Two star stablemates, two wide draws but probably two different outcomes.

That is the most likely scenario trainer Steve Telfer is expecting when he takes a pair of high class three-year-old pacers to Alexandra Park tonight.

Telfer has Allamericanplayer (R6, No.7) and Ride The Waves (R8, No.8) back at The Park as they warm up for the riches of black type racing in the months ahead.

Allamericanplayer is already proven at the highest level, having won the Group 1 Welcome Stakes at Addington 16 months ago and earlier this season it took Jumal to beat him in the Northern Derby.

But as talented as he is and even after winning a recent workout, Telfer warns punters to be careful with the strapping pacer tonight.

“We are really happy with how he has come back and think he will be in for a better campaign than last time in, when a few things didn’t go his way,” says Telfer.

“But he is a big strong colt now and has a big barrel on him.

“Because of that I think Friday’s run will bring him on and I wouldn’t be surprised if he got beaten.

“Of course he can win but I don’t think he can be at his peak fitness yet.”

If Allamericanplayer is to be vulnerable in his comeback race the most likely beneficiary would be War Party, who has won three of his four starts and is the latest flyer from the superstar broodmare Democrat Party, who has also left Republican Party and Tour Party. 

War Party is still very much learning but he paced 2:38.2 for 2200m mobile at Cambridge last start and if he performs to that level tonight he is the horse to beat.

While Allamericanplayer’s waistline is putting some doubt in Telfer’s mind tonight he is more confident with Ride The Waves even though she has drawn the outside of the front line in her Nevele R Filllies heat. 

Ride The Waves has shown real X-factor in just five starts and perhaps more importantly for those who back her tonight the ability to come from off the speed and wide to win races.

Telfer says she has options over the 1700m tonight.

“She is a really good filly and a versatile one,” he explains.

“She has the speed to go forward at the start if Maurice [McKendry] wants to or she can go back and move mid-race.

“She hasn’t raced for a while either but she is really well and fit enough to win so she will be hard to beat.”

There is talent in the heat though, with Fly High (No. 2) having already beaten Ride The Waves while Alecto was third fresh-up in a fast time so can also test the favourite.

Team Telfer unleash a very promising debutante in Tactico (R1, No.2) in tonight’s Sires’ Stakes Trot but he meets perhaps the best of his crop in Duke of Bourbon.

“He has been faultless in his trials so far and we think a lot of him but obviously it won’t be easy against the favourite.”

Tonight’s card also contains some smart juveniles taking on older pacers in Race 5, a strong intermediate mobile trot as Race 7 and two promising young trotters in Franco Ronaldo and Micky Hill in the last race.

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Master McGoogan might win his comeback race at Addington tonight but don’t expect it to be a comfortable watch if you back him.

Because trainer Matty Williamson says the early season star of the southern juvenile trotting ranks will be significantly better for his outing in the Ricoh Mobile Trot tonight (6.55pm).

“He has had two trials but he will definitely improve with this Friday,” explains Williamson.

Master McGoogan showed some real depth to win two of his three runs in the autumn including the Group 3 NZ Trotting Stakes in which he beat several of his key rivals tonight.

One he didn’t beat though was tonight’s favourite Eyes Wide Open (R5, No.7) who made a huge impression winning on debut recently and was opened odds-on by the TAB.

Even though Master McGoogan is the most proven horse in the race Williamson will be passive early, not that that has stopped him winning before.

“It was actually how he won both his races last campaign, settling back and coming wide and finishing over the top of them.

“But this is a nice enough field and it will be harder to do that again, especially as he is still on the way up.”

Eyes Wide Open looked the goods winning on debut albeit aided by Royal Monarch galloping when in front of him at the top of the Addington straight but the way Eyes Wide Open powered through his last 200m he would have been very hard to beat regardless.

If he performs to that level again he will be the one to beat although his $1.65 opening odds were short for a young trotter still learning the tricks of his trade.

Williamson will partner Rangitata for his father Phil in a small but select field in the fillies and mares trot, in which Marikit (R7, No.9) will be very hard to hold out after an impressive return last Friday.

“Rangitata went well last start but this is a bit of a step up.”

He also takes the reins behind Haley Jaccka (R8, No.8) who finds herself drawn outside some serious Group 1-performed mares in one of the races of the night.

“She will need them to go hard to bring her into it.”

Williamson is looking forward to the biggest meeting of the season at his home track of Oamaru on Sunday where he rates Axel Rose the best winning chance of his reps.

The richest race at Addington tonight is the Woodlands Stud Sires’ Stakes Foundations Pace for the stock of stallions who stood at $7000 or less with Captain Tyron and Franco Ankara opening $2.15 each, the latter very unlucky last Friday night.

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Classy mare and new mum Resolve’s re-appearance at the races, after a long spell away, will add plenty of interest to Sunday’s feature trot at Oamaru.

The now eight-year-old, trained by Paul Nairn, is not only starting a new campaign but she’s returning to the Jasmyn’s Gift Fillies and Mares Stakes, the same Group 3 she won in 2023.

Her last race was in January 2024, just over two and a half years ago. 

“She cracked a pastern bone and then had an operation and a long spell,” says Nairn.

She was also transferred to the broodmare paddock, last year foaling a King Of The North filly.

Getting her back to the races was always on the cards and Nairn is satisfied with her progress, though not particularly buoyant.

“She’s trotting nice and working ok,” he says, “but I’m not too enthused.”

A Rating 79 trotter, with 11 wins including several at Group level, Resolve will start off the equal back mark of 20 metres alongside the likes of $5.50 favourite Ya Rite Darl. 

Resolve will be driven by Anthony Butt and is currently at $16.

“She’s not 100 per cent fit and will obviously benefit from the run,” Nairn says. 

Included in the field are seven Williamson-trained runners on their home patch with Phil lining up Atlantic City, Have A Little Faith and Empire City while sons Brad (Kracka Looka and Penelope Lane) and Matthew (Pyramid Rose and Princess Sadie) have two each. 

Such is the open nature of the field that the TAB has guaranteed a $5000 First 4.

To see the field click here 

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Craig Grylls has been rewarded for an outstanding season after winning the Jockey Premiership and being named Jockey of the Year at an award ceremony on Sunday night.

Grylls rode 140 winners last season, including 11 black-type victories and two Group One successes aboard Waitak.

Despite the demands of a long campaign, the popular jockey continues to enjoy his work. “I love what I do, I really do, it’s a great job,” Grylls told Sport Nation’s Scotty & Izzy.

His strong form has already continued into the new season, with Grylls riding two winners at Ellerslie on Saturday including Pounce in the Gr.3 Sunline Vase.

He also had a winner earlier in the card, aboard With A Vengeance for Te Akau trainers Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson.

Of his eight rides on Saturday, he rode for six different trainers and Grylls gave credit to his manager Michael Coleman, who organizes his rides and maintains that strong network.

“Lucky enough to win the Sunline Vase on Pounce. She looks like a really nice filly going forward too,” he said.

Grylls has a highly successful association with Wexford Stables trainers Andrew Scott and Lance O’Sullivan. The partnership has produced 98 winners, while Grylls’ two Group One victories aboard Waitak have been among the career highlights.

“I’m looking forward to riding with him in the next two weeks. The mile and the 2000m is going to really suit him,” Grylls said of Waitak racing at Hastings in the Howden Insurance Mile on September 26th and then the Livamol Classic in mid-October.

Looking forward, Grylls nominated Hinekaha, for trainer Andrew Forsman, as one to follow when she returns this preparation, with the mare reportedly progressing well. – Trackside.co.nz

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The glittering racing career of Group One winner Belle Cheval (NZ) (Savabeel) has come to a premature end.

The Gr.1 Vinery Stud Stakes (2000m) heroine resumed at Caulfield last Saturday in the Gr.3 Courtza Stakes (1200m), where she finished last, and following the race she was found to have a respiratory complaint, and the decision was made to retire her from the track.

“She’s been officially retired from racing after pulling up with a respiratory complaint following her fresh-up run last Saturday,” trainer Mark Walker said.

“She was a filly that showed really good talent from day one and grew up a lot during her first preparation.

“She was a high-class filly that deserved all her success, was very lightly raced, and it was a pleasure to train her for David (Archer) and Diane (Wright), and their family.”

Bred and raced by well-known racing identity David Archer, Belle Cheval is by the late Champion New Zealand sire Savabeel and out of Keepa Cheval, a winning half-sister to Archer’s 10-time Group One winner Mufhasa. Belle Cheval is a half-sister to Archer’s other star performer, three-time Group One winner Bostonian, while her half-sister Vitesse is also the dam of Group One winner Kovalica.

With such a rich pedigree, there were plenty of expectations surrounding Belle Cheval heading into her racing career, and Archer entrusted her to the care of Te Akau Racing trainers Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson at Matamata.

After placing over 1300m on debut at Taupo in October last year, she won her second outing over 1400m at Ellerslie a fortnight later before heading south to Riccarton where she placed behind Well Written and Lollapalooza in the Gr.1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m).

She resumed with an emphatic win in the Gr.3 Almanzor Trophy (1200m) under leading Australian hoop Craig Williams at Ellerslie on Karaka Millions night, and backed that up with victory in the Gr.3 Uncle Remus Stakes (1400m) at the Auckland track a month later.

Her performances attracted the attention of several $4 million The NZB Kiwi (1500m) slot holders, and her services were secured by The King’s Men syndicate.

