Month: March 2023

Time has been the best friend to Simeon (Pierro) who has broken through for his maiden win at Sandown. An expensive purchase at the 2021 New Zealand Ready To Run Sale, Simeon was having only his second start when he took out the Ladbrokes Punter Assist Plate (1500m) on Wednesday. Sent out the $3.10 favourite under Daniel Moor, Simeon led throughout in scoring by 2-1/4 lengths. Simeon is trained by Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young and was purchased for $625,000 at the Ready To Run Sale when consigned by Riversley…

It has been more than two decades since a New Zealand-based trainer has upstaged the locals in the Vinery Stud Stakes and the man who last achieved the feat is back to break the drought. Roger James, who now trains in partnership with Robert Wellwood, claimed the Group One with Sixty Seconds (NZ) (Centaine) in 2002 and on Saturday at Rosehill he will saddle up star Kiwi filly Prowess (NZ) (Proisir). Sixty Seconds came from back in the field to capture the 2002 renewal before going on to finish fifth…

The Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr stable is expecting to see a big improvement from Hezashocka (NZ) (Shocking) at Flemington. The New Zealand-bred son of Melbourne Cup winner Shocking will have the second start of his campaign in the Gr.1 Australian Cup (2000m) on Saturday. Hezashocka has been a slow mover through the ranks after starting his career in New Zealand. After three starts for Shaun Clotworthy in New Zealand, that saw him land a Group Two victory, Hezashocka transferred to the care of Price and Kent Jnr late…

Liam Howley was a nervous man this week as he waited to hear whether Virtuous Circle (NZ) (Almanzor) had made the field for the Gr.1 Australian Cup (2000m) at Flemington on Saturday. The Kyneton horseman had opted against a trip to Sydney with the Kiwi-bred three-year-old in favour of the $3 million feature, and he admitted to feeling the pressure in the lead-up to the field announcement. “It has been a nervous wait as I have opted to take this path. I thought it would have been a bit easier…

Stephen Marsh will be keeping a close eye on Riccarton on Saturday where he will have a two-pronged attack in the Gr.3 Valachi Downs South Island Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1600m). The dual-Island trainer will line-up Divine Sava and Miss Ella in the southern feature and he is hoping they can replicate their quinella at Wingatui earlier this month. “They’ve had a quiet sort of time since Wingatui,” Marsh said. “The mile at Riccarton really is ideal. There could be a bit of rain there and that should suit them both.”…

The well-travelled Aegon (NZ) (Sacred Falls) is heading to Hong Kong and a clash with local hero Golden Sixty (Medaglia d’Oro) in the Gr.1 Champions’ Mile (1600m) at Sha Tin on April 30. Connections will forego another crack at an Australian feature in favour of a trip further afield with their son of Sacred Falls as he targets the HK$20 million (NZ$ 4.03 million) feature. “We found out officially today after getting the heads up a couple of days ago. We were going to run him in the Doncaster Mile…

Mark Walker’s disappointment at Group One performer Campionessa (NZ) (Contributer missing a start in Saturday’s Gr.1 Australian Cup (2000m) at Flemington was palpable on Wednesday. The Matamata trainer admitted he was struggling to process news that Campionessa was left stranded as the second ballot for the weight-for-age feature, having spoken to Racing Victoria officials earlier in the week and received assurances she would secure a run. “In recent years they haven’t had a full field but with the rail out 8m, they can only run 16, whereas every other year…