Wandering Eyes

By Michael Guerin While there was no surprise in the quinella in the Holmes D G at Alexandra Park on Friday night it raised a very interesting question. Is winner Sooner The Bettor going better than this time last year or is Merlin going worse? The answer might be a little bit of both. Sooner The Bettor made it three wins on end to start this campaign and earned his golden ticket into the IRT New Zealand Cup when he led, trailed his stablemate then clearly outpointed him in the straight. All that after a strange incident when he took off at the 600m when young driver Harrison Orange pulled the plugs at the same time Merlin ran up the track slightly when leading. Sooner The Bettor poked his head then neck through the gap on the markers before Orange restrained him so considering that little energy burst he did well to run down Merlin 600m later. Before anybody gets too carried away Merlin did start from a 20m handicap but he got the lead very easily when Zachary Butcher moved and this time last year when they lined up under the same circumstances, Merlin was way too good for Sooner The Bettor, albeit after the latter galloped early. Maybe it is Merlin being a year older and still on the way up or maybe Orange is getting on so well with Sooner The Bettor the free-goer is enjoying the tight-lines driving style and feeling full of himself. Co-trainer Scott Phelan was preferring to concentrate on the positive that is Sooner The Bettor racing so well and being guaranteed his NZ Cup spot. “He is racing great and I was a but surprised he could run past Merlin but of course there was 20m between them at the start,” says Phelan. “They will both be in the Cup now and they will fly down next week, with the Canterbury Classic their next start then at this stage we will take them both to Kaikoura.” The Purdon/Phelan team also won earlier in the night with Ocean Eyes who will join her stablemates in Canterbury for the NZ Trotting Oaks and quite possibly The Ascent. Other good winners on Friday night were Debbie Lincoln in the fillies and mares pace and Chickies Babe in the juvenile trot but the biggest talking point of the night was a lowly maiden race. Debutante juvenile pacer Hes Not That Into U was strolling to an impressive win against the older horses when he shied with 20m to go, weaving violently across the track and galloping. He clung on to win in a photo but was relegated in one of the baddest beats favourite punters will ever have to cop. But where there are dramatic winners there can be grateful winners and so it was the case with promoted winner Mr Miki, who gave trainer Brendon Laidlaw his first career training success. American Muscle showed great courage to win the main trot for driver Tony Cameron while Mako overcame a home bend check to win the last and David Butcher returned to Alexandra Park by training and driving You Little Beauty to win in tough style. View the full article

It's not that Nicholas Tomlinson didn't have a great job. He worked for Mark Casse for 10 years, learned from the dual Hall of Famer and was around some of his best horses. But he had always wanted to see what he could do on his own and Saturday at Gulfstream will begin the next chapter in his career. That chapter starts when he send out Insolenta (More Than Ready), who is owned by Ironhorse Racing Stable LLC and Tiger Racing, Inc, in a $17,500 maiden claimer. He knows he needs more horses and better horses but he is up for the challenge. “As Mark would always say, never be afraid to try new things,” said the 31-year-old horsemen. Tomlinson's start in racing began when he approached Casse and said he wanted a job. Casse was immediately impressed. “It's Interesting, I can still remember the day he came up to me at Keeneland and he said to me that he would like to come join our team,” Casse said. “I came home and told my wife Tina that I met a really nice young man and I think he will do some really good things. And he has. He's been a big part of our success. Hard worker, honest guy, good horsemen and he's been around a lot of our good horses over the years, so he knows that difference between the good ones and the bad ones. I think that's very important. He's a very good horseman.” Said Jon Green, who is the general manager DJ Stable, one of Casse's biggest owners: “I know for over a decade Nick worked tirelessly for Mark and certainly ran a great shedrow. I think he will turn out to be one of the up-and-coming stars of the industry.” While with Casse, the personable Tomlinson went just about everywhere, Saratoga, Churchill, Palm Meadows, Colonial Downs, Gulfstream, Ocala. Each stop was part of his education under one of the sport's best trainers. “What haven't I learned from Mark?” he said. “Not only have I learned a lot professionally, I have learned a lot of life lessons from him. I'm very grateful for everything I've been able to accomplish the last 10 years working for him. It's been a fantastic ride.” Tomlinson will start off slow. Insolenta is his only horse. But he is already formulating plans as to how he can expand his stable. “I'll be at Gulfstream and I really want to try to use the winter there to try to pick up some clients,” he said. “The hardest part when you go on your own is that if you start in April a lot of people will try to send you 2-year-olds. If you're lucky, it will be six weeks before they make the races. Being 2-year-olds, sometimes they need a little more time. I was really hoping to start off with some older horse and try to get going that way, Then, hopefully, by the spring I'll be ready for 2-year-old and more clients.” He is not looking for any business from Casse's stable of owners. “A lot of my connections are through Mark and obviously his owners are extremely loyal to them as they should be,” Tomlison said. “He does a phenomenal job. But I'm hoping with some more exposure I'll be able to accumulate some more clients. Hopefully, getting the word out will help. I'm trying to use this time to build.” He plans to attend the Nov. 12 Horses of Racing Age Sale at Keeneland to, hopefully, pick up new clients and add some horses to his stable. “I will try to my best to get up there,” he said. “I want to meet some new people and, hopefully, pick up some clients.” He is also in the process of creating his own website. He knows it's all about getting exposure and getting the word out. Going out on your own is never easy, especially when it means that you have to leave a good job like the one he had with Casse. “I'm ready,” he said. There's no doubt the game needs more young and ambitious trainers like Tomlinson. With the sport dominated with “super trainers,” like Casse, it's hard for a new face to break in. Racing needs fresh blood and ambitious trainers who are prepared to build from scratch. Tomlinson checks all the boxes. This may not be easy, but he is prepared to deal with some slow times before he builds up his stable. For him, it all starts Saturday at Gulfstream. The post After 10 Years With Mark Casse, Nicholas Tomlinson Is Ready To Move On appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Sam Agars GENTLEMEN LEGACY - R10 (4) Has trialled nicely ahead of his return and can salute Jay Rooney FAST RESPONDER - R7 (6) Will sit off a hot speed from his ideal draw and pounce late Owen Goulding FIGHT TIME - R6 (13) Won despite a woeful draw on return and can make light work of his upgrade Phillip Woo ONLY U - R2 (1) Is overdue for another win after placing in four of his past five starts Shannon (Vincent Wong) STRATHPEFFER - R4 (12) Loves this track and trip and can salute from...View the full article

