Racing
Te Akau Racing’s involvement in the Group One raceday at Te Rapa on Saturday was significantly depleted by scratchings due to heavy track conditions, but it was a completely different story at Riccarton. Spring racing was in full swing in Christchurch, with the track upgraded to Good4 and those
Racing
Well-respected South Island rider Kylie Williams brought up a significant career milestone when she steered Riviera Rebel (NZ) (Pure Champion) to a convincing victory in the feature flat event at Riccarton, the Waimakariri Businesses North Canterbury Cup (2000m). Williams had been steadily closing in on 1000 career wins in the
Racing
Talented colt Magic Carpet (NZ) (Satono Aladdin) chose the ideal moment to break his maiden status when he produced a dogged effort to claim victory in the Gr.2 Timberspan Hawke’s Bay Guineas (1400). Prepared at Cambridge by Stephen Marsh, the son of Satono Aladdin had looked to have
Racing
A barnstorming finish by promising four-year-old Whisky ‘N Roses (NZ) (Belardo) saw him open his Spring campaign on a winning note as he downed a handy field of open sprinters in the BCD Group Sprint (1200m) at Te Rapa. The Joanne Surgenor-prepared son of Belardo looked a galloper of real
Racing
Local three-year-old Alottago (Tagalo) thrust his name into Gr.1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) contention with a striking come-from-behind performance in the Rangiora New World Guineas Trial (1400m) at Riccarton on Saturday. The Lance Robinson-trained gelding has improved with every race in his five-start career. He placed in all
Racing
Otaki horseman Johno Benner has a good association with the Karaka Millions, and he could have another serious contender on his hands for January’s showpiece. He won the 2014 edition of the Karaka Millions 2YO (1200m) with Vespa and the inaugural Karaka Millions 3YO Classic (1600m) with Scott Base
Racing
The father-son training partnership of Peter and Trent Didham recorded their first win when Danjuro scored a tough victory in Friday’s The Tele Otaki Handicap (2100m). A fourth generation of trainers was added to the Didham dynasty when 27-year-old Trent joined his father in partnership earlier this month, and
Racing
Trainer John O’Shea has confirmed that Group One winnerLinebacker(NZ) (Super Seth) will bypass the Gr.1 Epsom Handicap (1600m) after striking a minor setback in his spring campaign. “He won't go to the Epsom, he's had a little setback,” O’Shea said. “We had
Racing
Stakes-performed filly Miss Ziggy will take a big step down in class at Riccarton on Saturday and attempt to shed her maiden tag in the Speight’s Summit Ultra On Tap Maiden (1400m). The daughter of Brazen Beau has recorded five placings in her nine-start career so far, headed by
Racing
Exciting three-year-old Yamato Satona will carry colours well-known to the harness racing code when commencing his career at Te Rapa on Saturday. A colt by Satono Aladdin, Yamato Satona was a $250,000 purchase at the Karaka Yearling Sales by top harness trainer Barry Purdon, his wife Katrina, and Montana
Racing
Navy Dreams all but won at stakes level last season and the in-form colt will have an opportunity to go one better at Te Rapa on Saturday. The Barry Donoghue-prepared son of Merchant Navy will attempt to break his maiden status in the Gr.2 Timberspan Hawke’s Bay Guineas
Racing
A trip north to Auckland next month is in the offing for Richard Stomper when he heads to Riccarton on Saturday to contest the Waimakariri Businesses North Canterbury Cup (2000m). The five-win gelding holds a nomination for the Gr.1 Livamol Classic (2040m) at Ellerslie on October 18, and his