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Definitely looks like it needed a longer trip.

HENRY HUBBER (A Balloo) - Faltered when being pulled up after the race, with the rider immediately dismounting and the Veterinarian and horse ambulance quickly in attendance. HENRY HUBBER was found to have suffered a fracture to the near front sesamoid bones, being humanely euthanised as a result. A Balloo was excused from weighing in under Rule 647(1)

Race favourite Watersports (NZ) (Ocean Park), the half-sister to dual Group One winner Grail Seeker (NZ) (Iffraaj) made in three wins from her last four starts when she held out a determined late challenge from Maisy (Pierro)to take out the Benchmark 78 Good Friday Appeal Plate (1400m) at Flemington on Saturday. Rider Damian Lane had her beautifully positioned one out in third before tackling the leaders early in the long run home. Just as the daughter of Ocean Park looked to be cruising, Maisy appeared with her challenge and the pair went stride for stride to the line as Watersports gained the upper hand to win by a head. Trainer Archie Alexander had entertained thoughts of defeat when Maisy ranged alongside his charge but her toughness and determination won out in the end. “I held my hands up and thought ‘well, she’s run a super race but we’ll run second today’,” Alexander said. “She’s got that determination, got her head in front and the race went as we planned. “I had a chat to Damian this morning and it happened exactly how we thought it might. “Today was good but now we can look at how long she will race and she’s never let us down.” Alexander is keen to see the mare contest some of the feature events during the upcoming South Australian Autumn Carnival. “She is making our life very easy,” he said. “She keeps presenting well and loves racing. We’ll freshen her up and focus on Adelaide in the autumn. “She doesn’t like it very wet and we’ll keep an eye on that. “We’ll go to Adelaide as she’s won a midweek and now she’s won a Saturday race being by a Group One winner, getting some black type is a key for her. “We’re looking at the City Of Adelaide (Listed, 1400m) which is her sweet spot and then there’s mile options after that.” Lane was also pleased with how well the mare fought when tackled by the eventual runner-up. “She’s been in great form and Archie has had her going so consistently,” he said. “Well done to Archie and his team as he’s had a nice winner on Guineas Day. “The race worked out well today. She got really competitive when it mattered and wanted to win. That is a trait that will take horses a long way. “She is probably best out to 1500m. She has won at a mile and she was able to sustain her gallop today over the 1400m which really helped us out at the end of the race as well.” Watersports was bred by Jamieson Park and is by Ocean Park out of the Redoute’s Choice mare Starwish. Lime Country Thoroughbreds offered her during the 2023 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale, where she was bought for A$75,000 by Alexander Racing and Rogers Bloodstock. She has now had 16 starts for four wins, eight placings and A$221,050 in prize-money. View the full article

Underrated milerCluedo Lane (NZ)(Ghibellines) provided trainer Joseph Waldron with his biggest victory since returning from a stint in Australia last year as he ran a quality field ragged over the concluding stages of the Gr.3 White Robe Lodge Weight For Age (1600m) at Wingatui. Waldron, who left New Zealand shores just over six years ago, made the decision to return to his home region of Otago in in the middle of 2025 and commenced training from Wingatui at the start of the season. Things have gone well for the talented horseman, who had registered four victories from his boutique team to date, although he went into Saturday’s feature with mixed feelings after having to scratch the well-fancied Brave Spirit (NZ) (Swiss Ace) which allowed a strong back-up chance in Cluedo Lane to take his place in the final field. Rider Akshay Balloo bounced the six-year-old son of Ghibellines away nicely to be sitting in second behind pacemaker Tumuch (NZ) (Satono Aladdin) throughout before taking over at the head of affairs as the 600m. Balloo went for gold on his mount rounding the home bend and opened up a five-length margin on his rivals, and despite getting tired in the final 100m, he held out the late charge of runner-up Sir Albert (NZ) (Savabeel) and third placed Matscot (NZ) (Haradasun) by a length at the winning post. Waldron was thankful for gaining such a big result for the stable, while he also found time to praise the effort of Balloo. “It was meant to be I suppose, although it was a shame about Brave Spirit, but he will be back again,” Waldron said. “It was a great opportunity for this horse and he took it. He has always shown he had good ability and before we got him he was only just nabbed by Spot On Time (NZ) (Time Test) in the TAB Mile (1400m) trial, which is well and truly good enough form for here. “A big thanks to Michael Stokes (owner) who sent him our way as for a little stable like ours that is just getting going, having a horse like him is a huge thrill. “Akshay is incredibly underrated, is great on horses that go forward and that suits ours well. “It doesn’t get much better than this as it is a huge thrill.” Balloo was thankful for the opportunity to ride the horse and made the most of that good fortune. “He is a tough horse,” he said. “I was a little bit worried when I couldn’t get to the front but I saw my chance and pulled him out at the right time, then I knew he was going to be hard to catch. “This is how he likes running and although I had to make some adjustments, it paid off.” Raced by former Canterbury-based trainer Michael Stokes, who also co-bred him, Cluedo Lane has now won four of his 23 starts and more than $203,000 in prizemoney. View the full article

