Racing
Comeback jockey Elen Nicholas took her career to its greatest heights yet with a masterful ride aboard Final Return (NZ) (Reliable Man) to take out the Gr.3 MyRacehorse Counties Cup (2100m) at Pukekohe on Saturday. A horror run of injuries has forced Nicholas to spend more time on the
Racing
Kozzi Asano signed off his brief New Zealand homecoming with a winning treble at Pukekohe on Saturday, headed by black-type success aboard Ardalio (NZ) (Ardrossan) in the Gr.3 Haunui Farm Counties Bowl (1100m). Originally from Japan, Asano arrived in New Zealand in 2017 and became champion apprentice two years
Racing
A huge crowd flocked to Waipukurau on Sunday as the Central Hawke’s Bay course hosted its first race meeting in six years, and Tauranga visitor Enright (NZ) (Power) emphatically broke a drought of his own in the DMAK Electrical Waipukurau Cup (2100m). The $35,000 country feature was the
Classy mare Mary Shan (NZ) (Almanzor) has black-type targets on her agenda after bouncing back to winning form in Saturday’s Happy Hire Cup (1400m) at Tauranga. The daughter of Almanzor was close up in elite three-year-old competition two seasons ago, finishing second in the Gr.2 Soliloquy Stakes (1400m)
Racing
Respected Wanganui trainer Kevin Myers captured his fourth Gr.3 Martin Collins New Zealand Cup (3200m) at Riccarton on Saturday courtesy of a supreme staying performance by Bozo (NZ) (Satono Aladdin). An extraordinary storm in the early part of Saturday afternoon made the track a gruelling Heavy9 and turned the
Racing
Three months after starting the season as a two-win horse with a rating of 70, Agera (NZ) (Complacent) stepped on to the big stage at Tauranga on Saturday and became a weight-for-age winner in the Gr.2 Gartshore Construction Tauranga Stakes (1530m). The $150,000 feature capped an incredible rise
Racing
Owner-trainers Tim and Margaret Carter appear to have chosen an appropriate name for a filly they bought for just $700 on Gavelhouse.com. The Carters called their Complacent filly Rising Star, and on Saturday she collected the second win of her short career in the Laser Plumbing Waihi Beach 3YO
Racing
Stephen Marsh had to wait until the 24th season of his career to win his first Gr.1 Barneswood Farm New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m), but an emerging superstar gave the Cambridge trainer his missing piece at Riccarton on Saturday with a performance that was worth every moment of that
Racing
A perfectly judged front-running victory on Just Charlie (NZ) (Zed) in the Listed Nautical Boat Insurance Metropolitan Trophy (2600m) capped a memorable New Zealand riding debut at Riccarton on Saturday for apprentice jockey Logan Bates. Born and raised in Canterbury and a son of leading southern rider Kylie Williams, Bates
Racing
Group One winner Captured By Love (Written Tycoon) returned to the scene of her biggest win and was right back at the peak of her powers in the Gr.3 Windsor Park Stud Canterbury Breeders’ Stakes (1400m) at Riccarton on Saturday. The daughter of Written Tycoon showed her class as
Racing
Cambridge-based horseman Nick Kneebone tasted his first success in the training ranks when two-year-old gelding Speed Demon caused a minor upset in the Hallmark Stud 2YO (1100m) at Pukekohe. Most attention before the start was centred around the Stephen Marsh runners Rupeni ($4.00) and well-backed debutant Perfect Pour ($2.
Racing
Champion jockey Opie Bosson will miss all three days of the New Zealand Cup Carnival in Christchurch after a fall at Avondale on Thursday. Bosson rode Karyon into a fourth placing in the Avondale Main Street Rating 60 (1200m), but was dislodged after the finish line when his mount abruptly