New Zealand Bloodstock Ready to Run Sale graduate Planet Red (Admire Mars) has taken the first step towards an ambitious spring campaign, pleasing co-trainer Mick Price in a Cranbourne jumpout on Monday.

The son of Admire Mars, who was purchased for $260,000 from Ohukia Lodge's draft at the 2024 New Zealand Bloodstock Ready to Run Sale, finished second in his 800m heat under Mark Zahra as he resumed work ahead of a campaign expected to culminate in the A$10 million Gr.1 Golden Eagle (1500m) at Randwick.

Planet Red has already established himself among Australia's leading young milers, finishing runner-up in last spring's Gr.1 Caulfield Guineas (1600m) before adding another Group One placing in the Gr.1 Australian Guineas (1600m) during the autumn.

Price believes the Golden Eagle's 1500m trip is ideally suited to the talented rising four-year-old, particularly given the luckless nature of his Group One performances.

"His run in the Caulfield Guineas was very good, drawn a bad gate, and his run in the Australian Guineas was very good, drawn a bad gate, so we were forced to ride cold in both those races," Price said.

"The Golden Eagle is a fast 1500m. You need a horse with a pretty good turn of foot and, for $10 million and four-year-olds, I think he'll be in it."

Before then, Planet Red is expected to launch his spring campaign in the Gr.1 Memsie Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on August 29, with his lofty rating leaving the stable with few suitable alternatives.

"I think he'll probably have to turn up in the Memsie," Price said.

"With his rating and the timing of it, that's the logical place to kick him off.

"We might have a crack at the Golden Eagle after that."

The Price and Michael Kent Jnr-trained gelding is also expected to contest the Gr.1 Toorak Handicap (1600m) before heading to Sydney for his Golden Eagle assignment.

The stable won the inaugural Golden Eagle in 2021 with I'm Thunderstruck (NZ) (Shocking) and will be hoping Planet Red can add another chapter to that record this spring. - NZ Racing Desk

Waitak on target for further Group One glory

Multiple top-flight winner Waitak (NZ) (Proisir) will again front Wexford Stables’ spring attack, which will also feature a quartet of quality age group contenders.

Trainers Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott will tread a familiar path with Waitak, who is pleasing in his build-up toward a return in the Gr.1 Proisir Plate (1400m) at Ellerslie on September 5.

Among the rising three-year-olds, winners Te Encuentro (Frankel), Pounce (NZ) (Almanzor) and Dashing Dixie (NZ) (Alabama Express) are all on target to reappear in the Listed Chittick Family Fillies Classic (1100m) at Taupo on August 16, while high hopes are also held for Fiamma (NZ) (Pinatubo).

“The team are really pleased with the way Waitak is coming along and he’s back doing a bit of fast work,” Scott said.

“We’re hoping to go on and trial him on August 16 at Taupo and we will look to kick him off in the Proisir Plate.”

All going well, Waitak will then defend his Group One titles in the Howden Insurance Mile (1600m) and the Livamol Classic (2040m).

“It’s the same path as last year and fingers crossed, we can get similar results again with him,” Scott said.

“He’s had a good, long break and we were mindful of not over-racing him last season and he’s coming up really well again.

“He’ll be our only one in the Group Ones, it’s always hard when you retire the likes of Tomodachi (NZ) (Tarzino), Lux Libertas (NZ) (Almanzor) and Grail Seeker (NZ) (Iffraaj), good horses like that are really hard to find.”

Te Encuentro was a debut juvenile winner, finished runner-up in the Gr.2 Matamata Breeders’ Stakes (1200m) and went to the paddock after an unplaced run in the Gr.1 Sistema Stakes (1200m).

“She showed a lot of ability and being by Frankel was always going to be better at three,” Scott said.

“She’s coming along well and will trial on Tuesday week at Te Rapa and then head to Taupo.

“Pounce will do the same and Dashing Dixie is on that path as well.”

