NZ Racing and Breeding News – 29 December 2024
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Racing
New Zealand
Lingjun Xiongfeng Set for a Big Season Ahead
Talented miler Lingjun Xiongfeng will start his six-year-old season in Monday’s Poverty Bay Turf Club Cup (1400m) at Taupo, which trainer Pam Gerard hopes will provide a rating boost in the lead-up to feature summer targets. Lingjun Xiongfeng made a big impression around this time last year with barnstorming
Australia
Saltcoats goes back-to-back
Former stakes-winning New Zealand two-year-old Saltcoats has hit his groove in Australia, completing a winning double with a stylish performance in Saturday’s A$160,000 TAB Handicap (2000m) at Randwick. The son of Waikato Stud stallion Ardrossan began his career in the Cambridge stable of Samantha Logan, where his
New Zealand
Ears Back Overcomes Wide Draw to Claim Timaru Cup
Neither a wide draw nor a talented field of rivals at Phar Lap Raceway on Saturday could stand in the way of Ears Back (NZ) (Jakkalberry), who took her career earnings past $200,000 with a tenacious performance in the Craigmore Sustainable Holdings Timaru Cup (1600m). The time-honoured $80,000
Australia
Bankers Choice back in winning form
A return to winning form by Bankers Choice in Saturday’s A$150,000 Big Max Buggies Handicap (2040m) at Moonee Valley put the cherry on top of a special few weeks for his breeders and part-owners, Ross and Corrine Kearney. Under their Okaharau Station banner, the Kearneys also bred
New Zealand
Insatiable Extends Winning Streak at Timaru
Progressive galloper Insatiable (NZ) (All To Hard) kept his winning record intact at the Phar Lap Raceway in Timaru with a strong home straight burst that carried him to victory in the Leg Up Oilseed Goodness (1200m) on Saturday. The Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson-prepared five-year-old was returning to the
Australia
Field Of Play dominant on debut
From his $500,000 purchase price at Karaka to his impressive jumpouts, there was a buzz surrounding Field Of Play in the lead-up to his raceday debut, and he lived up to the hype with a runaway victory in Saturday’s A$150,000 Drummond Golf Handicap (1200m) at Moonee
New Zealand
Maher keen on Wellington Cup mission with Interpretation
Leading Victorian trainer Ciaron Maher looks set to add some real international flavour to racing at Trentham next month with hardy stayer Interpretation likely to contest the Gr.3 NZ Campus Of Innovation & Sport Wellington Cup (3200m) on 18 January. The Maher stable has Smokin’ Romans, Herman Hesse, Le
New Zealand
Plan B breaks two-year drought for Trigon Lad
Taking Trigon Lad to New Plymouth on Friday was something of an afterthought for Pukekohe trainer Michael Rogers, but that back-up plan produced a welcome return to the winners’ circle in the Landmark City of New Plymouth Cup (1600m). Trigon Lad has been an accomplished performer for his breeders Duncan
Opie Bosson retires
Opie Bosson, one of the greatest jockeys New Zealand has produced, has today announced his retirement from riding. Bosson, 44, leaves behind an incredible legacy in the sport, winning 99 Group One races in a glittering career which saw him inducted into the New Zealand Racing Hall of Fame in
New Zealand
Andertons aim for fourth Timaru Cup in a decade
The Craigmore Sustainable Holdings Timaru Cup (1600m) has been an outstanding race for Brian and Shane Anderton in recent years, and the Wingatui trainers will attempt to continue that tradition with a pair of well-credentialled runners at Phar Lap Raceway on Saturday. The Andertons have collected three wins in the
New Zealand
Hasstobeawinner takes his crown in Stella Artois Final
Hasstobeawinner has often played the bridesmaid role in his career, but on Boxing Day at Ellerslie, he chose the right time to live up to his name, storming home to take out the Stella Artois 1500 Championship Final. In 17 starts prior to Thursday’s contest, Hasstobeawinner had only won