A peach of a ride and a superior staying effort combined to produce a stirring Listed Positive Signs + Print Dunedin Gold Cup (2400m) victory for Canterbury raiderNoble Knight (NZ)(Ghibellines) at Wingatui. The Sandy-Cunningham trained and part-owned eight-year-old went into the contest off the back of a victory over 2000m at Riccarton before rounding out his preparation for the feature staying event with a close up second behind race rival Smooth Operator (NZ) (Turn Me Loose) in the Invercargill Gold Cup (2600m) two weeks ago. Northern rider Matt Cameron made the trip down to Wingatui to partner the son of the former White Robe Lodge stallion Ghibellines and produced a copybook performance on the veteran, positioning him sweetly one-out just ahead of midfield in the early running before looming into contention shortly after runners rounded the final turn. Smooth Operator, the heavily backed $3.30 race favourite, kicked to the lead at that point and looked to be full of running as Noble Knight, In Vegas (NZ) (Telperion) and Generation Joy (NZ) (Ghibellines) set out after him. Cameron gave his mount a couple of flicks behind the saddle and Noble Knight shot clear before stretching his final winning margin to just on two lengths from the hard charging Capo Del Impero (NZ) (Ghibellines) who snatched second off In Vegas in the shadows of the post. Cunningham was overjoyed with the victory after her charge had finished third in the event back in 2024. “That is so exciting,” Cunningham said. “I’m just overwhelmed really, although he deserves it as he is just such a consistent horse and never goes a bad race. “We’ve placed him reasonably well and he has had a wee trip to Australia, where he ran second at Moonee Valley, which was really exciting. “We had a placing with our trotter Eurostyle in a Group One at Addington last night, where I was yelling at the TV so it could be a fun night here now so look out Wingatui.” Cameron was also pleased with the performance after making his second trip to Wingatui in 20 years. “His form has been solid and he gave me a super ride as he lobbed nicely after there was speed on at the start,” he said. “He tracked into it three and four wide before the turn where we had cover and when we peeled off their backs he bolted in. “With the run he got he relaxed beautifully and was loving it on the line. “I’ve won a few country cups but I’ve only been here once, which was about 20 years ago, and it is good to be back.” Noble Knight was purchased out of White Robe Lodge’s draft during the New Zealand Bloodstock South Island Sale in 2019 for $22,500 by Cunningham and he has now won on nine occasions while he has also placed a further 23 times for just over $492,000 in stakes earnings. View the full article