All eyes were on the unbeaten Well Written in the richest three-year-old race in the Southern Hemisphere, with the Stephen Marsh-trained filly jumping a money back favourite, but Belle Cheval nearly upset the applecart when charging home late to get within a short head of victory.

Buoyed by her impressive run of form, the decision was made to test her talent in Australia, and she rewarded her connections with victory in the Vinery Stud Stakes.

Her retirement has come as a blow to owner-breeder David Archer, but he said her welfare comes first and he is looking forward to welcoming her back to his property, where she will be alongside his other former star equine athletes Mufhasa and Bostonian.

“She is a valuable broodmare and we love her very much,” Archer said. “It is not worth putting her through what she would need to go through to see if we could save her racing career, so we are going to do the right thing by her and retire her.

“She has been a great horse and given us a lot of fun, and we were looking forward to the next two to three years (racing), but that is not going to be.

“Graeme Rogerson said to me after she won her second start at Ellerslie ‘you have got your next Mufhasa’. We had Mufhasa and Bostonian, and to get three like that in one lifetime is great.”

With her racing career coming to an end and spring now underway, Archer’s attention is now on the breeding season, and he said she will stay in Australia for her first mating before returning to New Zealand.

“We have talked to the key players we know here and we are looking to put her to an Australian stallion and then bring her home,” Archer said. “We have had contact from some of the studs in Australia, who rate her extremely highly.

“I have got some very good friends doing the homework for me because as one top man said to me ‘you love your horses so much, one of the big things you have got to do is find the stallion, but find a place where she is going to be kept in cotton wool’. So that is going to be part of the judgment, we want her taken care of and we will give her a big hug when she comes here.

“She has given us a lot of fun and if it wasn’t for a little twist we would have had a lot more fun with her.”

It’s been a tough week for Archer and his family, with two of their other racehorses suffering injuries.

“In the space of seven days we lost Three Arrows and Belle Cheval, and Navy Ensign went sore. It is a tough game,” Archer said.

“Three Arrows had come back from injury and had two seconds, and he raced on the Wednesday for John O’Shea and his injury flared up again, which is probably career ending.  We then had Belle Cheval having her issue on the Saturday, and Navy Ensign was coming back at Ellerslie on Saturday, and he went sore on the Monday.”

Archer received better news on Tuesday, with three of his mares arriving at Cambridge Stud to be served, including Belle Cheval’s dam, Keepa Cheval.

“She is in-foal to Chaldean,” Archer said. “We dropped three mares at Cambridge Stud today and Scott (Calder, Cambridge Stud sales and nominations manager) said Keepa Cheval at her age looks very well, which is what the troops at home have been saying.

“She is going back to Chaldean.”

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Of the 15 nominations for the Gr.1 Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m) at Flemington, champion trainer Chris Waller has a third.

Aeliana, Autumn Boy, Birdman, Buckaroo and Ohope Wins have been entered with barrier draws and race shape to eventually determine if all take their place.

Waller has won the Makybe Diva just once previously, in 2014 with Foreteller, but has used the weight-for-age contest as part of spring plans with his team.

Via Sistina, victorious in the past two runnings of the Cox Plate, contested the Makybe Diva on both occasions, finishing fifth in 2024 before running third last year, both times behind Mr Brightside (NZ) (Bullbars) who will be shooting for a fourth consecutive win in the race.

Waller was at Flemington on Tuesday morning to watch Autumn Boy, Birdman, Buckaroo and Ohope Wins go through their paces while Aeliana worked in Sydney and will head to Melbourne during the week.

The rise in distance is expected to be a better fit for Aeliana (NZ) (Castelvecchio) after her first-up run in the Winx Stakes (1400m) at Randwick on August 22.

“She raced a little bit flat but sectional times suggest they went a little bit quicker than what she was comfortable with and got a bit tired late, although Nash Rawiller said her last 200 metres was fine,” Waller said.

“Based on what he said and her recovery, I’m happy with her and I think she will appreciate the mile and the nice big open spaces at Flemington.

“She was going well into her first-up run, so there has been no change.”

Dual Oaks winner Ohope Wins (NZ) (Ocean Park) has had one run back, finishing at the tail of the field in the P B Lawrence Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on August 15.

Waller said the rise in trip and bigger track will suit.

“We won’t see her best until she gets to 2000 metres, but it is an important stepping stone for a race like the Turnbull.”

With his liking for the distance, being a Caulfield Guineas winner, Waller said Autumn Boy was possibly the ‘top seed’ going into Saturday’s race after finishing eighth in the Memsie Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield first-up.

“He’s fitter for the run and physically he looks a little bit tighter which is how I want him to look,”

Waller said either Buckaroo or Birdman could be reserved for the Gr.1 Underwood Stakes (1800m) at Caulfield on Saturday week.

“We may split one of them up with the Underwood the following week.

“Buckaroo has won that before, and Birdman runs well at Caulfield, so we’ll see how they’ve drawn, what the race is like and then see which one might be held back.”

Waller said the Group One contest will be an enthralling race.

“Sheza Alibi had a tough run first-up in Sydney and I’m sure she has come on and Sir Delius, I’ve been keeping an eye on him up in Sydney,” Waller said.

“Mr Brightside was awesome first-up and along with a few of ours, it will be a great race.”

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Champion jockey Zac Purton believes New Zealand-bred superstar Ka Ying Rising (NZ) (Shamexpress) is closing in on the exalted company of Frankel (Galileo), Secretariat (Bold Ruler), Winx (Street Cry) and Black Caviar (Bel Esprit) after another extraordinary performance at Sha Tin on Sunday.

The David Hayes-trained sprinter extended his winning sequence to 21 when demolishing his rivals in the Gr.3 HKSAR Chief Executive’s Cup (1200m), carrying 135lb and stopping the clock at 1:06.11.

Ka Ying Rising lowered his own Sha Tin 1200m track record by almost a second as he powered clear to win by seven and three-quarter lengths, providing the perfect launching pad towards his defence of The Everest (1200m) at Randwick next month.

Purton doubts the six-year-old could smash the clock by much further but scarily believes there is improvement to come.

“I’d be foolish to think he is going to run any faster than that, but from a fitness perspective, it was his first run for the season,” Purton said.

“I’d like to think from a fitness point of view he’s going to improve, but is he going to run any faster? I don’t know, can he?

“I did ease him down a little bit again. Maybe he’ll run 1:05 one day.

“But yesterday’s track was lightning fast. They were running fast times all day. It was firm, it was the way he liked it and I just let him do his thing.”

Purton was keen for Ka Ying Rising to have a more searching first-up assignment than 12 months ago, when the gelding subsequently travelled to Sydney and won The Everest despite his rider believing he was short of his peak.

“We didn’t see him at his best down there last year, so we feel like we still have a little bit of a point to prove,” Purton said.

“We wanted to make sure he did a little bit more in this run this year because when he got down to Sydney for the trial last year and in quarantine, he cheated a little bit on us and got away from us a little bit.

“So we’ll just screw him down a little bit more this time.”

Ka Ying Rising has now won 22 of his 24 starts, with Purton aboard throughout his remarkable sequence of 21 consecutive victories.

The multiple Hong Kong champion jockey has partnered numerous outstanding horses, headed by two-time Hong Kong Horse of the Year Beauty Generation, but has no hesitation placing Ka Ying Rising above them all.

“He’s clearly the best horse that I’ve ever ridden, and he’s possibly going to go down as one of those horses that gets talked about for a century, in the likes of Frankel and Secretariat, Winx and Black Caviar,” Purton said.

“Certainly, if he’s not at that level, he’s getting very close to that level.

“He’s the type of horse that everyone sets their alarm to get out of bed to watch, or if it’s during the day, they stop their day to tune in.”

Purton said Ka Ying Rising’s ability to sustain his exceptional speed sets him apart.

“He’s an amazing horse to ride. He feels like he just glides across the ground and the incredible thing about him is, he just doesn’t seem to get tired,” he said.

“When I ask him to quicken, he just takes off again and he can sustain that right through the line.

“I’ve never ridden another horse that’s able to do what he does. Even Beauty Generation, when I was riding him and he used to get out in front and run them into the ground, he would still get tired in the last furlong.

“This guy, he doesn’t seem to get tired.”

While Hayes has floated the possibility of testing Ka Ying Rising over a mile, Purton is adamant his future should remain in the sprinting ranks.

“Maybe he’s got the stamina to run a mile, but I don’t ever want to run him at a mile,” he said.

“In my opinion, we’ll just keep him to the sprints and that way we’re not going to bottom him out and we can hopefully get a little bit longer out of him.”

Bred in New Zealand by Fraser and Erin Auret’s Grandmoral Lodge, Ka Ying Rising is by Shamexpress out of the Per Incanto mare Missy Moo.

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Stephen Marsh believes Well Written (Written Tycoon) is only getting started after the New Zealand Horse of the Year made a winning return at Ellerslie on Saturday.

The four-year-old showed her class and determination to reel in Alabama Lass (Alabama Express) in the straight before drawing clear to score by nearly two lengths in the Gr.1 Proisir Plate (1400m).

“It was pretty awesome,” Marsh told Sport Nation’s Scotty & Izzy.

“It was a great feeling to have her back at the races and obviously a better feeling seeing her salute and stay unbeaten. It was a real thrill for the whole team.”

