Month: April 2022

Accelerating a push for a fifth jockeys’ championship, Joao Moreira surged to a century of winners in a Hong Kong season for the seventh time with a double at Sha Tin on Sunday when exciting New Zealand bred Running Glory (NZ) (Kermadec) swept home in the Class 3 Sha Lo Wan Handicap (1800m) for trainer John Size. “It’s nice to hit that mark – fantastic,” Moreira said. Moreira was especially delighted to reach his latest century aboard Running Glory. “He’s such a genuine horse. He tries so hard so, honestly,…

Group Two performer Familia (NZ) (Makfi) has been retired. The Lance Noble-trained mare finished her career on a high when winning her final race at Avondale earlier this month. The victory was her fourth in 24 raceday appearances, adding to her eight placings, including the Gr.2 Westbury Classic (1400m), Gr.3 Bonecrusher Stakes (1400m) and Listed Hallmark Stud Handicap (1200m). Noble said she had done a good job for breeder-owners Brendan and Jo Lindsay of Cambridge Stud, and would now head to the broodmare paddock ready for an early service in…

Kiwi import Daqiansweet Junior (NZ) (Sweet Orange) will go for a break before preparing for the spring after a stellar campaign for Pakenham trainer Phillip Stokes that concluded with a game third placing in Saturday’s Gr.1 Sydney Cup (3200m). The four-year-old son of Sweet Orange was purchased by OTI Racing out of the Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman stable for whom he was a multiple winner and Group Three placed in New Zealand. Transferred to Stokes mid last year, Daqiansweet Junior has come a long way since finishing fifth in…

High-quality galloper Entriviere (NZ) (Tavistock) and up and coming middle distance performer Soprano Supreme (NZ) (Contributer) have been locked in by Te Akau for the Queensland winter carnival. Stakes-winning sprinter Sword Of State (Snitzel) is also on the Brisbane short list, but will trial again before a decision is made on him making the trip. Both Entriviere and Sword Of State furthered their preparations in an open 1050m trial at Rotorua on Saturday, finishing fourth and fifth, respectively. “Entriviere will be definitely going to Queensland. I’m very happy with her…

Having raised the bat for a century, Roger James and Robert Wellwood are looking to build their innings further in black type races in the next two weeks. The Cambridge training partnership are aiming class mare Two Illicit (NZ) (Jimmy Choux) at Saturday’s Gr.1 Fiber Fresh New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1600m) at Te Rapa, improving gelding Dionysus (NZ) (Ocean Park) at the Listed Power Farming Hawke’s Bay Cup (2200m) on Saturday, and their talented three-year-olds Pinarello (NZ) (Tavistock) and Achieve (NZ) (Pierro) at the Gr.2 Trelawney Stud Championship Stakes…