Aeliana primed for Cox Plate challenge

New Zealand-bred mare Aeliana (NZ) (Castelvecchio) will spearhead Chris Waller’s bid for a seventh Cox Plate victory when she tackles Saturday’s Gr.1 Cox Plate (2040m) at Flemington. The talented mare pleased Waller in her final serious workout at Flemington on Tuesday morning, with regular rider James

Woburn Farm Presents quality draft at Ready to Run Sale

Woburn Farm’s Ready to Run Sale drafts have been a proven recipe for racetrack success in recent seasons, headed by multiple Group One-winning Hong Kong star Lucky Sweynesse (NZ) (Sweynesse), and their 13-strong draft at Karaka next month will again command buyers’ attention. Lucky Sweynesse was offered

Cooper to reunite with dual Guineas winner

Donovan Cooper made a winning return to the saddle at Ashburton on Sunday, and just four days later he will be reunited with his favourite horse, dual Guineas winner Hello Hayley (NZ) (Hello Youmzain), at Ascot Park. The Canterbury-based apprentice jockey has been sidelined for the last couple of

Group One beckons for gifted Monovale graduate

Exciting age group prospect Asturia (NZ) (Almanzor) is on the trail of a Classic success, which brothers Joe and Max Smithies went frustratingly close to last term. The Waikato-based siblings bred the Almanzor filly under their Monovale Holdings banner and a dominant winning performance at Ellerslie has her in

Ka Ying Rising on track for Hong Kong return

Hong Kong champion Ka Ying Rising (NZ) (Shamexpress) has emerged unscathed from his narrow defeat in Saturday’s Gr.1 The Everest (1200m) at Randwick, with trainer David Hayes confident the star sprinter will bounce back on home soil. The New Zealand-bred son of Shamexpress left Australia on Monday

The Pendragon lands Horsham Cup

Former New Zealand galloper The Pendragon (NZ) (U S Navy Flag) returned to winning form for the first time in almost three years with a convincing victory in Sunday’s A$65,000 Horsham Cup. The six-year-old carried topweight of 61kg to victory under a well-judged ride

New Zealand campaign paves the way to Aussie gold

Gavin Bedggood has been one of the few Australian trainers to campaign in New Zealand over the past year, and he has been richly rewarded, with his grey entire Kingswood (Roaring Lion) scoring elite-level success on both sides of the Tasman, highlighted by his heroics in Saturday’s Gr.

Blind Raise to take on Cox Plate challenge

New Zealand-bred colt Blind Raise (NZ) (Ace High) will take his place in Saturday’s A$6 million Gr.1 Cox Plate (2040m) at Flemington, with trainers Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young electing to chase one of Australian racing’s biggest prizes rather than a more conventional three-year-

Well Written withdrawn from Golden Eagle

The spring campaign of Well Written (Written Tycoon) is over. New Zealand’s darling of the turf has spiked a temperature in Sydney, which has ruled her out of next week’s A$10 million Gr.1 Golden Eagle (1500m) at Randwick. “Well Written has contracted a viral infection over

Hawea out of NZ 1000 Guineas

Former Gr.1 Barneswood Farm New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) favourite Hawea (Hellbent) has been withdrawn from the southern classic and will head for a freshen-up following her last-placed finish in the Gr.2 Soliloquy Stakes (1400m) at Ellerslie on Saturday. The Hellbent filly had been eye-catching

Ka Ying Rising beaten narrowly in The Everest

David Hayes has lamented a poor barrier draw after Ka Ying Rising’s (NZ) (Shamexpress) 21-race winning streak came to a dramatic end in the AU$20 million Gr.1 The Everest (1200m) at Randwick Racecourse on Saturday. Ka Ying Rising was trapped wide under Zac Purton after jumping

Ohope Wins remembered for her kindness and talent

Kind, athletic, willing to learn, and immensely talented. These are the memories Andrew Scott has of Ohope Wins (NZ) (Ocean Park), the dual Oaks winner he and Lance O’Sullivan prepared for the first part of her career. Ohope Wins, transferred to the Sydney stable of Chris Waller in March,