New Zealand
Te Akau Racing looks set to be a major player on the all-weather track at Riccarton with a particularly strong hand to play in the age group event on Wednesday’s card. Trainers Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson will be represented by the in-form duo of Queen Of
New Zealand
Memories of a former high-class performer were revived when Peter Fitzgerald recently made a return to the winner’s circle. The Otaki horseman celebrated his first success in three decades when Revo broke his maiden on the polytrack at Awapuni last Friday. Fitzgerald enjoyed top-flight success in the
New Zealand
Versatile performer Pacifico (NZ) (Ardrossan) has hit a rich vein of form and another top showing on Saturday will earn him a crack at a richer winter prize. The son of Ardrossan will shoot for his fourth win on the bounce in the UBP Te Awamutu Cup (1600m) at Te
New Zealand
Well-performed sprinter Mercurial (NZ) (Burgundy) has progressed well since his resuming effort and with the addition of headgear at Te Rapa, he’s expected to be more of a force to be reckoned with. The son of Burgundy will step out in the Group One Turf Bar Sprint (1200m)
Breeding
Emerging filly Levakia (NZ) (Proisir) has given Curraghmore further cause for celebration. The Ken and Bev Kelso-trained three-year-old struck for the second time from a handful of starts when she won the Winter Championship Final (1600m) at Ruakaka last Saturday. The Proisir filly’s success followed the
New Zealand
Goodwood Stud’s William Fell is enjoying an exciting ride with unbeaten star steeplechaser Jesko. While it has been an unforeseen outcome, it’s nevertheless a successful one with the son of the late Atlante quickly rising to the top of the jumping ranks. The late bloomer won three on
New Zealand
Tony Pike found it difficult to split his juvenile charges the last time they took each other on and it’s the same story at Ruakaka. The Cambridge trainer has form runners Boombox and Ashoka in Saturday’s ITM/GIB 2YO Championship (1200m), in what will be a rematch of
New Zealand
Billy Boy was always going to require patient handling and those waiting tactics are being rewarded in the second phase of the strapping son of So You Think’s career. The seven-year-old is a three-time winner on the flat, but it is in a jumping role that
New Zealand
Michelle Bradley will be looking to representatives from contrasting ends of the experience scale to lead the way for her stable at their home meeting on Saturday. The Ruakaka trainer leaned toward proven performers Bosch, No Plan Be, Shockatillatap and the debutante Iridescent as her leading hopes. Bosch and No
Breeding
The emergence of the Victorian-based Taken (NZ) (Ardrossan) is another winning story for a New Zealand breeding and ownership group established to support the three-year-old’s young sire. The Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr-trained son of Ardrossan made it four wins on the bounce when
New Zealand
Cody Cole will be watching his in-form mare Rareza from afar on Saturday in her quest for a stakes victory. The Matamata trainer is taking a well-earned break at Port Douglas in Queensland during a personal-best season of 34 winners and stable earnings of more than $1.
New Zealand
El Vaquero (NZ) (Ferrando) made such an early impression on Riccarton trainer Michael Pitman that he didn’t hesitate to purchase the colt’s sister at Karaka earlier this year. The handsome son of Ferrando has justified his handler’s opinion with sharp improvement on an unplaced debut with a