Month: March 2024

Tina Comignaghi guides Matscot to victory Hororata Gold Cup (1800m) at Riccarton in a driving finish. Photo: Race Images South Progressive galloper Matscot delivered on punter’s expectations when the race favourite ($2.40) took out the Hororata Gold Cup (1800m) at Riccarton in a driving finish. The Sharon Robertson-prepared six-year-old enjoyed a drop in class in Saturday’s contest on his home track after his three previous starts in stakes company yielded midfield finishes as luck didn’t go his way. With leading South Island rider Tina Comignaghi aboard, the son of Haradasun…

Diss Is Dramatic defies the testing track conditions to triumph in Saturday’s Group 2 Japan Trophy (1600m) under Matthew Cameron. Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images) Underrated mare Diss Is Dramatic found her winning groove again when she stormed home to claim the feature event at Tauranga, the Group 2 Japan Trophy (1600m). Steady rain during the day saw the track downgraded to a Heavy 8 and played into the hands of those horses who could find a path to the better going out wide in the home straight. Rider Matt…

Macthief and Triston Moodley prevail over Aris Aris (middle) in a tight finish at Tauranga on Saturday. Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images) Well-travelled sprinter Macthief displayed his affinity for winning early in a campaign when he came from last at Tauranga on Saturday to claim victory. The John Bell-trained seven-year-old began his career in South Africa where he had seven starts, winning two of his first three and also finishing third in the Group 1 Cape Guineas (1600m) before heading to Hong Kong where he was unplaced in his only…

Grande Gallo surges to victory at Tauranga. Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images) Grande Gallo has competed among the best of the country’s three-year-olds this season, and the talented filly proved too strong when stepping out of stakes company at Tauranga on Saturday. The daughter of Belardo broke maiden status stylishly at the Bay Of Plenty course in November, earning a trip south for the Group 1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m), where glamour stablemate Molly Bloom triumphed. Grande Gallo returned to the winner’s circle in MAAT company on New Year’s…

Helios Express (purple and yellow silks) overtakes Chancheng Glory in a desperate finish to the Hong Kong Classic Cup. Hoping to guide Helios Express to complete dominance of the 2024 Four-Year-Old Classic Series with victory in the Hong Kong Derby (2000m) at Sha Tin on Sunday, Hugh Bowman will adopt conservative tactics on John Size’s contender. Chasing a third Classic triumph in Hong Kong after victories on John Moore’s Werther (2016) and Frankie Lor’s Furore (2019), Bowman and Helios Express stand on the brink of series history after wins in…

Gai Waterhouse cemented her legendary status in the Golden Slipper Stakes 2024 results, extending her record to eight wins with an upset victory by Lady Of Camelot. 2024 Golden Slipper Stakes winner Lady Of Camelot was excellent beating home the boys in a brave effort. Photo: Steve Hart. This triumph in the world’s richest two-year-old race came despite the pre-race hype surrounding the stable’s colt, Storm Boy. Storm Boy, the undefeated winner of the Magic Millions 2YO Classic and Skyline Stakes, was slow of the gates and was forced to…

Antrim Coast (closest to camera) prevails in a tight finish over Quintessa to win the Group 2 Alister Clark Stakes (2040m) at The Valley. Photo: Bruno Cannatelli New Zealand’s Group One three-year-old form was to the fore at Moonee Valley on Saturday, where Antrim Coast edged out Quintessa in a thrilling finish to the $500,000 Group 2 Alister Clark Stakes (2040m). Te Akau Racing’s Quintessa went into the race as a +300 favourite. She had previously shown her star quality on home soil, winning the Group 1 Levin Classic (1600m)…

Mark Walker‘s champion mare Imperatriz cemented her legendary status by claiming a historic victory in the 2024 William Reid Stakes at Moonee Valley. William Reid Stakes 2024 winner Imperatriz was good again bouncing back to successfully defend her title. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos. This win marks her 10th Group 1 victory and a successful defence of her 2023 title. The New Zealand star bounced back from a runner-up finish in the Newmarket Handicap under a hefty weight. Returning to her beloved Moonee Valley track, where she remains undefeated, Imperatriz entered…

NT female jockeys featuring during the Alice Springs Cup Carnival include – back: Jessie Philpot, Casey Hunter and Sonja Logan; front: Emma Lines, Dakota Gillett and Jade Hampson. Picture: Nikki Westover Photography For the second year in a row, the Alice Springs Turf Club was forced to postpone it’s NT Guineas meeting scheduled for Saturday at Pioneer Park because of rain. Heavy rains associated with ex-Tropical Cyclone Megan drenched the Northern Territory during the week, with up to 40mm falling in the Red Centre on Friday night and early Saturday…

Veight, the Tony & Calvin McEvoy-trained Grunt colt, etched his name into history by becoming the first three-year-old since Pierro (2013) to win the prestigious George Ryder Stakes (1500m). 2024 George Ryder Stakes winner Veight was excellent defeating his older rivals over 1500m at Rosehill Gardens. Photo: Steve Hart. This victory marked Veight’s first Group 1 triumph, surpassing his second-place finish in the Australian Guineas. A strategic move by the McEvoy stable to shorten his distance proved successful. Jockey Damian Lane delivered a masterful ride, positioning Veight comfortably before launching…