We have become accustomed to the prevalence of Urban Sea in today's pedigrees, chiefly through her high-flying sons Galileo and Sea The Stars. But another mare whose name pops up on the page of Sea The Stars as well as that of the recently deceased Wootton Bassett is Park Appeal, whose influence should not be underestimated. The daughter of Ahonoora features in the second and third generations respectively of those two stallions, who commanded the highest fees in Ireland in 2025 at €250,000 and €300,000. In the case of Sea The Stars, Park Appeal is there as the dam of his sire, Cape Cross. In turn, Wootton Bassett's sire Iffraaj is out of Cape Cross's half-sister, Pastorale (Nureyev). It is likely that Park Appeal will have her say in some way in the result of Sunday's Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, for six of the 17 runners carry traces of her blood. The Wertheimer pair of Aventure and Sosie, and the Aga Khan Studs' Daryz are all by Sea The Stars, the winner of the Arc at the culmination of his own sensational three-year-old season in 2009, and who also features as the broodmare sire of Quisisana (Le Havre). The Japanese Derby winner Croix Du Nord is out of Rising Cross, the mighty little filly from the third crop of Cape Cross who ran second in the Oaks back in 2006. Then there is the Prix de Diane winner Gezora, who is easily now the best runner for her exiled sire Almanzor, the horse responsible for bringing his own father Wootton Bassett to wider attention when becoming the champion three-year-old of 2016. Wootton Bassett has been fully praised for his exploits thus far and his untimely death last week at the age of 17 will almost certainly continue to be rued in the years ahead. But there remains a nagging feeling that Cape Cross, a son of Green Desert, has never quite been given the credit he deserves for his own contribution to the breed, particularly when considering the fact that he sired three of the best horses of the modern era: Sea The Stars, Golden Horn and Ouija Board. Park Appeal died 20 years ago, but not before she had bestowed a number of stallions upon Sheikh Mohammed's Darley operation Sea The Stars's feat of winning the Derby, Eclipse, Irish Champion Stakes and the Arc among his six Group 1 victories was emulated six years later by Golden Horn, who missed out on a fifth when beaten a neck by Arabian Queen (Dubawi) in the Juddmonte International. Ouija Board was simply an outstanding mare. Her wins included the Oaks, Irish Oaks, Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf (twice), Hong Kong Vase, Prince of Wales's Stakes, and Nassau Stakes. Finally, Lord Derby's homebred filly was also just over two lengths behind Deep Impact when third in the Japan Cup in her swansong on the track before she set sail for Stanley House Stud. There she went on to deliver a Derby winner. What breeder could ask for more? Oujia Board's Derby winner Australia (Galileo) has put his own stamp on this season by providing the Derby and Irish Derby winner Lambourn as well as the Coronation Stakes winner Cercene, and another of her sons, the Coronation Cup runner-up Frontiersman (Dubawi), is also at stud, standing at Overbury alongside Golden Horn, who has sired the winners of this year's Gold Cup at Ascot, and Champion Hurdle and Triumph Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival. In the background of all these horses, some 40 years after her glittering juvenile season, is Park Appeal. How much of their success can be attributed to her genetic presence is debatable but it is worth recalling her own exploits on the track and her influence thereafter. Pinhooked as a foal in Ireland for 6,600gns, the buyers of the dark brown Ahonoora filly were gifted a dream update when Park Appeal's year-older half-sister Desirable (Lord Gayle) won the Cheveley Park Stakes of 1983 a fortnight before she returned to the ring as a yearling, selling for 62,000gns to Paddy and Seamus Burns of Lodge Park Stud. Desirable, who also found fame as the dam of 1,000 Guineas winner Shadayid, proved to be no fluke for their dam Balidaress, who also produced Irish Oaks winner Alydaress and Balistroika, who became the dam of Classic winner Russian Rhythm. Park Appeal, trained by Jim Bolger, followed her sister in landing the Cheveley Park Stakes having finished one place better than Desirable when also winning the Moyglare Stud Stakes. Named the 1984 champion two-year-old filly in both Ireland and England, she was sold to Sheikh Mohammed Al Maktoum towards the end of her juvenile season. This was by far her best year on the track and four subsequent runs at three and four garnered only one more victory, in the Country Queen Stakes at Hollywood Park. Park Appeal died 20 years ago, but not before she had bestowed a number of stallions upon Sheikh Mohammed's Darley operation. The Group 1-winning miler Cape Cross of course leads the cohort, and two of the mare's daughters, the aforementioned Pastorale as well as Arvola (Sadler's Wells), respectively produced Iffraaj and Diktat. Cape Cross's Listed-winning full-brother Great Britain ended up at stud in South Africa, while another half-brother Lord Of Appeal (Sadler's Wells) stood in Ireland at Knockhouse Stud. In all, Park Appeal was responsible for six black-type performers, including the Group 3 winner Vincennes (King's Best). Though her name is regressing in pedigrees, appearing in those of two such prominent stallions as Sea The Stars and Wootton Bassett will mean that Park Appeal will linger for some time at least. Both are already represented by a number of sons at stud, and will doubtless play important roles as broodmare sires. In the case of Sea The Stars, this yearling sales season includes the first crops of two of his star performers: Baaeed and Stradivarius. At Book 1 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale, which begins on Tuesday, Baaeed has the largest representation of any of the first-season sires, with 23 lots on offer. They include Cheveley Park Stud's colt out of the G1 Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf winner Queen's Trust (Dansili) and Camas Park Stud's half-sister to top sprinter Ten Sovereigns. Notably, Lodge Park Stud is selling one of the two Stradivarius yearlings in Book 1. The Burns family, perhaps more than anyone, will have appreciated of the efforts of Park Appeal. In the year of her superb two-year-old season, Paddy Burns struck again at the yearling sales for another daughter of Ahonooora, giving 42,000gns for the filly who would become known as Park Express. Those two Ahonoora mares each left a significant mark, both at the races and in the paddocks, and the story of Park Express is one for another day. The post A Champion on the Track, Park Appeal Remains a Force in Modern-Day Pedigrees appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The Challenge, presented by GaineswayView the full article

