Racing
Just weeks after tasting the bitterness of a short-margin defeat in a Group One, jockey George Rooke is savouring the sweetness of scoring his first elite-level success over the weekend. The expat Englishman thought he had nailed his first Group One victory aboard Affirmative Action in last month’
Racing
Simms Davison is more than happy to play the long game with his broodmare gem Bella Carolina and her family. O’Reilly’s daughter continues to do the Mapperley Stud principal proud with future stakes contender Stella Ma Bella the latest to shine. Davison bred and races the Contributor filly,
Racing
Dual Group One winner Orchestral has been retired. The Roger James and Robert Wellwood-trained mare suffered an atrial fibrillation when running 10th in last month’s Gr.2 Auckland Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1400m), and the decision was made to bring the curtain down on her racing career. “Unfortunately, she
Racing
Midnight Edition (NZ) (Wrote), who has genuine claims to the title of most improved galloper in the North Island this season, stepped up to a new level at Pukekohe when he claimed the Gr.3 Concorde Stakes (1200m) in emphatic fashion. The Bruce Wallbank-trained four-year-old had shown
Racing
It was an anxious few moments for the connections ofProvence (NZ)(Savabeel) as they waited to hear the judge’s call following the Gr.1 TAB Mufhasa Classic (1600m) at Trentham on Saturday, and they erupted when their mare’s name was called out first. In shades of the photo
Racing
Lightly raced six-year-old The Scunner (NZ) (Shamexpress) showed his last start runner-up finish at Group Three level was no fluke as he backed that effort up with another professional display to capture the Gr.3 Taylor Property Plus Spring Sprint (1400m) at Trentham. The Ashley Meadows-prepared
Racing
Chris Wood has had faith from day one that his promising youngsterThat’s Gold(Lucky Vega) would make an impact on the track, and he repaid that on Saturday when taking out the Gr.3 Bonecrusher Stakes (1400m) at Pukekohe. The three-year-old son of Lucky Vega had shown
Racing
It may no longer be on the big stage of Karaka Millions night, but a win in Saturday’s Gr.3 Concorde Stakes (1200m) at Pukekohe would mean just as much to trainer Chad Ormsby. The Cambridge horseman is targeting the feature sprint with stable favourite Master Fay, who took
Racing
Ultra-consistent sprinter Twain is ready to take an important step to his main summer target when he lines up in the Gr.3 Concorde Stakes (1200m) at Pukekohe Park on Saturday. In 14 starts dating back to his debut in July last year, the Per Incanto gelding has won
Racing
Riccarton trainers Michael and Matthew Pitman love a trip north to Trentham, and they are once again looking forward to heading to the Upper Hutt track this weekend with a trio of contenders. Trentham has been a happy hunting ground for the father-and-son duo, who have recorded some
Racing
Paul Mirabelli may have lost Group One performer Shoma from his Cambridge stable, but he believes he still has plenty of three-year-old firepower in his barn. While still a maiden after 10 starts, Shoma impressed when placing in last month’s Gr.1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m)
Racing
The on-farm parades for the Karaka 2026 South Island vendors are scheduled for Thursday 18 & Friday 19 December, and then making its way through the Central Districts Monday 22 & Tuesday 23 December All prospective buyers are welcome to attend to inspect yearlings ahead of Karaka 2026, while