Racing
Integrity, loyalty, industry, honesty-most of all, empathy. Those are words mentioned most often at the farewell to former stipendiary steward Bruce Craik at Riccarton Park. Bruce, one of the finest people I have met in racing – which is saying a good deal – has passed on at 88 after a
Racing
Trainer Robbie Patterson is confident unbeaten colt Ronaldo (NZ) (Ribchester) will make his presence felt in the Gr.1 Courtesy Ford Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) at Trentham on Saturday irrespective of track conditions, with rain forecast later in the week. The hulking son of Ribchester handled soft conditions when
Racing
Waikouaiti-based horseman Lee Callaway is close to calling time on his career as a jockey. He is one away from 300 wins in the saddle and when he brings up his triple century, which includes four Group or Listed victories, will step aside to concentrate on his training operation.
Racing
Te Akau’s Matamata-based trainer Sam Bergerson is happy to have four runners engaged in the last two Group One features of the season, but what doesn’t please him is a worsening weather forecast ahead of Trentham on Saturday. Having topped the century last weekend for the third
Racing
Fresh from a near-perfect day with his three starters at Pukekohe last Friday, Cambridge trainer Chad Ormsby is hoping his run of hot form continues at Trentham this weekend. Ormsby produced three runners from his select racing string at Pukekohe and was denied by mere inches from completing a
Racing
Guy Lowry is looking forward to testing his homebred filly Spark (NZ) (Time Test) at stakes level once again following her maiden victory at Tauherenikau on Sunday. The three-year-old has always shown Guy and training partner Leah Zydenbos plenty, giving them the confidence to cross the Cook Strait
Racing
There could be no better advertisement for the New Zealand Bloodstock Ready To Run Sale than the almost clean sweep in the Hong Kong Derby (2000m), with the Mark Newnham-trained Invincible Ibis (Hellbent) defeating fellow graduate Numbers (NZ) (Tivaci) to win the blue-riband event. For good measure the
Racing
The value to be had from online buying was underlined yet again at Matamata on Sunday by debut winner Mayfair Street (NZ) (Savile Row). The Peter and Jessica Brosnan-trained and owned gelding was at double-figure odds for the Entain/NZB Insurance Pearl Series 2YO (1050m) despite winning the
Racing
Simon and Katrina Alexander have plenty of time for Cambridge Stud filly Rioja (NZ) (Almanzor), and she vindicated their early assessment with an eye-catching maiden victory at Matamata on Sunday. The daughter of Almanzor had two prior starts, placing on debut over 1350m at Pukekohe last October before finishing
Racing
Shaune Ritchie is confident Tuxedo (NZ) (Tivaci) can be a major weight-for-age player next season. With that in mind, the Cambridge-based horseman and training partner Colm Murray have resisted the temptation to try their luck across the Tasman and have sent the son of Tivaci for a
Racing
Gary Vile is tipping a bright future for Latest Model (NZ) (Vespa) following her win in the Life Direct NZ St Leger (2500m) at Trentham on Saturday. The five-year-old mare has shown the Awapuni trainer plenty of promise in her 24 previous starts, notching three victories, and he
New Zealand
Leading trainers Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson registered their 100th winner of the season when Perlino (NZ) (Super Seth) proved too good in the Momentum Consulting Rating 65 (1600m) at Riccarton on Saturday. The Te Akau stable won their 16th Training Premiership in the 2024/25 season, recording 131 wins