Local trainer Robert Dennis won half of the eight-race card at Ascot Park on Friday, culminating with a special win by Sir Sterling in the Vale Tony Dennis (1400m). The $40,000 race was run a month after the passing of Robert Dennis’ father, the multiple Group One-winning horseman Tony Dennis. “It’s been a terrific day – it’s always great to train any winner, so to get four is hugely rewarding,” Robert Dennis said. “Winning the race named for Dad was a nice cherry on top.” Sir Sterling went into Friday’s Rating 75 event on the back of a first-up victory over 1335m at Gore on September 21. Despite rising from 58.5kg to 60.5kg on Friday, he was backed into $4.80 equal favouritism. Ridden by Daniel Bothamley, Sir Sterling settled in second before slowly but surely wearing down the front-running Buoyant and winning by half a head. Third-placed Maximus Augustus finished four and a half lengths behind the first pair. “It’s really satisfying to go back-to-back with Sir Sterling,” Dennis said. “I thought he might need the run at Gore in order to have him ready for today. I didn’t expect him to win so well at Gore. He had more weight today, but he did the job very well again, which was great to see. “We’ll see how he comes through this run today and then have a look at the programmes. He’s up to open grade now, so we’ll try to find some nice open handicaps for him through the coming weeks.” Dennis also played a prominent role in Friday’s two $50,000 open handicaps. The Radiant One resumed with an eye-catching second behind the high-flying Martell in the STAC Weddings Handicap (1200m), and then Stolen Magic drew right away down the straight to win the Olphert Contracting Handicap (1600m) by six and a quarter lengths. Stolen Magic has now had 18 starts for four wins and three placings, with the promise of more to come. “Stolen Magic is really coming of age this time in,” Dennis said. “She’s always shown ability, but has just been a bit physically and mentally immature. She’s starting to become the finished package. “We could look for a race for her during the New Zealand Cup Carnival, but she might be a better horse kept closer to home. My feeling is we’d also be better off targeting races in the autumn, particularly if she continues to improve the way she has been.” Dennis was also pleased to see Azilee Star and Pretty Fly leave maiden ranks earlier on the Ascot Park card. “Azilee Star just continues to improve,” Dennis said. “She’s been thriving since her last-start placing at Gore. She’s a bit of an unassuming filly and still has a bit of maturing to do, but she has plenty of ability and handles rain-affected ground well. “Pretty Fly’s performance was expected first-up today. The break that we gave her has done her the world of good. She’s another one that’s always shown a lot of ability and is really going the right way.” Azilee Star, Pretty Fly and Stolen Magic were all ridden by Donovan Cooper, who completed a winning quartet of his own with victory on the Graham Eade and Brooke Kincaid-trained Orepuki Gem in the Vale Peter Williams (2200m). View the full article

