It has not been smooth sailing with the Mitch Freedman-trained Asakura (Churchill), who fell ill after returning home from his spell following his fourth placing in The Kiwi on March 7.

But the Ballarat trainer was happy with what he saw from the gelding in two jumpouts in the second half of July and said he would be given every opportunity to prove himself worthy of a shot at the A$10 million Gr.1 Golden Eagle (1500m) at Randwick on October 31.

"He's still a little bit immature, so anything he does over the next 12 months is a bonus and we'd be expecting him to improve as he gets older," Freedman said.

"He's a nice horse and he's got ability so if he can't get it done this prep then we can certainly be happy that we've got a nice horse and look to improve in preps down the track."

Asakura, who was runner-up to Sixties (Flying Artie) in the Gr.3 C S Hayes Stakes (1400m) the start before the 1500m The Kiwi, is entered for the 1200m BM94 at Rosehill along with the Gr.3 Regal Roller Stakes (1200m) and the 1400m BM90 at Caulfield.

Bred by Jomara Bloodstock, Asakura is and out of winning So You Think mare Sasanqua (NZ). He was offered through Hallmark Stud’s 2024 New Zealand Bloodstock Book 1 Yearling Sale draft where he was bought by Freedman for $140,000.

Jomara Bloodstock, operated by siblings John, Mark and Rachael Carter, retained a share in the gelding. - NZ Racing Desk

Burke's 'project pony' taking Perfect shape

Trainer Nikki Burke’s patience with progressive New Zealand-bred mare Perfect Ten (NZ) (Tavistock) is being rewarded, with the Gr.3 Tesio Stakes (2040m) emerging as a spring target for the six-year-old.

Perfect Ten continued her outstanding preparation with an authoritative victory over 1800m at Caulfield on Saturday, taking her record for the campaign to four wins and two seconds from six starts.

The Trilogy Racing-owned mare has now won five of her 13 starts, and Burke believes she is only beginning to fulfil her potential as she learns to conserve her energy through the early stages of her races.

“She’s just matured a lot,” Burke said.

“She had a really good spell last time in and we’ve taken her along slowly through the grades so she can learn a bit of race smarts.

“She was very keen and could overdo it, but she’s getting better with every run and settling better.

“Saturday was her best win. She’s got a big tank and she’ll only get better as she gets over further.”

Burke has always considered Perfect Ten a staying prospect, making the mare’s improving racing manners particularly important.

“It’s been a process getting her to settle because we know she has to get over a trip,” she said.

“I think you’ll see the best of her at 2000m and beyond, so to keep performing like she is over the shorter distances all bodes well for the future.”

Burke came to train Perfect Ten through Sean Dingwall, with the mare having returned to Blue Gum Farm before joining her Cranbourne stable.

“Sean asked me to take her and see if I thought she was any good,” Burke said.

“I had her for a preparation and said she did everything upside down and had a few little issues, but she was fast enough. We just had to get her doing it at the right end.

“I spent a whole preparation working on that. Craig Williams came and trialled her for me and I said, ‘This is my project pony.’

“We put her out again and when she came back we went from there.”

Her progress has not been entirely straightforward. Perfect Ten suffered a significant injury during an earlier preparation when badly cutting herself in a race at the Caulfield Heath.

“She’s probably lucky to still be with us,” Burke said.

“She got badly injured at her second start that preparation and cut herself to pieces. She’s very lucky, but she still went on with that preparation, then had a really good spell and has come back and gone from strength to strength.

“She’s a very, very happy horse.”

Burke, who has 14 horses in work, has appreciated the freedom afforded to her by Trilogy principals Jason and Melanie Stenning in developing the valuable mare.

“Jason has been great. They leave me to my own devices and trust me 100 percent to know their horses are being looked after and that I’m doing the right thing by them,” Burke said.

“To develop a nice staying mare like this, they’ve just sat back and let it all unfold, which has been great.”

Perfect Ten is a full-sister to Gr.1 New Zealand Derby (2400m) winner Asterix (NZ) (Tavistock), adding further incentive to secure black-type for the mare before she eventually heads to the broodmare paddock.

Burke is mindful Perfect Ten has already had six starts this campaign and is likely to space her races as she works towards the Tesio Stakes on Cox Plate Day.

