Racing
The curtain has come down on the career of champion jumper The Cossack. A winner of 15 jumping races, The Cossack returned this season after sustaininga suspensory ligament injury that he suffered just days out from last year’s Grand National Steeplechase (5500m), but after fourth placed efforts in the
Racing
Cambridge Stud mare Joliestar has been locked in for next month’s A$20 million The Everest (1200m) following slot holder Chris Waller Racing and Partners announcement that she will be their representative in this year’s edition. It will be the second consecutive year the Group One-winning daughter of
Racing
Three-year-old filly Passiflora showed promise at the trials and transferred that potential into raceday success when scoring on debut in the NZ Horse Ambulance 970 at Cambridge on Wednesday. The daughter of Farnan had won a 850m trial at Te Awamutu a fortnight ago and was backed into a $4.
Racing
Tardelli has the looks to match his rich pedigree, and his upcoming preparation will be focussed on adding a top level performance to boost his future stallion prospects. The Stephen Marsh-trained four-year-old showed he was in prime order to resume when untouched by rider George Rooke to win an open
Racing
Myakkabelle performed with distinction in her three-year-old season, but a stakes win eluded the Ben and Ryan Foote-trained mare. She won two and placed in six of her 10 starts last term, including placings in the Gr.1 New Zealand Oaks (2400m), Gr.2 Lowland Stakes (2100m), and Gr.2
Racing
An untimely injury has ruled champion jockey Michael McNab out for the bulk of spring racing. McNab was set to partner a two-year-old at Tuesday’s Ellerslie trials when he was kicked and subsequent x-rays at Auckland Hospital revealed a leg fracture below the knee. “I have spoken to Michael,
New Zealand
Gr.1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) hopeful Wolfgang (NZ) (Puccini) will fly to Melbourne on Wednesday to commence his path towards the A$10 million feature. The Group Three winner was set to start his spring campaign at Wanganui 10 days ago, but inclement weather curtailed those plans and trainers Peter
New Zealand
Capable synthetic performer Branciforti (NZ) (Belardo) is presented with an opportunity to turn her form around on Wednesday as the clock ticks down on her racing career. The daughter of Belardo will again step out on the polytrack in the Cambridge Equine Hospital Handicap (1550m) and a change of fortune
New Zealand
Palmerston North trainer Paul Peake broke a two-decade winless drought at Woodville on Sunday when his gelding Lazy (NZ) (Complacent) scored his maiden win in the Mamona 2100 at his 29th attempt. The eight-year-old son of Complacent was sent forward from his wide gate by apprentice jockey Crystal Lindsay to
Breeding
Just a few days after the catalogue was launched for the 2025 Ready to Run Sale at Karaka, the world’s leading sale of two-year-olds celebrated another new stakes-winning graduate – Arigato (NZ) (Charm Spirit). Bought for $150,000 from the 2020 Ready to Run Sale, Arigato led from start to
Racing
A trans-Tasman ownership double prompted long and enthusiastic celebrations for Ashburton’s Barneswood Farm. Husband-and-wife Chris and Sarah Green and business partner Ger Beemsterboer’s colours were carried to victory at The Valley by Desert Lightning and at Ellerslie by progressive mare Arabian Songbird. “It was brilliant and we were
Racing
Group One glory eluded Wexford Stables at Ellerslie, but trainers Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott were nevertheless buoyed by the performances of their representatives. Tomodachi fared best of the stablemates when third in the Gr.1 Proisir Plate (1400m) while Checkmate and Waitak were less than four lengths off