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Ocean Park hits memorable mark
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Wise Men Say set to defend crown
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NZB enters new era with Karaka Hotel
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Dolcetto thriving ahead of Trentham assignment
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AUDIO: Justine Hales
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My Callisto too strong at Avondale
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AUDIO: David Hayes
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Another Dollar to cash in on strong form
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Another Dollar to cash in on strong form
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Igraine horse to beat: Pike
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By Wandering Eyes · Posted
Rising star War Machine will start the popular elect in Saturday’s Gr.1 Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) at Eagle Farm, carrying not only the hopes of punters and his connections, but the heartfelt weight of two powerful legacies. The four-year-old has won five of his 12 starts since being purchased from New Zealand including his two outings from his new quarters with trainers Ben, Will and JD Hayes. Jockey Tim Clark will sport a black armband on Saturday in the A$3 million feature in memory of two pivotal figures who helped shape his journey — the late Mike Moroney and the recently passed Michael Wallace. Moroney, a decorated and widely respected trainer, passed away earlier this year having laid the foundation with War Machine of what is shaping up to be an elite-level career. Tragedy struck again last weekend in Kentucky with the sudden passing of internationally renowned bloodstock agent Michael Wallace, who sourced War Machine’s dam Caserta on behalf of his brother David and late wife Maddy and parents Jim and Mary Wallace. Jim, David and Michael Wallace at Karaka in January Photo: supplied War Machine was bred under the banner of MDJ Bloodstock Ltd – Mary, Maddy, David and Jim – with the latter pair remaining in the ownership of the son of Harry Angel. Central to the War Machine story is former trainer turned bloodstock agent Steven Pinfold, who identified the young talent at a jump-out in New Zealand prior to his first trial for Jim Wallace. The man known broadly in racing circles as ‘Pinny’ will be at Eagle Farm this weekend to cheer on War Machine and support the eclectic syndicate behind the Kiwi import. “I spotted him at a jump-out before his first trial at Foxton, which he ended up winning by six lengths,” Pinfold said. “I did a lot of business with Michael Moroney over the years. I worked for Mike for a long time, including running stables in Adelaide and Melbourne for him through the halcyon days of Brew and Second Coming. “He was a champion to me and a very good mate for thirty-odd years. Once I saw War Machine at the jump outs, I told Mike about him, and then when he won the trial, we pounced. “I put a lot of good clients into the horse and so did Mike, including Rupert Legh, so it’s nice to see the horse rewarding them. “Mike said to me that War Machine might be one of the better horses he trained. Last year, when he ran in the Golden Eagle, he was just a kid running against men. He went a really good race, and Mike said we will give him a crack at the Rupert Clarke (Gr.1, 1400m) and then put him away for the Stradbroke next year. “So here we are, but sadly Mike isn’t with us.” Among the ownership group is former All Black coach John Hart and Wellington engineer Bruce Hollow, whose racing fortunes have improved after an introduction to Pinfold. “I met Bruce in a pub and he asked if I could help him out. He said he hadn’t had a winner for twenty plus years,” Pinfold said. Steven Pinfold with War Machine this week in Queensland Photo: supplied “The first share I sold to him was in Coeur Volante and the second is in War Machine, plus he also has an interest in Group Two winner Enriched, so he’s had a pretty good run.” Saturday’s Group One will also be a reunion of sorts for a collegiate from St Patrick’s College Silverstream. “I went to school with David Wallace. I also went to school with Andrew Williams, Adon Byron and Kieran McCaul who are all Silverstream boys that are in War Machine,” Pinfold said. “I have been friends with the Wallace family for forty years and their Ardsley Stud has been one of the great thoroughbred nurseries in New Zealand. Jim Wallace actually gave me my first job when he ran the Magic Millions sales at Trentham way back in my schooling days. “It’s a sad series of events. We would have loved David and Jim to be here with us this weekend, but unfortunately, they have had to go to America after the passing of Michael.” Pinfold, who has also established good ties to the Hayes stable in recent years having sourced Group Two winner Marble Arch and progressive mare Grid Girl, said the Stradbroke is one of the few features to elude Lindsay Park over the years. “We have a couple of dickie birds sitting on our shoulder. Tim Clark will wear a black armband not only to remember Michael Wallace but also to remember Michael Moroney,” he said. “A win would be a big thrill for the Hayes boys and all my mates that I have put into the horse, but it would be an even better salute to the Wallace and Moroney families.” View the full article -
