One of my favourite horses died on Saturday. His name was West Coast. He was New Zealand’s best steeplechaser, one of the best to ever jump raceday fences. He was a champion of his kind. West Coast was humanely put down after fracturing his shoulder in the Waikato Steeples
Almost five years after rising to the top of Perth racing with a five-win sequence that culminated in the 2021 edition of the Gr.1 Railway Stakes (1600m), remarkable veteran Western Empire (NZ) (Iffraaj) is once again winning black-type races in a row. Saturday’s A$200,000
Emerging top hurdler Squire (NZ) (Savile Row) will bid for his first prestige jumping crown at Te Rapa on Saturday as the gelding takes on the Fairview Motors Waikato Hurdle (3200m). The Peter and Jessica Brosnan-trained gelding won the maiden hurdle at the same meeting 12 months ago and
When star jockey Mark Zahra was engaged for just the one ride at Seymour on Thursday, there were plenty of punters that copped the tip as three-year-old gelding Mahershala (NZ) (Per Incanto) made a one-act affair of the Vale Ian Dickinson Maiden Plate (1000m). The talented son
A revitalised former National winner and a rising star claimed top honours in Wednesday’s rescheduled jumping features at Trentham. The Manawatu ITM Manawatu Hurdles (2500m) went the way of Happy Star (NZ) (Fabulous), a horse that is no stranger to feature success having won the Hawke’s Bay Hurdle
Waikato Stud stallion Noverre was represented by his first winner when two-year-old gelding Hailstones (NZ) (Noverre) ran out a strong winner of a maiden handicap (1300m) at Scone on Tuesday for Annabel and Rob Archibald. Ridden by Braith Nock, Hailstones sat outside the leader before hitting the front
Nash Rawiller is confident Hello Captain (NZ) (Hello Youmzain) can make his mark in top company in time. The leading Sydney rider piloted the Chris Waller-trained three-year-old to an impressive victory over 1250m at Canterbury on Monday and was lavish in his praise of the lightly raced
Next Saturday’s final weight-for-age feature in Australia for the season will take on a whole new look with news that front-running star Pride Of Jenni (Pride Of Dubai) will tackle the Gr.2 A$1.2 million Q22 over 2200 metres at Eagle Farm. On Sunday
Evergreen galloper War Eternal (NZ) (Pierro) took his career stakes earnings over the A$1million threshold with a fighting performance to down the well-favoured Sun God (Fastnet Rock) in a tooth and nail battle to the finish of the Listed Spear Chief Handicap (1500m) at Eagle Farm on Saturday.
Well-related mare Free Bird (NZ) (Tarzino) will be tested over a middle distance for the first time at Ellerslie on Saturday, with her performance dictating her future plans. A half-sister to Group One winner Stolen Dance, who Greene trained for the majority of her career, Free Bird has
In a Gr.1 Queensland Oaks (2200m) field with a long tail on paper, Michael Hickmott sees no reason Gr.3 SA Fillies’ Classic (2500m) winner Fringes (NZ) (Niagara) can’t run a big race at Eagle Farm on Saturday. The Kiwi import took a couple of runs to find
Kiwi filly Solid Gold (NZ) (Savabeel) will be on the quick back-up when she takes her place in Saturday’s Gr.1 Queensland Oaks (2200m) following her fifth placing in last weekend’s Gr.1 Queensland Derby (2400m). The Roger James and Robert Wellwood-trained daughter of Savabeel was