Well Written’s class came to the fore late in the race, with Marsh admitting there was a stage when he wondered whether Alabama Lass had established a winning advantage.

“I thought, geez, we might struggle to peg her back,” he said.

“But I love the way she went from looking like she was either going to be beaten by a neck or get up by a neck, to winning by nearly two lengths.”

Marsh took further encouragement from the fact Well Written was resuming after two trials, to defeat Alabama Lass and Well Written’s stablemates Media World (Written Tycoon) (3^rd) and Tardelli (I An Invincible) (4^th), with that trio all having the benefit of running in the Gr.2 Foxbridge Plate (1200m).

“The second, third and fourth horses have all had runs this time in,” he said.

“We’re a four-year-old, we’re not the fully furnished product, we’re fresh-up after two trials, so just natural fitness, match fitness, all of the above.

“I think she’s got certainly a fair bit of improvement in her.”

The Gr.1 Epsom Handicap (1600m) at Randwick is now the next major target for Well Written, followed three weeks later by the A$10 million Gr.1 Golden Eagle (1500m) at the same venue.

Marsh intends to keep Well Written in New Zealand until Epsom week before travelling to Sydney.

“This week’s all about just getting her over the run, which she seems to have done brilliantly anyway,” he said.

“She won’t do much this week, just keeping her happy and making sure everything’s perfect.”

Marsh plans to give Well Written time to settle into her new surroundings following the Epsom before building towards the Golden Eagle.

The Cambridge trainer was also delighted with his stable’s overall performance in the Proisir Plate.

“I was very proud of our runners, having three in the Group One running first, third and fourth is terrific,” Marsh said. – Trackside.co.nz

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High-profile Cambridge Stud resident Almanzor enjoyed a memorable weekend, both on and off the track.

The internationally successful sire son of Wootton Bassett was a major player at Ellerslie where his daughters Pounce (NZ) and Asturia (NZ) played starring roles on Saturday, while his son First Five (NZ) was honoured at the New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing Awards the following evening.

The David Greene-trained First Five was named Champion Sprinter-miler courtesy of his Group One victories in the Telegraph (1200m) and the BCD Group Sprint (1400m).

Homebred Pounce drew attention to her future prospects of higher honours when the Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott-prepared filly trounced her rivals in the Gr.3 Sunline Vase (1200m) in the hands of champion jockey Craig Grylls.

She was sold through Cambridge Stud’s draft at New Zealand Bloodstock’s National Yearling Sale with Wexford Stables signing the ticket at $110,000 for the first foal of Caminata (NZ) (Darci Brahma).

“As time has gone by, we’ve learned what works best for Almanzor and he loves mares with Danehill and Zabeel in the pedigrees especially,” said Cambridge Stud’s Head of Sales and Nominations Scott Calder.

“Pounce is out of a Darci Brahma mare who combines both of those bloodlines, so it’s nice when a plan comes together.”

A brother to Pounce will be offered at the 2027 yearling sale, while the farm has retained a two-year-old half-sister to Pounce by Embellish named Alta Via (NZ), with the dam due to shortly foal to Almanzor.

Caminata was a two-time winner in Cambridge Stud’s colours when trained by Tony Pike, who also prepared her sister Summer’s Day to claim the Listed Tauranga Classic (1400m).

Te Akau Racing’s Asturia impressively beat a competitive age group line-up over 1400m on debut for trainers Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson, with Grylls also in the saddle.

“This crop of just turned three-year-olds is from the first year Almanzor stood at the increased fee of $50,000 off the back of the early results he had,” Calder said.

“We were always hoping it would be a crop that showed a lot of promise and Pounce now looks among the best spring three-year-olds, and Asturia is also a filly that looks well up to gaining black type.”

Bred by Monovale Holdings, she was sold through Landsdowne Park’s draft at Karaka with Te Akau chief David Elllis securing her for $135,000.

She is a daughter of the Zabeel mare Kay’s Legacy, who is a half-sister to Almanzor’s son and Listed Heatherlie Stakes (1700m) winner Rise At Dawn (NZ).

First Five aside, Almanzor has also sired Australian Group One winners Manzoice (VRC Derby, 2500m) and Circle Of Fire (Sydney Cup, 3200m), while Gezora has claimed top-flight victories in the French Oaks (2100m) and Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf (2200m).

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The world’s premier sprinter Ka Ying Rising (NZ) (Shamexpress) has turned in possibly his greatest performance to date when he smashed the Sha Tin 1200-metre course record on Sunday by almost a full second to record his 21st consecutive victory.

Ka Ying Rising easily beat his own track record when he ran a head-shaking 1.06.11s to destroy his previous mark of 1.07.12s in the Group 3 Chief Executive’s Cup.

Jockey Zac Purton gave an ominous warning to those with hopes of beating Ka Ying Rising in The Everest in six weeks.

“He’s got improvement, there’s no doubt about that so that’s why I gave him a bit of a push to give him that blow,” Purton said.

“We’ve got to try to bring him on for The Everest, but he handled himself really well and he changed his leg, that’s what I liked.”

Ka Ying Rising had been under some veterinary scrutiny in the lead-up to the race after sustaining minor bruising to a hoof.

The David Hayes-trained superstar is expected to go immediately into quarantine after the race on Sunday night to prepare for his trip to Australia to defend his Everest title. As per last year, he is likely to trial at Randwick about 10 days out from the $20 million race.

As well as being the world’s current fastest horse, Ka Ying Rising also currently co-holds the title of leading racehorse in the world at a rating of 131 alongside Royal Ascot’s Group 1 Prince Of Wales Stakes winner Ombudsman.

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An unbeaten season, six consecutive victories and a string of outstanding performances have seen Well Written (Written Tycoon) crowned New Zealand’s Horse of the Year for 2025–26.

The Cambridge mare claimed the sport’s highest honour at the New Zealand Thoroughbred Horse of the Year Awards on Sunday night, capping a flawless three-year-old campaign that established her as one of the country’s most accomplished performers in recent times. 

Well Written was also named Champion Three-Year-Old, after a season that saw her win all six of her starts, including a stunning six-length victory in the $1.5 million TAB Karaka Millions 3YO (1600m).

Her success capped a remarkable season for Stephen Marsh, himself a finalist for Trainer of the Year, who, alongside bloodstock agent Dylan Johnson, personally selected and purchased Well Written for just $80,000. The duo secured her out of Brighthill Farm’s draft from the NZB 2024 National Online Yearling Sale. In a single campaign, Marsh guided Well Written from an unraced youngster to New Zealand’s Horse of the Year and more than $2.6 million in stakes earnings.

Well Written is the only New Zealand Champion Three-Year-Old this century to be unbeaten at three, with every other titleholder having been beaten at least twice. She also had fewer starts than most but recording six wins is a significant achievement. No other winner of the three-year-old category in the past ten years won more than five times at that age.

In a fitting conclusion to a remarkable weekend, Well Written also claimed the $400,000 Group 1 Proisir Plate (1400m) at Ellerslie, defeating older rivals in the first Group 1 race of the new season. The victory added another significant achievement to her unbeaten record, just one day before she was crowned New Zealand’s Horse of the Year.

Lara Antipova (Russian Revolution) was crowned Champion Two-Year-Old – sponsored by TAB NZ, completed an unbeaten four-start juvenile season highlighted by victories in the $550,000 Group 1 Sistema Stakes (1200m) and two Group 2 contests.

The Champion Sprinter-Miler – sponsored by sponsored by Winning Edge Presentations, title went to the rapidly emerging First Five (NZ) (Almanzor), whose rise from a rating 83 performer to dual Group 1 weight-for-age winner was one of the season’s great success stories.

Five-time Group 1-winning mare Legarto (NZ) (Proisir) collected her second Champion Middle Distance Horse – sponsored by Taylor Perry Insurance Consultants – title, before concluding a career that earned more than $3 million on the track. While Trans-Tasman Group 1 Oaks winner Ohope Wins (NZ) (Ocean Park) was recognised as Champion Stayer – sponsored by Sandfield. Champion Jumper – supported by NZ Jumps went to Jesko (NZ) (Atlante), whose Ben & Ryan Foote Racing Great New Zealand Steeplechase victory and strong Grand National Festival performances helped in secured the title.

Craig Grylls was named Jockey of the Year – sponsored by Crave, after claiming a second consecutive New Zealand Jockeys’ Premiership and leading the country in black-type victories and stakes earnings, while Hamish McNeill secured his first Jumps Jockey of the Year – supported by On Track – honour. Te Akau Racing’s Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson were again named Trainer of the Year – sponsored by Dunstan Horsefeeds, following a dominant season that produced 20 black-type victories from 787 domestic starts.

The Owner of the Year Award, sponsored by Tompkins Wake, went to international racing and breeding powerhouse Yulong Investments, whose strategic investment in elite New Zealand bloodstock delivered immediate results through standout performers including Champions Well Written and Ohope Wins, as well as Autumn Glory (NZ) (Ocean Park) and That’s Gold (Lucky Vega).

The LOVERACING.NZ Award for Contribution to Media, Digital & Content was presented to Trackside NZ Senior Content Producer George Bates, recognising his outstanding filming, directing and editing, which brings the stories, people and horses of Thoroughbred racing to life.

Zac Harkess took out the NZ Stablehand of the Year Award, sponsored by Saddlery Warehouse Cambridge & Tauranga. A valued member of Lyn Prendergast’s stable for five years, Zac was recognised for his reliability, professionalism and passion for developing young horses.

