Racing
Mark Oulaghan is hoping the extreme distance of Saturday’s Racecourse Hotel and Motor Lodge 150th Grand National Steeplechase (5600m) will play into the hands of West Coast (NZ) (Mettre En Jeu), as his champion jumper attempts to rewrite the history books at Riccarton Park. The adored 10-year-old has won
Racing
Classy mare Val Di Zoldo (NZ) (War Decree) will have the opportunity to test her talents at the highest level this term after resuming with a tidy trial at Taupo on Monday. In the care of Cambridge horseman Tony Pike, Val Di Zoldo broke a streak of poor luck when
Racing
Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott have their sights set on the opening Group One of the season with a pair of talented mares, both of which appeared at the Taupo trials on Monday. The first to step out on the soft surface was Grail Seeker, a multiple Group One
Racing
Synthetic flyer Cosentino (NZ) (El Roca) silenced any doubt about running out the seven furlongs with a blistering performance to claim Sunday’s $100,000 Japac Homes Polytrack Championship (1400m) at Awapuni. In the care of local trainers Stephen and Kevin Gray, the speedy four-year-old had been near faultless through
Racing
Promising filly Cashla Bay (NZ) (U S Navy Flag) is headed for a Group Three target early in the new season after recording a comfortable first-up success at Ruakaka on Saturday. Bred and raced by The Oaks Stud, Cashla Bay debuted in stakes company when finishing fifth in the Gr.
Racing
Former southerner Hidalgo (NZ) (Pure Champion) returned to the mainland to deliver an impressive debut victory over fences at Riccarton Park on Saturday. The son of Pure Champion started his racing career in the care of Danny Crozier, and over the coming years, would switch been Crozier’s Riccarton stable
Racing
It’s been a whirlwind last few years for Maija Vance, and the former jockey is taking the next step in that journey after joining her partner, Josh King, in a training partnership this week. Vance won 94 races in the saddle in New Zealand before she was involved in
Racing
Shaun Fannin has spent plenty of time in the winner’s circle during the Grand National Festival of Racing, and this year’s carnival presents an entirely new challenge for the Awapuni horseman. One of the country’s top jumps jockeys for the better part of a decade, Fannin has
Racing
Time has been a friend to a once-erratic Bradman, who will have just celebrated his eighth birthday when he tackles Saturday’s Gr.3 Winning Edge Presentations 128th Winter Cup (1600m) at Riccarton Park. The son of Pins and champion broodmare Baggy Green, Bradman was a frequent in the stewards
Racing
Earlier in the year, Bevan and Robyn Wilson mapped out a plan for three of their talented gallopers to tackle Saturday’s Gr.3 Winning Edge Presentations Winter Cup (1600m), and despite a few challenges, the trio will each take their place in the Riccarton showpiece. Well-known for training and
Racing
Kelvin Tyler will be represented by young and old at the Grand National opener on Saturday at Riccarton Park, including a pair of promising juveniles stepping out at three for the first time. The aptly-named Four The Moment and Fourofus will go head-to-head in the Christchurch Casino 30th South Island
New Zealand
John Bell’s run of success with the family of star mare Fleur de Lune continued at Te Aroha on Sunday, with close relation Zenith delivering on debut. A son of Time Test, Zenith was the second foal out of Reine de Lune, a daughter of the Group One-winning Stravinsky