Awapuni trainer Lisa Latta will be chasing stakes success on both sides of the Tasman on Saturday, starting close to home at Wanganui where she will have a two-pronged attack in the Listed AGC Training Stakes WFA (1600m).

Seasoned gelding Belardo Boy (NZ) (Belardo) is used to lumbering topweight, but he will have company this week at weight-for-age level, but it is track conditions that are Latta’s biggest concern.

Eight of his 11 victories have come on Heavy surfaces, and with Wanganui’s track rated a Soft5 on Friday morning, she is hoping it isn’t too testing for the son of Belardo.

“We were looking for rain and we haven’t got it,” Latta said. “He always operates a touch better when it is Heavy, but as long as the fire is out of the track, that’s the main thing.”

He will be joined in the race by stablemate Platinum Diamond (NZ) (Hello Youmzain), who has won both of her starts on the track, including the Listed Wanganui Guineas (1200m), and the daughter of Hello Youmzain will be seeking to keep her undefeated record at Wanganui intact this weekend.

Following a subpar showing at Te Rapa on ANZAC Day, the three-year-old filly bounced back when runner-up in the Gr.3 Rotorua Stakes (1400m), her first test at weight-for-age, and she will benefit from the same conditions on Saturday where she is allocated just 55kg.

“We rode her handy at Waikato and she just wasn’t happy at all,” Latta said. “We added the tongue-tie at Rotorua but Matt Cameron (jockey) said she wasn’t that comfortable in that either, so we have pulled that back off.

“She gets in with that weight relief, that is always a help, and Bruno (Queiroz, jockey) knows her pretty well so we will leave it to him.”

Across the Tasman, Latta will be represented by Platinum Pantheon (Hanseatic) in the Gr.3 Fred Best Classic (1400m) at Eagle Farm.

The Group Three performer was sixth in the Gr.3 Gold Coast Guineas (1200m) earlier this month and Latta was happy enough with his Australian debut.

“We rode him a touch handier than what we usually do,” she said. “There wasn’t a lot of room to get out, and he only finished two lengths from them, so I thought it was a tidy enough run.”

Initially first on the ballot for Saturday, Platinum Pantheon has benefitted from a couple of scratchings and will jump from barrier 10 with Mark Du Plessis aboard.

“He ended up one on the ballot, but he made the field on Wednesday. It is a really strong field,” Latta said.

“He worked very well on Tuesday and Mark Du Plessis went in and rode him and he was very happy with him.”

Back in New Zealand, Latta will also head to her home synthetic meeting at Awapuni on Sunday with a quartet of representatives, including last start runner-up Platinum Sixty Six (NZ) (Per Incanto) in the Manawatu Shearing 1700 and future jumper Sir Mikki (Mikki Isle) in the Happy Birthday Property Brokers 2140.

“Platinum Sixty Six always races well on the poly,” Latta said. “Sir Mikki has got his jumping ticket and it’s just a fitness run for him. That (jumping) has certainly brightened him up a bit.” - Joshua Smith, LOVERACING.NZ News Desk

Joliestar gets green tick ahead of marathon flight

Cambridge Stud mare Joliestar (Zoustar) got the green tick of approval from trainer Chris Waller following her 900m jump out win at Flemington on Friday, her final public appearance before she begins her marathon journey to England next week ahead of competing at Royal Ascot.

“She looked to do everything comfortably and it was exactly what I wanted to see,” Waller toldRacing.com. “She has done a lot of pieces of work similar to this morning and each and every one of them has been exactly what we wanted to see.

“It’s a big trip ahead on Wednesday evening. Knowing she has done her work here, she is in terrific form, and it is all about recovery now after the big journey.”

Joliestar, who carries the familiar gold and black checked silks of Cambridge Stud principals Sir Brendan and Lady Jo Lindsay, will contest the Gr.1 Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes (1200m) on June 20, a race won by the farm’s stallion Hello Youmzain.

“She is owned by Cambridge Stud in New Zealand, and they are all about the brand and it is a great advertisement for them and to their stud and the history that Cambridge Stud has,” Waller said.

“We floated the idea early on and it’s not about prizemoney it is about the mare and her name. If she could win at Royal Ascot, she is going to be seen as Champion sprinter in both hemispheres. That is the main reason, to show Joliestar to the world.”

Waller is also excited to have another representative at the iconic meeting, having won the 2022 edition of the Gr.1 King’s Stand Stakes (1000m) with Nature Strip, which is now run as the King Charles III Stakes.

“It is a great week,” he said. “It’s Flemington Cup Week, Championships in Sydney and Everest Day all put together.

“I have gone each year since Nature Strip won, and going to each five days saying ‘how good is this’, so taking a horse back is fantastic.

“The year after Nature Strip won, when they ran the King’s Stand, I got really emotional at not having a runner. We are really keen to get back.” - Joshua Smith, LOVERACING.NZ News Desk

Riviera Rebel on song for Wairio Cup

Riverton trainers Graham Eade and Brooke Kincaid are excited to get their stable star Riviera Rebel (NZ) (Pure Champion) back on a Heavy track when they head to Wingatui on Sunday for the AB Lime & Hyde Landscaping Wairio Cup (2200m).

