Racing
Patience, a diminishing commodity in the modern environment, remains a key marker for Raumati couple Christopher and Susanna Grace, two of New Zealand racing’s longest serving and most successful participants. No better example is the latest star of the Graces’ home-bred racing string, the Andrew Forsman-trained Hinekaha, who completed
Racing
Cranbourne trainer Gavin Bedggood will spend Christmas on this side of the Tasman as he prepares his Group Three winner Kingswood for Group One action at Ellerslie on Boxing Day. With a view towards Kingswood’s prospective stallion career, Bedggood is heading to New Zealand in the hope of securing
Racing
A fresh approach will be key to She’s A Dealer’s bid for higher honours during her summer preparation. The exciting daughter of Ace High confirmed plans for two major targets when she romped to a Rating 75 victory at Te Rapa on Saturday, the fourth victory of her
Racing
Taranaki gelding Tisse (NZ) (Belardo) took an impressive step forward to his major summer target in a couple of weeks when dominating the Bill Tito Book Repair Specialist 2100 at Trentham on Sunday. The Allan Sharrock-trained five-year-old has been in a purple patch of form, winning one and finishing runner-up
Racing
Trainers Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson now have their sights set on the Gr.3 Cambridge Stud Almanzor Trophy (1400m) at Ellerslie for To Bravery Born (NZ) (Snitzel) on Karaka Millions night following his eye-catching first-up win at Te Rapa on Saturday. The three-year-old gelding has a strong first-up record,
Racing
Wexford Stables’ exciting juvenile filly Dashing Dixie (NZ) (Alabama Express) is TAB Karaka Millions 2YO (1200m) bound following her debut victory at Te Rapa on Saturday. The daughter of Alabama Express had placed in her two trials over 800m leading into her first raceday appearance, and trainers Lance O’Sullivan
Racing
Former Gr.1 New Zealand Derby (2400m) winner Sharp ‘N’ Smart returned to the scene of that 2023 triumph to take out the Gr.3 SKYCITY Hamilton Waikato Cup (2400m) in a thrilling three-way finish to the Te Rapa staying feature. A triple Group One winner as a three-year-old, the
Racing
Trainer Liam Birchley has long earmarked the Listed TAB Karaka Millions 2YO (1200m) for highly promising juvenile Dream Roca, and the daughter of El Roca took another step in the direction of the Ellerslie feature with a dominant win at Eagle Farm on Saturday. Dream Roca finished runner-up on debut
Racing
Underrated sprinter First Five produced a barnstorming finish to capture his first stakes victory when he took out the Gr.3 J Swap Sprint (1400m) at Te Rapa Carrying the familiar colours of well-known thoroughbred identity Gerald Shand, the David Greene-prepared five-year-old has been a model of consistency in his
Racing
A change of tactics that saw promising mare Hinekaha go straight to the front from barrier rise paved the way for her biggest success when she scored a game win in the Gr.2 Cal Isuzu Stakes (1600m) at Te Rapa. The lightly-raced four-year-old daughter of Savabeel had never lead
Racing
Fraser Auret says he will be a proud man when Ka Ying Rising lines up in the HK$28 million G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint (1200m) at Sha Tin on 14 December against a strong international field with hopes of adding to his 15 consecutive wins. Auret is a trainer
Racing
After achieving back-to-back victories as the LONGINES World’s Best Jockey, James McDonald is hoping to cap off an extraordinary season by creating more history at Sha Tin tomorrow (Sunday, 14 December) on Romantic Warrior. McDonald, who also won the LONGINES World’s Best Jockey award in 2022, will ride