“We’re trying to get deep into the spring and she’s had six runs already,” she said.

“She’s loving life and pulled up fantastic. She pulled up like she hadn’t even been around, so the racing isn’t hurting her, but she might go a month between runs now.

“The Tesio Stakes is what we’ve got to target with her. She’s a full-sister to a Group One winner, so to get some black-type for her would be a very good result.”

Bred by Go Bloodstock Australia, Perfect Ten is by Tavistock out of the Shirocco mare Mourasana and was purchased by Trilogy Racing for $160,000 from Curraghmore’s Book 1 draft at Karaka 2022. - NZ Racing Desk

She’s A Dealer on target for Proisir return

High-quality mare She’s A Dealer (Ace High) will be given an early opportunity to strike again at the top level, with the daughter of Ace High set to trial ahead of a crack at next month’s Gr.1 Proisir Plate (1400m) at Ellerslie.

The five-year-old will spearhead the older division of Roger James and Robert Wellwood’s stable in the spring, while the Cambridge trainers also have an abundance of three-year-old talent in their ranks.

She’s A Dealer has won five of her 12 starts, including success in the Gr.1 New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1600m) in breeder Rich Hill Stud’s colours.

“She will trial next Sunday at Taupo and from there we’ll probably look at heading to the Proisir Plate,” Wellwood said.

“After that, there’s the mile (Gr.1 Howden Insurance, 1600m) and then there’s multiple options for her. We’ll see how she’s going and make a plan from there.”

She’s A Dealer hasn’t raced since she finished fifth in the Gr.3 JRA Plate (2000m) at Randwick in the autumn.

Fellow mares Arabian Songbird (NZ) (Pierro) and Grinzinger Moon (Puissance de Lune) are also making good progress toward later targets.

“Arabian Songbird is probably a month from a trial and we’re hoping to kick her off in the Spring Sprint (Gr.3, 1400m) on the last day at Hawke’s Bay,” Wellwood said.

The daughter of Pierro has won two of her last three starts and was spelled after running fourth in the Gr.2 Auckland Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1400m).

Grinzinger Moon was successful on four occasions in Australia before the Puissance de Lune five-year-old relocated to Cambridge and won both of her starts over 1100m at Ellerslie from her new quarters.

“She’s also probably three weeks to a month off a trial and we may look at heading down to the two sprint races (Listed Pegasus Stakes, 1000m and Listed Stewards’ Stakes, 1200m) at Christchurch and she’ll have a graded race prior to that,” Wellwood said.

Meanwhile, last season’s Gr.1 New Zealand Derby (2400m) hero Road To Paris (NZ) (Circus Maximus) has returned to the stable after a decent break following his midfield finish on a wet track in the Gr.1 Australian Derby (2400m).

“He’s back in but probably won’t start until later in the year, he had a reasonably big autumn so we’re certainly in no rush with him for the spring,” Wellwood said.

Among the more forward of the three-year-olds is Listed Waikato Equine Veterinary Centre Stakes (1400m) winner Excite (Wootton Bassett), who enjoyed a quiet trial at Cambridge last week.

“We’re really happy with him and he’ll probably gallop at Ellerslie on August 27 and then step out in an age group race over 1400m at Ellerslie on the Group One day,” Wellwood said.

“It’s three weeks from there to the Hawke’s Bay Guineas (Gr.2, 1400m).”

Last start Listed Champagne Stakes (1600m) winner Incandescent (NZ) (Per Incanto), Spellbound (NZ) (Per Incanto) and St Monica (St Mark’s Basilica) will be out and about later in the term.

“They are all a fortnight or three weeks behind Excite, he didn’t have all that long out,” Wellwood said.

Spellbound has yet to win but did place in the Listed Counties Challenge Stakes (1100m), while St Monica was successful on debut and then finished sixth in the Gr.1 Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m). - Paul Vettise

Farr calls time on riding career

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 was runner-up in the Koral Steeplechase (4250m) aboard the Kevin Myers-trained Prince Turbo (NZ) (Alamosa), and she was looking forward to trying to turn the tables on winner Lord Spencer in the Grand National Steeplechase (5600m) on Saturday, but she didn’t get that opportunity.