Two of the evening’s most significant honours were NZTR’s Special Awards, recognising outstanding contributions to the Thoroughbred industry.

The NZTR Award for Outstanding Contribution to Racing went to the Williams family, represented by three generations of the family, including Sam and Dame Catriona Williams, Richard “Buzz” and Susie Williams, and Tom and Gay Williams. Their involvement in Thoroughbred breeding and racing spans three generations and more than 85 years, with Little Avondale Stud now home to Champion sire Per Incanto, who won both the Dewar and Centaine Awards for the 2025–26 season.

The late Savabeel (Zabeel) was named the 2026 recipient of the NZTR Award for Outstanding Global Achievement, recognising an extraordinary legacy on the track and at stud. A dual Group One-winning three-year-old in Australia, he first made his mark with victories in the 2004 Spring Champion Stakes and Cox Plate. He went on to become a champion stallion at Waikato Stud, producing 36 individual Group One winners and 159 stakes winners, with his progeny achieving Group One success in Australia and helping him become Hong Kong’s leading sire by winners in 2018–19. Savabeel was named New Zealand’s champion sire ten times, while his progeny collected 16 Horse of the Year equine category awards.

For full 2025-26 Award winner interviews and content, visit the LOVERACING.NZ Facebook page and website.

2025-26 New Zealand Thoroughbred Horse of the Year Awards – Winners:

New Zealand Jockeys’ Premiership: Craig Grylls

New Zealand Trainers’ Premiership: Mark Walker & Sam Bergerson

New Zealand Apprentice Jockeys’ Premiership: Amber Riddell

New Zealand Owners’ Premiership: Gerry Harvey

Newcomer to Training – sponsored by gavelhouse.com: Ebony Turner

LOVERACING.NZ Award for Contribution to Media, Digital & Content: George Bates

Champion Two-Year-Old – sponsored by TAB NZ: Lara Antipova

Champion Three-Year-Old – sponsored by TAB: Well Written

Champion Sprinter-Miler – sponsored by Winning Edge Presentations: First Five

Champion Middle Distance Horse – sponsored by Taylor Perry Insurance Consultants: Legarto

Champion Stayer – sponsored by Sandfield: Ohope Wins

Champion Jumper – supported by New Zealand Jumps Racing: Jesko

NZ Stablehand of the Year – sponsored by Saddlery Warehouse Cambridge & Tauranga: Zac Harkess

Jockey of the Year – sponsored by Crave: Craig Grylls

Jumps Jockey of the Year – supported by OnTrack: Hamish McNeill

Trainer of the Year – sponsored by Dunstan Horsefeeds: Mark Walker & Sam Bergerson

Owner of the Year – sponsored by Tompkins Wake: Yulong Investments

NZTR Award for Outstanding Contribution to Racing: The Williams Family

2025-26 NZTR Award for Outstanding Global Achievement: Savabeel

New Zealand Horse of the Year: Well Written

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Months of hard work and perseverance to get Platinum Emperor (NZ) (Sweynesse) in top shape again paid off for trainer Ricky Choi when the Sweynesse galloper overcame a wide passage early to win the RM300,000 NZB Open Championship (1400m) at Selangor racecourse in Malaysia on Saturday.

Platinum Emperor was bred by the late Kevin Hickman and sold from the draft of CH Bloodstock at the 2021 Karaka Yearling Sale to Hamish Auret who trained him to win a barrier trial before being sold to Macau.

In Macau he notched eight wins in 26 starts at Taipa then won three of his first starts in Malaysia last year and was the hot favourite for the Selangor Gold Cup but he mistrode, became unbalanced and dislodged his rider halfway in the race.

Platinum Emperor then spent four months on the sidelines to recover from muscles issues as a result of the fall and fortunately for Choi and Platinum Racing Stables, he came back in good shape this season, finishing on board in all his six runs – winning twice – prior to the race today.

With Benny Woodworth suspended and other top riders committed to the other trainers, Choi picked Oscar Chavez to ride the seven-year-old. It was their first ever partnership.

As it turned out, the Panamanian rode a gem of a race.

Platinum Emperor was caught wide early, but Chavez managed to settle in fourth spot, just behind Antipodean and on the outside of Lucky Magic.

Mega Ace maintained a cracking pace into the straight but at the 400m, Lucky Magic and Antipodean was just two lengths behind with another length to Platinum Emperor.

Platinum Emperor raced past them in a matter of strides and went on to win by 1-3/4 lengths with Antipodean battling on for second. Mega Power finished well to take third placing. Duma was fourth and Lucky Magic faded to finish sixth.

“After the heartache of the (Selangor) Gold Cup last year, he (Platinum Emperor) deserves this,” said Choi.

“We were so confident that he would win last year and had to start from scratch to get him into top shape.

“We gave him a lot of massages and care in the few months he was laid off and finally he is 100 percent again.

“I am targeting the Selangor Gold Cup on Sep 27 next and hopefully, we have better luck this time.”

“I wasn’t worried when caught wide early because he races better on the outside of horses,” said Chavez.

“I was in fact keeping an eye on Antipodean and I also saw that the horse in front were going at a very fast pace.

“When they started to come back to me at the 350m, I knew I was going to win.”

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Cambridge visitor In A Pickle (NZ) (Preferment) booked a possible trip to Warrnambool later in the season when he prevailed in the first of two Jericho Cup (4600m) qualifying contests after a thrilling home straight struggle at New Plymouth on Saturday.

The NZB Airfreight Road To The Jericho (3210m) provides the winner with automatic entry into the A$304,000 Victorian contest, which is open to Australian and New Zealand-bred horses and commemorates the light horse involvement in World War I.

It is run on the fourth Sunday after the Gr.1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) and has become an iconic event in Australian racing.

In a competitive skirmish that resulted in early pacemaker Leprekhan leading by more than 15 lengths at the halfway mark, it was the Ralph Manning-prepared In A Pickle and rider Rihaan Goyaram that took the bull by the horns with 700m to run as they swept around the field to lead clearly turning for home.

The effects of running 3210m on a Heavy9 rated surface began to take their toll on the eight-year-old son of Preferment at the 200m as eventual runner-up Slick Chick began to eat into the lead.

In A Pickle saw his rival coming and pulled out all stops in the final few bounds to hold her at bay by a head at the winning post, with Early Times battling on nicely for third.

With the winner of each qualifying race receiving a $5,000 equine airfreight credit from race sponsor NZB Airfreight, should they decide to travel across the Tasman and contest the Jericho Cup, Manning may have a decision to make.

“It was a really good win but looking ahead I’m not sure he is the right type of horse for a Jericho Cup, however that is not my decision, it is for the owners,” Manning said.

“He can be pretty quirky and isn’t a great traveller, so we haven’t really taken him too far for his races.

“On his day he does have good ability, but he is the type that if he doesn’t like something, including the rider, he just won’t gallop. He even does it at trackwork.

“Rihaan gets on pretty well with him, so he can get him going along and doing his best.

“I thought it was a pretty good ride although I told him he was six inches from going too early, but as we got the photo in our favour, he was a genius.”

Originally purchased for $5,000 from the Wentwood Grange draft during the Book 2 sale at Karaka in 2020, In A Pickle made his way to Manning’s stable after being sold on gavelhouse.com for $6,250.

He has now won six of his 37 starts and more than $127,000 in prizemoney.

The final New Zealand qualifying event for the Jericho Cup will be run at Riccarton on 24 October.

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Coes Ford trainer Ross Cameron expects good things from his team of four engaged at the first grass track meeting of this side of the season to be held at Methven on Sunday. 

Race 3, the Dubliner Mobile Pace over 2300 (12.47pm), Cameron drives the first of his chances Harry’s Gold. The three-year-old Gold Ace gelding has placed once in eight attempts. Despite Cameron’s concerns of missing a workout, he is happy that Harry’s Gold can be competitive. 

“He seems back to his old self and prefers the grass. He’s drawn okay so I expect him to be handy. He is a nice horse,” said Cameron. 

In Race 5, (1.43pm), the Terry May Memorial Pace over 1700m, debutant St Elmo’s Fire takes his spot after trialling up solidly. Cameron expects that there is more in store with the three-year-old Gold Ace colt.

“He’s a nice wee horse. Though it’s been hard to get and honest line on him because he only does what has to in work at home. I know there’s a lot more to him. But, whatever he does he will improve from it. I’ve got plenty of time for him.”

Race 8, the Midland Seeds Mobile Pace (3.27pm) over a mile, Cameron lines up Heaven Forbid. To his own admission, the twice winning five-year-old Rock N Roll Heaven gelding has been disappointing since winning six starts ago. 

 “He’s come back up well. He also missed a workout. So he may need the run but would be up to these on his day.” 

Race 9 the Betavet Prepare Peak Performance Handicap Pace (3.59pm) over 2400m the well-performed Lonnekers takes his place. Cameron expects nothing short of a good run from the five-year-old Vincent gelding gunning for career win seven.

“He is racing well with no luck. Been getting too far back in his races recently. He loves grass tracks. The draw could work either way. If gaps appear, he’ll go pretty close.” 

Race 1 gets underway at 11.45am.

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Feature wins at Sandown in last September’s Gr.3 Sandown Stakes (1500m) and Saturday’s A$200,000 Ranvet So You Think Stakes (1500m) have bookended a year of highly commendable showings in elite company by Evaporate (NZ) (Per Incanto).