Last year's G1 Royal Bahrain Irish Champion Stakes winner Economics, who has been off the track for almost a year, has been given an entry for the G2 Bahrain International Trophy on November 15. The 2025 running of the $1m contest has attracted strong interest from across the globe, with the 68 entries representing seven different territories and including five Group 1 winners. His Highness Shaikh Isa Bin Salman Bin Hamad Al Khalifa's Economics is joined by White Birch, Tornado Alert, Calif, Sibayan, See The Fire, Wimbledon Hawkeye and Royal Champion among the glittering list of potential runners. Also set to return to Bahrain is Victorious Forever's G2 Hardwicke Stakes winner Isle Of Jura, who enjoyed a notable spell in Bahrain in 2023-24, winning four times, culminating with victory in The King's Cup. Britain has the largest entry of 24 horses, followed by Japan with 14 entries and 11 from France. The Bahrain International Trophy, which is run over 2000m and has been won in the last two years by the Richard Fahey-trained Spirit Dancer, has a maximum field of 14 runners. The post Economics Heads Bumper Entries for Bahrain International Trophy appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Tamfana, who won the G1 Chariot Stakes a year ago this weekend, is to be offered during the Sceptre Sessions at the Tattersalls December Mares Sale, which begins its four-day run on Monday, December 1. Prior to that, she is set to race in Sunday's G1 Prix de l'Opera at Longchamp. Trained by David Menuisier for Quantum Leap Racing, the four-year-old daughter of former German champion sire Soldier Hollow broke her maiden at two, winning a Kempton maiden by nine and a half lengths before landing the G3 Prix Miesque at Chantilly. Tamfana came within a length of winning the 1,000 Guineas when rallying late to claim fourth place after being hampered in running. She was also fourth against the colts in a high-class renewal of the G1 Grand Prix de Paris over 12 furlongs before dropping back to a mile and beating a top-class Sun Chariot field, which included multiple Group 1 winner Inspiral and Classic winners Nashwa and Elmalka. Tamfana is a daughter of the Zoffany mare Tres Magnifique, whose dam Ticana is a sister to the dual Listed winner and Group 2 runner-up Timos and a half-sister to G1 Beverley D Stakes winner Sea Calisi. Her two-year-old half-sister The Palace Girl sold for 1,550,000gns at the 2024 December Sale, and their dam is currently in foal to Frankel. The post Group 1 Winner Tamfana to be Offered at the Tattersalls Sceptre Sessions appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

By Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk It’s been an unusual Friday for Auckland-based couple Trent and Kristie Mason. The principals of Mason Bloodstock today watched on-line as the second of their two colts went under the hammer at the Lexington Selected Yearling sales in Kentucky. It is certainly uncommon for breeders based in New Zealand to be represented at the prestigious American sale. Earlier in the week their first colt, Lot 632 Virgin King (Huntsville – Virginontherocks) sold for $US42,000 ($NZ72,000). Today Rodeo Stranger (Tall Dark Stranger – Rodeo Beach) was knocked down for $US30,000 ($NZ51,000). Adding to the suspense for Masons was the fact it was Lot 798, the very last yearling to be presented on day four of the five day sale. “The anxiety certainly creeps in,” says Trent Mason, “you just don’t know what they are going to go for.” “The Tall Dark Stranger was well above what most of the Tall Dark Strangers went for so you’ve got to be happy,” he says. “We are racing fillies and selling colts at the moment so it made sense to sell them in the States where they were born.” Looking to expand their broodmare band with some well-bred American mares the Masons recently bought Virginontherocks, a full sister to Always B Miki, and Rodeo Beach, who’s by Somebeachsomewhere and a full sister to Huntsville. The two colts were part of the arrangement. “It was a package deal,” says Trent. In the meantime Virginontherocks and Rodeo Beach are now in New Zealand and have since produced full brothers to the pair that went through the sale ring this week. They have also both been served again, this time by Captaintreacherous and Bettor’s Delight respectively. Harness racing is an “outlet” for the pair and a world away from Masons, their building supply company. Originally from a family of bricklayers in Brisbane, Trent moved to New Zealand more than 20 years go. He admits to being a bit of a “boots and all” type character. While he’s more focused on pedigrees, Kristie’s expertise is in the administration and logistics involved in the bloodstock business, and the day to day welfare of the horses. Based at Waitoki north of Auckland, Mason Bloodstock plan to breed from five mares this season. “We have 40 acres that we hope to have ready by December – the plan is to have our breeding establishment there and bring everything in-house,” says Trent. “I do love the breeding game you know, seeing the potential of a horse and watching it grow,” says Mason. View the full article