Farr’s mount Sir Mikki (Mikki Isle) fell near the 800m in the opening race of the day, the Speight’s Ultra On Tap 0-1 Win Hurdles (3100m), and Farr suffered a concussion and was transferred to Christchurch Hospital for observation, ruling her out of riding for the rest of the meeting.

While disappointed in the way her 15-year riding career ended, Farr is looking at the silver lining and said things could have ended far worse.

“I am disappointed that it ended the way it did, but things happen, and it’s jumps racing after all,” she said. “I would love to have ended on a better note, but you have to make a decision and put a line in the sand. I did that before I went out on Saturday and I have just followed through with the decision.

“I am fairly battered and bruised, and I have got a bit of a terrible headache because I was knocked out for a while, but I am very lucky with the fall that I had.”

Farr said the decision to retire had been weighing on her mind for some time, and it was made easier after Never Look Back (NZ) (Shocking), who she had ridden to victory in last year’s Hawke’s Bay Hurdles (3000m) and this year’s Manawatu Steeplechase (4000m), was ruled out for the remainder of the season.

“Never Look Back has been amazing for me,” Farr said. “He is out for the rest of the season now so that kind of helped me make that decision that I wasn’t going to continue because he wasn’t there.

“I made my mind up towards the end of last season (to retire from riding) and I decided to ride at the Riccarton Carnival because I had the boys I always ride in Sir Mikki, The Bambino and Prince Turbo, and I felt like I had a connection with those horses the whole way through.”

Farr said she has been thankful for the support she has received since announcing her decision to retire from riding.

“I can’t thank everyone enough for the support I have been given over the last couple of weeks in making the decision,” she said. “I am 35 now and I have other things in my life that I want to do and jumps racing is hard on the body without the falls, and it is one of those things where I need to put a line underneath it.”

In a career spanning more than 15 years, Farr has won 108 races in New Zealand and several others in Australia, with Gobstopper’s (NZ) (Tavistock) victory in the Brendan Drechsler Hurdle (3500m) for trainer Andrew Campbell a particular highlight.

“Teaching Gobstopper to jump after his flat career ended and winning his first start, and then taking him over to Australia to win the Drechsler Hurdle was something that was very close to my heart,” she said. “He stayed over there and was very successful. Giving those horses another string to their bow and then see them continue their racing life is something that I am very proud of.”

Farr has also been proud of being a pioneer for female jumps jockeys on both sides of the Tasman, and she particularly enjoyed her time in Australia.

“I was the only licensed female at the time over there and the Australians made that a big thing, riding against the boys,” she said. “They were very welcoming and very supportive of me, which was great.

“I had a lot of support from the Aussie jockeys over there, including Steven Pateman and Tommy Ryan. The whole thrill of being over there is very different to New Zealand. I would have loved to have gone back a couple of more times, but being with a shortage of jockeys over here, I never really had the opportunity to do that.

“Emma-Lee and David Browne were very good to me when I went over and rode for them and had a couple of seconds for them. It was an incredible opportunity and I loved it.”

Farr was also runner-up on the flat in Australia when piloting Crafty Cruiser (Good Journey) in the 2018 edition of the Jericho Cup (4600m).

Farr has also enjoyed being a leading figure for female jumps jockeys in New Zealand and is hoping to continue as a mentor in her retirement.

“Showing that it is not all about strength, there are other qualities by having a connection with a horse and using a female touch,” she said. “It has been great helping the young girls in the changing room because there are not many of us. There are a lot of young ones coming through nowadays and they all ask me questions, and I am always going to be there to help them.”

Farr said she has enjoyed plenty of memorable moments in the saddle, but her association with Laekeeper (NZ) (Keeper) and her quartet of wins at Te Aroha one day particularly stand out.

“The four wins in a day at Te Aroha was something that is hard to do, even as a flat jockey, and to do it as a jumps jockey was a thrill, especially to do it at Te Aroha, which was my favourite course at the time,” she said. “Laekeeper was a big highlight for me. He was one that was consistent throughout his career.”

While Farr is better known for being a jumps jockey, she also rode on the flat as an apprentice, but weight and a passion for jumps racing led her to committing to a career over fences.

