Month: March 2024

The Gr.3 Victoria Handicap (1400m) on Saturday week has been identified as the kick-off point this campaign for Globe (NZ) (Charm Spirit) following a second jumpout on Monday morning. Globe has returned with two impressive jumpout performances this campaign following an aborted spring preparation which saw him suffer from cardiac arrhythmia in the Feehan Stakes. Toorak Handicap winner Attrition (Churchill) and Buffalo River (Noble Mission) are also possibilities of lining up in the 1400-metre contest, where Globe will carry 54 kilograms with Jye McNeil in the saddle for the first…

Ciaron Maher concedes he is stepping into unchartered waters with star mare Pride Of Jenni (Pride of Dubai) when she heads to the Australian Cup at Flemington. It will be the Trelawney Stud-bred mare’s second run at 2000m in a career spanning 27 starts when she tackles the final Group One race of Melbourne’s Autumn Carnival on Saturday. Pride Of Jenni finished eighth in the JRA Plate at Randwick last April after setting a frantic early speed which earned jockey Regan Bayliss a Racing NSW stewards’ suspension. Now Pride Of…

There has been a slight change in plans for Group One-winning filly Molly Bloom (NZ) (Ace High). The Gr.1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) winner was set to tackle this Saturday’s Gr.1 NZEA New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1600m) at Ellerslie but will now head straight to Queensland for a three-race campaign. “She had a busy time over the spring and summer, so we thought this was a good opportunity to take a deep breath with her,” said Andrew Scott, who trains in the filly in partnership with Lance O’Sullivan.…

Gavin Sharrock is confident his young protégé Sergeant Major (NZ) (Proisir) can sign off his New Zealand career in perfect style. The Stratford trainer’s well-related two-year-old son of champion sire Proisir will take aim at the Gr.1 Courtesy Ford Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) at Trentham on Saturday week. “He has been sold, but the new owner Ozzie Kheir wants me to carry on with him until after the Sires’ and then he’ll go to either Chris Waller or Ciaron Maher,” Sharrock said. Sergeant Major ran second on debut at…

Quality mare Town Cryer (NZ) (Tavistock) performed with distinction in her first appearance at Ellerslie and trainer Roydon Bergerson has every reason to expect another bold showing there on Saturday. The daughter of Tavistock finished a gallant runner-up last time out in the inaugural Rangitoto Classic (1500m) to confirm a return for this weekend’s feature, the Gr.1 NZEA New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1600m). The free-going Town Cryer has been in great touch this year and the Awapuni-based Bergerson is looking forward to the six-year-old giving another top account of…

Diss Is Dramatic (NZ) (Dissident) is establishing a strong base for her future broodmare career, adding the Gr.2 Japan Trophy (1600m) to her burgeoning record at Tauranga on Saturday. The four-year-old daughter of Dissident now boasts a record of six wins, including four at stakes level, from 21 starts and nearly $350,000 in earnings. Her three other stakes victories include the Gr.3 Thompson Handicap (1600m), Gr.3 War Decree Stakes (1600m), and Listed Champagne Stakes (1200m), while she has also placed in the Gr.3 Coupland’s Bakeries Mile (1600m). Bred by Cambridge…