Presenter-driver-trainer Brittany Graham knows a thing or two about racing on both sides of the Tasman and now that the Queenslander is working for Trackside in this country she’s (reluctantly) agreed to write a weekly column. By Brittany Graham The connections of New Zealand-bred trotter Gus are hoping a return to his country of birth on the second Tuesday in November will be fruitful. Gus is presently on the fifth line of betting with TAB at $10 for the Renwick Farms Dominion Trot on Cup day at Addington Raceway on Tuesday, November 11. He will be part of an Aussie onslaught in search of back-to-back Dominion success following on from Just Believe last year. Missing away on debut for Nathan Williamson back in March of 2023, Gus made amends in an astonishing win two weeks later despite again blowing the start. It unsurprisingly caught the attention of many, including bloodstock agent Geoff Gibson-Smith who has combined with the Turpin-McMullen stable out of Queensland for great success for many years. A deal was struck and the then four-year-old made his way across to Australia where he showed those glimpses of brilliance, in between his gait and manner fragilities. He certainly announced himself as a future open class star during the 2023 Inter Dominion series, particularly in round two when putting it to star mare Queen Elida when eventually third. Through 2024 he took many Winter Carnival features which put last year’s Renwick Farms Dominion Trot on the radar. However the wheels fell off at the end of that campaign and plans were shelved. Now as a six-year-old he seems on the straight and narrow, appearing a much more well-rounded racehorse and far more reliable. “His speed has been there since day one, but we just needed to get his manners right,” said his trainer and biggest fan, Chantal Turpin. “I have loved him since the day he walked off the truck” “He has so much character and is definitely a stable favourite,” she said. That favourite status has certainly been tested at times, however the team’s belief and patience has developed him into one of Australia’s best, as proven when an eye-catching fourth in the recent Inter Dominion Grand Final. “He has certainly matured but we also changed his work at home, he now warms up at the races and seems to thrive in his new routine” That was on full display when producing an exceptional third in last Saturday’s Menangle Trotters Cup when producing a personal last mile in 1.52.5 after an early bobble turned his 10metre handicap into far more. Described as his “best performance to date” by Chantal, some post-race comments from stand in driver Cameron Hart only furthered the stables hopes going forward. “Cam gave me a lot of confidence on Saturday night with a glowing report, and it also proved that Pete and I aren’t biased towards him,” she laughed. The young couple are now readying for their biggest challenge to date when they travel their little trotter to New Zealand for the first time. “Gus is booked to fly over on November 2nd, before we plan on taking him to the Cup Day trials at Addington prior to the big one on November 11”. View the full article

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

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

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

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

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

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

Toa Haka will contest the Snapback @ Clearview Park 1200 at Phar Lap Raceway on Sunday. Photo: Race Images South Lochmara Bay has been knocking on the door of a maiden win and trainer David Walsh is hoping she can secure it at Phar Lap Raceway on Sunday when she contests the Ecoglo International NZ 1200. The four-year-old daughter of Sweynesse has finished runner-up in three of her four starts this preparation, all over 1400m, and Walsh is hoping a drop back in distance will benefit his mare. Lochmara Bay is paying around the $2.90 quote with horse racing betting sites, with Let Me Loose ($5.50) and Morrie ($7) also seeing some respect from punters. “She has been racing really well and has led at the 200m several times and has got run down, so I thought I might as well drop her back to 1200m to see how she goes,” he said. Her wide alley of 10 in the 13-horse field and forecast rain are Walsh’s two biggest concerns heading into the weekend, but he is hoping jockey Tina Comignaghi can be the difference. “I don’t really know about a wet track, because the forecast isn’t very good,” he said. “She is going to need a bit of luck from there (10). Notoriously, wide draws at Timaru over 1200m aren’t very good, but Tina is on and she might be able to work some magic hopefully.” Later on the card, Graeme John will be out to score back-to-back victories in the Snapback @ Clearview Park 1200, but Walsh is unsure how he will handle the step up to rating 75 grade. “You never quite know if they are going to do it (step up to rating 75 grade),” he said. “There were plenty of pluses from last start but that was five weeks ago. If the track really deteriorated, I might consider withdrawing him, but at this stage he is starting. “He races on pace, pretty handy most of the time. He has done very well, but whatever he does he will improve on because it has been a wee while in-between runs. “I am very happy with him, he looks amazing.” He will be met in the race by stablemate Toa Haka, who heads into Sunday in good form, having placed over 1400m at Riccarton last month. He will have another wide draw to overcome but will get the assistance of apprentice jockey Floor Moerman’s three-kilogram claim. “It’s just typical for him. It’s staggering how many bad draws that horse gets,” Walsh said. “He has got a claim on and he likes to go pretty handy. We are thinking a bit of a loose track might suit him and I am really pleased with him. “He has had two runs under his belt, the last one over 1400m, so he should be competitive. It is a handy field and he is still going to need a bit of luck.” Walsh’s other runner at the Timaru meeting will be Loose ‘N’ Vegas in the Pink Ribbon & Heartland Chips 1200. The daughter of Turn Me Loose will be having her first start as a three-year-old and Walsh expects her to take plenty of improvement out of the run. “She has come up with a strong draw (13) with a horse that wants a bit of cover,” he said. “She didn’t have any luck at all as a two-year-old. Whatever she does she will improve on. “She had a trial at Riccarton last Monday and I am picking she will go a good race.” View the full article