Hello Hayley (NZ)(Hello Youmzain) secured a Southern Guineas double when taking out the Listed Property Brokers – Ray Kean Dunedin Guineas (1600m) at Wingatui on Saturday, and trainer Sophie Price is now eyeing the triple crown with her filly. The daughter of Hello Youmzain was eye-catching when coming from last to win the Listed Southland Guineas (1400m) at Ascot Park a fortnight ago, and despite that effort she jumped a $12.30 sixth elect on Saturday, and jockey Donovan Cooper made favourite punters rue their decision to overlook her. Hello Hayley settled four-back in the running line, while many of the favoured runners raced handy throughout. Turning for home, Cooper was praying for a gap, which appeared, and he launched his charge through it, with Hello Hayley showing a good turn of foot to pick up the leaders and win by a neck over local hope Golden Spirit (NZ) (Ancient Spirit). “She (Price) told me she was better than ever today, she had to dig a bit deeper, but she still won it relatively easy,” Cooper said. “I was pretty confident when I got back and got a slot in one off the rail. We got good cover and coming into the straight I knew all I needed was a gap. I was that confident the way we were travelling, and I just hoped a gap came in time and it did. “What a filly. I am really proud of her and I think she is a really nice type coming through.” Price was on horseback conducting her Clerk of the Course duties when Hello Hayley won the Southland Guineas at Invercargill, but she was able to put her full focus on her horse when trackside on Saturday, and despite losing vision of her during the running, she was rapt to see her pounce through the pack to take victory. “She has gone huge, it was outstanding,” Price said. I didn’t even see her, I lost her on the TV.” The Southern Guineas triple crown now looms as a key goal, with the final leg, the Listed Gore Guineas (1200m), transferred to Riverton on April 4 following its abandonment earlier this month. If she performs up to expectations, Price said she is also keen to trek north to Riccarton a week later to tackle Listed NZB Insurance Stakes (1600m). “I think that (Gore Guineas) is possibly where we will head,” Price said. “We will give her a freshen-up and go to Riverton, which is pretty handy (from Winton base). “If she goes well we might head to Riccarton a week after and then she will go out for a well-deserved break.” Bred by Cambridge Stud principals Sir Brendan and Lady Jo Lindsay, Hello Hayley is out of the Thorn Park mare Hayley Grace (NZ) and is closely related to multiple Group One winner Te Akau Shark (NZ) (Rip Van Winkle). View the full article

Kiwi-bred six-year-old Dirty Grin (NZ) (Zacinto) bounced back to winning form with a barnstorming late run to collect his seventh career victory when taking out the second event on the card at Flemington, the Benchmark 78 Rubaroc Handicap (1200m). The son of Zacinto last stood on top of the podium when successful over 1214m at Geelong back in November last year but had failed to recapture that form in three subsequent starts since that victory. First up of a freshen up from trainer Nick Ryan, Dirty Grin settled back in the 11-horse field for regular pilot Rhys McLeod before angling to the centre of the track to commence a run at the 400m. Just as fellow kiwi-bred and race favourite Rue De Royale (NZ) (Per Incanto) looked to be striding to victory, Dirty Grin appeared on his outside and charged past in the shadows of the post to score handsomely. Ryan had been looking forward to raceday after barrier draws came out on Wednesday and his charge had drawn barrier 10. “I had a little fist pump on Wednesday morning when the barriers came out,” Ryan said. “He’s a horse that really likes room and gets to the outside, while he likes being fresh. “He had a week away (to freshen) and struggles to run 1400 (metres) so I haven’t done much with him. “He had a very quiet jump out last week and less is certainly more. He’s very clean-winded and started perfectly. “I think the key is to keep him fresh, space his runs and we’ll target another race with a jump out. Rinse and repeat.” Ryan was also delighted with the ride by McLeod, who he has had a long association with. “Rhys has a very good association with the horse,” he said. “I think there is not a jockey who has ridden more winners for me than Rhys. We go back a long way and he’s a very talented human being in whatever he does, be it table tennis, football or soccer. “When his mind is on the job, there’s none better and I love putting him on.” McLeod was also pleased with the performance after completing his fourth win aboard the gelding. “It was a nice win. He enjoyed a bit of cover and peeled out at the right time. Coming back in trip, he was spot on today,” he said.. “He’s stepped up to the mark today and it was good to see him hit the front and really go on with it. “I was really pleased to see him win today and hopefully he goes to the next level and does it again.” Bred by Ellerton Zahra Racing Pty Ltd, Dirty Grin commenced his career in the stable of Simon Zahra before transferring to Ryan in 2025. He is out of the Sharkbite mare Pearly Whites, was bought for just $7,000 from the New Zealand Bloodstock Broodmare Sale at Karaka in 2017. She is a half-sister to the dual Listed winner Travino (General Nediym) and a granddaughter of the stakes placed mare Mrs Soffel, the dam of multiple Australian Group One winner Rubitano (Rubiton). Dirty Grin has now had 24 starts for seven wins, eight placings and A$265,015 in stakes. View the full article

Had its chance, needs further than 1200m.

It would be pointless as you say. Need 4 days or none to attract the NI and Southland horses that still support it.