Year: 2023

Prominent trainers Mick Price and Michael Kent Junior have another promising youngster on their hands, after Otago (NZ) (Ocean Park) registered a dominant debut victory at Bendigo on Sunday. Purchased in a deal brokered by bloodstock agent Phil Cataldo after a trial win in New Zealand, Otago had shown solid ability in the lead-up to his first start, winning both of his jumpouts at Cranbourne. The three-year-old son of Ocean Park was sent off as the favourite for the Drake Maiden over 1300m and settled in the second half of…

Mr Brightside (NZ) (Bullbars) is back in work as Ben, Will & JD Hayes prepare their stable star to win a second All-Star Mile which will be run at Caulfield in 2024, with a trip to Hong Kong still very much on the table. The four-time Group One winner of more than A$11 million in prize money will likely have his first three runs of his preparation at Caulfield, targeting the Gr.1 C F Orr Stakes (1400m) and Gr.1 Futurity Stakes (1400m) before the All-Star Mile third-up. Mr Brightside was…

Commentator George Simon summed up what many were thinking at the finish of the first race at Te Rapa when he uttered the well-known catch cry ‘there’s only one Opie Bosson’. Bosson had just guided the raging hot favourite Move To Strike (I Am Invincible) to a seemingly effortless debut victory over 1100m, in the process lodging win number 2000 in New Zealand in a superlative career where he has been readily acknowledged as one of the very best to grace a saddle. The 43-year-old was typically understated when questioned…

Former northerner Diamond Girl (NZ) (Rock ‘n’ Pop) announced her arrival on the South Island scene with a remarkable front-running performance in Saturday’s $50,000 Shoe Clinic Handicap (1400m) at Ascot Park. The daughter of Rock ‘n’ Pop began her career in the Ruakaka stable of Chris Gibbs, for whom she recorded four wins and six placings between 2020 and August of this year. Bought by her new connections for just $1,400 on Gavelhouse.com in early September, Diamond Girl is now trained by John Blackadder at Rangiora and began her southern…

Underrated three-year-old Pendragon (NZ) (U S Navy Flag) upset the Te Akau Racing party when he downed favourites Tokyo Tycoon and the previously unbeaten Quintessa over 1200m at Te Rapa on Saturday. The Mike Moroney and Pam Gerard-trained son of U S Navy Flag had opened his winning account at Te Aroha at his most recent start and backed that up with a stylish on-pace effort in the hands of apprentice Niranjan Parmar Allowed to dictate terms in front after jumping well from an inside barrier draw (1), Pendragon shot…