New Zealand
Impressive Riccarton debut winner Matchmaker will continue her career in Sydney this spring after breeder-owners Gus and Bianca Wigley reached a deal to sell a half-share in the filly. The Nick Wigley and Kayla Milnes-trained filly triumphed by 3-1/4 lengths in two-year-old company at Riccarton last month, with Wigley
New Zealand
Shaun Phelan won’t enjoy watching his fellow jumps jockeys compete in two of the country’s feature jumps races at Te Rapa on Saturday. The talented rider has been sidelined after breaking his wrist while schooling a horse in June and he is hoping to make a return to
New Zealand
Evergreen galloper Sampson (NZ) (Dubai Destination) will kick-off his 11-year-old season at Hawera on Saturday and trainer Howie Mathews said his pride and joy is training like a horse half his age. “The way he is and his demeanor he is like a five-year-old. He does not show his age
New Zealand
Next Monday will mark the farewell to one of the unsung promoters of the New Zealand racing and breeding industry with the funeral of Ronald Walter Ladd, QSM. Ladd, who died peacefully at the Cascades Rest Home in Hamilton last Monday at the age of 93, made a huge impression
New Zealand
Matamata trainer Jamie Richards is comfortable with star mare Melody Belle (NZ) (Commands) carrying the favourite tag into Saturday's Gr.2 Missile Stakes (1200m) at Rosehill. Commands six-year-old Melody Belle has won three of her seven previous first-up starts though was fourth in last year's Gr.
New Zealand
Harvey Wilson was unable to switch to hands-free mode but was still able to give a good push to his Te Rapa chances from the driver's seat on It's A Wonder (NZ) (Istidaad) on Thursday morning. Wilson graciously took the NZ Racing Desk call between hill
New Zealand
The flag is certainly being flown high by exciting jumper Ablaze (NZ) (Raise The Flag) for his White Robe Lodge sire and the spinoff is being felt at the leading South Island stud. A son of Raise The Flag, Ablaze extended his unbeaten record to five over fences when last
New Zealand
Southland trainer Lisa Vaughan is on the hunt this season to secure an elusive stakes victory with seven-year-old mare Shirley Maude (NZ) (Fully Fledged). The daughter of Fully Fledged placed in the Listed Champagne Stakes (1200m) at just her second career start and finished runner-up in the Gr.3 White
New Zealand
Shaune Ritchie was beaming after Jennifer Eccles’ (NZ) (Rip Van Winkle) 1050m trial at Ruakaka on Tuesday. He was delighted to see last season’s Gr.1 New Zealand Oaks (2400m) winner relax in her heat and run on well to finish fourth against a quality line-up. “We are delighted
New Zealand
It may have only been a maiden race at Te Aroha on Sunday, but Justastate earned her photo spot amongst Rogan Norvall’s gallery of the memorable feature winners he rode during his career in the saddle. The Falkirk five-year-old credited Norvall with his first training success after he officially
New Zealand
Leading New Zealand jockey Opie Bosson is looking forward to his imminent return to raceday riding. Bosson rode 18 horses for Te Akau trainer Jamie Richards at the Cambridge Stud trials late last month at Te Rapa and he plans on making a return to race day riding on August
New Zealand
Quality gallopers Charles Road (Myboycharlie) and Dragon Leap (Pierro) are making good progress ahead of their spring campaigns. Lucrative Sydney targets are high on the agenda for the duo should COVID-19 immigration challenges to enable staff to travel from New Zealand to Australia be overcome. “Charles Road and Dragon Leap