Month: March 2024

Maven Belle (NZ) (Burgundy) is following in some famous Te Akau Racing footsteps, becoming the fifth Group One-winning mare from the stable to be offered for sale on Gavelhouse Plus. Te Akau Racing has previously sold Avantage (Fastnet Rock) for a world-record price of $4.1 million, followed by Entriviere (NZ) (Tavistock) for $900,000, Amarelinha (NZ) (Savabeel) for $1.1 million and Belle En Rouge (NZ) (Burgundy) for $800,000. Like Belle En Rouge, Maven Belle was bred by Te Akau’s David Ellis and Karyn Fenton-Ellis – this time in partnership with Mark…

Tony Pike believes the big, roomy Trentham track will suit his promising three-year-old Witz End right down to the ground in Saturday’s Gr.2 Life Direct Wellington Guineas (1400m). Unbeaten in his first two starts, the Savabeel gelding’s picket fence form line came to an end last Friday when beaten by December on the tight-turning Taupo track over 1300m. “It was just disappointing having to take him to Taupo. He needed the run, but he is just such a big-actioned horse, he really got lost around the tight turns from the…

Promising gelding Tavi Time (NZ) (Tavistock) is likely to have one more run at Rosehill before attempting to deliver trainer Kris Lees a sixth win in the Provincial-Midway Championship Final. The Newcastle trainer has dominated the feature since its inception in 2015, capturing the past three in succession, including producing the quinella last year when Spangler (Starspangledbanner) downed stablemate Loch Eagle (Lonhro). Tavi Time is a $2.80 favourite in pre-nomination markets for this year’s Final, run on April 13, having already secured his place in the field with an emphatic…

Stephen Autridge has triumphed in many of New Zealand’s most iconic races, and the Matamata horseman would rate a victory in Saturday’s Gr.1 Al Basti Equiworld New Zealand Oaks (2400m) among the headliners. Autridge, a former Group One-winning jockey, has accumulated 98 domestic stakes victories as trainer, with periods at the helm of Te Akau Racing, a stint training Kevin Hickman’s Valachi Racing stable, and also trained in partnership for a time with Graeme Rogerson. Over recent seasons, Autridge has downsized his operation, focusing on a more select team of…

The well-related Naxos (NZ) (Harry Angel) may lack size but possesses a determined nature that was emphasised when successful at the first time of asking last month at Tauranga. He will return to the scene of his debut triumph on Saturday for the Frocked Up Girls 3YO (1200m) and is expected to give another good account of himself. The Michael Moroney and Pam Gerard-trained Naxos will be joined at the northern venue by Mineshaft (NZ) (Merchant Navy) and Madame Le Fay (Smart Missile) while the stable will also have black-type…

Phantom calling races in his childhood bedroom is a key memory for Justin Evans, and he is pinching himself that he is now able to live out his lifelong dream of being a race caller. Growing up in Palmerston North, Evans became hooked on the sport after attending race meetings with his family at Awapuni, and his senses were captivated by the event. “I don’t have any family in racing, but I would go to the races with my family as a kid,” Evans said. “I just got the bug…

Te Akau Racing’s The Mighty Spar (NZ) (Savabeel) made it back-to-back wins in the Holster Engineering Lally And Symes South Waikato Cup (2000m) at Matamata on Wednesday. Piloted by apprentice jockey Jessica Allen, The Mighty Spar settled in the one-one early on behind Langkawi (NZ) (Helmet) and enjoyed an economical trip before Allen asked her charge to improve three-wide from the 300m and the pair quickly hit the lead, with the Mighty Spar able to hold out the late challenge of Arby (NZ) (Proisir) to win by a short-head. Mark…