Month: February 2021

Matamata trainers Graham Richardson and Rogan Norvall head to their local meeting on Saturday with talented yet unassuming filly Bonny Lass (NZ) (Super Easy) in the Gr.2 J Swap Contractors Ltd Matamata Breeders Stakes (1200m). An impressive debut winner at the course and distance in late January, Richardson is pleased with the progress of the Super Easy filly, who upstaged high-priced yearling colt Noverre when breaking maiden ranks, with that runner enhancing the form by winning comfortably at Whanganui last week. “She’s a very natural two-year-old. She just gets up…

When Tracey Schroeder bought herself an ‘old plodder’ to ride and potter around with, she got a lot more than she bargained for. She bought Pretty Woman as a re-educated thoroughbred to ride under saddle but has ended up with a valuable broodmare whose first foal is the Listed Southland Guineas (1600m) winner Chokito. “It’s incredibly exciting, following Chokito and watching her win,” Schroeder said. “One of my daughters had a thoroughbred eventer but other than that I had never had anything to do with thoroughbreds until I got this…

Talented stayer The Chosen One (NZ) (Savabeel) is building up for another tilt at the Gr.1 Sydney Cup (3200m), a race he finished second in last year. The Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman-trained five-year-old finished second when resuming in the Gr.1 Herbie Dyke Stakes (2000m) earlier this month and is likely to launch his Australian campaign in the Gr.3 Sky High Stakes (2000m) at Rosehill on March 13. “At this stage he won’t race for another three weeks from last Saturday,” Forsman said. “The Sky High Stakes will lead into…

Former New Zealand jumper Magnanimous Man (NZ) (Nom Du Jeu) has joined Warrnambool trainer Patrick Ryan’s barn ahead of a likely tilt at a number of feature Victorian jumps races. “There’s a bit of a wrap on Magnanimous Man,” Ryan told The Standard. “He’s only had a handful of jumping starts which have resulted in two wins. “His last jumps run was in the Great Northern Hurdle in October, where he was unplaced. “He handles all types of conditions and also has some ability on the flat as well as…

Group One winner Julius (NZ) (Swiss Ace) has been retired. It’s not the first time the Swiss Ace nine-year-old has entered the retirement paddock, having been forced away from the track following his third-placing in the 2018 Gr.3 Sweynesse Stakes (1215m) after scans revealed he had a hole in his near fore tendon. At that point in his career Julius had won the Gr.3 Concorde Handicap (1200m), Gr.3 Darley Stallions Plate (1200m), and placed in the Gr.2 Foxbridge Plate (1200m) and Sweynesse Stakes. Trainer John Bell received positive reports the…

Allan Sharrock will be hoping it’s a case of like mother, like daughter, if Sinarahma (NZ) (Darci Brahma) lines-up in the Gr.1 Barfoot & Thompson Auckland Cup (3200m) at Ellerslie next month. Sharrock trained Sinarahma’s dam, Shez Sinsational (NZ) (Ekraar), to win the 2012 edition of the two-mile feature, and he believes her six-year-old daughter has the potential to do the same. The Darci Brahma mare has only been tested up to 2000m, but Sharrock said there are a couple of factors that have influenced his decision. “I have changed…