Racing
High-class filly Tajana has taken an impressive step toward a third Group One fillies’ feature for breeder and owner The Oaks Stud. The Shaun Ritchie and Colm Murray-trained representative opened her classic season at Ruakaka where she overcame trying conditions to land the Gr.3 Northland Breeders’ Stakes (1200m). “I
Racing
Te Akau trainer Mark Walker made history at Ballarat on Sunday with an unprecedented trifecta in the A$400,000 Ecycle Solutions Grand National Steeplechase (4500m). Walker saddled Leaderboard (Street Cry) for a 25-length win in the showpiece steeplechase, with The Mighty Spar (NZ) (Savabeel) second and Prismatic (NZ) (Savabeel)
Racing
A visit to Wanganui last spring put To Bravery Born (NZ) (Snitzel) on a path towards elite age-group competition, and the son of Snitzel is set to follow a similar formula after another first-up success at Taupo on Sunday. To Bravery Born took out the first two-year-old race of the
Racing
Less than 24 hours after losing one in the inquiry room, Sam O’Malley officially brought up the first win of his training career when Landman (NZ) (Hello Youmzain) took out the Buckley Contracting (1100m) at Woodville on Sunday. The former Group Two-winning jockey has gone into partnership this season
Racing
Consistent mare Chantilly Lace (NZ) (U S Navy Flag) carried the colours of Horowhenua to a thrilling victory in the feature race at New Plymouth, the ITM New Plymouth Interprovincial (1600m). The unique contest sees runners discard their traditional silks in favour of the colours of the region they represent
Racing
The Gr.1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) has often been the one that got away for Shaune Ritchie, but Tajana’s (NZ) (Darci Brahma) superb first-up performance at Ruakaka on Saturday has the Cambridge trainer dreaming of a breakthrough in the Riccarton classic. A last-to-first triumph in the Gr.
Racing
Apprentice jockey Gareth Lahoud has formed a potent partnership with Cleat (NZ) (Rios) this winter, and the pair mastered the murky conditions at Ruakaka on Saturday to collect another victory in the Accurate Books (1100m). Lahoud has now ridden nine winners in his career, with three of those successes coming
Racing
Apprentice Elen Nicholas produced a pair of copybook rides to notch a winning double at New Plymouth including a stylish victory aboard Te Awamutu visitor Rosetown Princess (NZ) (Redwood) in the Makita Open (1800m). Nicholas opened her account aboard the Michael Wallace-trained Florin (NZ) (Vanbrugh) in race two before employing
Racing
Tuxedo (NZ) (Tivaci) held his own against the best of his generation as a three-year-old last season, and a spectacular first-up performance at Ruakaka on Saturday suggested that he might be about to make the next step at four. The Tivaci gelding outclassed his opposition in the Hello Youmzain-Champion NZ
Racing
Veteran sprinter Tavis Court showed there is still plenty of fight left in the old dog as he led all the way to take out the opening event at New Plymouth on Saturday, the Paslode Open (1400m). The ten-year-old Tavistock gelding has always thrived on winter tracks and with rider
Racing
Reigning premiership winners Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson will watch Ruakaka closely on Saturday despite sending only one runner to the Northland course. The Te Akau Racing team will be represented by Age Of Discovery in the Accurate Books (1100m) at Rating 75 level. Age Of Discovery was a $625,
Racing
The last three months have been a breakthrough period in the career of Zanzibar, who will attempt to continue his rise through the winter ranks in Saturday’s ITM New Plymouth Interprovincial (1600m). The Jomara Bloodstock homebred had made little impression in his four career starts before May of this