Journalists Wandering Eyes Posted Monday at 09:34 PM Journalists Share Posted Monday at 09:34 PM Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Journalists Wandering Eyes Posted Monday at 09:35 PM Author Journalists Share Posted Monday at 09:35 PM Beautiful day here at Matamata. Track a Soft 5 and in great condition. El Vencedor wins the first with ease. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Journalists Wandering Eyes Posted Monday at 09:37 PM Author Journalists Share Posted Monday at 09:37 PM Blake Shinn 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Journalists Wandering Eyes Posted Monday at 09:56 PM Author Journalists Share Posted Monday at 09:56 PM Captured By Love 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Journalists Wandering Eyes Posted Monday at 09:59 PM Author Journalists Share Posted Monday at 09:59 PM Alabama Lass 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Journalists Wandering Eyes Posted Monday at 10:08 PM Author Journalists Share Posted Monday at 10:08 PM Move To Strike 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Journalists Wandering Eyes Posted Monday at 10:13 PM Author Journalists Share Posted Monday at 10:13 PM The new Knight. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Journalists Wandering Eyes Posted Monday at 10:15 PM Author Journalists Share Posted Monday at 10:15 PM Move To Stike nice easy trial winning under a hold Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Journalists Wandering Eyes Posted Monday at 10:19 PM Author Journalists Share Posted Monday at 10:19 PM Babylon Berlin and Damask Rose 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Journalists Wandering Eyes Posted Monday at 10:27 PM Author Journalists Share Posted Monday at 10:27 PM Babylon Berlin easy win lead as always. Damask Rose second. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Journalists Wandering Eyes Posted Monday at 10:32 PM Author Journalists Share Posted Monday at 10:32 PM Master Fay and the 2yr old colt Return To Conquer Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Journalists Wandering Eyes Posted Monday at 10:39 PM Author Journalists Share Posted Monday at 10:39 PM Very impressive trial by Return To Conquer. Watch out Sydney! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Journalists Wandering Eyes Posted Monday at 10:44 PM Author Journalists Share Posted Monday at 10:44 PM Nice looking colt from Wexford. L'Agle Noir 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Journalists Wandering Eyes Posted Monday at 11:01 PM Author Journalists Share Posted Monday at 11:01 PM Zonza and Rondinella colts One by Bivoac and the other by Snitzel 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Journalists Wandering Eyes Posted Monday at 11:08 PM Author Journalists Share Posted Monday at 11:08 PM Heat 9 won by Ocean Park filly Au Fait. Zonza colt Zivou a close second. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Journalists Wandering Eyes Posted Monday at 11:28 PM Author Journalists Share Posted Monday at 11:28 PM Heat 10 Angel's Brew trained by Pam Gerard. Very good trial. Watch for its next start. Best Rose power finish down the inside after climbing over horses. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Journalists Wandering Eyes Posted Monday at 11:40 PM Author Journalists Share Posted Monday at 11:40 PM The $2m Avantage Filly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Murray Fish Posted yesterday at 01:21 AM Share Posted yesterday at 01:21 AM 3 hours ago, Wandering Eyes said: The new Knight. ?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chief Stipe Posted yesterday at 02:44 AM Share Posted yesterday at 02:44 AM 1 hour ago, Murray Fish said: ?? Didn't NGH get a gong at New Year? 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skan Posted yesterday at 08:27 AM Share Posted yesterday at 08:27 AM How did the third horse look in heat nine? Was waiting and waiting for the video and looks like it won’t be up until tomorrow…. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
curious Posted 9 hours ago Share Posted 9 hours ago On 14/01/2025 at 11:15 AM, Wandering Eyes said: Move To Stike nice easy trial winning under a hold Bourbon Empress impressive in that though now they have the video up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Murray Fish Posted 5 hours ago Share Posted 5 hours ago Te Akau Racing continued to forge their flourishing partnership with Victorian Jockeys Premiership leader Blake Shinn at the Matamata trials on Tuesday morning, employing the top hoop across a number of the stable’s top prospects. New Zealand’s leading stable will engage Shinn to ride several of their string on race day over the coming weeks, and we spoke to Shinn about some of his standouts. “It’s been a productive morning,” Shinn spoke to TTR AusNZ after the trials. “(I) rode about five lots early in the morning, then 12 trials. I’m happy that I’ve come over and gotten a feel for the horses again.” Heavy hitters return in terrific form Among his rides were G1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas winner Captured By Love (Written Tycoon), who breezed home by 2l to win her trial. The Te Akau team have indicated she is headed for the G1 Railway S. on Karaka Millions raceday later this month. Click here to view Captured By Love's trial replay “She’s terrific,” Shinn said. “She’s come through her Group 1 win nicely. She’s coming back in distance with Craig Williams (staying) aboard - I’m keeping the seat warm for him. She’s just a lovely filly, no fuss at all.” “She’s (Captured By Love) come through her Group 1 win nicely. She’s coming back in distance with Craig Williams (staying) aboard - I’m keeping the seat warm for him. She’s just a lovely filly, no fuss at all.” - Blake Shinn Te Akau principal David Ellis CNZM swooped on the daughter of Moldova (Snitzel), a close relation to G3 Ming Dynasty H.