The New Zealand-bred son of Per Incanto followed his victory in last year’s Sandown Stakes with a second in a photo finish to the Gr.1 Toorak Handicap (1600m), a third in the A$10 million Golden Eagle (1500m), a third in the Gr.1 CF Orr Stakes (1400m), a fourth in the Gr.1 Futurity Stakes (1400m), a second in the Gr.1 All-Star Mile (1600m) and close-up ninths in the Gr.1 George Ryder Stakes (1500m) and Doncaster Handicap (1600m).

Evaporate resumed with a third behind Cosmic Crusader (NZ) (Maurice) and Private Eye in the Gr.2 PB Lawrence Stakes (1400m) last month, and Saturday’s race marked a significant step down in class for his second-up assignment.

Punters sent Evaporate out as a $2.05 favourite, and he cruised to a confidence-boosting win by a length and three-quarters with Blake Shinn in the saddle.

“I’m really happy for the team and more so the horse,” Shinn said. “He’s really been knocking on the door at the top level, and he was so well placed today.

“They came here and targeted the race to try and give him some confidence going into the spring, and the horse executed the race probably the best I’ve ever ridden him.

“I’m super proud of the horse, and well done to the team at home, because he’s definitely not an easy horse to manage.

“We definitely believe he’s got the talent to be a Group One horse, and it’s just more in his head.

“Today was a great sign going forward, and I was just really proud of him. Hopefully he can get that elusive Group One on his CV.”

Evaporate is trained by Ben, Will and JD Hayes.

“What was most pleasing was that this is probably the best he’s settled, particularly in a slowly run race,” JD Hayes said.

“We’re thrilled with that. We love Evaporate. He’s been a model of consistency, running in tougher races, and it looked a good race for him today.

“We’ve got plenty of options with him after this, and we’ve thrown him in the deep end a lot, and he’s also been a horse that’s been his own worst enemy. He does a few things wrong, but once he puts it together, we feel like he is a Group One horse, and hopefully that’s this preparation.

“Where we end up, I am not sure, but we’ll see how he pulls up and have a team discussion on Monday.”

Evaporate was bred by Little Avondale Stud, home to Per Incanto, a son of Street Cry who has won back-to-back Centaine Awards for champion New Zealand-based sire by worldwide progeny earnings.

The dam of Evaporate is the unraced Animal Kingdom mare Savanna (NZ), whose half-sister Belluci Babe (NZ) (Per Incanto), also by Per Incanto, was a Group Three winner for Bjorn Baker.

Evaporate was bought by Lindsay Park Racing for A$330,000 at the Gold Coast Yearling Sale in 2023. He has now had 25 starts for seven wins, 10 placings and A$3.3 million in stakes.

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Local runner Jaeger (NZ) (Time Test) proudly carried the Taranaki colours to a gritty victory when he took out the New Plymouth ITM Interprovincial (1600m) with a powerful finish on Saturday.

All runners in the event carry the colours of the province they are representing, with Jaeger adorned in the classic amber and black stripes for New Plymouth-based trainer Robbie Patterson as he thrilled the locals with victory over Horowhenua representative Dubai’s Potiki (NZ) (Ocean Park).

Rider Kavish Chowdhoory had Jaeger perfectly positioned in the trail throughout and was travelling peaches and cream turning for home.

Angled to the centre of the track, Jaeger set out after Dubai’s Potiki, who had cut the corner on the final bend to surge to the lead, with eventual third-placed runner Florin (NZ) (Vanbrugh) wider out after looping runners from near last.

With Chowdhoory riding hard, Jaeger found more than his rivals and went to the line a half neck to the good of Dubai’s Potiki, with Florin a length further back.

Patterson cut a satisfied figure after the win as he had set the horse for the race many months earlier.

“We planned for this as I thought he was the ideal type and I knew he would get in with a light weight (54.5kgs),” he said.

“He is not really a genuine wet tracker, but he is very tractable and puts himself in a race, which is a massive assist as you move up the grades.

“He has been working the house down and looked a million dollars, so we were confident he could go well and to pull off the win on your home patch is very special.”

Patterson has set his sights on a lofty target for his charge, with the Gr.3 TAB Mile (1600m) at Riccarton on 11 November in his crosshairs.

“I think he is just the sort of horse that will be suited by Riccarton, so we have him nominated for the TAB mile on the middle day of the Cup Carnival in Christchurch,” he said.

“I won the race back in 2023 with Puntura (NZ) (Vespa), and this guy has very similar ability, so he should be a real live chance down in the weights there.”

Bred by co-owner Jack O’Brien, Jaeger is by Time Test and out of the Gold Centre mare Waiana Gold (NZ). He has now won four of his 15 starts and $110,705 in prizemoney.

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Superstar mare Well Written (Written Tycoon) was back to the business of winning when she triumphed in the first race of her four-year-old campaign, the Gr.1 Proisir Plate (1400m) at Ellerslie.

Unbeaten in six starts in her first season on the track, the Stephen Marsh-trained daughter of Written Tycoon went into the race as the raging hot favourite in the Fixed Odds market ($1.50) and never gave her supporters a moment of concern as she drove clear in the last 150m to defeat sentimental favourite Alabama Lass (Alabama Express) by two lengths, with Marsh also claiming third and fourth with Media World (Written Tycoon) and Tardelli (I Am Invincible) respectively.

Regular pilot Matt Cartwright must have been giggling as he found the one-out and one-back position from her midfield barrier as Media World set up a solid clip out in front.

Turning for home it was evident that Alabama Lass was going to be the main danger to the favourite as she ranged up alongside Media World and went on by as her many supporters willed her on to honour the legacy of her co-trainer Bev Kelso, who passed away last week after a long illness.

For a brief moment Alabama Lass looked to have the measure of Well Written, however, Cartwright asked her for a final effort at the 150m and she found another gear as she soared past and raced away to not only take out the $230,00 first place cheque, but also a $500,000 bonus available to the first NZB Kiwi starter from last season to win a domestic Group One this term.

Marsh admitted that he was as relieved as he was delighted to see his superstar win after a moment of panic, when he thought Alabama Lass may have had her measure.

“I’m proud, real proud,” Marsh said.

“I’m not going to get emotional, but I was very nervous as it is hard for these mares to take on the older horses.

“When Alabama Lass kicked, I thought we were going to be second, which was amongst the many things that go through your mind, but when she really let down it was just awesome to see.

“I’m also proud of the other colts of ours in the race as they have run third and fourth and just went so creditably.

“She is amazing and full credit to Alabama Lass who is a very good mare who doesn’t go down without a fight.

“To have such a good support team of staff, owners and well-wishers is just amazing and is why we do this as we had had a rough old day up until now, but it makes it all worthwhile.”

Marsh will now prepare to take Well Written across the Tasman to tackle the best Australia has to offer in the Gr.1 Epsom Handicap (1600m) on October 3 at Randwick followed by the A$10million Golden Eagle (1500m) at the same venue on October 31.

“She is very special, seven from seven and has now won well amongst the best weight-for-age horses we have,” he said.

“She has a couple of big assignments ahead of her now and I hope we are right on track.

“We have a month until the Epsom, so we will leave her here until pretty late and go over there near the race date, then onto the Golden Eagle.

“We will get her home first though and make sure she is 100 percent.”

Cartwright continued to sing the praises of the mare after the victory.

“It is a little bit emotional to see her doing it at this level as she was still an unknown,” he said.

“We enjoyed a lovely run, although she was racing onto the heels of Alabama Lass, so I popped out 100m earlier than I wanted to as I wanted to keep her in a beautiful rhythm.

“When she kicked into gear it was all over.

“If she can do that to the field that she was against I think she definitely has the quality to be right there (in Australia) and race at the top of her game.”

Marsh and his racing manager Dylan Johnson paid a sale-topping $80,000 to buy Well Written from Brighthill Farm’s draft in the 2024 NZB National Online Yearling Sale on Gavelhouse Plus.

Marsh’s large syndicate of owners that originally raced Well Written all sold down their share after she scored a seven-length victory in the Gr.2 Soliloquy Stakes (1400m) last year, with major international player Yulong Investments coming into the ownership before she took out the Gr.1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) at Riccarton in November.

Her seven race victories have rewarded her connections to the tune of $2.845million in prizemoney.

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Wexford Stables came out of their winter hibernation in the best possible fashion at Ellerslie on Saturday when Pounce (NZ) (Almanzor) posted their first win of the season in the Gr.3 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Sunline Vase (1200m).

The daughter of Almanzor jumped away well and secured the coveted one-one position early behind Miss Janet (Home Affairs), who ensured Summer Schemer (Dirty Work) kept an honest tempo upfront. Jockey Craig Grylls presented Pounce three-wide at the turn and she lived up to her name, pouncing on her rivals and secured the lead with 200m to go. She kicked into another gear in the concluding stages to score by 1-1/2 lengths over Silhouette, with a further long head back to Queensland raider Dream Roca (NZ) (El Roca) in third.

Grylls has a high opinion of Pounce and he was glad to see her attain black-type.

“She jumped well from a nice gate in barrier four and she lobbed straight into the one-one,” he said. “She travelled well and followed the Go Racing horse (Miss Janet) into the race and she has put them away pretty convincingly.

“The key today was back on a better track and she has done the rest. I have always been excited about this filly. She relaxes so well and over the shorter trip today she just switched off.”

