Probably for the first time in New Zealand turf history, a Kiwi trainer has made a $3.5 million race his backup plan. Cambridge trainer Shaune Ritchie revealed today he had received multiple approaches from slotholders for the $3.5 million NZB Kiwi (1500m) at Ellerslie on March 8 to
New Zealand
Opaki mare Ruby Rocks (NZ) (Burgundy) will be seeking back-to-back stakes victories when she heads to Tauherenikau on Waitangi Day to contest the Listed Clubs NZ Wairarapa Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1600m). The eight-year-old daughter of Burgundy was victorious in the Listed Marton Cup (2200m) at Trentham when first-up last month
New Zealand
New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing (NZTR) is pleased to confirm the appointment of Matt Ballesty to the position of CEO, effective 5 March 2025. Ballesty is a highly respected senior executive who has more than 30 years’ experience in high performance leadership as well as strategic commercial development and execution. “This
New Zealand
Tony Pike has used the Gr.2 Legacy Lodge Waikato Guineas (2000m) as a launchpad to Derby success on several occasions and he hopes to continue that trend with a pair of contenders on Saturday at Te Rapa. The Cambridge horseman has won the three-year-old feature twice with Rangipo and
New Zealand
Manifique (NZ) (Savabeel) finished fourth in a quality line-up in last year’s Listed Clubs NZ Wairarapa Thoroughbred Breeders’s Stakes (1600m), and she will be bidding to improve on that mark at Tauherenikau on Thursday. Last year’s edition was taken out by subsequent Group One placegetter Town Cryer,
New Zealand
Sugah Sweet (NZ) (Zacinto) came desperately close to winning last year’s Listed Clubs NZ Wairarapa Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1600m) and on Thursday she’ll get another chance at the Tauherenikau feature in a similar vein of form. The seven-year-old mare has been carefully handled with no more than six
New Zealand
Sailor Jack and Kattegat will cross swords at Tauherenikau and then take different paths before meeting up again in a northern staying feature. The Shaun Fannin and Hazel Schofer-trained pair will run in Thursday’s Central ITM Wairarapa Cup (2050m) and then go their separate ways until a joint assault
New Zealand
A number of Te Akau Racing fillies could put their hand up for a shot at upcoming stakes assignments at Riccarton Park on Wednesday. Hunter Durrant, who handles the South Island arm of Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson’s stable, has 14 runners engaged in the midweek meeting, including Group
New Zealand
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New Zealand
Prominent Australian owner Ozzie Kheir is looking to repeat history in this weekend’s Gr.2 David & Karyn Ellis Fillies’ Classic (2000m) at Te Rapa, after buying into the $1 million Gr.1 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai New Zealand Oaks (2400m) favourite Leica Lucy on Monday. Last year Kheir
New Zealand
There was plenty of merit in Eye Candy’s runner-up effort behind Hinekaha in the Listed Oaks Prelude (1800m) at New Plymouth on Saturday, and trainers Shaune Ritchie and Colm Murray now have their sights set on a couple of Trentham fillies features. “It was very brave,” Ritchie said of
New Zealand
Roger James has unveiled an exciting prospect in his attempt to add a seventh $1.25 million Gr.1 Trackside New Zealand Derby (2400m) to his record, in the form of unbeaten three-year-old Oceana Dream. James has prepared half a dozen Derby winners in his career, the most recent being