Month: February 2024

While the wait remains for an overdue Verry Elleegant (NZ) (Zed) to foal for the first time, her little-known little brother is poised to fill the void when he makes his Victorian debut on Thursday. Five-year-old Affluential (NZ), who is by Zed out of Opulence (NZ) (Danroad), will have his first run for trainer John Leek at Pakenham after nine starts in WA, which reaped just two placings. While owner Bob Peters is hardly confident of victory in the 1600-maiden on Thursday night, he said the new campaign for his…

An expansion of Te Akau Racing’s Cranbourne base will prompt champion trainer Mark Walker to move to Victoria within the next 12 months. Walker confirmed that Te Akau has come to an agreement with the Cranbourne Turf Club to build 50 new boxes in 2024, taking the operation’s capacity at Victoria’s largest training centre to 70 horses. Ben Gleeson has been running the Cranbourne stable since it opened earlier in the racing season and from it, Imperatriz dominated the spring with three Group 1 victories. Walker’s training partner Sam Bergerson…

Wexford Stables will be looking to continue their golden run when they head to Taupo on Wednesday. The Matamata operation will line-up three favourites on the six race card and are expected to kick-off the midweek meeting with a bang, with the Cliff Matson-owned three-year-olds Jungleland (NZ) (Tarzino) and Cupid’s Arrow (NZ) (El Roca) holding joint $3.30 favouritism with TAB bookmakers for the Placemakers Taupo (1800m). Tarzino gelding Jungleland was runner-up over a mile at Te Rapa last start, while Cupid’s Arrow posted two placings before running sixth at the…

John Blackadder is intent on gaining some black-type for his mare Ears Back (NZ) (Jakkalberry) and will trek down to Ascot Park this weekend to ready her for her next stakes assignment. The five-year-old mare was fourth in the Gr.3 White Robe Lodge WFA (1600m) at Wingatui earlier this month, giving Blackadder the confidence to press on towards next month’s Gr.3 Valachi Downs South Island Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1600m) at Riccarton. With that race in-mind, Blackadder has aimed Ears Back toward Saturday’s Cruickshanks Pryde Southland Stakes (1400m), which he believes…

The latest fortnightly auction on gavelhouse.com has been given a black-type boost by the addition of quality racetrack performer Aromatic. The grey daughter of Sacred Falls carried the tangerine colours of Te Akau Racing to three Group wins and another six stakes placings in a career that spanned five seasons. “She’s been one of the most genuine mares that Te Akau has raced in the last few years,” Te Akau Principal David Ellis said. “I bought her for $160,000 as a yearling at Karaka, and she provided so many thrills…

Polo and thoroughbreds have been the two biggest passions in Kit Brooks’ life, and this week he will combine the two when he competes in the NZ Polo Open in Clevedon, Auckland. Brooks is kept busy operating KB Bloodstock, his thoroughbred breaking-in, pre-training and ready- to- run business, but he always finds time to continue competing in the sport he loves. The Cambridge horseman has been involved with horses all his life and spent his formative years learning to play polo, a sport that has since taken him all around…

Time has been called on the racing career of Savabeel’s Group-winning daughter Mazzolino (NZ). The Waikato Stud-bred and owned mare was prepared at Cambridge by Stephen Marsh and was successful on three occasions, including the Gr.3 Desert Gold Stakes (1600m) and placed a further five times at stakes level. In foal to Super Seth, Mazzolino also ran fourth in this season’s Gr.1 Zabeel Classic (2000m) and signed off with a midfield finish in the Gr.1 Herbie Dyke Stakes (2000m) last weekend. The four-year-old is a sister to the two-time Group…