New Zealand
One of the more impressive winners on the program at Matamata on Wednesday was the Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott-trained filly Escudo (NZ) (El Roca). The daughter of El Roca had been placed once as a two-year-old when splitting Yourpoint (NZ) (Bull Point) and Vernazza (NZ) (More Than Ready)
New Zealand
A trip to Taupo to bring on the fitness of talented mares Two Illicit (NZ) (Jimmy Choux) and Concert Hall (NZ) (Savabeel) has received a hearty tick of approval from Cambridge trainers Roger James and Robert Wellwood. The Kingsclere training partnership couldn't have been happier with the gallop,
New Zealand
The Gr.1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) dream is still alive for Group One-winning stayer Glory Days (NZ) (Red Giant) and her connections. The pride of Waverley will be at odds greater than the Taranaki township’s favourite son, 1983 Melbourne Cup winner Kiwi, of making the race, but trainer Bill
Breeding
Haunui Farm shuttle stallion Belardo made a splash in the northern hemisphere this year with his first crop and now his southern progeny are turning heads. The son of Lope de Vega has had seven winners from just 33 starters in the northern hemisphere, including Gr.3 Prestige Stakes (1400m)
New Zealand
Group Two winning mare Aretha (NZ) (Charm Spirit) has been retired after trailing the field home in the Gr.2 Foxbridge Plate (1200m) last Saturday, with a stallion yet to be selected for the daughter of Charm Spirit. The winner of the Gr.2 Matamata Breeders’ Stakes (1200m) at two,
Australia
The weights for the A$5.15 million Gr.1 Caulfield Cup (2400m) and A$8 million Gr.1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) have been released by Racing Victoria, with the Kiwi contingent featuring prominently. Pre-weights Melbourne Cup favourite Surprise Baby has been handed 54.5kg in both races, 1kg more
Australia
Lance O’Sullivan, who trains in partnership with Andrew Scott, was pleased with the fresh-up run of quality four-year-old Dragon Leap (Pierro), who finished 8th in the Gr.2 Tramway Stakes (1400m) at Randwick on Saturday. The son of Pierro was only two lengths from the winner Dreamforce and will
Australia
Promising filly La Vernazza (NZ) (More Than Ready) will head to the spelling paddock after pulling up injured last week. The Brendan and Jo Lindsay-owned filly had joined trainer Jamie Richards’ Sydney team ahead of the spring, however, she will now be put on ice until next year. “She injured
Australia
Trans-Tasman trainer Michael Moroney will head to the races for the first time in five months on Saturday when he goes to Flemington to watch Tofane (NZ) (Ocean Park) compete in the Gr.2 Bobbie Lewis Quality (1200m). With the COVID-19 outbreak in Victoria, Moroney felt it was wise to
New Zealand
Almost two years after suffering serious head injuries in a race fall, apprentice jockey Sarah Macnab has made a fine start to the 2020-21 season. The Wanganui-based rider kicked home a treble on her home track last Saturday, including a win in the Foxton Cup (2040m) on the highly promising
Australia
Former New Zealand galloper Simply Optimistic (Encosta De Lago) recorded his first victory for trainers Trent Busuttin and Natale Young when successful in a benchmark 78 race over 1200m at Geelong on Sunday. The six-year-old gelding was formerly trained by Busuttin and Young’s stable foreman Brendon Hawtin, and they
New Zealand
Thomas Russell’s hands-on involvement with racing was cut short just over six years ago through a life-threatening injury, but the former jockey and trainer is still enjoying the thrill of the thoroughbred sport as a part-owner and jockey’s agent. Russell (38), who has been a tetraplegic since a