“I did nine months as an apprentice,” she said. “I started up in Cambridge and Ralph Manning and Graeme Rogerson were huge supporters of mine. I got to ride Pump Up The Volume (NZ) (Savabeel) a fair few times and he went on to win the New Zealand Cup the year I rode him. Winning the Taupo Cup on Francis Drake (NZ) (Tavistock) for Graeme Rogerson was also great.

“I was very lucky with the career I had when I was an apprentice because I was a little bit heavy. I did ride 53 (kilograms) a couple of times, but it did kill me to get down there. I am a heavy flat jockey and a light jumps jockey, I sat somewhere in the middle.

“Jumps racing has always been my passion and my Mum and Dad were both amateur jumps jockeys, and my heart has always been with the jumps.”

Now living in Otaki with her partner, Johno Benner, Farr said she is loving the quieter lifestyle on the Kapiti Coast, and she is now looking forward to letting her body recover and concentrate on other areas of her life.

“I have no set goals at the moment, I just want to heal the body and look after myself for a little bit,” Farr said.

“I am very settled down here and I love Otaki life. Wellington is only 40 minutes away and the beach is two minutes down the road, and I have got a good circle of friends down here, and Palmy is not that far away. It is a beautiful place to live.

“Johno is extremely busy now with his new two-year-olds and three-year-olds coming through, and I am helping him and doing as much work with him as I can. We have a very exciting yard coming through. We only do 16 horses between us, so it is a small yard that is quality over quantity, and they are a very exciting lot of horses for this summer.

“I was up in the Waikato for the last 16 years. I worked hard for Wexford for four years and had an incredible time up there with their crew of horses. Now I just want to heal up a little bit, hopefully start a family, and have a quieter life down here.” - Joshua Smith

NZ BRED WINNERS

Global NZ-bred winners

2026-08-01 / 2026-08-08

AUSTRALIA
Ace High : Stage 'n' Screen (NZ)(Inthespotlight by O'Reilly) 2021;
01 Aug 2026, 1st VRC Horses' Birthday H. 1410m
Sold by Kiltannon Stables Ltd at Ready to Run Sale for $200000

Ace High : Canny Queen (NZ)(Quella Finale by Zabeel) 2021;
08 Aug 2026, 1st Illawarra TC Shore Goggles H. 1400m
Sold by Rich Hill Stud at National Yearling Sale for $20000

Admire Mars : Highstrung (NZ)(Overreactive by Redoute's Choice) 2022;
08 Aug 2026, 1st Alice Springs TC National Seniors Month H. 1200m
Sold by Wentwood Grange at National Yearling Sale for $180000

Almanzor : Diamond Show (NZ)(Zenella by Zabeel) 2021;
05 Aug 2026, 1st BRC Country Music Raceday H. 2060m

Almanzor : Almanzas (NZ)(Zaspin by Zabeel) 2022;
06 Aug 2026, 1st Moree RC Sullivan Property Sales Maiden H. 1400m
Sold by Little Avondale Stud at National Yearling Sale for $100000

Almanzor : Touchdown (NZ)(Shamardal Luck by Shamardal) 2021;
01 Aug 2026, 1st VRC 2026 Melbourne Cup Carnival on Sale 1620m

Almanzor : Andy Win (NZ)(Waguar by Thewayyouare) 2020;
02 Aug 2026, 1st MRC Grand National Hurdle 4200m
Sold by Carlaw Park at National Weanling Sale for $55000

Almanzor : Grinzinger Bishop (NZ)(Tavy by Tavistock) 2019;
08 Aug 2026, 1st Alice Springs TC Leading Trainer Kerry Petrick H. 1600m
Sold by Brighthill Farm at National Yearling Sale for $55000

Belardo : Carbonados (NZ)(Humoresque by Iffraaj) 2020;
01 Aug 2026, 1st ATC NSW Jockeys Association H. 1300m
Sold by Haunui Farm at National Yearling Sale for $30000

Circus Maximus : Gold Chariot (NZ)(O'Lovely by O'Reilly) 2022;
03 Aug 2026, 1st Southside Racing Become a Southside Racing Member Maiden P. 1600m
Sold by Windsor Park Stud at National Yearling Sale for $160000

