Racing
The only thing certain as horses slogged their way to the winning post in Saturday’s Gr.1 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) was that Matamata trainer Pam Gerard would produce the quinella in the Riccarton classic. Heavy rain during the day had seen the track
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
Southern mare Inflamed (NZ) (Ghibellines) used every inch of a sodden Riccarton racetrack to storm to victory in Saturday’s Listed Lindauer Stewards Stakes (1200m). Scenes seldom experienced on a New Zealand racecourse saw the meeting delayed shortly after the fourth race as hailstones the size of golf balls and
Racing
Former Irish galloper Rosso (Camelot) showed he will be a force to be reckoned with in some of the major staying races in New Zealand left to come this season when he took out the Rating 82 Racecourse Hotel & Motor Lodge Premier (2600m) at Riccarton with ridiculous ease on
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
The snowballing success of the New Zealand Bloodstock Ready to Run Sale has been built on the internationally renowned skills of its vendors, whose efforts were rewarded with outstanding results at Karaka on Wednesday and Thursday. Sam and Hana Beatson’s Riversley Park claimed the title of leading vendor by
Racing
Cambridge trainer Tony Pike will be chasing stakes success at both ends of the country on Saturday, withAgera (NZ)(Complacent) leading his northern charge at Tauranga. The six-year-old son of Complacent has been in a purple patch of form of late, winning five of his last seven starts, including last
Racing
A quartet of top-flight contenders on Saturday will give Stephen Marsh a decent shot at completing a memorable elite-level double at Riccarton. The Cambridge trainer’s hopes will rest on the dependable shoulders ofSwiss Prince (NZ) (Swiss Ace)and his male counterpartMagic Carpet (NZ) (Satono Aladdin)while filliesTo Cap It
Racing
Well-related stayerNotabadspillane (NZ) Time Test) is on a mission to take care of unfinished family business at Riccarton on Saturday. The Gr.3 Martin Collins New Zealand Cup (3200m) has long been top of Shaun Phelan’s wish list and the Cambridge trainer has enjoyed a trouble-free preparation with the
Racing
A batch of quality northerners have landed in Christchurch ahead of Saturday’s Gr.1 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai New Zealand 2000 (Guineas) at Riccarton, and local hope Alottago (Tagaloa) will lead the southern defence. The son of Tagaloa hasn’t put a foot wrong so far in his six-start
Racing
Buyers from Hong Kong and mainland China were an unstoppable force on the second day of the New Zealand Bloodstock Ready to Run Sale at Karaka on Thursday. Picking up where they left off at the end of Wednesday’s opening session, Hong Kong and Chinese buyers combined to purchase
Racing
Back-to-back lots through the Karaka sale ring on Thursday’s second day of the New Zealand Bloodstock Ready to Run Sale produced unprecedented results for a pair of Kiwi sires. Cambridge Stud shuttle stallion Hello Youmzain hit a new high when Lot 283, a colt out of the Zabeel mare