Almanzor filly Pounce was given a break following an impressive win at Ellerslie at her second appearance while Dashing Dixie was successful on debut and was spelled after the daughter of Alabama Express was out of the frame in the Karaka Millions 2YO (1200m).

The stable is blessed with an abundance of younger talent and Pinatubo filly Fiamma, fourth in her only start, is another expected to make her mark as a three-year-old.

“She’s a filly that will excel as the season goes on,” Scott said.

“We just gave her the one run and didn’t disappoint on debut, she has developed with a break and hopefully will be involved in those nice fillies’ races, we’ve got high hopes for her as well.” - Paul Vettise

Waldron returns to Cambridge

It’s a return home of sorts for trainer Joe Waldron, who has moved north to establish a stable in Cambridge.

The former Wingatui-based horseman began his racing career working for Cambridge trainers Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman, and in a full-circle moment he will train at the same complex more than a decade later.

After several years working for Murray and Forsman, Waldron set up his own stable at Te Awamutu before moving across the Tasman to train in Victoria, and after more than five years in Australia he returned to New Zealand last year to set up a base in his home region of Otago.

“It was great being close to the extended family, it was something I haven’t been able to do for a very long time, so a good 12 months with them was fantastic,” Waldron said.

Waldron enjoyed plenty of success training out of Wingatui this season, winning six races, including his first at stakes level when Cluedo Lane (NZ) (Ghibellines) took out the Gr.3 White Robe Lodge WFA (1600m) at the Dunedin track in February.

“Cluedo Lane’s stakes win was definitely the highlight, and Brave Spirit was a great horse to us as well,” Waldron said. “We only had him for the five runs, but he won two and ran another couple of placings and was a bit unlucky (when fourth) in the Hazlett (Listed, 1400m).”

While Waldron enjoyed his time in Wingatui, he always desired to return to Waikato, and the opportunity recently arose to lease some stables opposite Cambridge Racecourse.

“It (moving to Cambridge) was something that we were looking to do at some point, it has just come about a little bit quicker than we thought,” he said. “But it is really hard to find stabling around Cambridge and we got offered the opportunity to lease a property that is opposite the track, and when that came up we jumped at the chance.

“It is great to be back, I spent a couple of years here with Murray and Andrew’s stable and I learned a lot in terms of how to use the training tracks, and I have been able to slot back into a familiar working routine.

“A lot of big owners and studs like to have their horses in work in these sorts of places, so it is great to be here and hopefully get opportunities like that going forward.”

Waldron arrived in Cambridge a fortnight ago and is settling into his new barn.

“We have got 17 boxes, so we will float between 15 and 20 in work,” he said. “We have got 15 at the moment, which is enough to keep us busy.”

Most of his southern runners have moved north with him, with the exception of Brave Spirit (NZ) (Swiss Ace), and Cluedo Lane will continue to be his leading light heading into the new season.

“Brave Spirit unfortunately didn’t come up with us, but Cluedo Lane has and we are looking forward to him kicking off,” Waldron said.

“Cluedo Lane has come back super, he is a little bit behind some of the horses up here leading into that early part of the spring, just with the weather down at Wingatui it was a bit hard to do too much with them over the last little while.

“He will probably kick-off in a 1400m open handicap at Ruakaka on the 15^th of August and we will let him dictate where he heads after that. We will nominate him for some of those better races and assess where to go after he runs fresh-up.

“There are a heap of options for him up this way, there are obviously those Group One races, but if we want to take a slightly easier path, there are a couple of weight-for-age miles and Listed miles around the fringes, and I am sure in something like that he will be competitive.”

Waldron said he has also picked up a couple of stable newcomers on his way north.

“We have picked up a couple of other South Island horses, which has been nice,” he said. “We have got a horse called Pogacar, he is only lightly raced, and it looks like he could be capable of going through the grades.

