Racing
Victory bells have been ringing for Marie Leicester and her family for decades, with Romanoff the latest to hit a Group One note. Leicester bred the Pam Gerard-trained son of Belardo who at Riccarton on Saturday added to an extensive role of honour when he triumphed in the New Zealand
Racing
Group One performer Perfect Scenario has been retired following his unplaced run in the Gr.3 TAB Mile (1600m) at Riccarton last week. The eight-year-old son of Iffraaj has been a stable stalwart for Te Akau Racing’s southern base at Riccarton Park over the last couple of seasons and
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
Racing
Te Akau Racing collected a race-to-race double at Tauranga on Saturday, including a highly satisfying return to winning form by When Stars Align (NZ) (Zoustar) in the Stonewood Homes 1200. A well-related son of Zoustar bought by David Ellis for $400,000 as a yearling at Karaka in 2023, When
Racing
Former Gr.1 New Zealand Derby (2400m) winner Asterix (NZ) (Tavistock) returned to top form and scored his first Australian victory in the A$300,000 NZB The Beauford (2300m) at Newcastle on Saturday. The Chris Waller-trained gelding showed signs that he might be finding form with a close last-start
Racing
Promising New Zealand-bred galloper Taken (NZ) (Ardrossan) won four races in a row to close out his last campaign, and he picked up where he left off with a first-up victory at Caulfield on Saturday. The A$130,000 RM Williams Handicap (1400m) was Taken’s first raceday appearance since
Racing
Expat New Zealand trainer John Sargent expected a strong showing from Meridiana (NZ) (Preferment) at Newcastle on Saturday, and that was exactly what he got in the A$160,000 Lees Racing ‘Legend’ Mile (1600m). The New Zealand-bred mare was heading into the Benchmark 78 handicap after a last-start second
Racing
Brilliant New Zealand-bred gelding Jimmysstar (NZ) (Per Incanto) lifted his Group One tally to three with another scintillating performance in Saturday’s A$1 million CF Orr Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield, in which progeny of Little Avondale Stud stallion Per Incanto finished first and third. Jimmysstar burst into the top
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
A bargain buy from Windsor Park Stud’s Rugby, Racing and Beer yearling sale has now won six of her seven starts including a first black-type success in Saturday’s A$200,000 Gr.3 How Now Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield. Proved (NZ) (Time Test) was bred by Windsor Park
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