New Zealand
Quality sprinter Babylon Berlin has a gilt-edged opportunity for a soft kill in Saturday’s Gr.3 Haunui Farm Kings Plate (1200m) at Te Rapa. The Ben Foote-trained five-year-old hasn’t won a race in more than a year, but boasts a string of minor placings, including finishing runner-up in
New Zealand
The catalogue is now online for the gavelhouse.com Thoroughbred 6 March auction with a special component to the sale aimed at supporting the cyclone relief fund. Instigated by champion trainer Roger James, along with Tony Rider of Milan Park, who also operates PAK'nSAVE Clarence Street, a host
New Zealand
Trainers Peter and Dawn Williams are hoping they can upset the applecart when they head to Te Rapa on Saturday. The South Auckland couple will line-up Desert Lightning (NZ) (Pride of Dubai) in the Gr.1 Auckland Thoroughbred Racing New Zealand Derby (2400m) where TAB bookmakers believe he has an
New Zealand
Express Coup (NZ) (Shamexpress) has been given the nod as Michael and Matthew Pitman’s best hope of success in Saturday’s age group feature at Wingatui. The daughter of Shamexpress will run as the top seed for the father and son combination in the Listed New Zealand Bloodstock Insurance
New Zealand
Val Di Zoldo (NZ) (War Decree) headlined a stellar day for Tony Pike at Awapuni where she added serious momentum to her preparation for the country’s premier staying feature for fillies. A first stakes winner for her Inglewood Stud-based stallion War Decree, she was one of three success stories
New Zealand
Waikato Hospital radiologist Xavier Kos is dreaming of an Oaks victory with his filly Mehzebeen (NZ) (Almanzor) after she broke through for her maiden win at Awapuni on Wednesday. Kos moved to New Zealand from France, where he developed his interest in thoroughbreds, and Mehzebeen is his first foray into
New Zealand
Andrew Forsman has trained two previous victors of the Gr.1 New Zealand Derby (2400m) in partnership with mentor Murray Baker, and he is hoping he can claim one in his own right at Te Rapa this weekend. The Cambridge conditioner secured his first win in the race in 2015
New Zealand
It’s hard to dismiss the similarities between Sharp ‘N’ Smart (NZ) (Redwood) and Savabeel. Both horses were victorious in the Gr.1 Spring Champion Stakes (2000m) before placing in the Gr.1 VRC Derby (2500m) as spring three-year-olds for trainer Graeme Rogerson. Savabeel was also victorious in the Gr.
New Zealand
The horse that did more for New Plymouth trainer Robbie Patterson’s profile than any other may have raced for the last time. Continued foot problems have meant Coventina Bay (NZ) (Shamexpress) hasn’t managed this season to recapture the form that brought her victories in the Gr.1 Herbie
New Zealand
Prowess (NZ) (Proisir), the second-favourite for Saturday’s Gr.1 Auckland Thoroughbred Racing New Zealand Derby (2400m) at Te Rapa, has been withdrawn from the $1 million classic. Trainers Roger James and Robert Wellwood weren’t happy with the way she was working in the lead-up to the rich feature
New Zealand
It was a whirlwind trip to Saudi Arabia last week for New Zealand jockey Sam Spratt, but one that will live in her memory for some time. The Auckland hoop was invited to compete in the Saudi International Jockeys’ Challenge ahead of the US$20 million Saudi Cup (1800m) where
New Zealand
Kelsey Hannan, the country’s leading apprentice jockey, has been sidelined following a fall at Riccarton last Friday. Hannan, who sits atop the apprentice premiership and fifth on the New Zealand jockeys’ premiership with 50 wins to date this season, suffered a broken wrist after being dislodged from her mount