Year: 2023

Over the next three months, Hall of Fame horseman Graeme Rogerson could be racing for more than $4 million in prizemoney with two members of his Tuhikaramea stable. As well as training in partnership with his wife Debbie, Rogerson also part-owns the reigning New Zealand Horse of the Year Sharp ‘N’ Smart and highly promising three-year-old Just As Sharp Triple Group One winner Sharp ‘N’ Smart (NZ) (Redwood) is rapidly closing in on a return to racing, while Just As Sharp (NZ) (Swiss Ace) will shoot for the fourth win…

Kingsclere Stables are hoping to sing a winning tune at Pukekohe Park on Boxing Day, with their talented three-year-old trio headed by Orchestral (NZ) (Savabeel) in the Gr.2 Hallmark Stud Eight Carat Classic (1600m). Orchestral indicated her promise early as a two-year-old, scorching into second on debut ahead of Eight Carat favourite Molly Bloom, before breaking maiden status smartly in May. The daughter of Savabeel possibly wasn’t appreciative of the Soft conditions at Hawke’s Bay first-up in her three-year-old season, but a three-month hiatus seemed to do wonders as she…

In-form gelding One Bold Cat (NZ) (The Bold One) will get his first tilt at elite-level on Boxing Day when he heads north to Pukekohe to tackle the Gr.1 Cambridge Stud Zabeel Classic (1600m). The Taranaki galloper has won seven and placed in two of his 12 career starts for trainer Robbie Patterson, and handled the step-up to stakes level with aplomb at Pukekohe last month when taking out the Gr.3 Counties Cup (2100m). He will return to the South Auckland venue on Tuesday following a pleasing exhibition gallop at…

The training combination of John and Karen Parsons and Varma Ramhit look to hold the key to success in the main race at Wingatui on Boxing Day, the Listed Property Brokers – Ray Kean Hazlett Stakes (1200m). The trio will line up the early Fixed Odds favourite in consistent mare Watch Out ($4) while stablemate Amberecho ($11) is a strong second candidate if she can shake off some bad luck of late. Karen Parsons found it hard to separate the pair with the prevailing track conditions on the day likely…

Punters were on good terms with themselves as they saw promising mare Islington Lass (NZ) (Proisir) make it consecutive victories to open her summer campaign with a determined effort to take out the Noel Eales Memorial Cup (1600m) at Trentham. The lightly raced five-year-old had saluted in fine fashion first up on her home track a month ago and despite the four week break stripped a picture of fitness for trainer Allan Sharrock. Backed in to start a $2.70 favourite the daughter of Proisir enjoyed a lovely trip in transit…

After mastering the step up from Rating 65 to open class in the $50,000 Print House Mile (1600m) at Te Rapa on Saturday, in-form five-year-old Lingjun Xiongfeng (The Factor) has a Group Two feature on New Year’s Day in his sights. Previously a placegetter behind Pinarello in the Gr.2 Championship Stakes (2100m) as an autumn three-year-old in April 2022, the talented grey recorded his first win in 21 months with a stunning burst from the back of a 14-horse field at Pukekohe on December 9. Backing up two weeks later…

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