Joshua Brown faces a stern test in the Matamata Cup on Saturday. He is pictured winning last year at Te Arapa. Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images) Lance Gussey is hoping to put a last-start disappointment behind him when Joshua Brown lines up in the Listed Team Wealleans Matamata Cup (1600m) on Saturday. Gussey trains and part-owns the Dalghar gelding, whose rise through the ranks during the winter months culminated in an impressive victory in the Listed Opunake Cup (1400m) at New Plymouth in July. That performance earned Joshua Brown a shot at the Group 2 Foxbridge Plate (1200m) at Te Rapa on August 23, but he never fired a shot and finished at the tail of the field. “That was a pretty average performance and a long way below what he’s capable of,” Gussey said. “I think he just didn’t want to be there that day. “He’s a real hot and cold horse. Sometimes he might have a little niggly thing that’s bothering him and you don’t even know about it, but he’ll just switch off and decide not to try at all. “You could see it from the way he was behaving going down to the start and holding the race up. “It’s just one of those things that can happen with horses, and especially a horse like him. We know he’s a lot better than that.” The Foxbridge failure prompted Gussey to abandon any thought of pressing on towards the Group 1 Mile (1600m) at Te Rapa last Saturday, for which he was originally nominated. But pleasing progress in more recent weeks has set the six-year-old up for a return to black-type company this weekend. “We gave him a couple of weeks off after the Foxbridge, and he’s been training extremely well since we brought him back in,” Gussey said. “He’s had another horse to work with, which seems to be helping him to focus and work better. “I’m quite looking forward to getting him back to the races on Saturday.” The Matamata Cup will be Joshua Brown’s second start over 1600m. His only previous attempt at the distance produced a second behind Drop Of Something in the Te Awamutu Cup on July 5. “I definitely believe that going back up to 1600m will suit him, I think he prefers it to the shorter distances,” Gussey said. “We did have him in the big 1600m race at Te Rapa last Saturday originally, but pulled him out after the Foxbridge. Now that he’s come back so well after his little break, there’s no reason not to give him a shot at a decent race like this.” A potential factor in Joshua Brown’s favour is Matamata’s Heavy 10 track. Joshua Brown has had six starts on heavy ground for three wins and two placings. “We’ve been quite lucky with the way the weather’s been,” Gussey said. “I think he should handle it a bit better than some of the others. I hope so anyway.” Joshua Brown will continue his partnership with jockey Lynsey Satherley, who has ridden him in 13 of his 14 career starts. They have combined to record four wins and three placings. On Friday, Neds Australia rated Joshua Brown a $6 chance for the Matamata Cup, sharing favouritism with Aftermath. The others in single figures were My Lips Are Sealed ($6.50), Chantilly Lace ($8.50), Livid Sky ($8.50) and One Bold Cat ($9.50). View the full article

Trav winning Saturday’s Group 2 Auckland Cup (3200m) at Ellerslie. Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images) Kiwi jockey Masa Hashizume will step onto the Flemington turf for the first time this weekend when he attempts to qualify Bulls gelding Trav for next month’s Group 1 Melbourne Cup (3200m). The 29-year-old hoop partnered the Raymond Connors-trained six-year-old to a memorable victory in the Group 2 Auckland Cup (3200m) at Ellerslie in March, and the Manawatu horseman has stuck with Hashizume ever since. The pair have recorded two fourth placings in their two appearances together this season, including an eye-catching effort out wide at Ellerslie a fortnight ago. Hashizume was rapt with Trav’s effort, and he got a welcome surprise when Connors offered him the ride in Australia, and he immediately accepted. “I knew he was going to try to go to the Melbourne Cup, but I didn’t expect him to ask me to come to Melbourne with him,” Hashizume said. “It was a huge run at Ellerslie last start and when I hopped off the horse, he (Connors) asked me if I wanted to ride Trav in Melbourne, and I said yes.” Hashizume is excited to head to Melbourne on Saturday to ride Trav in the Group 3 The Bart Cummings (2520m), an important lead-in race to the Melbourne Cup, with the victor gaining an automatic spot in the A$10 million feature. Not only will it be Hashizume’s first look at the iconic Flemington track, it will also be his first time riding in Australia, a challenge he is looking forward to. “I have never ridden in Aussie before,” he said. “It’s a good raceday with lots of Group races and a lot of good jockeys there, so I am excited to ride against them.” Hashizume was going to have the presence of fellow New Zealand-based jockey Matt Cartwright to help guide him through the day, however, both jockeys fell during a race at Tauranga on Wednesday, with Cartwright’s injuries ruling him out of riding for a fortnight. “Matt Cartwright was going to ride his mum’s horse (at Flemington) on the weekend, and he was going to take me through the jockey room and walk the track with me, but unfortunately he had an accident on Wednesday,” Hashizume said. “Nothing is broken, he has just got a big bruise on his arm and he said he can’t ride for two weeks.” Hashizume was fortunately unscathed and continued to ride for the rest of the meeting, but now he said he will have to find another jockey to lean on for advice, and he has one leading hoop in mind. “I quite like Damian Lane and when he came to New Zealand for Karaka Millions night three years ago, he was happy to walk the track with me, so I might ask him,” Hashizume said. Trav will jump from barrier six on Saturday, and while Hashizume does not know how he will handle his first test on Australian soil, there is one thing that he can assure. “I will try my best,” he said. View the full article

