Month: February 2021

Co-trainer Pam Gerard is weighing up her options with talented filly Tokorangi. The daughter of Redwood holds nominations for Te Rapa’s two three-year-old features on Saturday, the Gr.2 Legacy Lodge Waikato Guineas (2000m) and the Gr.2 David and Karyn Ellis Fillies Classic (2000m). “All week I was probably going to go to the Guineas but then I looked last night and this morning and thought that the way they are going, maybe the fillies was the way to go,” said Gerard, who trains in partnership with Mike Moroney. “I knew…

Cambridge trainer Catherine Cameron has a promising three-year-old filly on her hands in the form of Comme Bella Fille, who was successful in the Lyndhurst Farm 1400m at Matamata on Wednesday. The daughter of Complacent came from the rear of the field under a ground-saving ride from Tegan Newman to score in the manner of a filly that will be effective over further. “She has always been a nice athletic filly and has wanted to please,” Cameron said. “She got flattened at her first start and then ran a super…

Group Two performer Sword Of State recorded his second win from just three starts when taking out the Stable Books 1100 at Matamata on Wednesday. The Jamie Richards-trained three-year-old was backed into $1.10 favouritism after placing in the Gr.2 Eclispe Stakes (1200m) at Ellerslie on New Year’s Day, and won accordingly in the hands of Opie Bosson. Richards was pleased with the win and he is now eyeing a return to Matamata in a fortnight to contest the Gr.3 Waikato Stud Slipper (1200m). “They went along at a genuine tempo…

Ali Arc (NZ) (Bullbars) cleared maiden ranks at Matamata on Wednesday with a comfortable one length victory in her 1600m contest. Co-trainer Graham Richardson has New Zealand Oaks (2400m) aspirations with the daughter of Bullbars and is eyeing a tilt at the Group One Al Basti Equiworld Dubai sponsored event next month. “She looks like she needs more ground already and we always thought that is what she would do,” he said. “She has come alright at the right time and it (the Oaks) has always been the plan from…

Champion trainer Jamie Richards is hoping he will witness history being made at Te Rapa on Saturday when Melody Belle (NZ) (Commands) contests the Gr.1 Herbie Dyke Stakes (2000m). New Zealand’s darling of the turf equalled Sunline’s (NZ) (Green Desert) record of 13 Group One wins when victorious in the Thorndon Mile (1600m) at Trentham last start, and she can stand out alone if she takes out Saturday’s feature. Richards has been pleased with her progress since that run and he believes she is ideally suited to Saturday’s 2000m trip.…

Ken Kelso is looking forward to seeing his exciting mare Levante (NZ) (Proisir) take on Avantage (Fastnet Rock) again, this time at 1400m in the Gr.1 BCD Sprint at Te Rapa. Levante has thrilled racegoers with her fast-finishing efforts, winning six of her eight starts. But in her sole effort at Group One level, she couldn’t catch Avantage, now a six-time Group One winner, and Julius in the Gr.1 Sistema Railway (1200m) on New Year’s Day. Part of the problem that day was a slow mid-section of the race, which…

Multiple Group Two winner Sound (Lando) travels to New Zealand on Wednesday night as he bids to add some Cup wins to his record for trainers Michael Moroney and Pam Gerard. The eight-year-old stallion is set to tackle the Gr.2 Wallen Concreting Avondale Cup (2400m) at Ellerslie on Saturday week with Troy Harris booked to ride. The son of Lando is being set for the Gr.1 Barfoot and Thompson Auckland Cup (3200m) at Ellerslie on March 13, a race in which he finished second to Roger That last year. The…

Former Kiwi galloper Defibrillate (NZ) has been keeping his New Zealand owners entertained over the last month, winning his last three starts in Melbourne, including a controversial last start dead-heat, and now Cup targets beckon the talented son of Shocking. Part-owner and co-breeder Graham Richardson has been over the moon with how his gelding has been racing for trainer Patrick Payne, but admits it is an unusual feeling not being able to cross the Tasman and watch his charge live. “He has just given me a big thrill,” Richardson said.…