Racing
Saturday looms as a special day in the careers of Shaun and Emma Clotworthy, who are the part-owners and former trainers of two horses that will chase million-dollar prizes in Australia. The couple’s Gr.1 New Zealand Derby (2400m) hero Willydoit will line up in the A$1.5
Racing
Who Knows (NZ) (Redwood) was runner-up in a time-honoured Riccarton feature at the beginning of the season, and she earned favouritism for another one with an emphatic victory in the Weir Tours Egmont Cup (2100m) at Hawera on Saturday. The $60,000 open handicap was the fifth win from only
Racing
War Princess (NZ) (U S Navy Flag) was the hottest favourite on the card at Hawera on Saturday, and she lived up to her $1.40 odds with an effortless and confidence-boosting victory in the NZB RTR 3YO (1400m). The daughter of U S Navy Flag showed enormous promise as
Racing
Local trainer Robert Dennis won half of the eight-race card at Ascot Park on Friday, culminating with a special win by Sir Sterling in the Vale Tony Dennis (1400m). The $40,000 race was run a month after the passing of Robert Dennis’ father, the multiple Group One-winning horseman Tony
Racing
Foxton trainer Matt Dixon sees Saturday’s Gr.3 Grangewilliam Stud Taranaki Breeders’ Stakes (1400m) as an ideal target for Marotiri Molly in almost every way – apart from the Hawera weather and track conditions. Marotiri Molly’s rating of 100 is the highest in the field for the $100,000
Racing
Lance Gussey is hoping to put a last-start disappointment behind him when Joshua Brown lines up in the Listed Team Wealleans Matamata Cup (1600m) on Saturday. Gussey trains and part-owns the Dalghar gelding, whose rise through the ranks during the winter months culminated in an impressive victory in the Listed
Racing
Saturday's Howden Insurance Mile (1600m) at Te Rapa took Waitak (NZ) (Proisir) past the million-dollar barrier and added another triumphant chapter to his unique Group One record. The $400,000 weight-for-age showpiece was Waitak's 12th appearance at Group One level. Those dozen races have been spread
Racing
Te Akau Racing’s involvement in the Group One raceday at Te Rapa on Saturday was significantly depleted by scratchings due to heavy track conditions, but it was a completely different story at Riccarton. Spring racing was in full swing in Christchurch, with the track upgraded to Good4 and those
Racing
Local three-year-old Alottago (Tagalo) thrust his name into Gr.1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) contention with a striking come-from-behind performance in the Rangiora New World Guineas Trial (1400m) at Riccarton on Saturday. The Lance Robinson-trained gelding has improved with every race in his five-start career. He placed in all
Racing
The father-son training partnership of Peter and Trent Didham recorded their first win when Danjuro scored a tough victory in Friday’s The Tele Otaki Handicap (2100m). A fourth generation of trainers was added to the Didham dynasty when 27-year-old Trent joined his father in partnership earlier this month, and
Racing
Stakes-performed filly Miss Ziggy will take a big step down in class at Riccarton on Saturday and attempt to shed her maiden tag in the Speight’s Summit Ultra On Tap Maiden (1400m). The daughter of Brazen Beau has recorded five placings in her nine-start career so far, headed by
Racing
The Gr.3 Sunline Vase (1400m) was expected to be the weekend’s key pointer for the Gr.1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m), but a spectacular performance on the Ellerslie undercard had its own impact on fixed-odds betting for the Christchurch classic. First-starter Well Written (Written Tycoon) blitzed a