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And completely out of business for this girl yet we allow worse every day in racing with nothing evidently being done about it here.      

The decision to buy Victory Roll (NZ) (Belardo) for just A$2250 has paid dividends for the new connections of the Kiwi-bred three-year-old, who scored a hard-fought win in Saturday’s A$120,000 TAB Highway Plate (1800m) at Randwick. After starting his career with four unplaced starts in Queensland, the Belardo gelding was offered in an Inglis Digital online sale in March and was purchased by Goulburn trainer Pat Murphy. Victory Roll has won three of his six starts since then, banking more than A$90,000 for his new owners. “One of his owners, Jimmy Bergin, suggested I buy him,” Murphy said. “He told me he’d stay all day and the best was yet to come and he was spot on. “He paid us back when he won his first start at Wagga and now he’s added a Goulburn win and a Highway victory, so we’re over the moon. There’s still plenty more to come too.” Victory Roll was ridden to Saturday’s win by Rachel King, who slid her mount forward to sit on the outside of the leader before going for gold at the home turn. Victory Roll took a clear lead into the straight, but he looked vulnerable when the well-supported County Kilkenny (Fast Company) loomed on his outside with 200m remaining. Victory Roll responded to that challenge and lifted again, holding on to win by a head. “When County Kilkenny came at me, I thought I still had something to give,” King said. “Having the blinkers on, he just needed to get a sight of the horse. I let him drift out towards him, and when he got sight of him, he found again.” Victory Roll was bred by Transtasman Breeders Pty Ltd and has continued a remarkable season for the former Haunui Farm shuttle stallion Belardo. Since August 1 last year, Belardo’s southern hemisphere crops have produced 69 winners from 146 runners, including stakes winners Belardo Boy (NZ), Golden Path (NZ), Belardi (NZ) and Southern Warrior (NZ). The dam of Victory Roll is the Redoute’s Choice mare Invisible Coin, whose five winners from six foals to race also include the Gr.1 Queensland Oaks (2200m) winner Gypsy Goddess (NZ) (Tarzino) and Listed placegetter Bitcoin (NZ) (Tarzino). View the full article

Enigmatic galloper Reign It In (NZ) (Scared Falls) returned to winning form after a frustrating twelve-month period for both the horse and his trainer Roydon Bergerson when he took out the Levin Truck Services-sponsored Open 1200m at Otaki on Saturday. The five-year-old son of Sacred Falls had won the corresponding event at the meeting in 2023 but since then his form had tapered off badly as Bergerson tried to coax him out of the slump. A promising first-up sixth at Woodville back in May had Bergerson encouraged his charge was on the way back to his best however he managed to beat just a combined two runners’ home in his next two starts. Bergerson wasn’t sure what to expect on Saturday but breathed a huge sigh of relief as Reign It In sat three wide outside the pacemakers Old Town Road (NZ) (El Roca) and Tavis Court (NZ) (Tavistock) before angling to the outside fence for apprentice Jim Chung, who had been aboard in last year’s victory. In a desperate finish Reign It In stuck his nose in front at the right time to defeat a brave Prioress (NZ) (Proisir) with Tavis Court battling well for third. Bergerson was shaking his head afterwards as he discussed the temperamental nature of the horse. “I wouldn’t like to play cards with the bugger,” Bergerson said. “He has always had ability and he got the job done today as he deserved it. “He just needed to get on a heavy track, and I did say to Jim just ride him the same way you did last year. “I had said to my kids he should be winning open handicaps every second week when the tracks get heavy and thank god he has today.” Chung was beaming as he expressed his thanks to Bergerson for giving him the ride on the horse. “I am so happy to ride a winner for Roydon,” he said. “Today I tried to do the same thing as I did last year. The track is really good (for the horses) as it’s heavy and I just had to get him rolling quite early and he did it.” Owned by the Reign It In Racing syndicate, which includes a number of Bergerson’s family, Reign It In has now won five of his 31 starts and over $129,000 in prizemoney. The win was also the first leg of a treble on the day for Chung who was also successful aboard Farravallo (NZ) (Belardo) and Make Time (NZ) (Makfi) later on the programme. View the full article

