New Zealand
NZ Racing and Breeding News – 13 April 2025
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Racing
New Zealand
Third Decree shines in Southern Alps Challenge
Local mare Third Decree (NZ) (War Decree) picked a lucrative day for a big-race breakthrough, going from last to first in the $350,000 TAB Southern Alps Challenge (1600m) at Riccarton on Saturday. It was the second running of the Southern Alps Challenge, which was established last season by
New Zealand
Sprint feature caps Slipper Island’s breakthrough campaign
Saturday’s Listed City Of Napier Sprint (1200m) capped a remarkable four-win sequence at Trentham for Slipper Island (No Nay Never), whose trainer Tony Pike now has his eye on an even bigger prize at the Wellington track. As recently as January of this year, Slipper Island was an
New Zealand
Dream Of The Moon dominates NZB Airfreight Stakes
Te Akau Racing ran rampant at both New Zealand venues on Saturday, culminating in a runaway by Dream Of The Moon (All Too Hard) in the Listed NZB Airfreight Stakes (1600m) at Riccarton. The $80,000 three-year-old fillies’ feature was the third win on the Riccarton card for
New Zealand
Tikki too speedy in Riccarton dash
Underrated mare Tikki (NZ) (Per Incanto) added to her burgeoning career record when she claimed the feature race for the open handicap speedsters at Riccarton on Saturday, the Commodore Hotel Open Sprint (1200m). The Steven Prince-trained five-year-old had made her mark on tracks with a little give
Australia
Sergeant Major strikes winning blow at Randwick
Former Kiwi Sergeant Major (NZ) (Proisir) recorded a strong victory in the Listed South Pacific Classic (1400m) at Randwick on Saturday as the three-year-old son of Proisir made a deserved Australian breakthrough. Racing for a syndicate headed by Ozzie Kheir, the Ciaron Maher trained galloper raced prominently throughout
New Zealand
Mehzebeen takes Hawke’s Bay Cup
A brilliant rails hugging ride by apprentice Lily Sutherland combined with the never-say-die attitude of progressive stayer Mehzebeen proved the key to the finish of a thrilling running of the Listed Valley D’Vine Restaurant Hawke’s Bay Cup (2200m) at Trentham. The Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson-
New Zealand
Finnegan flyer is first-up winner
Samantha Finnegan picked up her first winner as a trainer when flying filly Bona Sforza (Written By) swept home on debut to take out the Listed Riccarton Park Function Centre Welcome Stakes (1000m) at Riccarton. Finnegan moved back to New Zealand last year with husband Francis and their young family
Australia
Cartwright snares first Saturday winner
Apprentice Luke Cartwright landed his first metropolitan Saturday victory when guiding hardy galloper Heavenly Eagle to victory in the Balgownie Bendigo BM70 Handicap (1300m) at the standalone meeting at Bendigo on Saturday. The six-year-old son of Echoes Of Heaven came from well-back in the field to grab
Australia
Irish Eyes are smiling at Bendigo
Handy stayer Through Irish Eyes was back in the winner’s circle for the first time since prevailing in the Listed VRC St Leger (2800m) as a three-year-old when successful at the standalone Bendigo meeting on Saturday. The now seven-year-old son of Tavistock might have delayed
New Zealand
Low-priced Faultless lands Trentham upset
A trip to Trentham for Saturday’s Life Direct 2YO (1300m) was something of an afterthought for Peter, Kim and Shaun McKay, but the Matamata family struck gold in the $35,000 race with their bargain buy Faultless (NZ) Tivaci . The McKays and the late Trevor Luke paid just $6,
New Zealand
Te Rapa to determine Super Photon’s path
Sunday’s Forsman Racing 3YO (1200m) at Te Rapa could put comeback galloper Super Photon on a Gr.3 Cambridge Breeders’ Stakes (1200m) collision course with his similarly resurgent stablemate Velocious. Both Super Photon and Velocious were stakes-winning two-year-olds last season for trainer Stephen Marsh. They both