Circus Maximus : Gus the Great (NZ)(Astor by Iffraaj) 2022;
06 Aug 2026, 1st Gosford RC Tradies Race Day Maiden P. 1200m
Sold by Trelawney Stud Ltd at Ready to Run Sale for $100000

Contributer : Wounder (NZ)(Hirtshals by Pins) 2021;
05 Aug 2026, 1st BRC Sky Racing H. 1650m

Contributer : She's a Con (NZ)(Rocks for Me by Fastnet Rock) 2019;
03 Aug 2026, 1st Southside Racing Cameron Industrial Commercial H. 2200m

Ghibellines : Ahab (NZ)(Nasheeta by Smart Missile) 2020;
06 Aug 2026, 1st Ballarat TC Sportsbet More Places H. 2100m

Ghibellines : First Chorus (NZ)(Broadway Miss by O'Reilly) 2021;
08 Aug 2026, 1st MVRC Ranvet Travis Harrison Cup 1800m

Harry Angel : Tellez (NZ)(Azeema by Fastnet Rock) 2020;
01 Aug 2026, 1st Darwin TC Cleanaway H. 1000m

Hello Youmzain : Attractiveness (NZ)(Hot in High Heels by High Chaparral) 2022;
01 Aug 2026, 1st ATC Midway H. 1400m
Sold by Blandford Lodge at National Yearling Sale for $120000

I Am Invincible : Hettinger (NZ)(Fast Love by Fastnet Rock) 2018;
03 Aug 2026, 1st Darwin TC DCOH H. 1600m

King of Comedy : Midnight Maggie (NZ)(Canyon Yodeler by Swiss Yodeler) 2022;
08 Aug 2026, 1st Muttaburra ARC D. Grays Grader and Loader Hire QTIS Maiden P. 1000m

Ocean Park : Loud (NZ)(Music by Pins) 2019;
01 Aug 2026, 1st Gilgandra JC Hair and Beauty for You H. 1100m

Ocean Park : I Park (NZ)(Star Bright by Sebring) 2021;
08 Aug 2026, 1st ATC Myplates H. 2400m
Sold by Highline Thoroughbreds at National Yearling Sale for $50000

Per Incanto : Prima Bella (NZ)(Brah Spring by Darci Brahma) 2020;
08 Aug 2026, 1st ATC Ranvet H. 1000m

Proisir : Orange Tsunami (NZ)(Ready Steady by Perfectly Ready) 2022;
03 Aug 2026, 1st Goulburn DRC Jockey of the Year Keagan Latham Maiden H. 1500m
Sold by Haunui Farm at National Weanling and Broodmare Sale for $60000

Proisir : Navy Nina (NZ)(Exige by Tavistock) 2021;
02 Aug 2026, 1st SCTC Bilson's Tangle H. 1200m
Sold by Leanach Lodge Ltd at National Weanling Sale for $20000
Sold by Pertab Racing at Ready to Run Sale for $220000

Raise the Flag : Limosa (NZ)(Bird by Danasinga) 2021;
07 Aug 2026, 1st Mount Gambier RC O'Connor and Graney H. 1550m
Sold by White Robe Lodge at National Yearling Sale for $90000

Reliable Man : Eternal Romance (NZ)(Flower of Love by Redoute's Choice) 2021;
06 Aug 2026, 1st Northam RC Kunine Grazing H. 1600m
Sold by Westbury Stud at National Yearling Sale for $75000

Reliable Man : Old Faithful (NZ)(Katie's Choice by Redoute's Choice) 2021;
07 Aug 2026, 1st Ipswich TC Fertpro H. 2150m

Savabeel : Savvy Diamond (NZ)(Irish Cream by O'Reilly) 2023;
03 Aug 2026, 1st Goulburn DRC Maykazz Embroidery and Printing Maiden P. 1100m
Sold by Carlaw Park at National Yearling Sale for $300000

Shocking : He's Electric (NZ)(Evaline by Van Nistelrooy) 2021;
01 Aug 2026, 1st Hamilton RC Jockeys Celebration Day Maiden P. 2200m
Sold by Rich Hill Stud at National Yearling Sale for $100000

Shocking : Venus Shock (NZ)(Bharani by Reliable Man) 2022;
04 Aug 2026, 1st Bairnsdale RC Bet365 Maiden P. 1600m