-winning sire Addictive Nature, at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale two years ago and paid $525,000 to take her home from the Milburn Creek draft. Last year, Rosemont Stud, Suman Hedge Bloodstock (FBAA), Moody Racing, and Spicer Thoroughbreds combined to pay $500,000 for her half-brother by Too Darn Hot (GB), now named Maldini. He also guided home Move To Strike (I Am Invincible), winner of last year’s G1 Manawatu Sires’ Produce S. who underwent upper respiratory surgery in late September, following his failure to fire in the Listed Sir Colin Meads Trophy. The 3-year-old colt won his 1000-metre heat by 0.75l over Bourbon Empress (NZ) (Proisir). “I think he’s returned well off the back of his jump-out today,” Shinn said. “It’s my first time riding the horse, but he’s a magnificent looking colt by I Am Invincible. He gave me a great feel.” Move To Strike | Image courtesy of Trish Dunell Bred by Gerry Harvey and offered by Baramul Stud in the same sale as Captured By Love, Move To Strike was a $500,000 acquisition for Ellis. His dam No Evidence Needed (Shamardal {USA}) won the G2 Let’s Elope S. for John Thompson, and she delivered a filly by Dundeel (NZ) in the spring, before patronising Vinery Stud’s new addition, Hawaii Five Oh. Among Shinn’s other rides was Damask Rose (NZ) (Savabeel), who returned in fine form under Shinn’s guidance to finish 1l behind Babylon Berlin (All Too Hard). The winner of two from five starts, including at Te Rapa in December, Te Akau Racing have indicated that she will be aimed at the R. Listed Karaka Million 3YO. Shinn was on board when the filly ran second in the R. Listed Karaka Million 2YO. Click here to view Damask Rose's (NZ) trial replay Magnificent types among Te Akau juveniles Shinn partnered the promising Snitzel colt Return To Conquer, who was purchased out of Blue Gum Farm’s draft by Ellis at last year’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale for $1.3 million. A winner on debut in November in the Listed Counties Challenge S. under Wiremu Pinn, the talented grandson of dual Group 2 winner Portillo (Red Ransom {USA}) is no doubt en route to the G1 Manawatu Sires’ Produce S., following in Move To Strike’s footsteps. Return To Conquer | Image courtesy of Trish Dunell The 2-year-old stepped out in an open trial, beating the older horses by 0.25l, with the 5-year-old Mr Mojo Risin’ (Deep Field) finishing second. “He’s a magnificent type, he trialled in an open heat and he won quite nicely,” Shinn said. “He did everything right, he’s definitely improved.” “He’s (Return To Conquer) a magnificent type, he trialled in an open heat and he won quite nicely. He did everything right, he’s definitely improved.” - Blake Shinn The filly In Haste (Snitzel) was another that Shinn describes as impressive in her 1.25l win in her 800-metre juvenile heat. Bred by SF Bloodstock, the three-quarter sister to G1 Tattersall’s Tiara-winning Prompt Response (Beneteau) was purchased for $400,000 out of Newgate Farm’s Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale draft by Ladbrokes Racing Club and Newgate Bloodstock last year. She debuted a strong second in November behind Toretto (NZ) (Ardrossan). Click here to view In Haste's trial replay Shinn also guided Avantaggia (Wootton Bassett {GB}), the first foal of Te Akau’s nine-time Group 1 winner Avantage (Fastnet Rock) and the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale-topper last year at $2.3 million, through her first trial. Resolute Bloodstock paid $1.3 million for her half-sister by I Am Invincible last week at the Gold Coast. Click here to view Avantaggia's trial replay Avantaggia as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions He added that it was hard to gauge her performance off of her debut where she found the drying track tough, “we gave her a quiet trial. She was feeling the track a bit, so we let her poke around out the back.” Born To Be Royal (King’s Legacy) might have been beaten 1.25l by Angels Brew (Harry Angel {Ire}), but Shinn was very pleased with the performance. Ellis purchased the filly for $260,000 at the New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale last year where Riversley Park presented her, having picked her up for $40,000 from Fairhill Farm at the Inglis Australian Weanling Sale the year before. Her dam Fatal Rendezvous (All American) is a two-time winner from the family of Not A Single Doubt. Click here to view Born To Be Royal's trial replay “She’s a really impressive type physically,” Shinn said. “She has got a big future.” “She’s (Born To Be Royal) a really impressive type physically. She has got a big future.” - Blake Shinn A well-deserved boost to Kiwi racing Shinn is keen to be a part of the upward trajectory of New Zealand racing. The New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing's mid-2023 announcement of prizemoney increases across the board, offering an additional $20 million to kick in at the start of the 2024/25 season, has come into effect, to the benefit of all. The newly established $4.5 million NZB Kiwi slot race takes centre stage in March as the Southern Hemisphere’s richest 3-year-old race. “New Zealand racing is stronger than ever,” Shinn has always enjoyed racing across the Tasman and is appreciative of the opportunities sent his way by New Zealand trainers. Lance O'Sullivan and Andrew Scott gave him the ride on his first Kiwi Group 1 winner when he guided Summer Passage (Snitzel) to win the G1 Sistema S. in 2017. The prizemoney rise is a well-deserved injection. “The horses here can mix it anywhere in the world. “The horses here (New Zealand) can mix it anywhere in the world.” - Blake Shinn “I can only see it (the racing) getting better, and it might incentivise owners to keep their horses in Australasia with the prizemoney becoming so good.” Shinn’s association with Te Akau Racing is not new, having ridden for them in Victoria and internationally, but their latest partnership brings the two forces closer still. “They've been great to me,” Shinn said. “They've been really supportive and, when they asked for me to come to the trials, I knew how important it was.” David Ellis was amongst the most active buyers at the recent Magic Millions sale, signing for 21 lots across the sale. He took home the Home Affairs half-brother to G1 Pegasus World Cup Invitational S. winner Warm Heart (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), out of three-time Group 1 winner Sea Siren (Fastnet Rock), for $650,000 as his top purchase. David Ellis | Image courtesy of Magic Millions “David (Ellis) is one of the best judges of horse flesh in the world,” Shinn said. “It's great to have his and Te Akau’s support. I'm really happy to be in their group.” Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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