Year: 2023

After leading all the way to claim his first black-type win in last year’s Gr.3 Humphries Construction Manawatu Cup (2300m), Sagunto (NZ) (O’Reilly) returned to defend that crown with an even more spectacular front-running performance at Trentham on Saturday. Sagunto defied $20 odds for his narrow victory over Subtle Point (NZ) (Nadeem) and Soprano Supreme (NZ) (Contributer) in the 2022 edition of the Cup, and the Peter and Shaun McKay-trained runner started as a distant $10 second favourite on Saturday behind dominant market leader Manifique (NZ) (Savabeel) ($1.65). However, almost…

Puntura (NZ) (Vespa) showed he will be a force to be reckoned with over the coming months as he scored in dominant fashion in Saturday’s Gr.2 Bramco Granite & Marble Manawatu Challenge Stakes (1400m) at Trentham. Having his first start since a memorable victory in the Gr.3 Coupland’s Bakeries Mile (1600m) at Riccarton during New Zealand Cup Week, the Robbie Patterson-trained six-year-old was fitted for his first up run with a comfortable win over 1000m at the Foxton trials during the week. Unlike his Riccarton victory where he led most…

Well-related four-year-old Raetihi (NZ) (Savabeel) showed his rivals a clean pair of heels as he led virtually throughout to score a narrow victory in the Cirka Group Handicap (1600m) at The Valley. The son of Savabeel is prepared by Emma-Lee and David Browne from their Pakenham base and has found his winning groove this campaign, having commenced it a maiden. The gelding has won three of his last five starts and finished no worse than fourth since resuming in August, with Saturday’s triumph making it successive wins at The Valley.…

When Stars Align (NZ) (Zoustar) and Unbridled Joy (Snitzel) kicked off their careers with a quinella in the Japac Homes (1100m) at Trentham on Saturday, adding their names to a bumper list of two-year-old talent in the Te Akau Racing stable this season. Premiership-leading trainers Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson headed into the $40,000 race with half a dozen winners already among the 2023-24 juvenile ranks. Captured By Love (Written Tycoon) was a dominant three-length winner of the Gr.2 Wakefield Challenge Stakes (1100m) earlier this month, while boom colt Move…

In her first Saturday assignment, exciting filly Bedtime Story (NZ) (Per Incanto) took it all in her stride at Trentham on Saturday going back-to-back in the Tui Backing A Winner Since 1889 1200. Bedtime Story was a close-up second on debut at Woodville and soon went one better with a comfortable maiden victory at her local Hastings track last month for trainers Guy Lowry and Leah Zydenbos. Stepping into Open three-year-old company on Saturday, the filly was well supported to continue her winning form as she started a $4.50 third…