the battle for the Gavelhouse.com Newcomer to Training Award last season
Racing
A couple of weeks ago, jumps jockey Emily Farr elected to call time on her riding career and circled the Grand National Festival of Racing at Riccarton as her swansong, but she didn’t get the fairytale ending she was hoping for. On the opening day of the carnival she
Racing
Alabama Lass (Alabama Express) cemented her place at the top of the TAB’s futures market for the Gr.2 Waikato Stud Foxbridge Plate (1200m) at Te Rapa in a fortnight following her comfortable trial win over 1050m at the Hamilton track on Saturday. Her connections are hopeful of a
Racing
Shawshank’s (NZ) (El Roca) winning streak may have come to an end at Riccarton last Saturday, but he redeemed himself when bouncing back to score a gritty victory at the Christchurch track seven days later in the Vernon Vazey & Truck Parts Open (1400m). Following a series of disappointing
Racing
Awapuni trainers Peter and Trent Didham have had a great run with Subtle Image, which culminated in taking out the $75,000 TAB Polytrack Championship (2000m) at Cambridge on Friday. Despite his pleasing run of form, which included winning his two previous outings, the seven-year-old gelding was unwanted
Racing
Champion jumps jockey Shaun Fannin had intended on competing at Riccarton’s Grand National Festival of Racing this week, but not as a rider. The Palmerston North horseman has become synonymous with the winter jumps carnival, particularly through his deeds with ill-fated champion jumper West Coast (NZ) (Mettre En
Racing
The connections of Dictation (NZ) (Tavistock) have a love-hate relationship with Riccarton, and they are hopeful of leaning towards the latter after Saturday’s Hospitality NZ Canterbury 136th Hospitality NZ Canterbury 136th Grand National Hurdles (4200m). While the Hawke’s Bay gelding has competed in the last two editions
Racing
Weight is trainer Dan O’Leary’s biggest concern ahead of Captain Runs’ (NZ) (Nom du Jeu) defence of the Racecourse Hotel & Motor Lodge 151st Grand National Steeplechase (5600m) at Riccarton on Saturday. The now 11-year-old gelding carried 66kg to victory in last year’s edition but
Racing
Skymax (NZ) (Ferrando) and Novak’s (NZ) (El Roca) winter preparations have been geared towards Friday’s TAB Polytrack Championship (2000m) at Cambridge, and trainers Graeme and Debbie Rogerson, and Clinton Isdale, are hoping the pair can claim the lion’s share of the $75,000 purse on offer. Skymax
Racing
Mr Fortrus (Magnus) has made his presence felt in the South Island since joining trainer John Blackadder’s Rangiora barn earlier this year, and he furthered that with victory in the $75,000 Polytrack Championship (1200m) at Riccarton on Wednesday. The now seven-year-old gelding joined Blackadder as a
Racing
Local trainers Michael and Matthew Pitman were confident of a bold showing from Star Ballot (NZ) (Tarzino) at Riccarton’s synthetic meeting on Wednesday, and the gelding duly delivered when taking out the Betavet Natural Solutions Open (2200m). The father-and-son duo weren’t shy in sharing their opinion