New Zealand
Underrated filly Opalescence dented several reputations when she swept to victory in Saturday’s Gr.3 Mitchell Family Bonecrusher Stakes (1400m) at Ellerslie. The Jenna Mahoney-trained three-year-old started at odds of nearly $13 despite being a last-start winner as punters set their sights on Gr.2
New Zealand
Quality galloper Rock On Wood (NZ) (Redwood) shed the tag of a Group One winner in waiting in emphatic fashion when he dashed home to take out the Gr.1 Rydges Wellington Captain Cook Stakes (1600m) at Trentham. The Leanne Elliot-trained six-year-old had promised plenty at the
New Zealand
Flashy chestnut colt Stormy (NZ) (Telperion) repaid the faith of punters who installed him as a $1.50 favourite as he powered to victory in the Gr.2 Pete’s Joinery, Precise Design & Build Wakefield Challenge Stakes (1100m) at Trentham. The Tony Pike-trained Telperion colt was the only
New Zealand
Promising galloper Invisible Spirit (NZ) (Charm Spirit) made a winning return to the track when he led throughout to capture the first event at Trentham on Saturday. The Charm Spirit gelding hadn’t been seen on raceday since finishing second at Waverley back in mid-August. Trainers Johno Benner and
New Zealand
Trentham racecourse will host the first appearance of NZ Thoroughbred Racing (NZTR) welfare ambassadors Werther (NZ) (Tavistock) and Ping Hai Star (NZ) (Nom Du Jeu) on Saturday. The duo, both former Hong Kong Derby (2000m) winners, are retired from racing and currently enjoy life as “nannies” at Palmerston North’s
New Zealand
Jockey Leith Innes has a quality book of rides at Ellerslie on Saturday, including promising three-year-old Jason Belltree (NZ) (Ferlax) in the day’s feature, the Gr.3 Mitchell Family Bonecrusher Stakes (1400m). The Bruce Wallace and Grant Cooksley-trained son of Ferlax has won two of his
New Zealand
The Michael and Matthew Pitman-trained Marine (NZ) (Ocean Park) has been sold to clients of Hong Kong trainer Caspar Fownes and will do his future racing in the Asian racing jurisdiction. The three-year-old son of Ocean Park has had just four starts, winning on debut before placing
New Zealand
With an overseas sale off the agenda for now, Te Awamutu trainer Stephen Ralph is free to dream big with highly talented three-year-old Explosively (NZ) (Sweynesse) – starting with a first black-type test in Saturday’s Gr.3 Mitchell Family Bonecrusher Stakes (1400m) at Ellerslie. Offshore offers have
New Zealand
Opaki trainer Alby MacGregor has always been proud of his Scottish heritage, so much so that his horses sport the family tartan on raceday. While the colours have had success over the years, they are yet to win at elite level, and MacGregor is hoping that will change at Trentham
New Zealand
With Group One racing on Saturday, Trentham track manager Mark Biddle is praying for the rain to stay away. The Wellington track is currently rated a Heavy10 and with fine weather forecast ahead of the weekend, Biddle is hoping there will be some improvement in the surface. “We have got
New Zealand
Cambridge trainer Tony Pike will head south to Trentham on Saturday to a wet welcome, with rain forest for the weekend’s premier meeting. Despite the gloomy outlook he is set to bring his own storm on Saturday in the form of unbeaten two-year-old Stormy (NZ) (Telperion), who
New Zealand
Riccarton trainers Michael and Matthew Pitman will have numbers in their favour as per usual at their home track meeting on Friday. The father-and-son training duo like to take full advantage of not having to travel their horses given Riccarton’s standing as the premier Southern track, and