Year: 2021

A tendon injury has forced the retirement of Gr.1 Livamol Classic (2040m) winner Savy Yong Blonk (NZ) (Savabeel), diluting the potency of Matamata trainer Jamie Richards’ hand for Saturday’s Gr.1 Rydges Wellington Captain Cook Stakes (1600m) at Trentham. Savy Yong Blonk was one of four entries for Richards in the weight-for-age feature on Tuesday but with her breaking down and Mai Tai (NZ) (Atlante) redirected to Saturday week’s Gr.2 Cal Isuzu Stakes (1600m) at Te Rapa, the champion trainer will rely on Brando (NZ) (Savabeel) and Prise De Fer (NZ)…

Caspar Fownes is banking on consistency and a bit of luck when Sky Field (Deep Field) lines up in Sunday week’s Gr.1 Hong Kong Sprint (1200m). “I’m sure he’ll give us a big run, he was a bit unlucky last start,” Fownes said. “I think once we get to the ‘A’ Course with him that he’s definitely going to be a first-three chance on the big day.” Stepping out for a barrier trial on Tuesday morning, the Deep Field gelding looked in fine fettle under Blake Shinn, pulling fiercely to…

The racing career of exciting mare Sakura Blossom (Vancouver) is over. The daughter of Vancouver had won two of her three starts and was set for an exciting summer with nominations for both the Gr.1 Railway (1200m) and Gr.1 Telegraph (1200m). However, injury has taken its toll on the four-year-old, who will now head to the broodmare paddock. “Unfortunately, she has had to be retired,” trainer Ben Foote said. “She has the same ongoing issue in her right knee. She has had surgery on it before and she raced the…

Roger James and Robert Wellwood believe there is a positive sense of timing around Two Illicit’s (NZ) (Jimmy Choux) bid for Group One glory at Trentham on Saturday. The Cambridge trainers are confident the daughter of Jimmy Choux will relish the step up in distance on a roomy track in the Rydges Wellington Captain Cook Stakes (1600m) after two fine lead-up outings. Two Illicit successfully resumed in the Gr.3 Red Badge Spring Sprint (1400m) at Hastings before she rushed home for third in the Gr.2 Auckland Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1400m)…

Few people get the chance at a trifecta in a Group One race, but that is what Cambridge horseman Ben Foote is vying for in the Gr.1 Rydges Wellington Captain Cook Stakes (1600m) at Trentham on Saturday. The track holds fond memories for Foote, who scored his first elite-level victory with Travelling Light (NZ) (El Roca) when she won the Gr.1 Levin Classic (1600m) last year at the Upper Hutt venue. While that was her last victory, the daughter of El Roca has gone on to post placings in the…