Pounce, who won one of her two starts as a juvenile, resumed with a sixth placing in the Listed Chittick Family Fillies Classic (1100m) on a Heavy8 track at Taupo last month, and trainers Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott were pleased to be back on a better track at Ellerslie on Saturday, and she thrived on the Soft5 footing.

“We came away from Taupo pleased with her performance, but it wasn’t quite the result we were looking for,” Scott said. “We got her back on quick ground, aided by a beautiful ride by Craig today. She got all favours in the run. She had to level up to them and she was good in the last bit, she really ran out the 1200m strong, which gives us a good bit of hope going forward. Hopefully she runs a little further.

“It’s a huge thrill for the team. It’s been a long winter, and it is the first win of the season. It’s good to be on the board and it’s a good race to win, and it is good to be winning at Ellerslie.”

Pounce is nominated for both the Gr.1 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) and Gr.1 Barneswood Farm New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) at Riccarton in November, and Scott said she will improve as the season progresses.

“The summer is her time, but she is three and they have all got to lead to Christchurch at this stage,” he said. “We just want to celebrate today and enjoy today and hopefully we crack on and she has a good summer ahead of her.”

By Cambridge Stud stallion Almanzor, Pounce is out of winning Darci Brahma mare Caminata (NZ), who is a full sister to stakes winner Summer’s Day (NZ) and Group Three performer Dagny (NZ).

Pounce was bred by Cambridge Stud principals Sir Brendan and Lady Jo Lindsay. They offered her through their farm’s 2025 New Zealand Bloodstock Book 1 Yearling Sale draft and she was sold to the $110,000 bid of Wexford Stables.

Pounce has now won two of her four starts and earned just shy of $112,000 in prizemoney.

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New Zealand import Ocean Bay (NZ) (Vanbrugh) continued her unbeaten campaign with a third straight win in the A$80,000 Ladbrokes Popular SRM Handicap (1600m) at Sandown on Saturday.

The Gavin Bedggood-trained four-year-old had scored a first-up win over 1300m at Bendigo on July 30, then repeated that result over 1547m at Geelong on August 28.

Ridden by Daniel Stackhouse on Saturday from the outside gate in a field of 10, Ocean Bay slotted into a handy position in fourth and one off the rail.

Stackhouse hooked Ocean Bay to the outside at the top of the straight, and she soon drew up alongside the front-running Jenni Gone Bonkers (Maurice). That rival kept finding through the last 200m, but Ocean Bay edged away to score by a length and a quarter.

“She just seems to be getting better and better every time she steps out to the races, which is so good,” Stackhouse said.

“We drew an awkward barrier, but we were positive, we got into a lovely spot and she switched off nicely.

“We got that cover from the wind, and then I just peeled her a bit early, so she was right on top of them, and she was really strong through the line.

“For where she’s come from, racing in New Zealand, to three wins in a row here in Melbourne is a very good training effort. Big credit to Gavin Bedggood and his team and all the owners.”

Ocean Bay has now had eight starts for four wins and A$95,182 in stakes.

She began her career in New Zealand, where she was trained by the late Anne Herbert and was a winner on debut at Timaru in October of last year. She finished fourth and sixth in her other two New Zealand appearances before relocating to Australia.

In her first Australian campaign, Ocean Bay finished seventh and ninth in two starts at Pakenham in February and March. She has come back much more impressively in her second Australian preparation.

“She didn’t have any issues in that first campaign with us, she just went to the races and performed poorly,” Bedggood said. “That wasn’t what was replicated at home, so I just said we’ve got to hit reset and start again.

“She’s a mare that hasn’t got a great constitution, she doesn’t carry a lot of condition.

“I would never have thought of running her eight days apart, we had given her a good break between her first and second-up run, and I threw in a nom for this race. I said to the owners yesterday that if it wasn’t coming up Soft6 or worse this morning, we wouldn’t be starting her. But she’d had a really good week, hence we lined up today.

“She doesn’t do a lot of work, we just try and keep her happy and it’s been a good result today.

“I haven’t even contemplated what we’ll do next. I just wanted to get through today, and we will let her tell us.

“She got pretty warm in the yard today. She may even deserve a week down at the beach or something like that, but she’ll get a nice green paddock during the day.”

Ocean Bay was bred by her part-owner Toni Croon and is by Vanbrugh out of the Deputy Governor mare Ysabella Brave (NZ). Herself a four-race winner, Contemplation Bay (NZ) is the dam of four winners from five foals to race including six-race winner Contemplation Bay and the talented Ikidunot (NZ), who has won two of his five starts.

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Trainers Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson have been waiting for better tracks to step out their promising filly Asturia (NZ) (Almanzor), and she rewarded their patience with an impressive debut win in the Rich Hill Stud 1400 at Ellerslie on Saturday.

The daughter of Almanzor had progressed nicely in her four trials, winning her 1100m heat at Te Rapa last month, and her handlers felt she was up to the task of taking on Saturday’s handy line-up of three-year-olds, which included stakes winner Excite (Wootton Bassett) and stakes performer Grocer’s Girl (NZ) (Tarzino).

Grocer’s Girl jumped away awkwardly and veered in, squeezing out Asturia and forcing her back. Jockey Michael McNab kept his composure and settled his charge four back on the fence, while Genie (NZ) (Satono Aladdin) set the pace up front.

Turning for home, Asturia had all before her, but McNab navigated her back to the rail where she showed a good turn of foot to dash up the inside of her rivals and score a three-quarter of a length victory over Genie, with a further short head back to Excite in third.

McNab was pleased with his filly’s effort following an unideal start to the race.

“She got away clean, Grocer’s Girl just jumped away awkwardly and spat us out the back a bit,” he said. “She got the run up the inside and she was good.”

Sam Bergerson said he has thought highly of Asturia for some time, and he was thrilled she was able to deliver on raceday.

“We normally wouldn’t run a filly like this in a race like this, we threw her in the deep end a bit, but we have always had a bit of time for her,” he said.

“After her trial win we scratched and waited with the wet tracks, and we thought this was a nice race with low numbers.

“I remember Opie (Bosson) galloped her a couple of weeks ago and he gave her a really good rap. Michael rode her on Wednesday and we were going in quietly confident.

“The plan was to be positive. It looked like she got a bit of a squeeze at the start, and he (McNab) was really patient. To see her sprint like that when she had to is a really good sign going forward.

“We would have been happy if she was flashing home late, but to see her do that was really exciting.”

Asturia is nominated for both the Gr.1 Barneswood Farm New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) and Gr.1 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) at Riccarton in November, and Bergerson expects her to thrive over more ground.

“She is nominated for the Guineas and we think even past that she will get over a bit further,” he said. “She still has plenty of upside, so I am really excited for the ownership group. It is a great way to start her career.”

McNab scored an early double at Ellerslie when partnering the Mark Brosnan-trained Fly My Wey to victory a race later in the Dunstan Horsefeeds 2200.

“He got a lovely spot on a good speed,” McNab said. “I travelled well and put him there a touch soon, but he won well.”

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When Cooper Stumbles was handing out saddlecloths at Wingatui as a child, he dreamed of sitting atop them as a jockey, so it was only fitting that his first win in that role came at the Otago track on Friday.

Now based in Matamata, where he is apprenticed to Te Akau trainers Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson, Stumbles made a special trip back to Otago on Friday to ride in front of his family, and he was rewarded with his first raceday victory aboard the Kelvin Tyler-trained Ripa Time in the Entain/NZB Insurance Pearl Series A – Entain/NZB Insurance Pearl Series (1200m).

“It was pretty special and to do it in front of my parents, who hadn’t seen me ride on raceday, was awesome,” Stumbles said. “It was very cool to have them here and I am just over the moon.

“I knew what she (Ripa Time) was capable of and I was just hoping everything went to plan, and the horse was really good. She was awesome.”

Stumbles had a sentimental start to the day when riding Sacred Mist to a third placing in the Grand Casino 1600. The mare is part-owned by his parents, Grant and Maria Stumbles, and trained by Terry Kennedy, who he used to help as a child.

“I was nervous because it was my parents’ horse, I was worried that it might not go well, but it went well,” he said.

“I spent a lot of time around Terry and Debbie Kennedy’s stable trying to help out. I was probably more of a nuisance than a help, but they have always been great to me, and it was pretty cool riding one for them today.”

Cooper was one race shy of a full book of rides on Friday, and he was appreciative of the support.

“I knew I had a few good chances going into today,” he said. “I was pretty nervous beforehand, but it worked out well and I am lucky that I have had the opportunity to ride these horses today, I am very grateful.”

Stumbles hails from racing stock, with his grandfather, John Dowling, being particularly successful in the saddle.

“My grandad, John Dowling, was a good jockey back in the day,” Stumbles said. “I am pretty sure he won the premiership as an apprentice, and he rode a lot of winners over the years.

“My uncle, Sean Dowling, and my aunty, Paula Dowling were jockeys as well.”

With racing in his blood, Stumbles followed the sport from a young age and enjoyed being a part of the action on raceday when handing out saddlecloths.

“I used to do the saddlecloths at Wingatui, and I started doing that when I was about nine or 10,” Stumbles said.

Intent on pursuing a career in the saddle, Stumbles moved north to Matamata at the tender age of 16 to follow his dream.

“I moved to work for Te Akau when I was 16 because I wanted to give it a go being a jockey, and I haven’t looked back,” he said.

