Racing
Champion jumps jockey Shaun Fannin had intended on competing at Riccarton’s Grand National Festival of Racing this week, but not as a rider. The Palmerston North horseman has become synonymous with the winter jumps carnival, particularly through his deeds with ill-fated champion jumper West Coast, who he guided
Racing
The connections of Dictation (NZ) (Tavistock) have a love-hate relationship with Riccarton, and they are hopeful of leaning towards the latter after Saturday’s Hospitality NZ Canterbury 136th Hospitality NZ Canterbury 136th Grand National Hurdles (4200m). While the Hawke’s Bay gelding has competed in the last two editions
Racing
Weight is trainer Dan O’Leary’s biggest concern ahead of Captain Runs’ (NZ) (Nom du Jeu) defence of the Racecourse Hotel & Motor Lodge 151st Grand National Steeplechase (5600m) at Riccarton on Saturday. The now 11-year-old gelding carried 66kg to victory in last year’s edition but
High-quality performer Lollapalooza (NZ) (El Roca) has proved herself at the highest level and connections are hopeful she will get opportunities in the spring to advance her record. The daughter of El Roca performed admirably in the best age group company last season and is making good progress toward
The Patrick Payne-trained Sing For Peace (NZ) (Tavistock) stamped himself as a star of jumps racing with a determined victory in Sunday’s Crisp Steeplechase (4200m) at Sandown Lakeside. Sing For Peace was considered the main danger to the champion Stern Idol, who was chasing his fourth consecutive Crisp
Victory aboard the Kiwi-bred Carbonados (NZ) (Belardo) in the A$160,000 NSW Jockeys Association Handicap (1300m) at Rosehill on Saturday capped a memorable 40th birthday for jockey Tim Clark. It was the third win of the afternoon for Clark, who had previously won aboard Funshow (Cosmic Force) and
Comeback jockey Blake Shinn has predicted a black-type future for New Zealand-bred galloper Touchdown (NZ) (Almanzor), who lived up to his reputation and hot favouritism with a dominant victory in the A$130,000 2026 Melbourne Cup Carnival On Sale (1620m) at Flemington on Saturday. The son of
Consistent mare Quintabelle (NZ) (Embellish) upset the applecart with a resolute finishing run to take out the Gr.3 Winning Edge Presentations 129th Winter Cup (1600m) on Saturday for local Riccarton trainer Anna Furlong. The six-year-old daughter of Embellish had looked to be building nicely to the feature
Per Incanto's remarkable stud career reached another milestone on Saturday night when the Little Avondale Stud stallion claimed both the Dewar Award and the Centaine Award at the New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders' Awards. The son of Street Cry secured the Dewar Award as the New Zealand-based
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Cameron Crockett is a very hands on trainer and he knew something wasn’t quite right with Leovanni (NZ) (Leovanni) when she returned to work for her second preparation with him. He’d spent $40,000 to buy the mare, but in her first two starts she was being hesitant
The Livamol Classic (2040m) and New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) have retained Group One status this season following a vote by the Asian Pattern Committee (APC). Both races were subject to the vote after failing to meet the required international race rating standard in their last three editions, with the
Bill Thurlow is likely to extend the southern stay of his in-form sprinter Wire Rope (NZ) (Darci Brahma). The Waverley trainer will run the son of Darci Brahma in Saturday’s Vernon & Vazey Truck Parts Open (1400m) at Riccarton off the back of his Rating 75 success last
High-quality performer Lollapalooza (NZ) (El Roca) has proved herself at the highest level and connections are hopeful she will get opportunities in the spring to advance her record. The daughter of El Roca performed admirably in the best age group company last season and is making good progress toward
Skymax (NZ) (Ferrando) and Novak’s (NZ) (El Roca) winter preparations have been geared towards Friday’s TAB Polytrack Championship (2000m) at Cambridge, and trainers Graeme and Debbie Rogerson, and Clinton Isdale, are hoping the pair can claim the lion’s share of the $75,000 purse on offer. Skymax
Mr Fortrus (Magnus) has made his presence felt in the South Island since joining trainer John Blackadder’s Rangiora barn earlier this year, and he furthered that with victory in the $75,000 Polytrack Championship (1200m) at Riccarton on Wednesday. The now seven-year-old gelding joined Blackadder as a
Promising four-year-old Phantom Major (Snitzel) broke through in impressive fashion with victory in Wednesday's $100,000 Schweppes Handicap (1200m) at Canterbury, producing a powerful finishing burst at just his second race start. An entire son of Snitzel, Phantom Major has been given plenty of time by
The Gr.1 Memsie Stakes (1400m) has emerged as a more serious first-up option for star mare Aeliana (NZ) (Castelvecchio) after a barrier incident ruled her out of a Warwick Farm trial on Tuesday. The multiple Group One winner got her hind leg caught in the starting gates before
Local trainers Michael and Matthew Pitman were confident of a bold showing from Star Ballot (NZ) (Tarzino) at Riccarton’s synthetic meeting on Wednesday, and the gelding duly delivered when taking out the Betavet Natural Solutions Open (2200m). The father-and-son duo weren’t shy in sharing their opinion
Danica Guy can’t wait to get to Ellerslie next month where her Group Three winner Lupo Solitario (NZ) (Satono Aladdin) is set to have his first tilt at elite-level in the Gr.1 Proisir Plate (1400m). The now six-year-old gelding was a standout for the Matamata
Romanoff (NZ) (Belardo) and Affirmative Action (Yes Yes Yes) gave trainer Pam Gerard a dream result when they quinellaed the Gr.1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) at Riccarton last year, and the Matamata horsewoman is hoping they can have another successful spring preparation. They both had their first public
Chris Waller can see a lot of Verry Elleegant (NZ) (Zed) in his current staying star Aeliana (NZ) (Castelvecchio) and the ground-breaking trainer is keen for the mare to follow the former champion’s path to the 2021 Melbourne Cup via the Cox Plate this spring. A three-time