Rosetown Princess will contest the Russell & Yvonne Green Memorial (2000m) at Matamata on Saturday. Photo: Race Images Darrell Hollinshead has two strong chances at Matamata to continue the good run of recent form of his boutique stable. The Te Awamutu trainer produced Bak Da Angel to score last weekend at Te Rapa where stablemate Digger also placed and Rosetown Princess and Ramblin’ Rose will represent the team on Saturday. Russell & Yvonne Green Memorial (2000m) contender Rosetown Princess has been in good touch this preparation and was an open handicap winner at New Plymouth three runs back. She then ran fifth at Te Aroha before the Redwood mare returned to Taranaki to finish runner-up and Hollinshead believes a case can be made for her to have gone closer on both occasions. MORE: NZ horse racing “She could possibly have won them all, she was in the worst part of the track on the fence two runs back,” he said. “Next time, Elen (Nicholas) got off her and said she rode her a bit too pretty and got held up a whisker and lost a bit of momentum.” Rosetown Princess began her career in Victorian racing with Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr and placed in seven consecutive starts before returning to Hollinshead and is now a four-time winner. “We gave her one run over ground after she came back from Australia and she drew wide and over-raced the whole way,” he said. “We were a bit scared to put her over ground again, but when she gets a bit of cover she’s as good as gold.” Rosetown Princess will be ridden by Ashlee Strawbridge, who will also be aboard Ramblin’ Rose in the Mitre 10 Matamata Handicap (2000m). The daughter of Complacent got home strongly to finish third over 1600m last time out when resuming at Te Rapa. “She clipped heels at the start last time and that’s why she was three lengths last and then ran on nicely,” Hollinshead said. Meanwhile, Hollinshead is considering his options with Ace High five-year-old Bak Da Angel with a tilt at the Group 3 Sweynesse Stakes (1215m) a possibility. “I may put in a nomination for that weight-for-age race and she could be a horse for the Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (Gr.2, 1400m) at Pukekohe. I think she’s the most improved horse we’ve had for years.” Close relatives Bak Da Angel and Rosetown Princess were bred by Hollinshead with their pedigrees featuring the family’s Group 1 Easter Handicap (1600m) winner Pondarosa Miss and the ill-fated dual top-flight winner Te Akau Shark. View the full article

Super Typhoon Ragasa cost Wrote A New Page a run at last week’s cancelled Happy Valley meeting and now connections of the in-form galloper are hoping Tropical Storm Matmo stays at bay long enough to ensure Saturday’s Sha Tin meeting goes ahead as planned. Jockey Club officials are hopeful the worst of any weather won’t arrive until after Saturday’s card, meaning Wrote A New Page should be clear to chase a fourth straight success in the card-closing Class Three Nam Long Shan Handicap...View the full article

Melody Belle was a classy type that had success in group races. Picture: Peter Rubery (Race Images Palmerston North) It will be a full-circle moment for Te Akau Racing at The Valley on Friday night when Lyrics ‘N’ Song, a daughter of their former multiple Group One winner Melody Belle, makes her debut. Raced by New Zealand syndicator Fortuna, Melody Belle won 19 races for former Te Akau trainers Stephen Autridge and Jamie Richards, including 14 at Group One level. She accrued more than $4 million in prize-money and was crowned New Zealand Horse of the Year in 2018-19 and 2019-20. Following her racing career, she was offered at Magic Millions’ 2021 Gold Coast National Broodmare Sale where she was purchased by Yulong Investments for A$2.6 million. Her first mating was with resident stallion Written Tycoon, with the resulting foal being Lyrics ‘N’ Song, who would be entrusted to the care of Mark Walker at Te Akau Racing’s Cranbourne barn. Lyrics ‘N’ Song is the second favourite to win on Friday night at $2.70 with horse racing betting sites, behind Eden Rose ($2.60) with the pair the only two showing any life in the markets. The now three-year-old filly has had three jumpouts, including winning her last outing over 1000m at Cranbourne, and she has made a good impression on Walker. “She has jumped out nicely and she has inherited some of mum’s ability, I don’t know how much yet, but I think she is well above average at this stage,” he said. “We are very grateful that Yulong gave us the first foal to train, and hopefully she is a good broodmare for them.” Lyrics ‘N’ Song will line-up in the Drummond Gold Plate (1200m) on Friday and Walker is looking forward to seeing how she performs under the pressure of racenight. “It has come up quite a strong field, there is a fair bit of depth to it, but she has drawn nicely (1) and should acquit herself well,” he said. On Saturday, Walker will take three runners to Flemington, including debut winner Azazel, who will contest the Listed Super Impose Stakes (1800m). “I liked it (debut run) because he was headed and he fought back and he was really strong through the line,” Walker said. “I think Flemington will suit him over 1800m, it is just hard weighing up different form lines. I see they have put him up as a $23 shot, but I certainly rate him a better chance than that.” A race prior, Walker will have a dual-pronged attack in the Listed Maribyrnong Trial Stakes (1000m) courtesy of debutants Harry Met Sally and Flash Of Class. “They have had three jumpouts and they have had the benefit of a jumpout down the Flemington straight,” Walker said. “They have been well schooled. “They are all first starters and have got different form lines, so it is hard to weight it up.” Meanwhile, back in New Zealand, Te Akau Racing’s Matamata barn will be seeking to take out their home cup, the Listed Team Wealleans Matamata Cup (1600m), with My Lips Are Sealed. The Group Three winner had only been fair in her trials early in her prepation, but Walker, who trains in New Zealand in partnership with Sam Bergerson, was buoyed by her first-up run at Ellerslie last month. “Her trials before her first start were a bit below par, but I thought her run first-up was quite good and she has improved,” he said. “She is down on the minimum and a wet track shouldn’t worry her.” View the full article