“We have been lucky to get a few rising three-year-olds, so hopefully one of them puts their hand up over that spring and summer period.” - Joshua Smith

NZ Stallion Awards

The Centaine Award 
Sire whose NZ-conceived progeny have the highest earnings worldwide.

The Dewar Stallion Trophy
Sire whose progeny have the highest combined earnings in Australia and New Zealand.

The Grosvenor Award
Leading Sires by earnings in New Zealand.

NZ BRED WINNERS

Global NZ-bred winners

2026-07-18 / 2026-07-25

AUSTRALIA
Ace High : Jenni Multabella (NZ) (La Belle Beel by Zabeel) 2021;
22 Jul 2026, 1st MRC Sportsbet H. 1400m
Sold by Cambria Park at National Yearling Sale for $130000

Almanzor : Settat (NZ) (Sure Enough by Fastnet Rock) 2020;
21 Jul 2026, 1st Rockhampton JC Caulfield Cup Tickets on Sale H. 1600m
Sold by Cambridge Stud at National Weanling Sale for $42000
Sold by Grangewilliam Stud at National Yearling Sale for $220000

Ardrossan : Our Huntress (NZ) (O'Misty by O'Reilly) 2022;
24 Jul 2026, 1st Ipswich TC Fertpro H. 1350m
Sold by Elsdon Park at National Yearling Sale for $390000

Belardo : Hubristic (NZ) (Never in Doubt by Elusive City) 2021;
19 Jul 2026, 1st Port Augusta RC Augusta Pest Control H. 1498m
Sold by Haunui Farm at National Yearling Sale for $30000

Brazen Beau : Indefinite (NZ) (Timespan by Al Kazeem) 2021;
23 Jul 2026, 1st Cairns JC Rivers Insurance H. 1400m

Contributer : Acapulco Girl (NZ) (Zihuatanejo by Dylan Thomas) 2021;
22 Jul 2026, 1st BRC XXXX Gold P. 1200m
Sold by Highden Park at National Yearling Sale for $110000

Contributer : Itsagiven (NZ) (She's Not Bad by He's Remarkable) 2022;
20 Jul 2026, 1st Southside Racing Pakenham Cup on Sale H. 2200m
Sold by Mapperley Stud Ltd at Ready to Run Sale for $60000

Contributer : Embezzler (NZ) (Stole by Desert Fox) 2019;
19 Jul 2026, 1st Coleraine RC Adam Lindsay Gordon Maiden Hurdle 3300m

Contributer : Mongolian Spring (NZ) (Ostreidae by Pierro) 2022;
19 Jul 2026, 1st Clarence River JC Andrew Tom Builder Pty Ltd Maiden P. 1100m
Sold by Mapperley Stud Ltd at National Yearling Sale for $65000
Sold by Regal Farm at Ready to Run Sale for $160000

El Roca : Kiss My Rock (NZ) (Love and Kisses by Encosta de Lago) 2021;
24 Jul 2026, 1st Echuca RC Quest Echuca Serviced Apartments H. 1600m
Sold by Westbury Stud at National Yearling Sale for $75000

Embellish : Bold Soul (NZ) (Twin Soul by Singspiel) 2020;
18 Jul 2026, 1st VRC Deane Lester Flemington Cup 1849 H. 2800m
Sold by Te Keeti Bloodstock Ltd at National Yearling Sale for $20000

Ghibellines : First Chorus (NZ) (Broadway Miss by O'Reilly) 2021;
25 Jul 2026, 1st MRC Tobin Brothers Celeb Lives H. 1600m

Hello Youmzain : Mandriana (NZ) (Miss Ponderosa by High Chaparral) 2022;
18 Jul 2026, 1st Toowoomba TC Joe Wagner Group Maiden H. 1100m

Hello Youmzain : Persian Wonder (NZ) (Steer by the Stars by Pivotal) 2023;
22 Jul 2026, 1st ATC Robrick Lodge Maiden 2YO H. 1200m

