Month: April 2021

It was a memorable day for Bailey Rogerson at Arawa Park on Wednesday, with the Hamilton horsewoman not only riding her first winner as an apprentice but also recording a winning double at the Rotorua meeting. Winning is nothing new to Rogerson, who was formerly a member of the Team Rogerson training partnership, and rode in the amateur ranks for a number of seasons. However, she said riding as a professional is a completely different kettle of fish, and it was such a rewarding experience to get the two victories…

Trainers Steven Ramsay and Julia Ritchie will head to Te Rapa on Saturday with a couple of Group contenders. Siracusa (NZ) (Sebring) has been in good form of late, with the stakes winner finishing runner-up in the Gr.1 Japan Trophy (1600m) at Tauranga last month before running fifth in the Gr.1 NZ Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1600m) at Te Rapa. She will return to the Hamilton track on Saturday where she will jump from barrier eight in the Gr.2 Travis Stakes (2000m). It will be her first test over 2000m but…

Trainer Stephen Marsh will give good consideration to options in Queensland with exciting three-year-old filly Atishu (NZ) (Savabeel). The daughter of Savabeel has won four races in succession, including the Listed NZB Airfreight Stakes (1600m) and Listed Warstep Stakes (2000m) at Riccarton. “She has gone to the next level,” Marsh said. “I was a bit heart in my mouth on Saturday (in the Warstep) when she was a clear last and looked like she might have been under a bit of pressure momentarily, but she quickened up well. “She ran…

Multiple Group Three winner Supreme Heights (NZ) (Jimmy Choux) was back in action at the Taupo trials on Tuesday, running out a comfortable winner of her 1225m heat. The Mark Brosnan-trained mare is being readied for the weight-for-age Gr.3 Rydges Rotorua Stakes (1400m) for fillies and mares on May 15. “We were happy with her trial. She did enough and I would have been disappointed if she couldn’t win like she did, but she did it well and had a good blow,” Brosnan said. “I am still a little bit…

Japanese Group One winner Satono Aladdin will return to Rich Hill Stud for the upcoming breeding season. The progeny of Deep Impact’s elite level-winning son were well-received at this year’s New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sales, with a top price of NZ$360,000 and a NZ$110,000 Book 1 average. “It is good news for the breeding industry that Satono Aladdin will return again from Japan,” Rich Hill Managing Director John Thompson said. “With his superb pedigree, athleticism and physical presence, he is arguably the best-credentialed son of Deep Impact to go…

Group One winner Tiptronic (NZ) (O’Reilly) has arrived in Queensland ahead of a three-start winter campaign. The Graham Richardson and Rogan Norvall-trained seven-year-old flew into Sydney on Sunday and has made his way by road to Brisbane, where he will be based at Eagle Farm. The son of O’Reilly finished third behind star mares Melody Belle (NZ) (Commands) and Avantage (Fastnet Rock) in the Gr.1 Bonecrusher New Zealand Stakes (2000m) at his most recent outing on March 13. “He’s travelled very well. I just had some photos sent to me…

Multiple Group One winner US Navy Flag will bolster The Oaks Stud’s stallion roster for the forthcoming breeding season, where he will stand at $15,000+GST. Formerly shuttling to Matamata thoroughbred nursery Valachi Downs, US Navy Flag has transferred to The Oaks Stud after a business model change by Valachi Downs principals Kevin and Jo Hickman. “Kevin and Jo Hickman are refocusing Valachi Downs as a more private and smaller nursery and racing stable with the same goal of producing, selling and racing elite racehorses,” Valachi Downs’ General Manager Gareth Downey…