Month: September 2021

Te Akau trainer Jamie Richards had strong representation in the Pitch Sports Bar & Lucky Lizard (1300m) at Taupo on Friday, winning with Maasir (NZ) (Proisir), with Aromatic (NZ) (Sacred Falls) securing a stable quinella. Although settling last on a comfortable pace and still eight lengths astern at the 600m, Maasir took an inside passage and quickened too strongly for his opponents, with stablemate Aromatic finding plenty after racing outside the leader. It was a cagey ride by talented hoop Ryan Elliot, seizing the initiative to save ground, and one…

Promising four-year-old Rua Rocks (NZ) (El Roca) broke maiden company at Taupo on Friday when taking out the Mitre 10 Mega Taupo (1800m). The son of El Roca was having his sixth start for trainer Carl Henderson and had been knocking on the door for some time, having placed in three previous outings. Co-breeder and part-owner Casey Dando was pleased with the win and said his ownership group have taken a patient approach with the gelding. “He has taken his time, he is not a very big fella,” Dando said.…

Three-year-old gelding El Vencedor (NZ) (Shocking) is looking to continue his family’s legacy after comfortably securing his maiden win in the DPA Chartered Accountants (1200m) at Taupo on Friday. The son of Shocking had shown plenty of ability in his trials, and when runner-up on debut as a juvenile in May, but failed to flatter when first-up on the Cambridge Synthetic earlier this month. He atoned for his last start with victory on Friday after sitting outside pacemaker Moana for the majority of the journey. “He finally put it all…

Cranbourne trainer Gavin Bedggood has been handed the reigns of come-back stayer Surprise Baby (NZ) (Shocking). The son of Shocking has been off the scene since finishing 13th in last year’s Gr.1 Melbourne Cup (3200m), subsequently suffering a hock injury when preparing for the Gr.2 Zipping Classic (2400m). Previously trained by Paul Preusker, Surprise Baby shot to prominence in 2019 when winning the Gr.2 Adelaide Cup (3200m) at just his sixth start before later that year winning the Gr.3 Bart Cummings (2500m) and a ticket into the Melbourne Cup. A…

Nine-time Group One winner Avantage (Fastnet Rock) has been retired from racing after suffering a tendon injury. The Jamie Richards-trained six-year-old was favourite for Saturday’s Gr.1 Tarzino Trophy (1400m) at Hastings, the first Group One of the New Zealand racing season. “We’re all absolutely gutted about Avantage but unfortunately this can happen in racing,” Richards said. “We’d been very happy with her, but it became apparent when Nicole (Shailer) came back to work this afternoon that she had heat in her off-fore leg. “We had the vet there to scan…

Jakkalberry is developing a knack for leaving quality three-year-olds. The ill-fated Novara Park stallion enjoyed Classic success last season through the deeds of three-time Derby hero Explosive Jack, and he could have a quality filly on his hands this year in the form of Elusive Express. The Anthony and Sam Freedman-trained filly won on debut as a late two-year-old before running a game second over 1300m first-up at Bendigo earlier this month. She is now set to have her first tilt at stakes company at Caulfield on Saturday where she…

A week ago, the chances of talented four-year-old Frontman (NZ) (Makfi) contesting the Gr.1 Tarzino Trophy (1400m) at Hastings looked slim, but a host of contributing factors have resulted in a change of heart. The Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman-trained four-year-old ventures to Hawke’s Bay for the first Group One contest of the New Zealand racing season on the back of a strong win in a 1400m Open Handicap at Te Rapa last weekend, and a forecast rain-affected track should not hinder his prospects. “It was probably just the likelihood…