Racing
Shaune Ritchie hopes his decision to bypass the fillies’ feature at Riccarton with Tajana will pay off on Saturday when she takes on the boys in the Gr.1 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m). The daughter of Darci Brahma has been one of the best in
Racing
Riccarton galloper Mystic Park prevailed in a thrilling tussle between the locals in the Gr.3 TAB Mile (1600m) on his home track on Wednesday. The Michael and Matthew Pitman-trained gelding had been on an upward trajectory this preparation without winning and had the services of Victorian-based Kiwi-expat jockey Daniel
Racing
In the shades of his talented dam, Kiwi Magic announced himself as a three-year-old to follow this term with an impressive victory in the Halls Cold Chain Logistics Three-Year-Old Premier (1400m) at Riccarton on Wednesday. The Christchurch venue was a happy hunting ground for the gelding’s mother Kiwi Ida,
Racing
Cambridge trainer Andrew Forsman and jockey Craig Grylls proved a potent combination at Tauherenikau on Sunday, claiming three of the eight races across the afternoon. Both were coming off the back of successful Saturday meetings, Forsman taking the Listed Legacy Lodge Sprint (1200m) at Pukekohe with Force Of Nature (NZ)
Racing
Otaki galloper Driftin (NZ) (Merchant Navy) picked up her first win in more than two years when causing an upset in the Challenge Carterton R75 (1000m) at Tauherenikau on Sunday. The five-year-old by Merchant Navy had been a winner on the Cambridge Synthetic in September 2023 but was unplaced in
Racing
Untapped four-year-old Smart Love (NZ) (Savabeel) continued her stunning rise through the grades with a dominant display in the opener at Pukekohe Park on Saturday. The daughter of Savabeel had been unbeaten in her last three starts, one of those coming at the end of a brief three-year-old campaign and
Racing
Lisa Latta is often a force to be reckoned with when she takes her horses to Riccarton for New Zealand Cup Week and hopes this year will be no exception. The Awapuni horsewoman will look to add another Listed Donaldson Brown Pegasus Stakes (1000m) and Gr.3 Windsor Park Stud
Racing
Promising filly Sweet Talkin Gal got Hollie Wynyard’s week off on the right foot as she readies proven mare Archaic Smile for a stakes assignment at Riccarton on Saturday. The Cambridge trainer ventured to New Plymouth on Wednesday with high hopes for Sweet Talkin Gal, a daughter of Anders
Racing
Matamata trainer Graham Richardson views Saturday’s Gr.1 Barneswood Farm New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) as a wide-open contest and is hoping Lollapalooza can be right in the thick of the $600,000 prize. The El Roca filly announced herself as a key contender for the Riccarton showpiece when
Racing
Robbie Patterson unveiled a star three-year-old at Wednesday’s New Plymouth meeting last year, and 12 months down the track, another daughter of Derryn made a sparkling debut on his home track. That filly was Leica Lucy, who won six of her seven starts, five of those at Group level,
Racing
Sestina and Tralee Bay delivered a special milestone for their trainer Jo-Anne Dalton last month at Wingatui and will return to the venue on Tuesday in pursuit of back-to-back victories across the Melbourne Cup Day card. Dalton, who trains out of Ascot Park, had been eyeing the 100-win mark for
Racing
Katrina and Simon Alexander have handled their Show By SkyCity (1400m) contender Aksil with patience and hope to reap the rewards of that later in the season. The Te Awamutu-based trainers purchased Aksil as a yearling and the son of Ace High showed an abundance of promise through the trials