Month: February 2024

Trainer Benno Yung unearthed a three-year-old with potential in the second section of the Class 4 Kowloon Park Handicap (1,200m), with Super Joy N Fun (NZ) (What’s The Story) sticking on to salute at $13.6. Racing in the same colours as Joy And Fun, Super Joy N Fun was sent forward from gate nine by jockey Jerry Chau before eventually electing to settle outside leader Divine Era in a race without any great pace. Quick to respond when asked to extend in the home straight, Super Joy N Fun quickly…

One-win galloper Gold Wolf (NZ) (Tivaci) faces a stern task in Friday’s Listed Tasmanian Derby (2200m) as he takes on in-form Patrick Payne-trained galloper Bold Soul (NZ) (Embellish). Prepared by David and Coral Feek, Gold Wolf  broke his maiden convincingly over 1600m at Moe in December before moderate performances over 2000m at Seymour and Pakenham. But David Feek has seen a newfound maturity in the son of Tivaci’s trackwork and, with the benefit of an additional run under his belt, is optimistic he can run a cheeky race in the…

Melbourne Cup placegetter High Emocean (NZ) (Ocean Park) has run her final race and will be sold at auction in Australia in May. The seven-year-old daughter of Ocean Park, who was selected by renowned bloodstock agent John Foote for $80,000 at the 2018 Karaka yearling sale, would go on to win seven races and more than A$1.2 million in prizemoney. Maher informed owners this week of the decision via a lookback video of her career, with the mare having last raced in the Geelong Cup last spring. Having won her…

While Black Caviar (Bel Esprit) was winning races from her two-year-old year through to retirement as a six-year-old, her trainer Peter Moody said she did not reach full maturity until her later racing years. Mr Brightside (NZ) (Bullbars) is no Black Caviar, but he is about to embark on an autumn campaign in the Gr.1 C F Orr Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on Saturday as a fully mature six-year-old. The Ben, Will and J D Hayes-trained gelding has graduated from a Group One handicap winner to being a multiple Group…

Darryn and Briar Weatherley have been well-represented in stakes events this season and that trend will continue at Te Rapa on Saturday with a trio of feature race contenders. The Matamata trainers have stable favourite Mali Ston (NZ) (El Roca) and the progressive Arby (NZ) (Proisir) in the Gr.1 Herbie Dyke Stakes (2000m) while gifted filly Tulsi (The Autumn Sun) will step out in the Gr.2 David & Karyn Ellis Fillies’ Classic (2000m). “We’re quite proud of our little team, we’ve only had three winners but most of our runners…

Champion jockey Per-Anders Graberg is hoping to make an impression in New Zealand to add to the list of countries he has successfully ridden in. The vastly experienced Swedish jockey arrived last week on a four-month visa and has based himself in Cambridge. “I have been riding out for Tony Pike and, of course, for any others if they need me,” Graberg said. The 49-year-old finished fifth aboard the Pike-trained Full Moon Fever in his New Zealand debut at Matamata on Wednesday and will have two rides at Te Rapa…

A tilt at Group company is now on the cards for Qali Al Farrasha (NZ) (Almanzor) following her convincing maiden win in the Wexford Stables (1600m) at Matamata on Wednesday. Heading into the meeting off the back of three successive placings, the daughter of Almanzor was backed into $2.10 favouritism at the midweek meeting and duly delivered for her supporters, running out a comfortable four length victor. “She looks a nice staying filly in the making, from a classy family, and we just love the progeny of Almanzor and have…