“I learned to ride track work at Te Akau. I used to ride their pony around the trotting track once all the horses had worked and then slowly moved onto the sand. I worked out the hang of it and started riding a few racehorses and it has gone from there.

“It is a big operation with a lot of horses, and I am lucky to be surrounded by such great people. I owe it all to them for getting me here today and I am super grateful.

“It is pretty cool to ride some good horses in trackwork and hopefully I can get on some of them on raceday.”

Stumbles said he was also appreciative of the support from Matamata trainers Stephen Autridge and Benji King.

“Stephen has been great to me and has helped me so much,” he said. “I ride a bit for Benji King, he has been great to me as well. When I was riding trials, he gave me quite a few trials rides and I have built a good connection with him.”

With his first win under his belt, Stumbles is hoping he can keep the momentum going.

“Hopefully I can keep the ball rolling,” he said. “I just want to travel, make connections, and hopefully ride winners.”

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Brett Crawford sends six runners to the opening meeting of the season at Sha Tin on Sunday (6 September), with five-year-old Public Attention (NZ) (Written Tycoon) looking the most likely to provide early-season success.

With his stable running at maximum capacity from the off, it’s a stark contrast to the beginning of his debut campaign last season, when Crawford began with a half-full yard of transferees and didn’t send six or more runners racing until 20 December.

Crawford spoke this week of his rookie 2025/26 season, when he amassed 28 wins at a strike rate of 7.84%, as being “a big learning curve which I think the yard handled pretty well”.

Public Attention, winner of the 2025 Gr.3 Eskimo Prince Stakes (1200m) at Randwick before moving to Hong Kong in July last year, made a promising start to his own Hong Kong career. He finished second, third and fourth in his first three runs before a failed bid at the Hong Kong Classic Mile (1600m). After another disappointing outing in a Class 3 sprint, the son of Written Tycoon was transferred from David Hayes’ stable to Crawford’s.

After a couple of months away from the track, he returned in better form, delivering two third-place finishes and a fourth under Karis Teetan.

“I think he’s improved a lot,” Crawford said. “He certainly seems to be more focused on his work.

“At the back end of the season, his first two or three runs were soon after gelding. So I think he’s had time to get over that and mature. We’re expecting a good season from him.”

On Sunday, the five-year-old lines up in the card-closing Class 3 Battery Handicap over 1200m, a distance where he has returned his best result in Hong Kong (second). Crawford was buoyed by Public Attention’s showing in a 30 August 1000m barrier trial, where he finished second, making progress behind a runaway Ka Ying Rising (NZ) (Shamexpress).

“It was a good start for him with a nice barrier trial,” said Crawford of Public Attention, who will again be ridden by Teetan. “I think it’s enough to bring him on a lot for Sunday.

“He’s dropping down in class now, from Class 2 to Class 3, so I think he’ll run a very good race,” the South African added.

Public Attention was bred by Sir Patrick and Lady Hogan. He is the first foal out of the twice-winning Commands mare Legramor, whose dam Katie Lee made New Zealand racing history with her unprecedented double in the Gr.1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) and Gr.1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m).

He was bought by Tom Magnier for $160,000 from Carlaw Park’s Book 1 draft at Karaka 2023.

Crawford’s charge will find himself up against a highly progressive sort in Francis Lui’s Gold Patch (NZ) (Ardrossan).

The Ardrossan gelding scored three victories in the first four races of his career last season, and begins his four-year-old campaign with a confident Vincent Ho in the saddle following an impressive showing in a 25 August barrier trial.

“He did well last season,” Ho said. “I think the summer will have improved him. This morning (3 September) he felt good, so I think he should have a chance.

“In the race, if it looks like they will go, he’ll go wherever is comfy. He’s shown good early speed, and we should just let the race pan out. It doesn’t really matter; as long as we have a smooth run, I think he should perform well.” – HKJC

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The Ciaron Maher stable recently scored a top four finish in a maiden race at Sandown. 

Two of that quartet head to a Stakes race at Sandown looking to continue the good run of form for the Maher stable. 

Saintly Dancer (NZ) (St Mark’s Basilica) and Ghana’s Akan (Street Boss), who finished one-two in that maiden contest on August 19, head to the Listed Atlantic Jewel Stakes (1300m) on Saturday. 

Jack Turnbull, the National Assistant Trainer for Ciaron Maher Racing, said the track conditions may have a say in the outcome on Saturday for the stable’s two fillies. 

Saintly Dancer appreciated the Soft 7 conditions in her Sandown victory, while Ghana’s Akan got through the ground but was not as effective. 

“Saintly Dancer is up-and-coming and we don’t know her ceiling, a bit like with Ghana’s Akan,” Turnbull said, 

“Saintly Dancer profiles like a horse that will get seven or eight (furlongs – 1400m to 1600m) in time. 

“She’s more your middle distance, scopey type whereas Ghana’s I think will be restricted to 1100m to 1400m this prep. 

“She’s quite speedy and I don’t think either filly will have too many excuses on Saturday, provided the track is OK. 

“Ghana’s probably doesn’t want a boggy track.” 

The track was rated a Good 4 on Friday morning, although rain is forecast, beginning on Friday evening. 

Turnbull said in Ghana’s Akan’s favour on Saturday was drawing barrier four as against Saintly Dancer who is out in gate 10. 

Ghana’s Akan has raced six times, for three seconds, and has amassed almost $500,000 in prize money without a win. 

“Ghana’s has always had improvement this campaign,” Turnbull said. 

“She’s looked rough in the coat coming off the back of winter, but both fillies are very exciting.” 

Apprentice Jabez Johnstone, who rides exclusively for Maher, will have just his third ‘Black Type’ Victorian ride when he partners Saintly Dancer on whom he won on at Sandown. 

“It’s good reward for Jabez to retain the ride in a Black Type race,” Turnbull said. 

Ethan Brown rides Ghana’s Akan. 

Saintly Dancer was bred by Llanhennock Trust and sold to First Light Racing for $100,000 at the 2025 Gold Coast Yearling sale.

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While breeze-up analysis and physical inspections will come closer to sale time, the recent release of the catalogue for the 2026 NZB Ready to Run Sale at Karaka has given buyers plenty to think about as they begin to compile their shortlists.

The 2026 edition of the Ready to Run Sale will take place at the Karaka Sales Centre from 11am (NZT) on 18 & 19 November, with Breeze Ups to be held across two consecutive days on one turf track at Te Rapa Racecourse on 12 & 13 October.

This year’s 460-lot catalogue features no fewer than 66 siblings to Group performers, along with 72 sons or daughters of stakes-performing mares.

Group One Siblings and Dams

Lot 45 is one that is sure to be on the radar for many buyers. Offered by Ohukia Lodge, the gelding is by the late, great Savabeel and is out of the stakes-winning mare Starvoia (Starcraft). That makes Lot 45 a full-brother to Skew Wiff (NZ) (Savabeel), the winner of the Group One Tarzino Trophy (1400m) and Flemington’s Group Three Hong Kong Jockey Club Stakes (1400m). Another half-sibling, Topsy Turvy (NZ) (Super Seth), has shown promise in a three-start career that has already produced a maiden win.

Lot 90 is a colt from the first crop of two-year-olds sired by Anamoe, the seven-time Group One winner and Australian Horse of the Year. A member of the St Kilda Lodge draft, this colt is the second foal out of Group One-winning mare Travelling Light (NZ) (El Roca).

NZB Filly of the Year and Group One New Zealand 1000 Guineas winner Insouciant (NZ) (Keeper) is represented by a Tarzino gelding (Lot 302) on account of Kilgravin Lodge. 

Kilgravin Lodge’s consignment also includes Lot 374, a colt by two-time champion New Zealand sire Proisir out of Meleka Belle (NZ) (Iffraaj). That makes this colt a half-brother to Melody Belle (NZ) (Commands), who won no fewer than 14 Group One races and was New Zealand’s Horse of the Year in 2018-19 and 2019-20. Melody Belle is already the dam of the stakes-performed Australian filly Lyrics ‘n’ Song (Written Tycoon), while Meleka Belle’s other notable progeny include multiple black-type winner Tutukaka (NZ) (Tavistock) along with Moet Belle (NZ) (Tavistock), the dam of Group Three Winx Guineas (1600m) winner Cellarmaster (NZ) (Bivouac).

Lot 432 is by the sire of the moment in Hello Youmzain, out of Group One winner Pondarosa Miss (NZ) (High Chaparral). Offered by Di Leoni Equine, this colt is from the family of former NZB Ready to Run champion graduate Te Akau Shark (NZ) (Rip Van Winkle) who went on to be the winner of seven races including the Group One ATC Chipping Norton Stakes in Australia. Lot 158, an Ace High gelding from the same draft, is out of the dam’s sister Bak Da Princess (NZ) (Danske) making this lot a sibling to Pondarosa Miss and other stakes-performers Ecuador (NZ) (High Chaparral), Rip Em Up (NZ) (Rip Van Winkle) and Dodgy One (NZ) (Reliable Man). 
 