Jon Snow : Side Piece (NZ) (Our Sassy Bride by Volksraad) 2020;
23 Jul 2026, 1st Warrnambool RC Warrnambool Auto Group H. 1700m

Kermadec : Bitterblue (NZ) (Bonnie Tyler by Darci Brahma) 2019;
25 Jul 2026, 1st Julia Creek TC Woods Welding Works H. 1100m
Sold by Wentwood Grange at National Yearling Sale for $130000

Maurice : Cosmic Crusader (NZ) (Cosmic Storm by Street Sense) 2020;
25 Jul 2026, 1st MRC Bletchingly S. Gr.3 1200m

Ocean Park : Velaris (NZ) (Spectacular by Spectatorial) 2021;
22 Jul 2026, 1st ATC Tropicus at Vinery Stud H. 1900m
Sold by Hallmark Stud at National Weanling Sale for $80000

Ocean Park : Sealord (NZ) (Chorus by Danasinga) 2022;
18 Jul 2026, 1st GCTC UAA Mobile Plant and Machinery Maiden P. 2050m
Sold by Haunui Farm at National Yearling Sale for $40000

Per Incanto : Rolling Magic (NZ) (Not a Jaffa by Iffraaj) 2020;
18 Jul 2026, 1st ATC Midway H. 1300m

Per Incanto : Prima Bella (NZ) (Brah Spring by Darci Brahma) 2020;
18 Jul 2026, 1st VRC Member Andrew Bostock H. 1000m

Pierro : Flying Shelby (NZ) (Red Delicious by No Excuse Needed) 2020;
19 Jul 2026, 1st Coleraine RC Southern Grampians Livestock Maiden Highweight P. 1600m
Sold by Landsdowne Park Ltd at National Yearling Sale for $250000

Proisir : Le Troisir (NZ) (Teardrops by Fastnet Rock) 2021;
18 Jul 2026, 1st ATC Congratulations ATC Member Jane McDonald H. 2400m
Sold by Grangewilliam Stud at National Yearling Sale for $160000

Proisir : Leovanni (NZ) (Amparo by Colombia) 2021;
25 Jul 2026, 1st ATC TAB Highway P. 1800m
Sold by Kilgravin Lodge at Ready to Run Sale for $210000

Proisir : Tapildoodledo (NZ) (Mrs Tappy by One Cool Cat) 2019;
25 Jul 2026, 1st BRC Drinkwise H. 2200m

Proisir : Clench (NZ) (Highfalutin by High Chaparral) 2021;
24 Jul 2026, 1st Ipswich TC Cruice Creations Maiden H. 1950m
Sold by Kilgravin Lodge at Ready to Run Sale for $150000

Redwood : Reddivo (NZ) (Diva In Red by High Yield) 2018;
23 Jul 2026, 1st Warrnambool RC Cassign H. 3172m
Sold by Cambria Park at National Yearling Sale for $50000

Redwood : Corkscrew (NZ) (Marsh Harbour by Volksraad) 2018;
18 Jul 2026, 1st Thangool RC Accounting and You Open H. 1075m

Ribchester : Miss Highfalutin (NZ) (Bronte Walk by Redoute's Choice) 2021;
25 Jul 2026, 1st Longreach JC Century Batteries at Pro Tyres H. 1200m
Sold by Lilywhites Lodge at Ready to Run Sale for $80000

Satono Aladdin : Satono Jasmine (NZ) (High Spin by High Chaparral) 2022;
25 Jul 2026, 1st ATC B&K Group Australia H. 1800m

Savabeel : Savannah Chill (NZ) (Chilled Out by Anabaa) 2022;
20 Jul 2026, 1st Southside Racing RW Advisory Group H. 1400m
Sold by Waikato Stud Ltd at National Yearling Sale for $100000

So You Think : Bodhi Boy (NZ) (No Doubt Ma'am by Not A Single Doubt) 2021;
19 Jul 2026, 1st Clarence River JC Maclean Cup 1400m
Sold by Landsdowne Park Ltd at National Yearling Sale for $100000