By Wandering Eyes · Posted
Three weeks on from a dominant performance over the same course and distance, Uderzo (NZ) (Vadamos) will return to Te Rapa on Saturday in search of a repeat result in the Skycity Hamilton Mile (1600m). Uderzo has been a strong performer throughout an 11-start campaign as a six-year-old this season, including a third in the Gr.2 Rich Hill Mile (1600m) in January and a huge finish from the back of the field for fourth in the Gr.3 Easter Handicap (1600m) in April. But the Vadamos gelding’s first win of the season didn’t come until May 24, when the 4kg claim of apprentice jockey Rihaan Goyaram reduced his weight to 51kg and he blitzed his open handicap rivals by three and three-quarter lengths. Goyaram will have his second ride on Uderzo on Saturday, this time with a 3kg claim taking his impost down to 53kg. Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott have been pleased with Uderzo in between his two Te Rapa assignments, but warn that very different track conditions will present a new challenge this weekend. In contrast to the Soft6 footing of three weeks ago, Te Rapa was rated a Heavy10 on Friday. “He appreciated that better ground last time,” Scott said. “The conditions are going to be quite different tomorrow, with all the rain we’ve had in the Waikato recently. “But he’s a very fit gelding and we’ve been really pleased with him. His work has been right up to his usual standard and his coat and condition look great. If he can cope with the ground and just get that bit of traction that he needs underfoot, there’s no reason why he can’t be very competitive again.” Te Rapa has been a happy hunting ground for O’Sullivan and Scott this season, providing them with 16 of their 79 wins in 2024-25. They return there with another solid hand this weekend, with Uderzo backed up by Smokeshow, The Weapon and Ivy’s Dancer. Smokeshow and The Weapon will both line up in the RDA Charity Raceday @ Cambridge Wednesday (1400m). “Smokeshow is going really well, it was a good run for second over 1200m last start,” Scott said. “Going up to 1400m helps him, and he’s taken a lot of benefit from that run. He’s probably drawn in the right part of the track (gate 16), his fitness levels are high and he’ll handle rain-affected ground. “The Weapon has had a couple of little setbacks and has been away from the races for a couple of months. He usually races well on the fresh side and we’ve always had a good opinion of him. If he copes with the conditions, he should be hitting the line hard.” Ivy’s Dancer will attempt to open her winning account in the Andrew (Ledge) Leadbeater Memorial (1400m). The Contributer filly was a last-start placegetter at Ellerslie. “That was a real improver’s run last time,” Scott said. “The better the ground, the better her chances, so that’s the concern this weekend. But she did work well on soft ground on Tuesday morning. She ran in some very competitive maiden races earlier in the season. If she’s able to produce a similar performance to that last-start Ellerslie run, she shouldn’t be far away from them.” The Wexford Stables team will also be in action on their home track at Matamata on Sunday, including a raceday debut for Capulet in the Entain/NZB Insurance Pearl Series 2YO (1200m). The Belardo colt, a close relative of Gr.1 New Zealand Derby (2400m) winner Great Command, was a $30,000 purchase as a yearling at Karaka last year. Between April 29 and Monday of this week, Capulet finished second in three trials at Pukekohe, Waipa and Ellerslie. “He’s got some good levels of education,” Scott said. “He’s galloped through rain-affected ground on his home track before, which is an aid. “He trialled very nicely on Monday and bounced through that well. We’re expecting a good showing in his first raceday start. “Our Matamata team also includes Jaffira, who’s going well and has a good record at the course and distance (1600m). He can keep up a strong gallop, and testing conditions don’t bother him. “Ever Charm hasn’t had much luck lately. He was caught really wide last start, in a part of the track where they weren’t really winning that day. He just needs a change of luck and is certainly capable of going close.” View the full article -
