Month: March 2021

Annavisto (NZ) (Reliable Man) has secured some important black-type for her connections with an all-the-way victory in the Listed Bendigo Guineas (1600m) on Saturday. And the Mick Price And Michael Kent Jr-trained filly was on her best behaviour, giving rider Jamie Kah an easy steer. Sent out the $2.50 favourite, Annavisto scored by 1-¾ lengths from Mozzie Monster ($4.80) with Air Defence ($31) 2-¼ lengths away third. Annavisto has been her own worst enemy on occasions and blew the start when beaten by stablemate Cumberbatch at Flemington on March 6.…

The Grant and Alana Williams-trained three-year-old Western Empire (NZ) (Iffraaj) proved a class above his rivals as expected in the Listed Melvista Stakes (2200m) at Ascot on Saturday, comfortably holding Outback Jack who headed home the remainder of the small six-horse field. Bred and raced by leviathan owners Bob and Sandra Peters, Western Empire has now won his past three starts, all at Listed level, and shapes as the horse to beat in the Gr.2 WATC Derby (2400m) in a fortnight. Ridden by star jockey William Pike, Western Empire was…

Five-year-old mare The Stylist (NZ) (Swiss Ace) is providing Stawell trainer Deanne Taylor with plenty of thrills and landed her fourth career victory when leading throughout to narrowly prevail in the Bendigo Gold Bracelet (1400m), with Bendigo the premier venue in Victoria on Saturday. Given a peach of a ride by Jarrod Fry, The Stylist bounced straight to the front and withstood a late charge to land the spoils in the A$125,000 contest. Taylor, who part-owns the mare, purchased the five-year-old after she didn’t measure up for Sydney trainer John…

Former New Zealand-trained mare Polly Grey (NZ) (Azamour) claimed the most important victory of her career when successful in the Gr.3 Epona Stakes (1900m) at Rosehill on Golden Slipper day. Presented at the right time under rider James McDonald, Polly Grey pounced to down Aliferous with She’s Ideel finishing third. The six-year-old mare joined Chris Waller after winning six races for Matamata trainer Kylie Fawcett, including the Listed Matamata Cup (1600m) and Saturday’s win was her first since crossing the Tasman, albeit she has never been far away in her…

Tommy Berry has steered Savabeel colt Mo’unga (NZ) to victory in the Gr.1 Rosehill Guineas (2000m) to give tyro trainer Annabel Neasham her first Group One winner. Granted her licence at the start of the season, Neasham’s training career has been on an upward spiral since her first runner at Scone last August, with Mo’unga now the stable flag-bearer after coming from well off the pace to claim the Rosehill Guineas. The $2.90 favourite, Mo’unga had been luckless when runner-up in the Gr.1 Randwick Guineas (1600m) and proved too good…

Cambridge conditioner Stephen Marsh enjoyed a successful day at Riccarton on Saturday when honest mare Belle Fascino provided him with the second leg of a race to race double in the feature event on the card, the Gr.3 Valachi Downs South Island Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1600m). The Marsh-trained Atishu had registered a phenomenal performance thirty minutes earlier when she overcame a rocky start to storm to victory over her age group rivals over 1400m, but it was the seven-year-old Belle Fascino who put the cherry on top for Marsh with…

Star New Zealand-bred mare Verry Elleegant (NZ) (Zed) drew first blood against imported galloper Addeybb, with the top-class duo renewing their rivalry of 12 months ago in a stirring finish to the Gr.1 Ranvet Stakes (2000m) at Rosehill. In landing her eighth Group One, Verry Elleegant had a length to spare on Addeybb with game pacemaker Angel Of Truth back in third. Prepared by Chris Waller, Verry Elleegant had come up second best in last year’s Ranvet Stakes behind the William Haggas-trained Addeybb and also chased the British raider home…

Leading northern rider Leith Innes produced a front-running masterclass at Tauranga on Saturday as he guided gritty galloper Packing Rockstar (Fastnet Rock) to his first stakes victory in the Gr.2 Ultimate Mazda Japan Trophy (1600m). The Fastnet Rock five-year-old has proven a model of consistency since returning to New Zealand following one unsuccessful start in Hong Kong. Now in the care of Lauren Brennan, Packing Rockstar had produced an eye-catching performance to score over 1400m at Ellerslie at his last start, just three runs after finishing fourth in the Gr.1…

Exciting three-year-old Rocket Spade provided his connections with the perfect dress rehearsal for his Gr.1 Australian Derby (2400m) challenge next month when he gave his age-group rivals a start and a beating over 1600m at Tauranga on Saturday. The last start Gr.1 New Zealand Derby (2400m) winner looked a picture of health as he paraded before the start and raced accordingly as he proved too classy in the closing stages of the contest. Rider Craig Grylls allowed the Fastnet Rock colt to amble along at the rear of the six-horse…