So You Think : Here I Come (NZ) (O'reilly Rose by O'Reilly) 2021;
25 Jul 2026, 1st Middlemount RC Isaac Regional Council QTIS Maiden P. 1200m
Sold by Beltana at National Yearling Sale for $100000

Tavistock : Villaden (NZ) (Romantic Time by Fastnet Rock) 2018;
25 Jul 2026, 1st Bundaberg RC Bundaberg Cup 1380m
Sold by Cambridge Stud at National Yearling Sale for $220000

Tavistock : Perfect Ten (NZ) (Mourasana by Shirocco) 2020;
22 Jul 2026, 1st MRC Thoroughbred Club of Australia H. 1600m
Sold by Curraghmore at National Yearling Sale for $160000

The Autumn Sun : Livalittle (NZ) (Hayley Grace by Thorn Park) 2021;
25 Jul 2026, 1st BRC XXXX H. 1600m

Time Test : Luton Hoo (NZ) (Royal Excess by Exceed and Excel) 2020;
22 Jul 2026, 1st BRC Ladbrokes H. 1650m

Time Test : Fast Tempo (NZ) (Cordal by Tavistock) 2021;
18 Jul 2026, 1st SAJC PFD Food Services H. 1400m
Sold by HGT Bloodstock Ltd at National Yearling Sale for $25000

Turn Me Loose : Merlin Beach (NZ) (Viviane by Volksraad) 2021;
19 Jul 2026, 1st TRC Thank You, Tony Scott! Maiden P. 1600m
Sold by Windsor Park Stud at National Yearling Sale for $160000

Turn Me Loose : Split (NZ) (Cry for Terre by Street Cry) 2019;
19 Jul 2026, 1st Coleraine RC Coleraine Hurdle 3300m

Turn Me Loose : Tempest Moon (NZ) (Nocturnal by Darci Brahma) 2020;
25 Jul 2026, 1st Murtoa RC Marma Cup 2050m

Vespa : Blue Toes (NZ) (Love Struck by Sacred Falls) 2021;
25 Jul 2026, 1st Mackay TC Penske Maiden H. 1200m

What's the Story : A Long Story Short (NZ) (Anna Maria by Ustinov) 2021;
19 Jul 2026, 1st Seymour RC Racetrack Vets Maiden P. 1600m
Sold by Westend Partnership at National Yearling Sale for $17500

Wrote : Notes (NZ) (Glitter Woman by Fusaichi Pegasus) 2018;
18 Jul 2026, 1st GCTC Beefa Cup 1800m
Sold by Highview at National Yearling Sale for $50000

Wrote : Lyttelton (NZ) (Les Sylphides by Bachelor Duke) 2019;
24 Jul 2026, 1st Echuca RC Moama Bowling Club Maiden P. 2100m
Sold by Highview at National Yearling Sale for $37500


MALAYSIA
Embellish : Sky King (NZ) (Markle by Stratum) 2022;
19 Jul 2026, 1st Selangor TC Class 5 H. 1400m

Mendelssohn : Lucky Magic (NZ) (No Love Letters by Roderic O'Connor) 2020;
19 Jul 2026, 1st Selangor TC Class H. 1400m
Sold by Prima Park at National Yearling Sale for $35000
Sold by Prima Park at Ready to Run Sale for $75000

Reliable Man : Ever Reliable (NZ) (Princess Snitzel by Snitzel) 2021;
19 Jul 2026, 1st Selangor TC Class 5 H. 1775m
Sold by Curraghmore at Ready to Run Sale for $30000

Vespa : Flying Nemo (NZ) (Hineni by Alamosa) 2019;
19 Jul 2026, 1st Selangor TC Class H. 1700m
Sold by Hedwood Thoroughbreds Ltd at National Online Yearling Sale for $7000