By Wandering Eyes · Posted
Ascot Park trainer Robert Dennis will head to Oamaru on Sunday with four leading chances, all of whom began their careers in the North Island. Dennis will be represented by the formerly Karen Fursdon-trained Vino Valentino in the Female Jockey Tribute Day (2200m), the former Lauren Brennan runner Sir Sterling in the Donna Wilson (1400m), the formerly Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott-trained Forseti in the Debbie Henderson (1200m), and the ex-Andrew Forsman runner Magnastar in the Debbie Kennedy (1200m). Sir Sterling performed to a high level in the north, winning three races and running a luckless sixth – only 1.7 lengths from the winner Maven Belle – in the Gr.3 Almanzor Trophy (1200m). He also contested the Gr.1 Levin Classic (1600m), Listed Mufhasa Stakes (1400m) and $1 million Elsdon Park Aotearoa Classic (1600m). Sent south this season by owner-breeder Greg McCarthy, the Iffraaj gelding struck trouble when eighth in his South Island debut on March 28 but has recorded a win and three placings from his four starts since. “Other than his first run for us, where he kicked out in the barriers before they opened, he’s been very good and hasn’t put a foot wrong,” Dennis said. “He’s very consistent and I’d expect more of the same from him this weekend. “He’s a robust, hardy gelding who races well and then comes home and immediately licks the feed bin clean. He enjoys his work. His temperament and attitude have improved in the time he’s been with us. I can’t fault him.” Dennis has been similarly impressed with the three-year-old Magna Grecia gelding Magnastar, who raced against the likes of Lux Libertas, Dealt With and Mustang Morgan in the north. He emulated Sir Sterling with a struggling southern debut in March, but has bounced back to place in all of his last three appearances. “He’s another one who’s found a really consistent run of form of late,” Dennis said. “He had his first run for us in that same meeting as Sir Sterling, and he slipped coming out of the barriers. It just took him a bit of time to come right from that. He’s over it now and has been consistent in those last few runs. I’ve been pleasantly surprised by how tough he is and how well he’s taking his racing. He’s knocking on the door of a win.” Vino Valentino was a last-start placegetter in a $40,000 open handicap at Wingatui. The Zacinto mare steps down in class for Sunday’s Rating 75 staying event, but that brings an accompanying weight increase. “She meets a slightly weaker field this time, but fairly similar,” Dennis said. “Taimate Diva beat us last time and we meet her a couple of kilograms worse off this time around. “She’s consistent too and I think she can be in or around the first three or four again.” Sunday will be Forseti’s first start for Dennis. The Lonhro mare’s seven-race career in the north has produced a second, three fourths and a fifth. “She’s an interesting runner,” Dennis said. “She’s been off the scene for a while, not having raced since last July. She came down to us in March and has settled in and come to hand well. “She seems fit and forward enough. I was happy with her jumpout a few weeks ago. “She showed a bit of speed in the north, and this doesn’t look an overly strong field. The question for her is how she’ll handle the heavy track conditions.” View the full article -
By Wandering Eyes · Posted
Rising star War Machine will start the popular elect in Saturday’s Gr.1 Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) at Eagle Farm, carrying not only the hopes of punters and his connections, but the heartfelt weight of two powerful legacies. The four-year-old has won five of his 12 starts since being purchased from New Zealand including his two outings from his new quarters with trainers Ben, Will and JD Hayes. Jockey Tim Clark will sport a black armband on Saturday in the A$3 million feature in memory of two pivotal figures who helped shape his journey — the late Mike Moroney and the recently passed Michael Wallace. Moroney, a decorated and widely respected trainer, passed away earlier this year having laid the foundation with War Machine of what is shaping up to be an elite-level career. Tragedy struck again last weekend in Kentucky with the sudden passing of internationally renowned bloodstock agent Michael Wallace, who sourced War Machine’s dam Caserta on behalf of his brother David and late wife Maddy and parents Jim and Mary Wallace. Jim, David and Michael Wallace at Karaka in January Photo: supplied War Machine was bred under the banner of MDJ Bloodstock Ltd – Mary, Maddy, David and Jim – with the latter pair remaining in the ownership of the son of Harry Angel. Central to the War Machine story is