Month: May 2022

Tauranga horseman Jim Pender has ventured further north with his charge Gospodin (NZ) (Proisir) as he looks to add further Australian dollars to the bank account. The son of Proisir has proved adept in rain-affected conditions and after impressing when second at his first Australian start in the Listed Takeover Target Stakes (1200m) at Gosford, Gospodin is now in Queensland where he will contest Saturday’s Gr.3 BRC Sprint (1350m) at Doomben, where the track is currently a Heavy 10. “He has been a happy horse from the day he arrived…

Five-year-old mare Secret Amour (NZ) (Niagara) will not join Robbie Patterson’s touring party in Queensland despite turning in a slashing performance to finish third to Francesca (NZ) (Iffraaj) in last Saturday’s Gr.3 Rydges Rotorua Stakes (1400m) at Arawa Park. The daughter of Niagara joined Patterson’s team earlier this year from the Jamie Richards stable and made an immediate impact, winning an open handicap at Wanganui last month after coming from last. “She had a couple of issues late in her career at Te Akau, but they had done a fantastic…

The chances of seeing Gr.1 New Zealand Derby (2400m) winner Asterix (NZ) (Tavistock) on the track this spring are slim according to co-trainer Lance O’Sullivan. The son of Tavistock was an impressive winner of the blue riband event back in March off an unconventional preparation of just four starts for O’Sullivan and training partner Andrew Scott. Part-owner Sam Kelt immediately flagged the Gr.1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) as a spring target for smart staying three-year-old, who has stamina in his pedigree, however ongoing foot issues could thwart that plan. “We have…

Tony Pike will be chasing what would be a highly satisfying Queensland victory on Wednesday with the promising two-year-old Rudyard (NZ) (Charm Spirit). The Cambridge trainer’s youngster has fared well in the barrier draw and will jump from gate five on the synthetic track at the Sunshine Coast with Leith Innes to take the reins. The race in their sights is the Sacred Elixir QTIS Handicap (1400m), so named after the Pike-trained son of Pour Moi who won the Gr.1 JJ Atkins Stakes (1600m) during the 2016 Brisbane winter carnival.…

Grangewilliam Stud stallion The Bold One has been enjoying a purple patch of form with his progeny and his fee has been adjusted accordingly for this coming breeding season. A son of Fastnet Rock, The Bold One is one of four black-type horses out of the multiple Group One winning O’Reilly mare The Jewel. “He had a pretty good week – he had a nice first-up winner (One Bold Cat) at Wanganui on Thursday and then another first-up winner (Mary Louise) on Saturday at Hawera where he had another winner…

Multiple Australian Group One winner Tofane (NZ) (Ocean Park) is expected to fetch big money when she goes up for auction in Australia next week, but her trainer Mike Moroney says owners should remember there is also a solid market for racemares with New Zealand form only. Moroney, who is in New Zealand this week to visit family and check on the New Zealand wing of the trans-Tasman stable he trains at along with Pam Gerard, watched his good filly Sassy Merlot (NZ) (Burgundy) finish second in Saturday’s Gr.3 Rydges…