Month: January 2024

Leading New Zealand trainer Lance O’Sullivan is oozing confidence with Karaka Millions 3YO favourite Molly Bloom (NZ) (Ace High). The talented daughter of Ace High will be ridden by star Victorian jockey Blake Shinn from barrier 10. Shinn has ridden Molly Bloom before, flying over to New Zealand to ride her when she won on Boxing Day. A fascinating side battle between star Australian-based jockeys looms in the 3YO race, with well-backed second favourite Orchestral (NZ) (Savabeel) ($3.80 Ladbrokes) to be ridden by James McDonald from barrier one. “We are…

The Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr stable is banking on a return to Caulfield being a winning formula for Ayrton (NZ) (Iffraaj). The six-year-old runs in the Listed John Dillion Stakes (1400m) at his favourite track on Friday. Ayrton has raced at Caulfield on six occasions, registering five wins, four of which have been over Friday’s journey. The only time Ayrton has faced defeat at Caulfield was in the Gr.1 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (1400m) on November 18 after which he headed to Perth where he finished 11th to…

There is plenty of excitement surrounding Saturday’s TAB Karaka Millions meeting at Ellerslie, and standout three-year-old Crocetti (NZ) (Zacinto) is expected to kick the night off with a bang when he lines-up in the opening race of the six-race card, the Gr.3 Cambridge Stud Almanzor Trophy (1200m). The Danny Walker and Arron Tata-trained gelding has yet to taste defeat in his six starts to date, including giving breeder-owner Daniel Nakhle his first Group One win when taking out the New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) at Riccarton in November. The son…

Favoured fillies Velocious (Written Tycoon) and Bellatrix Star (Star Witness) have strengthened their status as headline acts for Saturday’s $1m TAB Karaka Millions 2YO (1200m) after drawing neighbouring midfield gates for the 17th running of the lucrative juvenile feature. In a spectacular barrier draw beamed on to Auckland’s Sky Tower on Wednesday night, Velocious landed gate seven and Bellatrix Star gate six. With the emergency Damask Rose (NZ) (Savabeel) drawing the inside barrier, the favoured pair will both move in by one gate if there are no scratchings. Velocious is trained by Stephen Marsh for syndicators…

A return to a proven buying formula may once again deliver the ultimate reward for Albert Bosma’s Go Racing syndication company. He will bid to roll back the years with trainer Stephen Marsh with Velocious in the TAB Karaka Millions 2YO (1200m) at Ellerslie on Saturday after they combined to win the juvenile feature with Ruud Awakening in 2013. Written Tycoon filly Velocious is the current $3 favourite after her debut victory at Te Rapa followed by success in the Listed Challenge Stakes (1100m) at Counties, and she finished a…

It will be a sentimental sale for Wentwood Grange at Karaka this year, with brothers Sean, Leigh, and Dean offering the final foal out of the mare that kicked everything off for the trio. Leigh Valley was the first horse the brothers raced together, and she gave them a great introduction to the sport, winning five of her 18 starts, including the Gr.3 Cuddle Stakes (1600m). They retained the daughter of Bianconi and bred some nice horses out of the mare, including Valley Girl, who won the Gr.1 Herbie Dyke…

Trainers Ken and Bev Kelso couldn’t be happier with heir glamour mare Legarto (NZ) (Proisir) ahead of Saturday’s inaugural running of the $1 million Elsdon Park Aotearoa Classic (1600m). The Group One winner returned in superb fashion at Ellerslie earlier this month when taking out the Elsdon Park Aotearoa Classic Preview (1400m) by two lengths over Saturday race rivals Sacred Satono (NZ) (Satono Aladdin) and Sharp ‘N’ Smart (NZ) (Redwood), and she has continued to please her handlers in her work. “She has really thrived since Ellerslie, she has thrived…

Proven stayer Mahrajaan (Kitten’s Joy) will open his quest for another major distance title when he returns to action at Trentham on Saturday. The Shaune Ritchie and Colm Murray-trained import will make his first appearance in the Happy 80th Birthday Jeff Berkett Handicap (1600m) since he claimed top honours in the Gr.3 New Zealand Cup (3200m) at Riccarton. While first-up fireworks aren’t expected from Mahrajaan, the American-bred six-year-old has pleased his connections in his lead-up work. “Each preparation he has got better and better and I don’t think we’ve had…