Month: March 2021

The early bird entries for the NZB Insurance Pearl Series are set to close on March 31. The lucrative series, administrated by the New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association, awards bonuses to nominated fillies and mares who win registered races during their two, three, and four-year-old seasons. Bonuses of almost $2.6 million and prizemoney of nearly $2.8 million are spread across 215 individual races throughout the country. NOMINATE YOUR YEARLING FILLY FOR THE NZB INSURANCE PEARL SERIES 2021 Three levels of Bonuses of $8,000, $11,500 and $20,000 over their 2YO, 3YO…

Fresh off winning her first Group One as a trainer with Mo’unga (NZ) (Savabeel) in the Gr.1 Rosehill Guineas (2000m) on Saturday, Annabel Neasham is now setting her sights towards more elite level targets with the Kiwi-bred colt. A tilt at the Gr.1 Australian Derby (2400m) has been ruled out, with Neasham favouring the shorter distances of either the Gr.1 Doncaster (1600m) or the Gr.1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m). “He’s pulled up well. He looks like he has got another run left in him and hopefully even two,” Neasham told…

Cambridge trainers Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman will renew their association with jockey Hugh Bowman in the Gr.2 Tulloch Stakes (2000m) at Rosehill on Saturday. The partnership has tasted plenty of success in the past, including winning the Gr.1 Australian Oaks (2400m) and Gr.1 Underwood Stakes (1800m) with Bonneval (NZ) (Makfi). Bowman will partner her brother The Frontman (NZ) (Makfi) in the Tulloch Stakes this weekend and he will be looking to extend the partnership’s success in the race, after winning the 2009 edition with the Baker-trained Harris Tweed (NZ)…

New Zealand Bloodstock’s annual South Island Sale of yearlings is now live and available to view on plus.gavelhouse.com. Bidding on the online sale will commence from Monday 12 April, with the first lot closing incrementally at 7pm on Wednesday 14 April. For the second consecutive year the sale will operate on the digital auction platform with the catalogue featuring a line-up of 64 lots. Included in the auction is the Almanzor half-brother to Group One winner I Do offered as lot 41 from the draft of Woburn Farm and a…

The annual Riverton Cup meeting is one local horseman Kelvin Tyler looks forward to every year, but he said it is not without its pressure. “It is something to look forward to and something I look forward to being over too,” Tyler quipped. “There is a bit of pressure, but I am looking forward to it. You can’t beat racing on your home track. The horses know their way around and hopefully it all goes well.” Tyler, who trains in partnership with his daughter Aimee, could potentially have three contenders…

Plans for Group One winning juvenile Sword Of State (Snitzel) will be determined by the volume of rain in the coming days, with the Jamie Richards-trained colt a warm favourite for Saturday’s Gr.1 Courtesy Ford Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m). The son of Snitzel is not a confirmed runner, with the Te Akau team keen to keep the valuable colt to better surfaces where possible. Awapuni was rated a Dead 6 on Tuesday, with rain forecast on Wednesday and Thursday. “We have given him some work this morning like he…

Group Three winner Force Of Will (NZ) (Power) has arrived in Sydney ahead of her tilt at the Gr.1 Vinery Stud Stakes (2000m) at Rosehill on Saturday. The Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott-trained filly is still finding her feet after flying over to Sydney on Monday, but her connections are confident she will settle in well ahead of her weekend assignment. “She arrived yesterday evening. She went for a trot and canter this morning and she is sound,” O’Sullivan told SENtrack. “She didn’t eat a lot of food last night,…

New Zealand’s darling of the turf, Melody Belle (NZ) (Commands), has crossed the Tasman and has settled in well to her Randwick base ahead of her Sydney swansong at Rosehill on Saturday. “She’s a frequent flyer and a seasoned traveller now,” trainer Jamie Richards told SENTrack. “She has settled in well at JT’s (John Thompson’s) at Randwick last night and had a bit of a canter on the poly(track) this morning. She seems to have arrived in good shape.” The daughter of Commands will be tested over 2400m for the…