Riccarton trainer Andrew Carston has had a good run with former North Island horses and that continued on his home track on Saturday when Hunua Hank (NZ) (Pentire) took out his 1600m contest. The former Nigel Tiley-trained gelding was having just his second start for Carston and he believes the son of Pentire has a bright future at his southern base. “It was a nice win, he is a pretty progressive horse,” Carston said. “He was a last start winner before he arrived, he has definitely got ability. “I thought…
Month: July 2020
Pelvic injury still to be diagnosed for Knight Mariner
Promising three-year-old Knight Mariner (NZ) (Tavistock) was taken to the Gatton veterinary hospital on Monday for further examination of his injured pelvis. Knight Mariner swept to the lead at the 200m in the Gr.3 Winx Guineas (1600m) on Saturday and looked a likely winner in the Sunshine Coast feature on Saturday until Wapiti kicked back and beat him by a 1/2 length into second. “Baylee (jockey, Nothdurft) said he felt something was wrong 50m out,” trainer Tony Gollan said. “As he was going out of the home straight he really…
Aiming for the Sky
Joao Moreira rode a treble at Sha Tin on Sunday and he was buzzing after Sky Field (Deep Field) put four lengths on the field in the Class 4 Mr Award Handicap (1200m). The Caspar Fownes-trained three-year-old, who was purchased out of Trelawney Stud’s 2018 New Zealand Bloodstock Book 1 draft, broke his maiden at the third attempt in a manner that points to a bright future. “It’s been a while since I’ve ridden a nice young talent like him. The best part of it is that he feels like…
Deutsches Derby victory a coup for New Zealand breeders
Leading international bloodstock agent Paul Moroney has struck gold once again. Moroney pioneered sourcing German bloodlines for New Zealand clients back in the 1980’s and more than 30 years later his judgment of the European stock is still paying off. “I think I was one of the first to buy German bloodlines into New Zealand,” he said. “In 1986, on behalf of the Cambridge Stud partnership, I bought a half-sister to the previous year’s Epsom Derby (Gr.1, 2400m) winner Slip Anchor. “Her name was Set Sail and she ended up…
Johnson launches bloodstock agency
Recognised industry participant Dylan Johnson is establishing his own bloodstock consultancy, Dylan Johnson Bloodstock, in a move which will see him retained as the sales agent for Westbury Stud. Johnson has established himself as a popular and respected figure in the industry since joining the Gerry Harvey owned breeding operation in 2016. In his position as the farm’s Business Development Manager he has played a key role in the development of the farm’s stallion ranks, with the successful launch of exciting stallions Tarzino and Telperion being central to his achievements. …
Posthumous purple patch for Tavistock
The strong recent form of Tavistock’s progeny has given Cambridge Stud chief executive Henry Plumptre a feeling of déjà vu. A multiple Group One winner as a racehorse and a sire, Tavistock was put down in December due to complications from a paddock injury. He was 14-years-old. Since then he has sired 76 individual winners, 40 of them in the last two months alone. Toffee Tongue (NZ) became his fifth individual Group One winner with an impressive performance in the Schweppes Oaks (2000m) in Adelaide in May, following on from…
Return of Winter Cup continues Riccarton’s rebound
The last few weeks have put a spring in the step of the team at Riccarton Park. Earlier in the year, the Covid-19 pandemic had threatened to deal a cruel blow to the South Island’s flagship racetrack and its two premier carnivals. August’s Grand National Festival was impossible in a calendar with no South Island jumps racing, while transport uncertainty cast grave doubt over the two Group One showpieces of Cup Week in November. Provisional schedules indicated that the New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) and 1000 Guineas (1600m) may instead…
Wet track test for Jakkalbomb
Group Three performer Jakkalbomb (NZ) (Jakkaberry) will be able to answer the question of whether she can handle a heavy track when she contests the Barfoot & Thompson Body Corporate 1200 at Ellerslie on Saturday. The rising five-year-old mare has yet to race on a heavy track in her 13 career starts, however, trainer Danica Guy is confident the Heavy10 surface poses no concern for her charge. “She has been galloping really well on heavy ground at Matamata, but raceday can be a different thing altogether,” she said. “We will…
Feehan first-up for Surprise Baby
Trainer Paul Preusker has taken a patient approach with Gr.1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) contender Surprise Baby (NZ) (Shocking) this year. The New Zealand-bred gelding hasn’t been sighted on raceday since running fifth in last year’s two-mile feature and Preusker is intent on following a similar path to last spring. The son of Shocking finished fourth first-up in the Gr.2 Feehan Stakes (1600m) and then won the Gr.3 The Bart Cummings (2520m) before contesting the race that stops a nation. The rising six-year-old will once again kick-off his spring preparation in…
Reunited and it feels so good
One of the most formidable partnerships in Australasian jumps racing continued their undefeated record at Wanganui on Friday when winning the Brian FM Open Hurdle (2400m). Top New Zealand jumps jockey Aaron Kuru and Tallyho Twinkletoe (NZ) (St Reims) were reunited for the first time since their historic Grand National Hurdle (4200m) and Steeplechase (4500m) double last year and the pair were able to pick-up where they left off, despite their 74kg impost. Kuru took a patient approach with the Kevin Myers-trained gelding, settling towards the rear of the field.…