It will be take two for the southern feature, with last week’s meeting at the Dunedin track abandoned following a slip in the second race, with the track subsequently being fully vertidrained, and it was passed fit to race this weekend following a set of jump outs earlier this week.

Riviera Rebel has several factors going his way heading into the meeting – a Heavy10 track rating on Friday morning and a barrier draw of one – with his top weight of 60kg being co-trainer and co-owner Eade’s only worry.

With Kelvin Tyler claiming on both Vamos (NZ) (Vadamos) and Prince Alby (NZ) (Sacred Falls), Riviera Rebel will carry four kilograms more than his closest rival.

“He is good in himself and the track should suit him as well as the draw,” Eade said. “It is just the weight that is the concern.”

Runner-up in the Riverton Cup (2147m) last month, Riviera Rebel then trekked north to Riccarton last month where he finished last in the Gr.3 Canterbury Gold Cup (2000m), but Eade said he didn’t get conditions to suit, and he expects him to bounce back on a more forgiving surface.

“He just won’t let down if the track is rock hard,” Eade said. "He went very well in the Riverton Cup on a wetter track.”

While keen to press on through the winter with his charge, Eade said options are quickly becoming scarce in the south, with a North Island campaign increasingly becoming a likely option.

“There’s not a lot around for him, we don’t know what to do at this stage,” he said. “I have got trainer mates up there (North Island) that I could send him up to, so it is a thought.”

Eade is also upbeat about the prospects of last start runner-up Vitebsk in the Speight’s (1600m).

“Her work has been very good, I am quite happy with her,” he said. “We are expecting her to go well.”

The stable will also be represented by Orepuki Gem (NZ) (Raise The Flag) in the Be My Guest Design (2200m), while stable favourite Ataahua Pipedream (NZ) (Rip Van Winkle) could have his final career start in the Property Brokers Ray Kean (1400m).

“Ataahua Pipedream is getting very close to finishing, but we thought we would knock the distance back and head to a wet track,” Eade said. “He is just a nice horse, is nice to take anywhere and keeps the other ones calm.” - Joshua Smith, LOVERACING.NZ News Desk

Catalogue Highlights to Set the Scene at National Weanling Sale

The 140-lot catalogue for next month’s 2026 NZB National Weanling Sale at Karaka is stacked with the right bloodlines and credentials for buyers to pursue those big dreams, like that on offer at Karaka but in smaller packaging.

This year’s catalogue features 21 siblings to stakes performers, along with the progeny of 22 stakes-performing mares, plus many more youngsters hailing from elite thoroughbred families.

Below is just a small selection of some of the outstanding young horses that will be going through the Sir Patrick Hogan auditorium on Thursday 25 June.

Lot 4, a filly by Hello Youmzain on account of Haunui Farm is out of a half-sister to Needle and Thread (NZ) (Makfi) and Savile Row (NZ) (Makfi).

Hallmark Stud will present another weanling by Hello Youmzain. Lot 17 is a filly out of Posh Bec, who has produced Group One winner Bonny Lass (NZ) (Super Easy).

Lot 37 is a colt by Per Incanto from So You Think mare So Julia, offered by Highline Thoroughbreds.

Lot 38, is a bay colt by Almanzor out of Soltina (NZ) (O’Reilly), making him a half-brother to Sakura Girl (NZ) (Iffraaj).

Cambridge Stud will present Lot 44, a colt by Farnan out of Tavistock mare, Tavispirit.

Lot 46 is a filly by first season sire Paddington, from O’Reilly mare Tegwin (NZ). This filly is a half-sister to Group One performer Let’s Karaka Deel (NZ) (Dundeel).

A Satono Aladdin filly out of Group Three winner Ticket to Ride (NZ) (Shocking) will be offered by Hallmark Stud as Lot 51.

Lot 88 on account of Seaton Park is a colt by Per Incanto from the Zabeel mare Christmas Day.

Waikato Stud will offer progeny from hot property sire Super Seth including Lot 95, a colt from Group performer Date Night (NZ) (Savabeel).

Lot 137, a colt by Savabeel from Almanzor mare Marvelouzm will be another notable weanling from the draft of Cambridge Stud.

View the 140-lot catalogue here. The catalogue can also be viewed on the Equineline app for iPads/tablets, or the Thoroughworks mobile app.

Selling is set to take place at the Karaka Sales Centre from 11am (NZT) on Thursday 25 June.

All weanlings offered are eligible to be nominated for NZB’s lucrative Karaka Millions Series featuring the TAB Karaka Millions 2YO (1200m) and the TAB Karaka Millions 3YO (1600m).

Weanlings entered in the Sale will be available for inspections at the on-farm parades, due to take place from 2 - 5 June, and on-site at Karaka Sales Centre, with NZB agents available to inspect on behalf of buyers. View the on-farm parade schedule here.

Buyers wishing to attend are able to book their stays at the DoubleTree by Hilton Karaka hotel onsite here or by emailing travel@nzb.co.nz for assistance.

For more information, contact Bloodstock Sales Manager Kane Jones on +64 27 274 4985 or email kane.jones@nzb.co.nz, Sales Representative Patrick Cunningham on +64 21 512 466 or Patrick.Cunningham@nzb.co.nz or Andrew Buick at +64 27 555 0640 or email Andrew.Buick@nzb.co.nz. - New Zealand Bloodstock