Racing
The Gr.3 Sunline Vase (1400m) was expected to be the weekend’s key pointer for the Gr.1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m), but a spectacular performance on the Ellerslie undercard had its own impact on fixed-odds betting for the Christchurch classic. First-starter Well Written (Written Tycoon)
Racing
New Zealand-bred gelding With Your Blessing (NZ) (Vadamos) capped a consistent run of form with his first black-type success in Saturday’s A$250,000 Gr.3 Bill Ritchie Handicap (1400m) at Randwick. The Vadamos gelding progressed through the grades last season with a pair of Randwick victories
Racing
Spring racing moved up a notch at Ellerslie on Saturday for Stephen Marsh, who came away from the meeting with three wins and plenty to be excited about through the months ahead. Marsh collected back-to-back successes early in the afternoon with Guineas contenders Well Written (Written Tycoon) and
Racing
Overcoming the outside gate, Celestial Wonder (Xtravagant) resumed with victory in the $55,000 Sistema Rating 75 1200 metres on Saturday at Ellerslie. An impressive Maiden winner and second in O’Leary’s Fillies Listed Stakes (1340m) last season, Celestial Wonder won the 3YO 1100 metres in May at Ellerslie,
Racing
Quality winter sprinter Spencer (NZ) (Derryn) showed he is just as adept on a better surface as he is on the deep winter footing when he bounced back to winning form with a comprehensive performance to take out the CR Grace Ltd & Waterforce Handicap (1200m) at Trentham. The Erin
Racing
Statistics had previously suggested Diamond Jak was something of a heavy-track specialist, but he added a new string to his bow on Saturday and delivered a special win for his connections in the Stella Artois (2100m) at Ellerslie. The seven-year-old son of Jakkalberry went into the $65,
Racing
Progressive three-year-old Churmatt showed he has the ability to take on some bigger assignments in the future with a comfortable victory in the NZB Ready To Run Sale Trainers Series 3YO (1400m) at Ellerslie. The son of Churchill was sent out a dominant $2 favourite for the contest
Racing
The more things change, the more they stay the same. It may have a new permanent home and a new name, but New Zealand’s richest hurdle race continues to be dominated by Paul Nelson and Corrina McDougal. Taika triumphed in the inaugural running of the $150,000 J Swap
Racing
Fierce Flight kicked off what Te Akau Racing is hoping to be a lucrative weekend for the trans-Tasman operation when winning the Te Aroha Maiden Hurdle (3100m) on Friday. The Flying Artie gelding won six races on the flat, including the Listed Hawke’s Bay Cup (2200m), and placed
Racing
The prestigious NZB Filly of the Year Series heads in a new direction on Saturday with the running of the second leg, the $150,000 Group Three Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Sunline Vase (1400m) at Ellerslie. The Sunline Vase has previously been run over 2100m in March as the 10th
Racing
Shaun and Hazel Fannin’s pair of talented jumpers in Jesko and Fourty Eight will clash for the first time over fences in Sunday’s hotly-contested Ben and Ryan Foote Great New Zealand Steeplechase (6200m) at Te Aroha. Jesko has been the lamp-lighter for the stable this year,
Racing
Group One performer Chase has been in a rich vein of form of late and he will attempt to continue that at Trentham on Saturday in the Gr.3 Hunterville Vet Club Metric Mile (1600m). The nine-year-old son of Zed returned to the winner’s circle in July