Hugh Bowman is confident Helios Express is every bit the horse he was when placing behind Ka Ying Rising seven times last season after putting the sprinter through his paces in a trial at Sha Tin on Friday morning. Helios Express travelled nicely behind the speed over 1,200m on the all-weather track before picking up nicely when asked by Bowman and crossing the line in third. “He feels as good [as last season]. He’s had a nice puff this morning. A bit like Red Lion, he probably needs to go to...View the full article

Darrell Hollinshead has two strong chances at Matamata to continue the good run of recent form of his boutique stable. The Te Awamutu trainer produced Bak Da Angel to score last weekend at Te Rapa where stablemate Digger also placed and Rosetown Princess and Ramblin’ Rose will represent the team on Saturday. Russell & Yvonne Green Memorial (2000m) contender Rosetown Princess has been in good touch this preparation and was an open handicap winner at New Plymouth three runs back. She then ran fifth at Te Aroha before the Redwood mare returned to Taranaki to finish runner-up and Hollinshead believes a case can be made for her to have gone closer on both occasions. “She could possibly have won them all, she was in the worst part of the track on the fence two runs back,” he said. “Next time, Elen (Nicholas) got off her and said she rode her a bit too pretty and got held up a whisker and lost a bit of momentum.” Rosetown Princess began her career in Victoria with Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr and placed in seven consecutive starts before returning to Hollinshead and is now a four-time winner. “We gave her one run over ground after she came back from Australia and she drew wide and over-raced the whole way,” he said. “We were a bit scared to put her over ground again, but when she gets a bit of cover she’s as good as gold.” Rosetown Princess will be ridden by Ashlee Strawbridge, who will also be aboard Ramblin’ Rose in the Mitre 10 Matamata Handicap (2000m). The daughter of Complacent got home strongly to finish third over 1600m last time out when resuming at Te Rapa. “She clipped heels at the start last time and that’s why she was three lengths last and then ran on nicely,” Hollinshead said. Meanwhile, Hollinshead is considering his options with Ace High five-year-old Bak Da Angel with a tilt at the Gr.3 Sweynesse Stakes (1215m) a possibility. “I may put in a nomination for that weight-for-age race and she could be a horse for the Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (Gr.2, 1400m) at Pukekohe. I think she’s the most improved horse we’ve had for years.” Close relatives Bak Da Angel and Rosetown Princess were bred by Hollinshead with their pedigrees featuring the family’s Gr.1 Easter Handicap (1600m) winner Pondarosa Miss and the ill-fated dual top-flight winner Te Akau Shark. View the full article

Kiwi jockey Masa Hashizume will step onto the Flemington turf for the first time this weekend when he attempts to qualify Bulls gelding Trav for next month’s Gr.1 Melbourne Cup (3200m). The 29-year-old hoop partnered the Raymond Connors-trained six-year-old to a memorable victory in the Gr.2 Auckland Cup (3200m) at Ellerslie in March, and the Manawatu horseman has stuck with Hashizume ever since. The pair have recorded two fourth placings in their two appearances together this season, including an eye-catching effort out wide at Ellerslie a fortnight ago. Hashizume was rapt with Trav’s effort, and he got a welcome surprise when Connors offered him the ride in Australia, and he immediately accepted. “I knew he was going to try to go to the Melbourne Cup, but I didn’t expect him to ask me to come to Melbourne with him,” Hashizume said. “It was a huge run at Ellerslie last start and when I hopped off the horse, he (Connors) asked me if I wanted to ride Trav in Melbourne, and I said yes.” Hashizume is excited to head to Melbourne on Saturday to ride Trav in the Gr.3 The Bart Cummings (2520m), an important lead-in race to the Melbourne Cup, with the victor gaining an automatic spot in the A$10 million feature. Not only will it be Hashizume’s first look at the iconic track, it will also be his first time riding in Australia, a challenge he is looking forward to. “I have never ridden in Aussie before,” he said. “It’s a good raceday with lots of Group races and a lot of good jockeys there, so I am excited to ride against them.” Hashizume was going to have the presence of fellow New Zealand-based jockey Matt Cartwright to help guide him through the day, however, both jockeys fell during a race at Tauranga on Wednesday, with Cartwright’s injuries ruling him out of riding for a fortnight. “Matt Cartwright was going to ride his mum’s horse (at Flemington) on the weekend, and he was going to take me through the jockey room and walk the track with me, but unfortunately he had an accident on Wednesday,” Hashizume said. “Nothing is broken, he has just got a big bruise on his arm and he said he can’t ride for two weeks.” Hashizume was fortunately unscathed and continued to ride for the rest of the meeting, but now he said he will have to find another jockey to lean on for advice, and he has one leading hoop in mind. “I quite like Damian Lane and when he came to New Zealand for Karaka Millions night three years ago, he was happy to walk the track with me, so I might ask him,” Hashizume said. Trav will jump from barrier six on Saturday, and while Hashizume does not know how he will handle his first test on Australian soil, there is one thing that he can assure. “I will try my best,” he said. View the full article