A thrilling victory for ghostly grey Hula Beat (NZ) (Redwood) in Saturday’s feature race at Te Rapa, the Callinan Family Taumarunui RSA Gold Cup (2200m), has provided trainer Stephen Marsh with a much-desired goal that he set himself at the start of the 2023-24 racing season. His stable topped $5 million in stakes won for the first time in his training career to date, a massive achievement in its own right, however Marsh had made no secret of his desire to hit the three-figure mark in wins for the third season in a row. With runners at both Otaki and Te Rapa on the day it took until the sixth event on the Te Rapa card for Marsh to strike and it was a close-run thing as Hula Beat held out race favourite Diamond Jak (NZ) (Jakkalberry) by just a head with last year’s winner Enchanted Elle (NZ) (Jakkalberry) close up in third. Superbly handled by apprentice Ace Lawson-Carroll, who was having his first ride aboard the five-year-old gelding, Hula Beat settled well back in the early running before making ground between runners approaching the home turn. Lawson-Carroll squeezed him expertly between runners at the 300m and he shot to the front before holding out the late run by Diamond Jak to claim his fifth career victory. Marsh was all smiles as he described the atmosphere during the race from a large group of his friends and supporters who had gathered at Te Rapa with him. “We have had a few people here on course and in the box with us and it’s fair to say it erupted a bit,” Marsh said. “It does mean a lot as it was going to be a tough battle and I’m rapt for the team and everyone involved. “It’s just nice to go out with this for the year as I would hate to end on 99 wins. “This horse has been going really well and we wanted him to go back (in the running) which he did. “It was a beautiful ride by Ace, and I said to him just get his breathing right and he did. I was worried he would get squeezed out of a gap, but he rode a beautiful race, a mature race. “I’m not one for going the early crow and Allan Sharrock went twice and said we were home, so I nearly jumped in his arms after the race. “It was actually a bit tighter than I thought but the place erupted after the decision which is just great.” Marsh was unsure of where he would take the son of Redwood next although he was certain the promising stayer could improve further. “I will get today over and done with, but he has had a brilliant campaign,” he said. “He got a bit crook early doors but has come back well. “He loves the wetter tracks, and he loves Te Rapa and going left-handed although he has won going right-handed at Te Aroha, so we will just keep him going through (the grades).” Bred and raced by Gerry Harvey under his New Zealand Thoroughbred Holdings banner, Hula Beat is the last foal of unraced Zabeel mare Limbea (NZ). His granddam Dancing Hula (NZ) (Three Legs) is a half-sister to multiple Group One winner Love Dance (NZ) (Kaapstad) while he is also closely related to Gr.1 Railway Handicap (1200m) placegetter Tip The Wink (NZ) (Stravinsky). The victory took his career record to five wins from 23 starts and over $112,000 in prizemoney. View the full article

Apprentice rider Lily Sutherland followed her pre-race instructions perfectly to land rugged four-year-old Opawa Jack (NZ) (War Decree) an impressive winner of the Open 1600m event on the card at Otaki on Saturday. The Chrissy Bambry-prepared galloper had won three of his six starts in his current campaign and came into the event off the back of a win over the same distance at Wanganui earlier in the month. Sutherland and Bambry had walked the track prior to the first race and hatched a plan to have her guide the son of War Decree wider in the home straight to capitalise on potentially firmer footing than was available against the inside rail. Sutherland followed instructions to perfection as she set up a muddling pace on the $3.10 race favourite and angled to the outside fence rounding the home bend. Eventual runner-up Sacred Pearl (NZ) (Sacred Pearl) followed her out there and the pair settled down to a decent tussle with Opawa Jack maintaining a strong gallop to land the major prize in the contest. Bambry was thrilled with the victory for a horse she believes has plenty more in store for him. “I didn’t know if there was a heap of speed in the race, but Lily knows him well and we walked the track this morning looking for the best ground and that’s exactly where she went,” Bambry said. “He still has a lot of maturing to do but he has come on heaps in this prep and he’s a good one.” Sutherland gave plenty of praise to her mount who she believes will be even more potent on a firmer surface. “He just bowls along at his own speed in front and he was going good enough to come out (wide),” she said. “He doesn’t like a wet track but is just going so well at the moment and I just tried to get as far out as I could for better ground as it’s pretty wet today.” Sutherland is in a decent fight for the National Apprentice Jockey premiership title with Niranjan Parmar as they go toe to toe with just two race days in the current season to go. Tied at the start of the day on 50 wins apiece the victory aboard Opawa Jack put Sutherland in front early in the day with racing left to come at Waverley on Sunday and Tauranga on Wednesday. Bred by southern racing legend Brian Anderton and his late wife Lorraine, Opawa Jack is out of the Nom Du Jeu mare Serve De Aunt (NZ) and has now won six of his 23 career starts. View the full article

