Month: September 2019

Trainer Saimee Jumaat welcomed Orient Express’s first win with a sense of relief on Friday night. The former eight-time Singapore champion jockey said he had been at his wit’s end trying to get the Pour Moi five-year-old to find the line, let alone a jockey to ride him in the S$20,000 Open Maiden-2 race over 1200m. In the end, he put his apprentice jockey Yusoff Fadzli on, and it proved to be the right combination for the night, and for that much-needed first hurrah. Odds-on favourite and impressive barrier trial…

Anthony Freedman will be hoping for a better result with new stable acquisition Aloisia when she lines-up in the Gr.2 Let’s Elope Stakes (1400m) at Flemington on Saturday. The New Zealand-bred mare joined Freedman’s Mornington barn after she was purchased for A$1.2 million to Hilldene Farm and Peter Ford Thoroughbreds in May. She finished third behind former stablemate Humidor in a 950m trial at Cranbourne last month before her unplaced run in the Gr.3 Cockram Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield on August 31. While the result was disappointing for the stable,…

Shock Alert (blue and yellow cap) on his way to winning at Rosehill on Saturday (bradleyphotos.com.au) Trainer Bjorn Baker has had a marvellous start to the season with two wins at Rosehill after starting the day’s meeting with six metropolitan winners. Both Saturday’s wins were close run-affairs with favourite Shock Alert taking out the Everest Carnival Handicap (1800m) by a head from Humbolt Current. Another favourite. Irukandji prevailed in an equally tight finish to take out the Hyland Race Colours Handicap (1500m) from Juventus and Angel of Heaven, both trained…

Lightly raced gelding Rox The Castle has taken the step to stakes company and continued to build on his promising record with a determined victory in a Listed race at Flemington leading home a New Zealand-bred trifecta. Five-year-old Rox The Castle took his record to seven wins from 12 starts when he held off Travimyfriend to win Saturday’s Listed Sofitel (1400m) by a long neck with Romancer a length away third. Rox The Castle is one of less than a handful of horses Kerry Edwards has in work and the…

Four-year-old mare Spanish Whisper has confirmed her liking for the Flemington 1400m course with another Group Two win in the Let’s Elope Stakes. Spanish Whisper won the Gr.2 Kewney Stakes over the course and distance in the second start of her autumn preparation in March and added Saturday’s Let’s Elope in the second start of […]

Apprentice jockey Kozzi Asano Promising Canterbury apprentice Kozzi Asano has come a long way from picking strawberries in Queensland for a living. The Japanese 24-year-old left his homeland six years ago and after almost two and a half years in Australia he is now calling New Zealand home and pursuing his desired career as a jockey. He is making a fine impression to be sitting fourth equal on the New Zealand Jockeys’ Premiership, albeit so early in the season. Asano is indentured to Riccarton trainer Andrew Carston, for him he…

Riva Capri winning the Listed The O’Learys Fillies Stakes (1200m) at Wanganui The victory of promising three-year-old filly Riva Capri in Saturday’s Listed The O’Learys Fillies Stakes (1200m) at Wanganui conjured up mixed emotions for well known bloodstock agent Bruce Perry. Perry, who selects and manages the thoroughbred interests of Wellington-based owner/breeder Lib Petagna, was thrilled to see the Guy Lowry and Grant Cullen-trained filly carry Petagna’s colours to victory as the first stakes winner for the ill-fated Mapperley Stud stallion Atlante. The win also brought with it the sting…

Glamour galloper Melody Belle has added the New Zealand Horse of the Year title to her growing list of achievements. The Matamata mare was an almost unanimous choice for Horse of the Year, which was announced at the New Zealand Thoroughbred Horse of the Year Awards, in Auckland on Sunday night. Of the 61 votes cast for Horse of the Year, Melody Belle received 59, with one apiece for stablemate Te Akau Shark and Bostonian, who was a dual Group I winner in Australia. Melody Belle was also named Champion…

Woodcote Lass scores first-up in the South Island for owner Kevin Hickman A gritty win by promising filly Woodcote Lass at Riccarton on Saturday has kicked off Matamata trainer Stephen Autridge’s southern campaign in the best possible style. Autridge has based a five-strong team at Riccarton for the past few weeks as they get ready to tackle some of the feature events at November’s New Zealand Cup & Show Week for owner Kevin Hickman. Autridge’s contingent is spearheaded by Gr.1 Gavelhouse.com New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) nominees Woodcote Lass and…