Month: February 2022

While he will be without his legion of adoring fans in the stands at Sha Tin, Golden Sixty (Medagli d’Oro) – “The Pride of Hong Kong” – is primed to bounce back from a rare defeat last month in Sunday’s (20 February) HK$12 million G1 Citi Hong Kong Gold Cup (2000m).  And, as Hong Kong comes to a standstill to watch its champion for just over two nerve-racking minutes this weekend, jockey Vincent Ho – who will bear the weight of the city on his shoulders – remains unperturbed by…

Trainer Ben Foote was pleased to see his speedy mare Babylon Berlin (All Too Hard) show her usual zip when winning an 850m trial at Te Rapa on Monday. A last start winner of the Gr.3 Concorde Handicap (1200m) at Ellerslie last month, Babylon Berlin is likely to contest the Network Visuals Handicap (1200m), an open sprint at Ellerslie this weekend, which would serve as preparation for the Gr.3 Haunui Farm King’s Plate (1200m) back at Ellerslie on March 5. “I wouldn’t usually trial on the Monday and line up…

Last year Wexford Stables celebrated their first win in the Gr.1 Vodafone New Zealand Derby (2400m) with Rocket Spade (Fastnet Rock), but this year they are ruing what could have been. Trainers Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott looked to have a strong hand in the race courtesy of Dark Destroyer (NZ) (Proisir) and Karman Line (NZ) (Myboycharlie), but both are now out of Derby calculations through injury. Karman Line showed her potential when running third in the Karaka Million 3YO Classic (1600m) at Ellerslie last month but has subsequently suffered…

Promising filly Verona (NZ) (Belardo) has run her last race in New Zealand with her sale to Australia. The daughter of Belardo had just the five starts in New Zealand for former trainer Jenna Mahoney, winning on debut before running fifth in the Gr.2 Eight Carat Classic (1600m), and fourths in the Gr.2 Royal Stakes (2000m) and Karaka Million 3YO Classic (1600m). Her connections were aiming her towards the Gr.1 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai New Zealand Oaks (2400m) at Trentham next month, however, an offer from clients of trainers Ciaron…

Trelawney Stud have tragically lost their Group Two winner Pareanui Bay (NZ) (Lonhro) after a paddock accident. The Trelawney Stud bred and raced gelding was a winner of three of his five starts, including the Gr.2 James and Annie Sarten Memorial Stakes (1400m) and Listed Trevor and Corallie Eagle Memorial (1500m). He placed in his other two raceday appearances, running second in the Listed Uncle Remus Stakes (1400m) and Gr.2 Wellington Guineas (1400m). Trelawney Stud’s Brent Taylor said they were devastated by the loss of the talented three-year-old son of…

Smart sprinter Roch ‘N’ Horse (NZ) (Per Incanto) will take aim at Group One assignments in Australia and will transfer to Michael Moroney’s Flemington barn later this month. The daughter of Per Incanto has raced out of Moroney and training partner Pam Gerard’s Matamata stable with good effect, with three wins and four placings to her name from just 12 starts. The progressive five-year-old went within a whisker of beating Levante (NZ) (Proisir) when second in the Gr.1 Telegraph (1200m) at her most recent start at Trentham in mid-January and…