Racing
Waikato Stud is mourning the loss of champion mareDaffodil (NZ)(No Excuse Needed), who has died at the age of 20, leaving behind an enduring legacy on the racetrack and in the breeding barn. By No Excuse Needed, Daffodil was crowned New Zealand’s champion three-year-old of the 2007–08
Racing
Te Akau Racing will be tackling plenty of feature targets over the coming days, but one of their more interesting runners will appear on the undercard at Ellerslie on New Year’s Day. Four-year-old entire Espionage will make his debut for the stable after previously being trained in Australia by
Racing
Stephen Marsh can make a strong case for each of his top-flight contenders at Trentham on Saturday. The Cambridge trainer will be represented by the in-form trio of Ardalio, Tardelli and To Cap It All in the Gr.1 TAB Telegraph (1200m), a race he won in 2024 with Mercurial.
Racing
La Crique, arguably the most consistent horse in Australasian racing, has been retired. The dual Group One winner has been hampered with foot issues over the last couple of years, with a decision made on Monday morning to bring the curtain down on her racing career following her fourth placed
Racing
Gifted four-year-old She’s A Dealer is in the right order to make a successful challenge for higher honours on New Year’s Day. The Roger James and Robert Wellwood-trained mare is unbeaten this preparation and will bid for a hat-trick of wins when she steps out in the Gr.
Racing
Ashburton trainers Bevan and Robyn Wilson will head south to Kurow’s iconic meeting on Tuesday where they will have a two-pronged attack in the West Coast Steeplechaser Kurow Cup (1400m). Seven-win gelding Royal Valour will head into the race second-up after a disappointing first-up performance where he was slow
Racing
There will be more than just the healthy $57,500 first placed cheque on the line for talented galloper Agera when he contests the Harcourts Taupo Cup (2000m) at Taupo on Sunday. The race is the last event in the newly minted Northern Cups bonus, a series where the leading
Racing
Expat Kiwi jockey Daniel Stackhouse will once again answer the call of Riccarton trainers Michael and Matthew Pitman to ride their team at Trentham next month. The Melbourne-based hoop returned to New Zealand last month to ride Mystic Park to victory in the Gr.3 TAB Mile (1600m) for the
Racing
Wexford Stables are daring to dream with their exciting juvenile filly Te Encuentro following her impressive debut victory in the SkyCity 1100 at Ellerslie on Boxing Day. The Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott-trained filly won her sole trial over 800m at Pukekohe earlier this month and the Matamata horsemen
Racing
Stakes targets are in the offing for consistent gelding Maldini after he scored the biggest win of his career when taking out the Dunstan Horsefeeds Stayers’ Championship Final (2400m) at Ellerslie on Boxing Day. From his ace barrier, Maldini settled three-back on the rail for apprentice jockey Sam McNab and
Racing
An imperious performance by Rise Companions to waltz away with the prestigious Stella Artois 1500m Championship Final (1500m) has pundits questioning just where his ceiling could be. The statuesque five-year-old son of Capitalist was gunning for his third win in succession with victory in the final event on an action-packed
Racing
It was a case of mission accomplished for Australian trainer Gavin Bedggood at Ellerslie on Boxing Day. The Cranbourne horseman had previously competed at the Auckland track as a jumps jockey a decade ago and he eyed a return across the Tasman this week with his well-bred Group Three winner