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Ok cool,thanks for that.

The first Saturday fixture of the season awaits at Sha Tin this weekend, with the Class Two High West Handicap (1,650m) on dirt the strongest event on the 10-race card. Jay Rooney is in the hot seat with an extended rundown of his selections. Race 1 – Class Five Tung Chung Handicap (1,650m) Viva Chaleur is unbeaten from two trials since a stable transfer to Tony Cruz and can finally break through at his 31st local start. Race 2 – Class Five Nam Sang Wai Handicap (1,400m) Like many of his rivals...View the full article

It's for the younger generation this programme, Betcha as a rule is to cater for the youngish, you get lots of sports programmes that you could call light entertainment, this is another, no one's got a more fucked up sense of humor than me but everything has  its proper place and  proper time, I like Greg O Connor presenting, no bullshit, just tell it as it is, just at present most racing as a rule is becoming a hard watch for me, betting on anything at present just don't excite me  

Fair enough Mikey! If it works for the TAB/Entain and it attracts new punters then more than happy go not be on the money! Only watched it the last 2 Thursdays as was overseas for when it started but didnt miss much if this us what they now offer on a Thursday night. Personally think it is crap and would be very surprised if it continued into 2027 as punters get turned off and punters stop giving them money to blow. I would be surprised if the Friday night presenters were impressed by the Thursday nite Amateur clown night!        

New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing (NZTR) is pleased to confirm the final list of 10 New Zealand stakes races that will form part of the $1 million Bonus Eligible Race Pool attached to The NZB Kiwi (1500m), the Southern Hemisphere’s richest three-year-old race. In addition to the $4 million base stake of The NZB Kiwi (1500m), a further $1 million will be distributed in bonuses to horses that win one of the designated lead-up races and go on to place in the top three of The NZB Kiwi, staged on Champions Day at Ellerslie Racecourse on 7 March 2026. The prizemoney distribution for the Bonus Pool will see $600,000 awarded to the winner, $250,000 to second place, and $150,000 to third place. The winning Bonus was first struck last year by Damask Rose (NZ) (Savabeel), who claimed the 2025 $3.5 million NZB Kiwi for Te Akau Racing after winning the $1.5 million TAB Karaka Millions 3YO Classic (1600m). With the Bonus Pool in play, the winner of this year’s NZB Kiwi could take home up to $1.8 million in total prizemoney, just as Damask Rose did. 2025-26 NZB Kiwi Bonus Eligible Races  Gr.2 James and Annie Sarten Memorial (1400m) – Monday 27 October 2025, Waikato Thoroughbred Racing at Te Rapa Racecourse Gr.1 Barneswood Farm New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) – Saturday 8 November 2025, Canterbury Jockey Club at Riccarton Park Racecourse Gr.1 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) – Saturday 15 November 2025, Canterbury Jockey Club at Riccarton Park Racecourse Gr.2 Shaw’s Wire Ropes Auckland Guineas (1400m) – Friday 26 December 2025, Auckland Thoroughbred Racing at Ellerslie Racecourse Gr.2 Levin Classic (1400m) – Saturday 3 January 2026, Wellington Racing Club at RACE Trentham L. TAB Karaka Millions 3YO (1600m) – 24 January 2026, Auckland Thoroughbred Racing at Ellerslie Racecourse Gr.3 Cambridge Stud Almanzor Trophy (1200m) – 24 January 2026, Auckland Thoroughbred Racing at Ellerslie Racecourse Gr.1 BCD Group Sprint (1400m) – 7 February 2026, Waikato Thoroughbred Racing at Te Rapa Racecourse Gr.3 Eagle Technology Uncle Remus Stakes (1400m) – 21 February 2026, Auckland Thoroughbred Racing at Ellerslie Racecourse Gr.1 Courtesy Ford Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) – 29 March 2025, Manawatu Racing Club at RACE Trentham (won by La Dorada (NZ) (Super Seth) – Bonus Eligible) NZTR Chief Executive Officer Matt Ballesty said the $1 million Bonus Eligible Race Pool is about rewarding top performances and linking The NZB Kiwi with the best of New Zealand’s three-year-old racing. “These 10 races are some of the biggest milestones on the road to The NZB Kiwi. The Bonus Pool adds an extra layer of excitement and gives our Slot Holders, Trainers, Owners and fans even more reason to chase the Southern Hemisphere’s richest three-year-old race.”  “We’ll also continue to ensure this highly publicised event is promoted strongly both here in New Zealand and internationally, and we’re looking forward to delivering a standout race on Champions Day in partnership with our premier sponsor New Zealand Bloodstock, the team at Auckland Thoroughbred Racing, and Entain Australia and New Zealand,” Ballesty said. The second edition of the $4 million NZB Kiwi (1500m) will be staged on Auckland Thoroughbred Racing’s Champions Day meeting, 7 March 2026 at Ellerslie Racecourse.  For more information about the race, or to view the full $1 million NZB Kiwi Bonus Eligible Race schedule, visit thekiwirace.nz. View the full article

