Month: August 2023

Incoming AFL CEO Andrew Dillon has been waiting a long time to start his new job, but his mare Vengeance (NZ) (Tavistock) was not waiting for anyone at Gawler on Wednesday, posting an impressive debut win. The daughter of Tavistock is trained by Michael Hickmott, who purchased her in partnership with Paul Willetts as a yearling out of Highden Park’s New Zealand Bloodstock draft, and was well found in the market off the back of some solid jumpouts, starting a $3.90 second favourite. Hickmott shared a bit about the ownership…

Kris Lees is expected to decide in the next 24 hours whether to start winter wonder Ucalledit (NZ) (Zacinto) from a wide gate in the Gr.2 Missile Stakes. The gelding has been in a rich vein of form with impressive wins in the Civic and Winter Stakes at his past two starts and given the recent record of race-fit horses capturing the Missile, connections have been keen to target him towards the opening black-type race of the Sydney season. But an awkward draw in barrier 10 of 11 has Lees…

Secret Amour (NZ) (Niagara) will be vying to shed her perennial bridesmaid tag in what could potentially be her last raceday outing in the Gr.3 Winning Edge Presentations 126th Winter Cup (1600m) at Riccarton on Saturday. The seven-year-old mare has been stakes placed on five occasions, including twice this preparation, and trainer Robbie Patterson is hoping for a breakthrough victory this weekend. “This may well be her last start. She will end up in Aussie and will be bred from there,” Patterson said. “With a bit of luck, hopefully she can…

It will take a modern weight-carrying record for Justaskme (NZ) (No Excuse Needed) to win Saturday’s Gr.3 Winning Edge Presentations 126th Winter Cup (1600m) at Riccarton but trainer Allan Sharrock reckons he can. You have to go back nearly 50 years to find the last winner of the Winter Cup to carry more than 60kg: Shifnal Chief (NZ) (Shifnal), who carried 62.5kg to victory in 1976 under jockey Kevin Cullen. No Excuse Needed eight-year-old Justaskme will carry 61kg and the weight of expectation as a $2.70 TAB favourite but Sharrock…

Champion jockey Opie Bosson’s post-race summation of Dragon Leap’s (Pierro) resuming run at Ruakaka on Saturday will influence the direction of the seven-year-old’s spring campaign. Trainers Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott didn’t consider taking advantage of an apprentice claim, preferring Bosson’s experience for the ride in the 9 Sep Alibaba’s Flying Carpets Kerikeri Handicap (1100m). The multiple Group Two-winning son of Pierro finished a close second in the event 12 months ago behind high-class mare Imperatriz, who in a twist of fate was ridden by Bosson. Dragon Leap is in good…

Nicole Shailer has put in the long hours and hard yards over her career as a Stablehand and Foreman with New Zealand’s leading stable Te Akau Racing and was duly rewarded with not only the title of NZTR’s 2021/22 Stablehand of the Year, but also recently appointed as Te Akau’s assistant trainer. Shailer was nominated for the Stablehand of the Year Award by long-time employer Te Akau and took out the Northern region Award before taking the overall title for 2021/22. “That was a massive achievement, obviously to be recognised…