Month: September 2023

Codigo will contest the Listed El Roca-Sir Colin Meads Trophy (1200m) at Hastings on Saturday. Photo: Race Images All roads lead to Riccarton for a trio of Stephen Marsh-trained three-year-olds who will have opportunities to advance their Classic credentials with imminent engagements in the Central Districts. Burn To Shine, Codigo and Glamour Tycoon will be in action at Hastings on Saturday with the first two on a path to the Group 1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) and the latter heading toward the Group 1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m).…

Atishu will contest the Gr.2 Sheraco Stakes (1200m) at Rosehill on Saturday. Photo: Bruno Cannatelli Big spring plans are in-store for Kiwi-bred Group One winner Atishu if she performs up to expectations in the early part of her preparation, which will kick-off at Rosehill on Saturday. The daughter of Savabeel is fresh off being crowned the joint ‘Queen of the Autumn’ at the New South Wales Racehorse Owners’ Association Awards after her deeds earlier this year, which included finishing runner-up behind Roots in the Group 2 Emancipation Stakes (1500m) before…

Riccarton trainer Anna Furlong. Photo: Race Images South Exciting Christchurch three-year-old Penvose Lad will head to Oamaru on Friday to kick off a campaign aimed at the Group 1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) at Riccarton in November. The Shane Kennedy and Anna Furlong-trained US Navy Flag gelding showed plenty of talent in three Riccarton starts as an autumn two-year-old, winning one and beaten narrow margins in his other two starts, culminating in his short head defeat at the hands of Illicit Dreams in the Listed Champagne Stakes (1200m). That…

Kovalica, pictured winning the Group 1 Queensland Derby, is the early favourite for Saturday’s Theo Marks Stakes. (Photo: Darren Winningham) It’s a wide-open edition of the Group 2 Theo Marks Stakes (1300m) this Saturday afternoon at Rosehill, with a full list of 16 runners – many of whom are resuming – set to line up. Kovalica is the leading chance, with the four-year-old gelding returning from a 103-day spell following his win in the Group 1 Queensland Derby on May 27. Chris Waller has a stranglehold on the race with…

Militarize, who hasn’t raced since winning the Group 1 Champagne Stakes in April, is one of the drawcards in Saturday’s Run To The Rose. The Group 2 Run To The Rose (1200m) has attracted a field of 12 three-year-olds to Rosehill Gardens this Saturday afternoon. The traditional lead-up race to the Group 1 Golden Rose Stakes (1400m) is highlighted by the return of the Chris Waller-trained Militarize following his dominant win in the Group 1 Champagne Stakes (1600m) on April 15. READ: Militarize bolts clear to secure a Chris Waller…

After last year’s success with Golden Mile, can Goldolphin go back-to-back in the Ming Dynasty on Saturday? The Group 3 Ming Dynasty Quality is expected to feature a full field of 18 three-year-olds, with only one filly competing against the boys in the $250,000 contest at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday afternoon. Unsurprisingly, Chris Waller leads the way with four runners, followed by Gary Portelli (3), James Cummings (2), and Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott (2). After a luckless run in the Up And Coming Stakes last start, Encap from the…

Giga Kick is set to resume in Saturday’s Group 2 McEwen Stakes. (Photo: Darren Winningham) The Clayton Douglas-trained Giga Kick will have six rivals to face upon his racetrack return in Saturday’s Group 2 McEwen Stakes (1000m) at Moonee Valley. Despite the small field, there is no shortage of speed and class, with each of the seven runners having tasted stakes success. Giga Kick has not been seen at the races since his victory in the Group 1 Doomben 10,000 (1200m) on May 13 and is set to make his…

Undefeated galloper Globe will resume in the Group 2 Feehan Stakes. (Photo Credit: Bruno Cannatelli) Saturday’s Group 2 Feehan Stakes (1600m) at Moonee Valley has attracted a strong field of 15 runners looking to book a spot in the Cox Plate (2040m). The Feehan Stakes is the sole ‘win and you’re in’ race for the weight-for-age championship of Australasia, and that status is reflected in the quality of the field. Among the 15 runners are three former Group 1 winners and over $12.6 million in prizemoney won. Heading the Feehan…