Foxton trainer Matt Dixon sees Saturday’s Gr.3 Grangewilliam Stud Taranaki Breeders’ Stakes (1400m) as an ideal target for Marotiri Molly in almost every way – apart from the Hawera weather and track conditions. Marotiri Molly’s rating of 100 is the highest in the field for the $100,000 fillies and mares’ feature. She has won six of her 16 starts and more than $245,000 in stakes, headed by a victory in last season’s Gr.2 Manawatu Challenge Stakes (1400m) and a third placing in the Gr.2 Auckland Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1400m). The classy daughter of Per Incanto resumed with a close third behind Spencer and Bold Belle in a 1200m open handicap at Trentham on September 20. It all points to her being primed for a bold performance second-up on Saturday over 1400m – a distance she has recorded four wins and a placing from six starts over. But Dixon is keeping a nervous eye on the skies and the Hawera track, which was rated a Heavy8 on Friday morning. “Apart from the weather, I couldn’t be any happier,” Dixon said. “I was thrilled with that first-up run, and stepping up to 1400m is definitely her go. She has a great record at that distance. “If it was a Soft5 or Soft6, I’d be going into this race with a fair bit of confidence. If it stays Heavy8 like it is now, she’ll probably run but I’m a bit less confident. “They’re supposed to get 10-12mm of rain overnight, which would take it down to a Heavy9 and Heavy10 and there’d be a high chance that she won’t run. I’ll see what happens and probably make a call in the morning.” This would be the second year in a row that Marotiri Molly has competed at this feature Hawera meeting. She was an impressive Rating 75 winner over the same 1400m distance 12 months ago. That added to the appeal of the Breeders’ Stakes for Dixon, who will likely follow a similar itinerary through the rest of the spring. “We had a few niggles with her in the early part of her preparation, but we managed that and she’s been really good since,” Dixon said. “Our main target was this race, because she gets in so well at the weights and we know she likes the distance and course. But we’ll wait and see what happens with the track. “We might carry on towards another shot at the Auckland Breeders’ Stakes at Pukekohe in November. She ran a really good race for third in that last year and it might be a suitable target again.” View the full article

Lochmara Bay has been knocking on the door of a maiden win and trainer David Walsh is hoping she can secure it at Phar Lap Raceway on Sunday when she contests the Ecoglo International NZ 1200. The four-year-old daughter of Sweynesse has finished runner-up in three of her four starts this preparation, all over 1400m, and Walsh is hoping a drop back in distance will benefit his mare. “She has been racing really well and has led at the 200m several times and has got run down, so I thought I might as well drop her back to 1200m to see how she goes,” he said. Her wide alley of 10 in the 13-horse field and forecast rain are Walsh’s two biggest concerns heading into the weekend, but he is hoping jockey Tina Comignaghi can be the difference. “I don’t really know about a wet track, because the forecast isn’t very good,” he said. “She is going to need a bit of luck from there (10). Notoriously, wide draws at Timaru over 1200m aren’t very good, but Tina is on and she might be able to work some magic hopefully.” Later on the card, Graeme John will be out to score back-to-back victories in the Snapback @ Clearview Park 1200, but Walsh is unsure how he will handle the step up to rating 75 grade. “You never quite know if they are going to do it (step up to rating 75 grade),” he said. “There were plenty of pluses from last start but that was five weeks ago. If the track really deteriorated, I might consider withdrawing him, but at this stage he is starting. “He races on pace, pretty handy most of the time. He has done very well, but whatever he does he will improve on because it has been a wee while in-between runs. “I am very happy with him, he looks amazing.” He will be met in the race by stablemate Toa Haka, who heads into Sunday in good form, having placed over 1400m at Riccarton last month. He will have another wide draw to overcome but will get the assistance of apprentice jockey Floor Moerman’s three-kilogram claim. “It’s just typical for him. It’s staggering how many bad draws that horse gets,” Walsh said. “He has got a claim on and he likes to go pretty handy. We are thinking a bit of a loose track might suit him and I am really pleased with him. “He has had two runs under his belt, the last one over 1400m, so he should be competitive. It is a handy field and he is still going to need a bit of luck.” Walsh’s other runner at the Timaru meeting will be Loose ‘N’ Vegas in the Pink Ribbon & Heartland Chips 1200. The daughter of Turn Me Loose will be having her first start as a three-year-old and Walsh expects her to take plenty of improvement out of the run. “She has come up with a strong draw (13) with a horse that wants a bit of cover,” he said. “She didn’t have any luck at all as a two-year-old. Whatever she does she will improve on. “She had a trial at Riccarton last Monday and I am picking she will go a good race.” View the full article

