New Zealand
Following the Government's announcement that Auckland will join the remainder of the country in COVID-19 alert level 1 from midday today, crowds will be welcomed on-course to Ellerslie’s Barfoot & Thompson Auckland Cup Day on Saturday. Gates for tomorrow’s Auckland Cup Day will open at 11am,
New Zealand
Group One plans weren’t originally on the cards for Fonsalette (NZ) (Belardo) this weekend, but that all changed earlier this week when the nominations came out for the Gr.1 Sistema Stakes (1200m). The juvenile feature had attracted just four nominations, and with Group One honours on the line
New Zealand
Despite being booked for only two rides, Saturday’s Auckland Cup meeting at Ellerslie has the potential to be a special day in the saddle for Troy Harris. The 32-year-old has recorded six Group One victories in his riding career, and he has two strong chances to add to that
New Zealand
Wanganui trainer Raymond Connors put a circle around the Gr.1 Barfoot & Thompson Auckland Cup (3200m) several months ago for promising stayer Hurry Cane (NZ) (Nom Du Jeu), but injury has put a halt to those plans. The eight-year-old gelding was heading towards the two-mile feature at Ellerslie on
New Zealand
Milford Sound (NZ) (Ocean Park) broke maiden ranks on Thursday with a stylish win in the Piccadilly Books Stocktake Sale On Until 15 March Maiden (1600m) at Riccarton. The son of Ocean Park stepped out a $1.50 favourite in the mile contest and trainer Andrew Carston admitted to feeling
New Zealand
Bookmakers may be favouring defending champ Avantage (Fastnet Rock) in Saturday's Gr.1 Bonecrusher New Zealand Stakes (2000m) at Ellerslie but her trainer Jamie Richards is backing Melody Belle (NZ) (Commands) as the pick of his pair. Richards will clash the glamour pair in a race each has
New Zealand
Roydon Bergerson has been trying to get over a few mental hurdles with a couple of his runners and he is hoping that effort will bear fruit at Trentham this weekend. The Awapuni trainer has his fingers-crossed the recent gelding of juvenile Reign It In (NZ) (Sacred Falls) will help
New Zealand
Veteran stayer Roger That (NZ) (Shinko King) is shaping as the forgotten horse in Saturday’s Gr.1 Barfoot & Thompson Auckland Cup (3200m). The Antony Fuller-trained eight-year-old won last year’s Auckland Cup at odds of 40-1 and the hardy stayer will again go around at decent odds ($34
New Zealand
Mornington trainer Brett Scott is conscious and talking as he recovers from being kicked in the head by a horse last Wednesday. Scott’s wife Kylie said the popular ex-pat Kiwi has no memory of the incident, but he has made positive progress easing out of an induced coma. “We
New Zealand
The Chris Bothwell-trained Arjaybee (NZ) (Highly Recommended) made a winning debut at Otaki on Thursday, coming from last under apprentice Taiki Yanagida to blouse her rivals late in the Aquashield Roofing 3YO Maiden (1200m). The victory was an emotional one for Stratford-based Bothwell, with the daughter of Highly Recommended named
New Zealand
Otaki trainers Johno Benner and Hollie Wynyard enjoyed a good day on their home track on Wednesday. The duo saddled impressive maiden winner Meg (Sebring), while they also took the opportunity to give Group One winner Bonham (Per Incanto) an exhibition gallop in company with stablemate Hold The Press (Press
New Zealand
Matamata trainer Graham Richardson wasn’t planning to run Bonny Lass (NZ) (Super Easy) in the Gr.1 Sistema Stakes (1200m) until he saw the nominations – or rather, the lack of them. Remarkably for a Group One race, just four horses were originally nominated for the contest on Tuesday -