Lightly raced three-year-old Atishu (NZ) (Savabeel) proved she was up to stakes class when finishing runner-up in the Listed Wanganui Guineas (1200m) on Saturday. Racing in the silks of syndicator Go Racing, the daughter of Savabeel was having just her second career start after finishing second on debut at Taupo last month. Despite striking traffic problems, Atishu found the line well to finish second to talented filly Only Words. Trainer Stephen Marsh has confirmed Group One targets await the cleverly-named Atishu, who is out of the No Excuse Needed mare…
Month: September 2020
Derby target for Young Werther
Young Werther (NZ) (Tavistock) showed he has the potential to follow in his namesakes footsteps when winning over 1500m on debut at Geelong on Sunday. Named after another son of Tavistock, former Hong Kong Horse of the Year and Hong Kong Derby (2000m) winner Werther, Young Werther showed a brilliant turn of foot in the final furlong of his race to record a 1-1/4 length victory. Trainer Danny O’Brien, a well-known advocate of the speed gene test, was delighted with the win and said the gelding surpassed expectations over 1500m.…
Group One performed mare retired
The Ken and Bev Kelso-trained Princess Kereru (NZ) (Pins) has been retired after finishing 11th in Saturday’s Gr.2 Foxbridge Plate (1200m). The seven-year-old daughter of Pins finished nine-and-a-half lengths in arears of impressive winner Avantage, a far cry from her best form where she was a Group Three winner and was narrowly beaten into second in the 2019 Gr.1 Railway (1200m). “She was going to stud this year anyway and has a booking to Almanzor,” Ken Kelso said. “The plan was to race her and if her form warranted it…
Grylls taking flight
Craig Grylls began the spring in the best possible fashion at Te Rapa on Saturday, riding a winning treble, including his first stakes victory for the season, to take him to the top of the New Zealand Jockeys’ Premiership. “It was a great day. It’s always good to get a few on the board and get the prizemoney up a bit,” Grylls said. Adding to the occasion, the Matamata jockey rode home a double for employers Kevin and Jo Hickman of Valachi Downs when victorious aboard Karalino in the Allied…
Lease filly shines in Wanganui Guineas
A lease arrangement brokered by Novara Park principal Luigi Muollo has allowed Sweynesse’s former trackwork rider to share in his black-type success at stud. Muollo bred the Sweynesse filly Only Words, who scored an impressive victory in Saturday’s Listed HS Dyke Wanganui Guineas (1200m). She became the second stakes winner for Sweynesse, who was New Zealand’s leading first season stallion in 2019-20 and has now begun his second season on the perfect note. After Only Words was passed in as a weanling at the Karaka May Sale, Muollo leased her…
NZ Racing and Breeding News – 7 September 2020
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Stratford syndicate share in ‘micro’ Kentucky Derby win
“Oh my god I’ve just won the Kentucky Derby!” Those were the words running through Trackside TV presenter and racing media identity Aidan Rodley’s head just seconds after he witnessed the Bob Baffert-trained Authentic lead all the way to take out the 146th running of the Gr.1 Kentucky Derby (2000m). You could be forgiven for thinking Rodley, who hails from Taranaki, had found an oil well, synonymous with many of the world’s leading racehorse owners. But rather he is a micro owner of the star colt, an ownership trend sure…
Two-pronged attack on Cox Plate looms for Carter family
Humidor (NZ) (Teofilo) barnstorming finish to land victory in Saturday’s Gr.2 Feehan Stakes (1600m) at Moonee Valley forced part-owner John Carter into a change of plans on Sunday morning. Carter, who shares in the ownership of the Teofilo eight-year-old with brother Mark and sister Rachel under their Jomara Bloodstock banner, spent a good part of his Saturday evening celebrating the win and was feeling the effects the next day. “I had a few things planned for this morning but that didn’t eventuate as we celebrated pretty hard last night,” Carter said.…
All roads lead to Hastings after Foxbridge Plate wash up
Trainer Alan Sharrock had a smile on his face a mile wide despite being beaten in Saturday’s feature event at Te Rapa, the Gr.2 Valachi Downs Foxbridge Plate (1200m). Sharrock had just seen his underrated galloper Tavi Mac (NZ) (Tavistock) push quality mare Avantage (Fastnet Rock) all the way down the Te Rapa straight before going under by just on a length after starting from the outside barrier. While Tavi Mac had race fitness on his side, having won two from two leading into the race, he certainly didn’t have size or…
Healesville Cup Day streamed on Facebook Live
It will be an ‘hour of power’ when today’s Healesville Cup action is streamed live on to GRV’s Facebook Page from 12.10pm. The coverage will include exclusive interviews, expert analysis and behind-the scenes vision directly from the track. A handful of races will be incorporated into the coverage, including the Castle of Mey Healesville Cup Consolation, and the main event, the TAB Healesville Cup at 12.59pm. Click HERE for GRV’s Facebook Page.