Shocking : Celebrity (NZ)(Proficient by Sufficient) 2021;
08 Aug 2026, 1st Illawarra TC Master Builders Association H. 2000m

So You Think : Here I Come (NZ)(O'reilly Rose by O'Reilly) 2021;
08 Aug 2026, 1st Cunnamulla DDRC Fred Ahern Murweh Stn and Barbara Plains Grazing Wyandra H. 1400m
Sold by Beltana at National Yearling Sale for $100000

Super Seth : Bardia's Dream (NZ)(Kissmekate by O'Reilly) 2021;
07 Aug 2026, 1st Seymour RC Diego Velazquez by Frankel at Swettenham H. 1200m
Sold by Elsdon Park at National Yearling Sale for $110000

Tavistock : Sing for Peace (NZ)(The Nightingale by Stravinsky) 2018;
02 Aug 2026, 1st MRC Crisp S/chase 4200m
Sold by Woburn Farm at National Yearling Sale for $140000

Tavistock : Perfect Ten (NZ)(Mourasana by Shirocco) 2020;
08 Aug 2026, 1st MVRC Bottle Stop H. 1800m
Sold by Curraghmore at National Yearling Sale for $160000

Ten Sovereigns : Exit Fee (NZ)(Vinzky by Stravinsky) 2021;
08 Aug 2026, 1st ATC Chandon H. 1200m

Tivaci : Uncle Barry (NZ)(Mary Gold by Ocean Park) 2021;
01 Aug 2026, 1st Roxby Downs DRC ATG Magiflex H. 1000m

Turn Me Loose : Split (NZ)(Cry for Terre by Street Cry) 2019;
02 Aug 2026, 1st MRC Tom McGinley Hurdle 3400m

Unusual Suspect : Anemacore (NZ)(Saintly Ripa by Rip Van Winkle) 2019;
08 Aug 2026, 1st BRC Ladbrokes Open H. 1400m

War Decree : Lillian (NZ)(I've Got Rhythm by Mossman) 2021;
08 Aug 2026, 1st WATC JJ Kelly H. 1600m

Zoustar : Galath (NZ)(Latin Salsa by More Than Ready) 2021;
08 Aug 2026, 1st Muttaburra ARC MSD Animal Health H. 1200m
Sold by Westbury Stud at National Yearling Sale for $210000


MALAYSIA
Alamosa : Magnitude (NZ)(Hippie by One Cool Cat) 2017;
01 Aug 2026, 1st Perak TC Class 5 H. 1000m

Belardo : Thunder Hero (NZ)(Sororia by Iffraaj) 2019;
01 Aug 2026, 1st Perak TC Class 5 H. 1400m
Sold by Haunui Farm at National Yearling Sale for $48000

Burgundy : Ready to Drink - Shimi Go (Mal.) (NZ)(Corsage by Volksraad) 2018;
02 Aug 2026, 1st Selangor TC Class 2 H. 1100m
Sold by Phoenix Park at National Yearling Sale for $60000

Dream Ahead : Sicilian Dream - Rich n Pwerful (Mal.) (NZ)(Taormina by Red Ransom) 2018;
01 Aug 2026, 1st Perak TC Class 5 H. 1000m

Highly Recommended : Engine Start (NZ)(Melrose Gardens by Marju) 2018;
02 Aug 2026, 1st Selangor TC Class 5 H. 1400m

Proisir : Onemorefortheroad (NZ)(Galigo by High Chaparral) 2018;
01 Aug 2026, 1st Perak TC Class 5 H. 1800m

Telperion : Mallow - Wilsing (Mal.) (NZ)(Monolith Miss by Rock Of Gibraltar) 2020;
01 Aug 2026, 1st Perak TC Class 4 H. 1100m

Tivaci : Sirius (NZ)(May Rain by Written Tycoon) 2018;
02 Aug 2026, 1st Selangor TC Class 5 H. 1400m


PHILIPPINES
American Pharoah : Usir (NZ)(Away Cruising by Darci Brahma) 2021;
01 Aug 2026, 1st Philippine JC Class 2 H. 1400m
Sold by The Oaks Stud at National Yearling Sale for $70000