Dusty Road (NZ) (Shamexpress) gave Graeme Cameron his first taste of Group One racing last year, and the Cambridge owner-trainer is keen to shoot for the stars again after a dominant performance in Saturday’s Woods Contracting (1400m) at Te Rapa. Cameron arrived at Te Rapa on Saturday with eight training successes to his name, three of them from Dusty Road. That highly talented son of Shamexpress has also taken on some of New Zealand’s best with a midfield finish in the Gr.1 Levin Classic (1600m) as a three-year-old, followed earlier this season by a sixth in the Gr.3 Spring Sprint (1400m) and a fifth in the Gr.2 Rich Hill Mile (1600m). The Gr.1 Tarzino Trophy (1400m) at Hastings on September 7 is firmly circled in Cameron’s calendar this spring, and what he saw from Dusty Road on Saturday did nothing to change his mind. Sent out as a $2.10 favourite for Te Rapa’s $40,000 open sprint, Dusty Road broke well from the starting gates and quickly took up a prominent position on the outside of the leader, Dubai Diva (Pride of Dubai). Dusty Road pounced at the home turn and kicked away by more than two lengths. Eased down in the last couple of strides by apprentice jockey Liam Kauri, Dusty Road crossed the finish line a length ahead of the late-finishing Fonteyn (NZ) (Swiss Ace). From 21 career starts, Dusty Road has recorded four wins and five placings, earning $120,515 for Cameron and his wife Jacky. Dusty Road is now rated a $31 chance on the TAB’s Tarzino Trophy market, which is headed by Legarto (NZ) (Proisir) ($3.50), Crocetti (NZ) (Zacinto) ($4.50) and Orchestral (NZ) (Savabeel) ($6). “I don’t know if I’m going over the top or not, but I’m looking at the Tarzino,” Cameron said. “I think he deserves a go in that race. We’ll go straight there, rather than running in the Foxbridge Plate (Gr.2, 1200m). “This horse is just a ripper. I think the 4kg claim did wonders for him today and it was a really good win. “We looked at Otaki today as well, but I thought this race really suited him. It’s just down the road, and he’ll be back in his paddock in an hour.” Saturday’s victory was also a notable result for the 25-year-old Kauri. The Central Districts apprentice has now outridden his 4kg claim with the 10th win of his career. “It’s good to finally lose the 4kg claim, it’s been a bit of a struggle but should be easier from here,” he said. “I didn’t really have to do anything today. I just sat on him. He jumped out of the gates himself and sorted himself out. I barely even had to steer him around the corners. He did it all himself.” View the full article

Progressive mare Swindle (NZ) (Rageese) had little favours in the running of the Stewart Browne Memorial (1200m) at Te Rapa on Saturday, but that didn’t stop her from powering to victory for trainer Lauren Brennan. Jumping from barrier six, apprentice jockey Triston Moodley was assertive in the early stages aboard Swindle but was forced to sit three-wide in third, while Baronet (NZ) (Contributer) and Winning For All (Shooting To Win) set a solid tempo in front. Travelling boldly near the turn, Moodley let the mare roll outside the leaders and she sprinted clear at the 300 metres, keeping up a strong gallop in the heavy conditions to score with authority by two lengths. The sole three-year-old of the field, Itza Charmdeel (Charm Spirit), finished gamely into second followed by Winexpress (NZ) (Shamexpress). A winner at Rating 65 level in mid-May, Swindle has continued to race consistently amongst competitive fields up in grade and Brennan was delighted to see the mare rewarded. “I was watching from the stands, so when George (Simon, race commentator) was saying she was three-wide and doing it tough I was thinking ‘poor thing, she never gets a break’, she’s drawn wide at most of her starts,” Brennan said. “I said (to Triston) to try and sit behind the speed as there was a fair bit in the race, but he had no choice. When he asked her, she picked up really nicely and Triston’s riding really well at the moment. “I’m really happy with the run.” Initially planning on sending the daughter of Rageese for a spell, Brennan may reconsider upcoming plans for Swindle after such a commanding victory. “I was going to give her a break after today thinking she might have come to the end of it, but we’ll get her home now and see how she pulls up,” she said. Bred by Windsor Park Stud and owned by Lauren and Micky Brennan’s Monacurragh Lodge, Swindle increased her earnings to over $65,000 with three wins from 13 starts. The four-year-old is out of an O’Reilly mare in Code Black (NZ), who won twice over 1200m in Australia. The victory was Moodley’s 38th for the season, placing him firmly in third position behind frontrunners Lily Sutherland and Niranjan Parmar as the National Apprentice’s Premiership draws to a close next Wednesday. A five-win haul at the apprentice’s race-day at New Plymouth last month was a key highlight for Moodley, and the 23-year-old has his sights firmly set on the top spot next season. “It’s been my best season thus far and I’m just hoping to carry on into the next,” Moodley said. “My biggest goal (next season) is to try and win the premiership.” View the full article