Other Pedigree Notables

Lot 2 is a colt by Starspangledbanner, whose standout 2026 sees him sitting in third on the Irish sires’ premiership and eighth in the UK. His notable progeny this year include Gstaad, winner of the Irish 2000 Guineas (1600m) and runner-up behind the undefeated champion Bow Echo (Night Of Thunder) in the English 2000 Guineas (1600m), St James’s Palace Stakes (1600m) and Sussex Stakes (1600m). Another of his three-year-olds this year, the high-class filly Precise, won the Irish 1000 Guineas (1600m) and Coronation Stakes (1600m). This colt is out of Sacred Eye (High Chaparral), who won the Group Three Caulfield Classic (2000m) and ran second in the Group Two Edward Manifold Stakes (1600m). Second dam Musidora (Rock Of Gibraltar) won at Group Three level and is the dam of three stakes winners and a stakes placegetter.

Lot 139 on account of BMD Bloodstock is a colt by Ghaiyyath, the sire of last season’s Group One Victoria Derby (2500m) and Australian Guineas (1600m) winner Observer. This colt is out of a full-sister to Group One Emirates Stakes (1600m) winner All American (Red Ransom) and half-sister to More Strawberries (More Than Ready), who won the Group Two Furious Stakes (1400m) and Tea Rose Stakes (1500m) and ran second in the Group One Flight Stakes (1600m).

From Riversley Park’s 47-strong draft is Lot 149, a gelding by New Zealand’s champion sire Proisir, out of Applegate (NZ) (Exceed and Excel), making this lot a half-brother to multiple stakes-performers Impendabelle (NZ) (Impending) and Cloudy (Frosted).

Riverrock Farm’s Lot 175 is a colt by Alabama Express, a young sire who has quickly made his mark with top-class progeny like Treasurethe Moment and Alabama Lass. This colt is out of Bohemian Lily (NZ) (O’Reilly), who won the Group Two Doomben Roses (2000m) and is a full-sister to Group One Australian Derby (2400m) and Australian Guineas (1600m) winner Shamrocker (NZ) (O’Reilly). Another full-sibling to Bohemian Lily is the multiple stakes winner and Group One-placed Vernanme (NZ) (O’Reilly), while half-sister Rock Diva (NZ) (Lucky Unicorn) won the Group One Auckland Cup (3200m).

Lot 223 from Prima Park is by champion stallion Written Tycoon, who spent plenty of time in the headlines in New Zealand last season through the deeds of his unbeaten standout three-year-old filly Well Written. This colt is the first foal out of Daisies (Sebring), who won the Group Two Stocks Stakes (1600m), Group Three Alexandra Stakes (1600m) and Group Three Ethereal Stakes (2000m) and ran second in the Group Two Wakeful Stakes (2000m). Daisies is a half-sister to three stakes performers including the Listed winner and Group One Golden Rose (1400m) and Randwick Guineas (1600m) placegetter Zou Tiger (Zoustar).

The colt catalogued as Lot 225 offered by Woburn Farm is by quality stallion Toronado and is a half-brother to two black-type performers. Pacific Dragon (NZ) (Charm Spirit) won three races including the Listed Ryder Stakes (1200m), and she also placed in the Group Two Eclipse Stakes (1200m) and Group Three Northland Breeders’ Stakes (1200m) and ran fifth in the Karaka Millions 2YO (1200m). Another half-sister, Sweltering (Too Darn Hot), ran second in the Group One Australasian Oaks (2000m).

Emerging sire Acrobat is represented by Lot 238 from Leanach Lodge, a colt out of Dragon’s Tail (Galileo), making this lot a half to multiple Group One winner Age of Fire (Fastnet Rock). He is also from the family of stakes winners Amazonian Lass (More Than Ready) and Riverplate (Flying Artie).

Lot 259 is a Noverre (NZ) gelding whose half-sister Churchillian (NZ) (Churchill) has won 11 races including the Group Three Anniversary Handicap (1600m), Group Three Rotorua Stakes (1400m) and Listed Tauranga Classic (1400m). He will be offered by Regal Farm.

KB Bloodstock’s 24-strong draft includes Lot 357, a colt by quality stallion Zousain out of the Western Australian Lucy Mae (Stratum). In a high-quality two-year-old season, Lucy Mae won two black-type races including the Group Two Karrakatta Plate (1200m) and also placed in the Group Three Gimcrack Stakes (1100m) and WATC Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m).

Lot 378 from renowned vendor Curraghmore, is a filly by leading sire Satono Aladdin out of Milunka (All Too Hard), whose only foal to race so far is the Group Three Matamata Slipper (1200m) placegetter To Bravery Born (NZ) (Snitzel). Milunka’s pedigree page receives a further boost through her extraordinary dam Distinctive Lass (Orientate), who has been represented by nine winners including five stakes winners. Kahma Lass (NZ) (Darci Brahma) won the Group One New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m), while Drops Of God (NZ) (Hello Youmzain) has made a huge impression winning three of her four starts to date including the Group Three Cambridge Breeders’ Stakes (1200m) by two and a half lengths.

Lot 387 is a gelding by elite shuttler Too Darn Hot, who was leading second-season sire in Australia in 2024-25 and is the sire of multiple Group One winner Broadsiding. The dam of Lot 387 is Miss Scarlatti (NZ) (Stravinsky), winner of the Listed Super Impose Stakes (1800m) and a four-time Group placegetter including in the Group One VRC Oaks (2500m). Miss Scarlatti is a sibling to three stakes performers including the Group One placegetters Abidewithme (NZ) (Redoute’s Choice) and Stockman (NZ) (Tavistock). Six of Miss Scarlatti’s eight foals to race have been winners, and she is granddam of the Group Three winner Star Of Justice (NZ) (Justify).

Another offered by Prima Park is the colt catalogued as Lot 391, by champion stallion Exceed And Excel out of the Shooting To Win mare Ms Catherine, who won the Group Three Typhoon Tracy Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley as a three-year-old.

Lot 411 is a colt by Dundeel (NZ) out of the Fastnet Rock mare Orphea. This colt is a half-brother to the Group Three winner Outovstock (NZ) (Tavistock), while Orphea is a full-sister to Group One Australian Guineas (1600m) winner Rock Classic (Fastnet Rock). He will be presented by Kiltannon Stables.

KB Bloodstock’s Lot 421 is another notable colt by Home Affairs, whose exceptional start to his stallion career has been touched on earlier in this article. The dam of Lot 421 is Parure (Fastnet Rock), the winner of three races including the Group Two Autumn Classic (1800m) at Caulfield. Second dam Fontein Ruby (Turffontein) won the Group Two Edward Manifold Stakes (1600m), Group Three Caulfield Classic (2000m) and Listed Alexandra Stakes (1600m).

Lot 429 is a colt by Hellbent offered by Woburn Farm. This colt is a three-quarter-brother to Tardelli (I Am Invincible), who has placed in the Group Two Levin Classic (1600m), Group Three Concorde Stakes (1200m) and Group Three Easter Handicap (1600m) and finished fourth in last season’s Group One Railway Stakes (1200m). Tardelli is contesting the Group One Proisir Plate (1400m) at Ellerslie on Saturday.

 The above is a snippet of the quality on offer at the 2026 edition of the world’s leading two-year-old sale, set to take place at the Karaka Sales Centre from 11am (NZT) on 18 & 19 November. Breeze Ups to be held across two consecutive days on one turf track at Te Rapa Racecourse on 12 & 13 October. View the catalogue online here.

Buyers wishing to physically attend the 2026 Ready to Run Sale can enquire about accommodation options and travel assistance by emailing travel@nzb.co.nz.

To register to bid for the Sale, simply pop into the Sale Day office on arrival prior to the Sale, or if you are a new client to NZB, fill out the New Buyer Registration form here.

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Metropolitan fancy Thebudgiesmugla (NZ) (Redwood) is unbeaten in five starts over 2400 metres and he will be out to make it six when he lines up in the Listed Drinkwise Cup (2400m) at Randwick.

The six-year-old was one of the revelations of the off-season, winning three of his four starts between May and July, including the Listed Winter Cup (2400m) at Randwick and the Listed Caloundra Cup (2400m) in Queensland.

With the benefit of a recent fourth to Boniface (Make Believe) over a middle distance, Thebudgiesmugla is expected to be hard to hold out at Randwick.

“He was great first-up and he’s five from five at the 2400 and gets 2400 again on Saturday,” trainer Bjorn Baker’s racing manager, Luke Hilton, said.

“It wasn’t always in our mind to run Saturday. We were going to give him a bit of time into the Newcastle Cup, but this race came up, and it looked so good for him we decided to run him. 

“He is obviously a bit better with his toe in the ground, but he’s putting together some good performances on better ground as well.”

Thebudgiesmugla sits on the fourth line of early markets for the Metropolitan (Gr.2, 2400m) as an $11 chance, and is a $2.25 top pick for the Drinkwise Cup.

His biggest challenge might be in the form of stablemate So You Are (So You Think).

The latter is a recent addition to the Baker stable, but there was less than a length between that horse and Thebudgiesmugla in both the Winter and Caloundra Cups, while So You Are beat his barn mate home at their last starts.

However, Hilton suspects the horse affectionately known as “Thebudgie” is open to more improvement of the two.

“So You Are had a little bit more residual fitness than TheBudgie first-up,” he said.

“He’s going to strip a bit fitter as well, but I’d say TheBudgie has got a bit more improvement to come.”

Incredibly, Baker only had his first city winner of the season when Appeared (Justify) was successful at Warwick Farm on Wednesday.

The top trainer had endured a luckless start to the new term with 7-1/2 seconds – two of them recorded by speedy filly Blue Door (Stay Inside) in stakes races. – RAS Newswire

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