Month: August 2020

Quality short course galloper He Kin Fly (NZ) (Darci Brahma) reminded racing enthusiasts there is still plenty of life left in his eight-year-old legs when he boomed home to claim his tenth career victory when taking out the main sprint feature at Riccarton on Saturday. The Neill Ridley-trained Darci Brahma gelding won his only two local starts from the Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman stable before being sold to Hong Kong during his three-year-old campaign. Successful once from five starts in Hong Kong he was returned to New Zealand in…

Former North Island galloper Dr Velocious (NZ) (Haradasun) may have earned himself a tilt at the Gr.3 Christchurch Casino New Zealand Cup (3200m) after providing Singapore-born apprentice Yong Chew with his first victory at Riccarton on Saturday. The twenty-four-year-old Chew transferred south to Riccarton trainer Lance Robinson after spending time in the North Island and has had just four raceday rides this season. Despite his inexperience Chew kept his cool when he was trapped three-wide in the early running aboard the Haradasun five-year-old who did his early racing for owner…

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Showmanship (NZ) (Showcasing) produced an amazing finishing burst to win the final race at Caulfield on Saturday. The seven-start veteran looked an unlikely winner when he was back near the tail as the field turned for home in the Hyland Race Colours Handicap (1400m) till jockey William Pike got to work on the emerging horse and he thundered to the line to score what could prove an ominous win. Co-trainer Grant Williams admitted to some concerns on the home turn. “It looked a bit scary there for a little bit,”…

Taranaki owner-trainer Marilyn Paewai would love nothing more than to see her star winter performer Rosewood (NZ) (Redwood) claim a deserved stakes win at Riccarton this weekend. Rosewood will tackle Saturday’s Gr.3 Winning Edge Presentations Winter Cup (1600m), a race she was only narrowly beaten in last year. That was one of four stakes placings the Redwood seven-year-old mare has picked up over her 40 starts, which has seen her successful on 10 occasions, nine of those on heavy tracks. “Rosewood needs a Group win. That’s why we’re here,” Paewai…

Woodcote Lass (NZ) (Showcasing) was part of Stephen Autridge’s team of horses based in Christchurch last spring and a bold performance at Waverley on Friday would assure her of a place in the travelling squad this year too. Autridge, these days training in partnership with Kris Shailer, has earmarked nine horses to travel to Christchurch in the coming weeks to prepare for New Zealand Cup week features. Woodcote Lass, who won twice on the trip last year and placed in the Listed Canterbury Belle Stakes (1200m) at Riccarton, has the…

In form gelding Showmanship (NZ) (Showcasing) will make his Melbourne debut on Saturday when he lines up in a in a 1400m benchmark race at Caulfield. The Bob Peters-owned son of Showcasing has been in Melbourne for a month and will be out to continue his winning run which has seen him string together four consecutive wins in Western Australia. Peters said the Grant and Alana Williams-trained five-year-old will run in a benchmark race in preference to the Listed Regal Roller Stakes as if he won the latter, his ratings…

Peter Setchell is having a grand old time racing handy mare Bothered (NZ) (ShamExpress) in Australia. The five-year-old daughter of ShamExpress continued her undefeated record across the Tasman when winning over 1100m at Warwick Farm on Wednesday. It was her second victory for trainer Clare Cunningham after winning first-up over 1000m at Gosford late last month, and Setchell was particularly enthused to see her win in city-class. “I was pretty excited because once you start heading over there and you start looking at going into town it steps up pretty…

Two of New Zealand’s leading thoroughbred nurseries will be keeping close tabs on Randwick on Saturday where trainer John O’Shea will kick-off the spring preparations of their talented mares. Group One performer Rondinella will carry the colours of co-breeders and part-owners Haunui Bloodstock in the Spring Preview Handicap (1400m). It will be her first raceday outing for O’Shea and he is happy with the six-year-old mare after her two recent unplaced trials over 1040m and 850m. “She has trialled well and she is going well, so I expect her to…

The Gr.3 Winning Edge Presentations Winter Cup (1600m) at Riccarton Park on Saturday was Central Districts raider Floral Art’s main target this preparation, however, missing out on a start could work in her favour according to trainer Peter Didham. The daughter of Road To Rock is first on the ballot for the feature race, but will likely start in the Christchurch Casino Winter Classic (2000m) and Didham believes the extra distance will benefit his mare, who favours wet tracks. “The idea was to get into the Winter Cup on a…