Talented three-year-old Captain Electric (NZ) (Savabeel) was well and truly in his element when he stepped out beyond 1700m for the first time and won Saturday’s A$150,000 Tobin Brothers Celebrating Lives Handicap (2400m) at Caulfield. The New Zealand-bred son of Savabeel had his third start for Pakenham trainer Andrea Leek in Saturday’s stamina test, having scored a 1600m maiden win at Moe on July 12 before finishing fifth over 1700m at Flemington last week. He had previously collected one placing from four starts for Emma-Lee and David Browne. Captain Electric relished the additional distance of Saturday’s 2400m race, settling into a smooth rhythm in third or fourth spot before jockey Damian Lane began to move him through his gears approaching the home turn. Captain Electric loomed on the outside of fellow Kiwi-bred Phats (NZ) (Embellish) at the top of the straight, then quickened well to take charge. Captain Electric dashed away to score an emphatic victory by a length and three-quarters. “Having the race run at a genuine tempo helped him,” Lane said. “He was a touch keen on the bridle early in the race, but once we found cover, he got into a lovely rhythm and he was always going to be hard to beat. “Andrea has done a great job with this horse, and he did very well going straight from 1700m to 2400m today. You know that the Leek-trained horses are always going to be very fit, so you’re never shy to put them into a race. I did that today and he was too good.” Captain Electric has now had seven starts for two wins, a second and A$109,530 in stakes. “He’s a lovely horse who’d always shown us that he was going to get up over ground,” Leek said. “We’re just lucky to have him. He’s a gem. “He’s so easy to do anything with – I think he’s the easiest that we’ve got in the stable. We haven’t had to do a lot of work with him. “We’ll see how he pulls up and then make a plan around what we do next.” Captain Electric was bred by Ultra Thoroughbred Racing and is by Savabeel out of the Italian-bred mare My Central (Central Park), who won seven races including the Gr.3 Balanchine Stakes (1800m) in Dubai. All of the Central Park mare’s five foals to race have been winners, headed by this season’s Gr.3 Easter Cup (2000m) and Listed Ballarat Cup (2000m) winner Captain Envious (NZ) (Savabeel). My Central is also the granddam of Umgawa (Shamus Award), who has won four races and finished second in the Gr.3 Aurie’s Star Handicap (1200m) in Melbourne. View the full article

Robbie Patterson is excited about what the future might hold for Read About It after the lightly raced two-year-old outclassed his opposition in Saturday’s Listed Phil’s Electrical & Gipsy Caravans Ryder Stakes (1200m) at Otaki. The season-ending juvenile feature was only the second career start for Read About It, who made his debut with a strong-finishing second after an interrupted run at Riccarton on June 22. He had previously won all of his three trials. Read About It was strongly supported into $1.80 favouritism for the Ryder Stakes, but that pre-race confidence was shaken as rider Craig Grylls found himself squeezed back and boxed in along the rail behind a muddling pace. Just before the home turn, most of the field began to drift out towards the better ground wide on the track. Grylls seized that opportunity and cut the corner, bursting through to hit the lead at the top of the straight. Grylls was then able to angle across the front of the field to find the better footing, and Read About It took command. He powered away with his ears pricked, scoring a comfortable victory by a length and three-quarters over Grove Street and Ortega. “They’ve been mostly keeping away from the rail today, but we drew two for this race and the whole field came back down to the inside,” Grylls said. “Then they started to scout wide just before we straightened up. Fortunately he was good enough that I was able to get through and hit the front, and then we got out from there. “He’s still pretty green. He pricked his ears when he saw the crowd at around the 100m mark, and he almost put the handbrake on. But when the others got a little bit closer, he let go again. “He’s a big-striding guy and will improve heading into his three-year-old season. Once he gets up to 1400m and a mile, you’re going to see an even better horse.” Read About It was bought for just $5000 from the 2022 National Weanling Sale at Karaka. Carrying the white and red colours of KRD Racing, he has had two starts for a win, a second and $52,475 in stakes. Patterson is now working backwards from a black-type target in the spring. “We were in a horrible spot in that race today,” the New Plymouth trainer said. “The horse in front of him wasn’t really travelling and they slammed those anchors on. But he won with his ears pricked, didn’t he? He was just dominant. “I think he’s a serious horse. It was probably not the most elite field that he beat today, but going forward, he’s pretty exciting. “We’ve always liked the horse, and I think the trip down to Riccarton for his debut probably made him as well. It was a big call going all the way down there, but it paid off. “I won’t go too far with him now. He can have a week in the paddock, and then we’ll head towards the Wanganui Guineas (Listed, 1200m) at the end of August, and then we might back off him a little bit. Whether we go to a race like the 2000 Guineas (Gr.1, 1600m), I’m not too sure. But we’ve got a bit to look forward to with him.” Read About It became the fifth individual stakes winner for Highview Stud stallion Wrote, who is best known for this season’s Gr.1 New Zealand Oaks (2400m) winner Pulchritudinous. The dam of Read About It is the unraced Iffraaj mare Diggilou, who is a half-sister to the Gr.1 Australian Oaks (2400m) placegetter Perfect Rhyme. View the full article