Month: July 2022

Mr Brightside’s (NZ) (Bullbars) consistency at a high level paid dividends at the end of last preparation, winning the Gr.1 Doncaster Mile (1600m) over I’m Thunderstruck (NZ) (Shocking), and he’s got eyes on the Spring. JD Hayes recently welcomed their stable star back and was thrilled with his condition. “He’s come back beautiful. He’s just about to have his first gallop for the prep and we’ve got the PB Lawrence in mind first up,” Hayes said. The Gr.2 P.B. Lawrence Stakes (1400m) is on August 14th, with the stable not quite…

Mapperley Stud, in conjunction with Windsor Park Stud, are holding an open day this Friday at 2.30pm for the public to view their exciting new stallion Armory. A precocious two-year-old, Armory won three of his first four starts including the Gr.2 Futurity Stakes (1400m) and Gr.3 Tyros Stakes (1400m). He was then tested at the highest level in the Gr.1 National Stakes (1400m) where he finished second to Champion Two Year-Old Pinatubo who stands his first season at Darley, Kelvinside for A$55,000. Armory’s seven start two-year-old season concluded with placings…

Mapperley Stud will welcome the addition of three new stallions to their roster this upcoming breeding season, with former Valachi Downs residents Vespa and Savile Row joining the Matamata farm’s earlier acquisition of Armory. Vespa, a winner of seven races including the Gr.1 Diamond Stakes (1200m) and Karaka Million 2YO (1200m), has added a further three stakes winners to his name in the last 12 months, most recently with Carolina Reaper taking out the Gr.3 Easter Handicap (1600m). Savile Row, the only son of Makfi standing at stud in New…

It will be the dawn of a new era for Danny Walker on Saturday as he lines up his first runners under his new training partnership with long-time employee Arron Tata. Tata, a former jumps jockey, isn’t new to the training ranks, having held a license for seven seasons, but Walker is looking forward to welcoming him back into the fold. While Tata hasn’t trained in more than a decade, he has spent the last 20 years working for Walker, who felt it was time to reward Tata’s loyalty. “Arron…

When Jenna Mahoney says that her once-raced maiden Noble Win (Deep Field) is a high-quality galloper, it pays to listen. Mahoney may not be a banner name to rank and file New Zealand punters, but that’s because she prepares horses primarily to sell or to qualify for overseas racing jurisdictions, and despite a steady exodus has enjoyed a strong season this year. Among the horses to have emerged from her stable in recent times are Verona (NZ) (Belardo), who followed up a fourth placing in this year’s Karaka Million 3YO…

The progeny of Mick Price’s 2015 Victoria Derby winner Tarzino appears to be the source of another staying prospect for his flourishing Cranbourne stable in partnership with Michael Kent Jnr.  Two-year-old gelding Cadazio (NZ) (Tarzino) won his first official trial by 2.8 lengths over 990 metres at Cranbourne on Monday morning, leading throughout under Jye McNeil against older rivals on the Heavy (8) turf surface. It followed Cadazio’s comfortable 1000-metre jumpout Cranbourne win on June 20 ahead of stablemate Struck Twice (NZ) (Shocking), the younger brother of I’m Thunderstruck, who…

Quality New Zealand jumper Chief Sequoyah (NZ) (Redwood) has arrived across the Tasman in preparation for a three-race campaign. The son of Redwood has been in good form in his homeland, finishing runner-up in the KS Browne Hurdle (3100m) behind The Cossack (NZ) (Mastercraftsman) before a fourth-placed result in the Waikato Hurdle (3200m). His trainer and part-owner John Wheeler was pleased with his efforts but believes he will be better suited to steeplechase races in Australia. “I have kept him to hurdles but he will be a better horse over…