New Zealand
Trainers Peter and Dawn Williams are hoping they can upset the applecart when they head to Te Rapa on Saturday. The South Auckland couple will line-up Desert Lightning (NZ) (Pride of Dubai) in the Gr.1 Auckland Thoroughbred Racing New Zealand Derby (2400m) where TAB bookmakers believe he has
New Zealand
Express Coup (NZ) (Shamexpress) has been given the nod as Michael and Matthew Pitman’s best hope of success in Saturday’s age group feature at Wingatui. The daughter of Shamexpress will run as the top seed for the father and son combination in the Listed New Zealand Bloodstock Insurance
Australia
Promising mare Sanstoc (NZ) (Tavistock) has earned her way back into stakes company after franking her first-up win with another powerful performance at Warwick Farm. Trainer Mark Newnham confirmed the four-year-old would have her next run in the Gr.3 Epona Stakes (1900m) at Rosehill on March
New Zealand
Val Di Zoldo (NZ) (War Decree) headlined a stellar day for Tony Pike at Awapuni where she added serious momentum to her preparation for the country’s premier staying feature for fillies. A first stakes winner for her Inglewood Stud-based stallion War Decree, she was one of three success
Australia
Leading trainer Chris Waller will have at least two runners in his bid for a second Randwick Guineas and while he has followed a traditional route with Osipenko (NZ) (Pierro), stablemate Manzoice (Almanzor) has had a more unconventional preparation. The latter missed his scheduled return in the Hobartville Stakes (1400m)
New Zealand
Waikato Hospital radiologist Xavier Kos is dreaming of an Oaks victory with his filly Mehzebeen (NZ) (Almanzor) after she broke through for her maiden win at Awapuni on Wednesday. Kos moved to New Zealand from France, where he developed his interest in thoroughbreds, and Mehzebeen is his first foray into
New Zealand
Andrew Forsman has trained two previous victors of the Gr.1 New Zealand Derby (2400m) in partnership with mentor Murray Baker, and he is hoping he can claim one in his own right at Te Rapa this weekend. The Cambridge conditioner secured his first win in the race in 2015
New Zealand
It’s hard to dismiss the similarities between Sharp ‘N’ Smart (NZ) (Redwood) and Savabeel. Both horses were victorious in the Gr.1 Spring Champion Stakes (2000m) before placing in the Gr.1 VRC Derby (2500m) as spring three-year-olds for trainer Graeme Rogerson. Savabeel was also victorious in
New Zealand
The horse that did more for New Plymouth trainer Robbie Patterson’s profile than any other may have raced for the last time. Continued foot problems have meant Coventina Bay (NZ) (Shamexpress) hasn’t managed this season to recapture the form that brought her victories in the Gr.1 Herbie
Australia
Mike Moroney hopes to have two runners in the Australian Guineas but fears Japanese Emperor (NZ) (Satono Aladdin) may miss out on the Group One race at Flemington. Japanese Emperor and Elkington Road (All Too Hard) have been entered for the 1600m contest on Saturday. Elkington Road is safely in
New Zealand
Prowess (NZ) (Proisir), the second-favourite for Saturday’s Gr.1 Auckland Thoroughbred Racing New Zealand Derby (2400m) at Te Rapa, has been withdrawn from the $1 million classic. Trainers Roger James and Robert Wellwood weren’t happy with the way she was working in the lead-up to the
New Zealand
It was a whirlwind trip to Saudi Arabia last week for New Zealand jockey Sam Spratt, but one that will live in her memory for some time. The Auckland hoop was invited to compete in the Saudi International Jockeys’ Challenge ahead of the US$20 million Saudi Cup (1800m) where