KELLY Schweida will give in-form stayer London Banker a short reprieve after he backed up to win the Benchmark 90 Handicap (2200m) at Doomben on Saturday. The son of Tavistock broke through for his first Australian win a week prior at Eagle Farm and Schweida said he made the decision
New Zealand
Local runner Follow Your Dreams showed he was right on target for the Gr.3 Cambridge Stud Northland Breeders’ Stakes (1200m) in a fortnight when he took out the main lead-up event at Ruakaka on Saturday. The Ken Rae and Krystal Williams-Tuhoro-trained three-year-old colt was sent out at a cramped
New Zealand
Scenes of unbridled joy and celebration broke out on the Riccarton public lawn shortly after outsider Ritani ($21) took out the 124th running of the Winning Edge Presentations Winter Cup (1600m) on Saturday. Friends, family and connections of the Kerry and Ian Taplin-trained seven-year-old Makfi mare were besides themselves as
New Zealand
Emerging hurdling talent Chief Sequoyah did everything trainer John Wheeler was looking for ahead of Wednesday’s Hospitality New Zealand Canterbury Grand National Hurdles (4200m) when he took out Saturday’s Avon City Ford Sydenham Hurdles (3100m) at Riccarton in fine fashion. The seven-year-old son of Redwood has taken to
Australia
Talented three-year-old filly Dream Queen (NZ) (Super Easy) has been withdrawn from the Ruakaka card on Saturday after being sold to Australian interests and will continue her career with Ben and JD Hayes at Lindsay Park. Prepared by Ken Rae and Krystal Williams-Tuhoro, Dream Queen won two of her four
New Zealand
Group One winning galloper Catalyst (NZ) (Darci Brahma) was back in action at the Cambridge trials on Thursday and pleased his connections when finishing a nose second behind stablemate Marchioness in a hit-out over 950m. The dominant force as a spring and summer three-year-old of his year in New Zealand,
New Zealand
Jamie Richards will be out on his own again at the 2021 New Zealand Thoroughbred Horse of the Year awards. The 31-year-old Matamata horseman is already assured of being named Trainer of the Year for the third time. The second group of finalists for the Horse of the Year awards
New Zealand
The return of Riccarton’s Grand National Carnival is music to the ears of Michael Pitman, who hopes the three-day meeting on his home track will move him closer to a remarkable milestone. In partnership with his son Matthew, Pitman finished third on the New Zealand national trainers’ premiership for
New Zealand
Trainers Shaun and Emma Clotworthy were eyeing an Australian campaign with Justacanta (NZ) (Per Incanto) this spring, however, a change in circumstances have altered those plans. “We were going to go over to Australia with him but he had a slight foot problem so he has ended up staying here
New Zealand
Tom Wood has come a long way since his race commentator’s debut as an 18-year-old at the Westport trots on Boxing Day 2008. For the past three years he has been a member of the Hong Kong Jockey Club’s commentating team, calling races and trials at Sha Tin
Australia
Symon Wilde is daring to dream with Tralee Rose (NZ) (Tavistock) this spring. The Warrnambool trainer has nominated the daughter of Tavistock for both the Gr.1 Caulfield (2400m) and Gr.1 Melbourne Cups (3200m), and while he admits they are lofty targets, he doesn’t want to die wondering
New Zealand
It’s A Wonder (NZ) (Istidaad) may get a bit of a shock when he lines-up in the Jolt Coffee House 2060 at Wanganui on Friday. The Harvey Wilson-trained 11-year-old is used to lugging around nearly 70kg on his back but will carry nearly 10kg less on the flat this