former trainer turned bloodstock agent Steven Pinfold, who identified the young talent at a jump-out in New Zealand prior to his first trial for Jim Wallace. The man known broadly in racing circles as ‘Pinny’ will be at Eagle Farm this weekend to cheer on War Machine and support the eclectic syndicate behind the Kiwi import. “I spotted him at a jump-out before his first trial at Foxton, which he ended up winning by six lengths,” Pinfold said. “I did a lot of business with Michael Moroney over the years. I worked for Mike for a long time, including running stables in Adelaide and Melbourne for him through the halcyon days of Brew and Second Coming. “He was a champion to me and a very good mate for thirty-odd years. Once I saw War Machine at the jump outs, I told Mike about him, and then when he won the trial, we pounced. “I put a lot of good clients into the horse and so did Mike, including Rupert Legh, so it’s nice to see the horse rewarding them. “Mike said to me that War Machine might be one of the better horses he trained. Last year, when he ran in the Golden Eagle, he was just a kid running against men. He went a really good race, and Mike said we will give him a crack at the Rupert Clarke (Gr.1, 1400m) and then put him away for the Stradbroke next year. “So here we are, but sadly Mike isn’t with us.” Among the ownership group is former All Black coach John Hart and Wellington engineer Bruce Hollow, whose racing fortunes have improved after an introduction to Pinfold. “I met Bruce in a pub and he asked if I could help him out. He said he hadn’t had a winner for twenty plus years,” Pinfold said. Steven Pinfold with War Machine this week in Queensland Photo: supplied “The first share I sold to him was in Coeur Volante and the second is in War Machine, plus he also has an interest in Group Two winner Enriched, so he’s had a pretty good run.” Saturday’s Group One will also be a reunion of sorts for a collegiate from St Patrick’s College Silverstream. “I went to school with David Wallace. I also went to school with Andrew Williams, Adon Byron and Kieran McCaul who are all Silverstream boys that are in War Machine,” Pinfold said. “I have been friends with the Wallace family for forty years and their Ardsley Stud has been one of the great thoroughbred nurseries in New Zealand. Jim Wallace actually gave me my first job when he ran the Magic Millions sales at Trentham way back in my schooling days. “It’s a sad series of events. We would have loved David and Jim to be here with us this weekend, but unfortunately, they have had to go to America after the passing of Michael.” Pinfold, who has also established good ties to the Hayes stable in recent years having sourced Group Two winner Marble Arch and progressive mare Grid Girl, said the Stradbroke is one of the few features to elude Lindsay Park over the years. “We have a couple of dickie birds sitting on our shoulder. Tim Clark will wear a black armband not only to remember Michael Wallace but also to remember Michael Moroney,” he said. “A win would be a big thrill for the Hayes boys and all my mates that I have put into the horse, but it would be an even better salute to the Wallace and Moroney families.” View the full article -
By Wandering Eyes · Posted
Former Singapore superstar Lim’s Kosciuszko (Kermadec) may have found his old spark, as he prepares for his second Australian start on Saturday. The Dan Meagher-trained seven-year-old was a potential starter in the Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap at Eagle Farm this weekend, but a logistical issue led to that plan being aborted and instead, he’ll line up at Sandown in a 1400-metre handicap en route to the Winter Championship over 1600m at Flemington. Lim’s Kosciuszko finished third in the Listed Straight Six at Flemington at his Australian debut, where he raced in restricted room at a vital stage of the race. “He was probably stiff not winning but at the end of the day, he had a run where he didn’t have a gut-buster and that’s a great thing, because he came through it really well,” Meagher said. “He pulled up terrific, he had a lovely jumpout the other day. “It was very much like his old self when he was back in Singapore, his first three jumpouts I was a bit worried, he wasn’t showing much fire there. I knew that race would tell us where we’re going and it really stimulated him. “He’s come out of that race in great order, as good as he’s been for quite a long time actually, so I’m very happy with where he’s at.” Bred by Brent and Cherry Taylor’s Trelawney Stud, Lim’s Kosciuszko was passed in at the New Zealand Bloodstock Sales and then sold privately after winning his first and only trial in New Zealand when under the care of Clayton Chipperfield. View the full article
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