New Zealand
Locals dominated the ITM/GIB Winter Championship Finals at Ruakaka in 2023 and 2024, but the tide turned in Saturday’s 2025 edition with Matamata and Cambridge scoring two wins each in the $60,000 features. Age-group honours went to the Tony Pike-trained Boombox (NZ) (Spirit of Boom) in the
New Zealand
Track specialist Sinbin (NZ) (Derryn) returned to her favourite Trentham track to claim her biggest victory to date, when she stormed home against the outside fence to win the Bill Tito Book Repair Specialist North Island Challenge Stakes (1200m). The Robbie Patterson-prepared daughter of Derryn had won two of her
New Zealand
Jesko (NZ) (Atlante), the new steeplechasing star in New Zealand, produced another quality performance in the hands of his co-trainer Shaun Fannin to capture the time-honoured Grant Plumbing Wellington Steeplechase (4900m) at Trentham. Fannin, who prepares the seven-year-old alongside his wife Hazel, produced a remarkable ride that was befitting of
Australia
A tenacious front-running performance in Saturday’s A$160,000 Captivant @ Kia Ora Handicap (1400m) at Rosehill added a first city victory to Puntin’s (NZ) (Super Seth) burgeoning record. The New Zealand-bred three-year-old gelding has now had six starts for four wins and two seconds, earning A$184,400
New Zealand
Matamata trainers Ken and Bev Kelso sent Levakia (NZ) (Priosir) on a big road trip on Saturday in search of reasonable track conditions, and the plan paid off with victory in the $60,000 ITM/GIB 3YO Winter Championship Final (1600m) at Ruakaka. Seventh over 1400m and 1500m in two
Australia
New Zealand-bred gelding Rolling Magic (NZ) (Per Incanto) continued his progress through the grades with a stylish first-up win in the A$120,000 Midway Handicap (1300m) at Rosehill on Saturday. The son of Per Incanto disappointed his trainers Richard and Will Freedman in the early stages of his career,
New Zealand
Tony Pike-trained juveniles Boombox (NZ) (Spirit of Boom) and Ashoka (NZ) (Hello Youmzain) ran their second quinella of the month in the ITM/GIB 2YO Championship Final (1200m) at Ruakaka on Saturday, with Boombox getting the better of his stablemate on both occasions. The talented pair had their first clash
New Zealand
Race favourite Billy Boy (So You Think), who was having just his third start over hurdles, produced one of the great staying performances to capture the Aztech Engineering Wellington Hurdle (3200m) at Trentham on Saturday. The Jo Rathbone-prepared son of So You Think made a winning debut over fences at
Australia
The late Mike Moroney always believed Coeur Volante (NZ) (Proisir) had the potential to be a Group One winner. As a three-year-old, Coeur Volante started favourite in the Gr.1 Thousand Guineas (1600m) at Caulfield, finishing fourth to Joliestar (Zoustar), while placegetters in that race were subsequent Group One winners
New Zealand
With Jim Chung’s two-kilogram claim reducing his weight to 57.5kg, Bradman will attempt to break a year-long absence from the winners’ circle in the MJH Engineering Limited Whyte Handicap (1600m) at Trentham on Saturday. The Pins gelding has won eight races and more than $317,000 in stakes,
Australia
Darryn and Briar Weatherley are hoping a quick back-up into Saturday’s Gr.3 Tattersall’s Cup (2400m) at Eagle Farm might bring a change of fortunes for Dark Destroyer. The winner of five races and more than $640,000 in stakes, headed by the Gr.1 Tarzino Trophy (1400m)
New Zealand
Cambridge trainer Samantha Logan has had success campaigning horses in the South Island before, and she is hoping following a similar blueprint will pay off with I'll Hava Semillon, who will bid to breakthrough for her maiden win in Sunday’s KB Contractors (2200m) at Wingatui. Stablemate Wry