Lance Gussey is hoping to put a last-start disappointment behind him when Joshua Brown lines up in the Listed Team Wealleans Matamata Cup (1600m) on Saturday. Gussey trains and part-owns the Dalghar gelding, whose rise through the ranks during the winter months culminated in an impressive victory in the Listed Opunake Cup (1400m) at New Plymouth in July. That performance earned Joshua Brown a shot at the Gr.2 Foxbridge Plate (1200m) at Te Rapa on August 23, but he never fired a shot and finished at the tail of the field. “That was a pretty average performance and a long way below what he’s capable of,” Gussey said. “I think he just didn’t want to be there that day. “He’s a real hot and cold horse. Sometimes he might have a little niggly thing that’s bothering him and you don’t even know about it, but he’ll just switch off and decide not to try at all. “You could see it from the way he was behaving going down to the start and holding the race up. “It’s just one of those things that can happen with horses, and especially a horse like him. We know he’s a lot better than that.” The Foxbridge failure prompted Gussey to abandon any thought of pressing on towards the Gr.1 Howden Insurance Mile (1600m) at Te Rapa last Saturday, for which he was originally nominated. But pleasing progress in more recent weeks has set the six-year-old up for a return to black-type company this weekend. “We gave him a couple of weeks off after the Foxbridge, and he’s been training extremely well since we brought him back in,” Gussey said. “He’s had another horse to work with, which seems to be helping him to focus and work better. “I’m quite looking forward to getting him back to the races on Saturday.” The Matamata Cup will be Joshua Brown’s second start over 1600m. His only previous attempt at the distance produced a second behind Drop Of Something in the Te Awamutu Cup on July 5. “I definitely believe that going back up to 1600m will suit him, I think he prefers it to the shorter distances,” Gussey said. “We did have him in the big 1600m race at Te Rapa last Saturday originally, but pulled him out after the Foxbridge. Now that he’s come back so well after his little break, there’s no reason not to give him a shot at a decent race like this.” A potential factor in Joshua Brown’s favour is Matamata’s Heavy10 track. Joshua Brown has had six starts on heavy ground for three wins and two placings. “We’ve been quite lucky with the way the weather’s been,” Gussey said. “I think he should handle it a bit better than some of the others. I hope so anyway.” Joshua Brown will continue his partnership with jockey Lynsey Satherley, who has ridden him in 13 of his 14 career starts. They have combined to record four wins and three placings. On Friday, the TAB rated Joshua Brown a $6 chance for the Matamata Cup, sharing favouritism with Aftermath. The others in single figures were My Lips Are Sealed ($6.50), Chantilly Lace ($8.50), Livid Sky ($8.50) and One Bold Cat ($9.50). View the full article

Morotiri Molly is in the mix ahead of the Taranaki Breeders’ Stakes on Saturday. Picture: Photo: Peter Rubery (Race Images Palmerston North). Foxton trainer Matt Dixon sees Saturday’s Group 3 Grangewilliam Stud Taranaki Breeders’ Stakes (1400m) as an ideal target for Marotiri Molly in almost every way – apart from the Hawera weather and track conditions. Marotiri Molly’s rating of 100 is the highest in the field for the $100,000 fillies and mares’ feature. She has won six of her 16 starts and more than $245,000 in stakes, headed by a victory in last season’s Group 2 Manawatu Challenge Stakes (1400m) and a third placing in the Group 2 Auckland Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1400m). More: NZ racing guide The classy daughter of Per Incanto resumed with a close third behind Spencer and Bold Belle in a 1200m open handicap at Trentham on September 20. It all points to her being primed for a bold performance second-up on Saturday over 1400m – a distance she has recorded four wins and a placing from six starts over. But Dixon is keeping a nervous eye on the skies and the Hawera track, which was rated a Heavy 8 on Friday morning. “Apart from the weather, I couldn’t be any happier,” Dixon said. “I was thrilled with that first-up run, and stepping up to 1400m is definitely her go. She has a great record at that distance. “If it was a Soft 5 or Soft 6, I’d be going into this race with a fair bit of confidence. If it stays Heavy 8 like it is now, she’ll probably run but I’m a bit less confident. “They’re supposed to get 10-12mm of rain overnight, which would take it down to a Heavy 9 and Heavy 10 and there’d be a high chance that she won’t run. I’ll see what happens and probably make a call in the morning.” This would be the second year in a row that Marotiri Molly has competed at this feature Hawera meeting. She was an impressive Rating 75 winner over the same 1400m distance 12 months ago. That added to the appeal of the Breeders’ Stakes for Dixon, who will likely follow a similar itinerary through the rest of the spring. “We had a few niggles with her in the early part of her preparation, but we managed that and she’s been really good since,” Dixon said. “Our main target was this race, because she gets in so well at the weights and we know she likes the distance and course. But we’ll wait and see what happens with the track. “We might carry on towards another shot at the Auckland Breeders’ Stakes at Pukekohe in November. She ran a really good race for third in that last year and it might be a suitable target again.” Marotiri Molly is paying $5.50 to win on Saturday with Australian betting sites, behind Andrew Forsman’s likely type Mary Shan ($3.80). View the full article