New Zealand
NZ Racing and Breeding News – 15 September 2024
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Racing
Australia
Mr Brightside defends Makybe Diva crown
The remarkable story of Kiwi-bred champion Mr Brightside (NZ) (Bullbars) rolled into his seven-year-old season with a historic defence of his title in the A$750,000 Gr.1 Crown Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m) at Flemington on Saturday. The Bullbars gelding became the first back-to-back winner of the weight-for-age feature
Australia
Grinzinger Belle runs rivals ragged in Let’s Elope
New Zealand-bred mare Grinzinger Belle (NZ) (Shamexpress) made a bold start to her spring campaign with a commanding front-running performance in Saturday’s A$300,000 Gr.2 Furphy Let’s Elope Stakes (1400m) at Flemington. The daughter of Shamexpress led all the way for a black-type win over the
New Zealand
Perfect Scenario provides perfect result for Te Akau Racing
Experienced seven-year-old Perfect Scenario (NZ) (Iffraaj) has accumulated plenty of travelling miles under his belt since making his raceday debut in December 2019 for owners, the Te Akau Perfection Syndicate. In that time though he has built an imposing record that he added to on Saturday with a win in
Australia
Firestorm shines on four-year-old debut
New Zealand import Firestorm (NZ) (Satono Aladdin) made a perfect start to her four-year-old season with a strong-finishing success in Saturday’s A$160,000 NSW Thoroughbred Breeders Handicap (1500m) at Rosehill. The Benchmark 78 event was the third win of a 14-race career for Firestorm, who had previously shown
New Zealand
Pike and Cartwright combine for another three-year-old feature
A hard-fought victory by Raziah (NZ) (Niagara) in Saturday’s Listed New Zealand Bloodstock Canterbury Belle Stakes (1200m) at Riccarton Park provided trainer Tony Pike and jockey Matt Cartwright with a second feature three-year-old success within the space of a week. Pike and Cartwright teamed up seven days earlier at
New Zealand
Flaneur provides Keegan with New Plymouth celebration
Trainer Pat Keegan was a happy man after pulling the right rein with his gritty gelding Flaneur (NZ) (Highly Recommended) at New Plymouth on Saturday. Keegan, who prepares the five-year-old son of Highly Recommended as one of his three-strong team at Hawera, had pretty much convinced himself to scratch his
Australia
Australian stakes success for Fortuna filly
Bellatrix Star (Star Witness) was among the leading two-year-old fillies in New Zealand last season, and she showed in Saturday’s A$175,000 Listed Cap D’Antibes Stakes (1100m) at Flemington that she has the class to compete on Melbourne’s spring carnival stage. The Cap D’Antibes Stakes
New Zealand
Jon Ol Rocco back in winning groove
Local trainer Andrew Carston was both relieved and excited for the rest of the spring after Jon Ol Rocco (NZ) (Time Test) returned to winning form in Saturday’s Martin Collins New Zealand Cup Trial (1800m) at Riccarton Park. The Time Test gelding was one of the brightest prospects in
Australia
Unusual Legacy takes big step towards Metropolitan
Next month’s Gr.1 Metropolitan Handicap (2400m) is looming large on the horizon for Unusual Legacy (NZ) (Unusual Suspect), who enhanced his growing reputation with an outstanding last-to-first performance in Saturday’s A$160,000 Chandon Handicap (1800m) at Rosehill. The Benchmark 88 handicap was the fifth win from
New Zealand
Te Akau out in force at Flemington
A talented team of four runners at Flemington on Saturday will try to add to the momentum that Te Akau Racing has built up through the first 12 months of its Victorian base. Te Akau’s Cranbourne stable opened in late September of last year, and by the end of
New Zealand
Great Northern duo to cap big week for Brosnan
Sunday’s eagerly anticipated Great Northern meeting at Te Rapa could provide a fitting end to a big week for Matamata trainer Jessica Brosnan. Brosnan and her husband Peter will saddle Auld Jock and Ima Wonder in the $150,000 Ben & Ryan Foote Racing Great Northern Steeplechase (6500m) on