Group Three triumph for Ribchester mare

Ultra-consistent mare Red Card (Ribcester) landed her biggest prize to date when running out a comfortable winner of the Gr.3 Maurice McCarten Stakes (1100m) at Rosehill on Saturday for trainer James Cummings. Beginning brilliantly from an inside draw, Red Card comfortably found the lead under Adam Hyeronimus and controlled proceedings throughout. A daughter of Haunui Farm stallion Ribchester, Red Card’s Group Three victory enhances her CV further, having landed the Listed Denise’s Joy Stakes (1100m) and Listed Queensland Day Stakes (1200m) through the Winter of her three-year-old season. “It was…

Cuddle Stakes delivers milestones for connections

Saturday’s Gr.3 Wentwood Grange Cuddle Stakes (1600m) at Trentham delivered multiple milestones for the connections of Taranaki mare Hi Yo Sass Bomb (NZ) (Complacent). The underrated five-year-old became the first stakes winner for her New Plymouth trainer Kim Reid, who also co-bred and part-owns the daughter of Complacent. Hi Yo Sass Bomb was ridden to her Cuddle Stakes success by Irish jockey Joe Doyle, who notched up his 100th win in New Zealand. It was also a well-deserved turn at the top of the podium for Hi Yo Sass Bomb…

Major prize for Grail Seeker at Trentham

Australian hoop Kyle Wilson-Taylor has made his first visit to New Zealand a memorable one by guiding promising filly Grail Seeker (NZ) (Iffraaj) to a hollow victory in the Gr.2 Life Direct Wellington Guineas (1400m) at Trentham. The Queensland-based rider struck up a friendship with trainers Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott when he rode trackwork for the pair during the Queensland winter carnival last year, and was quick to take up an invitation to ride members of their team at Trentham including the daughter of Iffraaj along with El Roca…

Oaks heroine gives Ormsby a different kind of Group One

Almost two decades after riding Creil to victory in the Gr.1 Avondale Cup (2200m) as an apprentice jockey, multi-talented horseman Chad Ormsby climbed the same mountain in a different way when Pulchritudinous- (NZ) (Wrote) won the Gr.1 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai New Zealand Oaks (2400m) at Trentham on Saturday. Ormsby now trains a small team at Cambridge, saddling eight winners so far this season including Pulchritudinous in the Oaks and Gr.2 Lowland Stakes (2000m), along with Master Fay (Deep Field) in the Gr.3 Concorde Handicap (1200m). “Things like a Group…

Freedman Group 1 dreaming with Wymark

Exciting Savabeel three-year-old Wymark runs out a strong winner at Rosehill. Photo: Bradleyphotos.com.au Talented three-year-old Wymark will be put on a Classic path after a strong win against older horses at Rosehill on Saturday. The Michael Freedman-trained son of Savabeel made it three wins in succession with Saturday’s metropolitan victory following a pair of soft victories at Newcastle. Wymark set a new track record for the Newcastle 1850m when winning his start prior by a whopping 9.25 lengths and produced another impressive performance when scoring by just under three lengths…

Wolfy back to winning ways at Caulfield

Jamie Mott drives Wolfy to a narrow victory at Caulfield. Photo: Bruno Cannatelli Smart three-year-old colt Wolfy scored the narrowest of victories when coming deepest of all at Caulfield on Saturday under a driving ride by Jamie Mott. The son of Tivaci is prepared by Nick Ryan and looked set to get the better of his rivals but runner-up Furious kicked back late to make the connections of Wolfy second-guess themselves. “I went the (early) crow, so there were a few anxious moments there,” Ryan said. “It’s good to get…

Hi Yo Sass Bomb wins Cuddle Stakes at Trentham

Hi Yo Sass Bomb strides to a deserved black-type crown in the Group 3 Cuddle Stakes (1600m) at Trentham on Saturday under Joe Doyle. Photo: Peter Rubery (Race Images Palmerston North) Saturday’s Group 3 Cuddle Stakes (1600m) at Trentham delivered multiple milestones for the connections of Taranaki mare Hi Yo Sass Bomb. The underrated five-year-old became the first stakes winner for her New Plymouth trainer Kim Reid, who also co-bred and part-owns the daughter of Complacent. Hi Yo Sass Bomb was ridden to her Cuddle Stakes success by Irish jockey…

Grail Seeker wins Group 2 Wellington Guineas

Kyle Wilson-Taylor guides Grail Seeker to a comfortable victory in the Group 2 Wellington Guineas (1400m) at Trentham on Saturday. Photo: Peter Rubery (Race Images Palmerston North) Australian hoop Kyle Wilson-Taylor has made his first visit to New Zealand a memorable one by guiding promising filly Grail Seeker to a hollow victory in the Group 2 Wellington Guineas (1400m) at Trentham. The Queensland-based rider struck up a friendship with trainers Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott when he rode trackwork for the pair during the Queensland winter carnival last year, and…

Pulchritudinous claims Group 1 New Zealand Oaks

Pulchritudinous and Warren Kennedy soar to Group One Glory in the New Zealand Oaks (2400m) at Trentham on Saturday. Photo: Peter Rubery (Race Images Palmerston North) Almost two decades after riding Creil to victory in the Group 1 Avondale Cup (2200m) as an apprentice jockey, multi-talented horseman Chad Ormsby climbed the same mountain in a different way when Pulchritudinous won the Group 1 New Zealand Oaks (2400m) at Trentham on Saturday. Ormsby now trains a small team at Cambridge, saddling eight winners so far this season including Pulchritudinous in the…

Zougotcha Reigns Supreme in Thrilling 2024 Coolmore Classic Finish

Zougotcha delivered a captivating performance to claim victory in the 2024 Coolmore Classic  at Rosehill Gardens. Zougotcha dove late to get there right on the line as favourite in the 2024 Coolmore Classic at Rosehill. Photo: Steve Hart. The Chris Waller-trained mare displayed immense heart and determination, surging past rivals in the final stretch to secure a narrow but impressive Group 1 win. This victory marks a significant milestone for both horse and trainer. It’s Zougotcha’s second Group 1 triumph, adding to her Flight Stakes win as a three-year-old filly…