Month: March 2024

Tom Sherry and Brad Widdup have combined with a winner to end the day at Randwick on Saturday, with Phearson ($12.00) proving far too strong in the Group 3 Liverpool City Cup (1300m) . The improving son of Exosphere put the writing on the wall at the end of his last campaign, securing victory in the Group 3 Festival Stakes (1500m) at Rosehill before being sent to the paddock after a lacklustre performance in the Group 2 Ingham (1600m). Some punters may have thought a race like that would be…

Certainly drives over the top of Moet Down to claim the Group 3 Mufhasa Stakes (1400m) at Ellerslie. Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images) Te Akau Racing’s former trainer Jamie Richards had a stranglehold on the Mufhasa Stakes (1400m) on New Zealand Derby Day, and his successors Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson continued that tradition at Ellerslie on Saturday. The runaway premiership leaders won the Group Three feature with classy Waikato Stud homebred Certainly, who became the fourth Mufhasa Stakes winner in the last five years to come from Te Akau’s…

Orchestral and Craig Grylls stride to a phenomenal victory in the Group 1 New Zealand Derby (2400m) at Ellerslie on Saturday. Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images) Roger James is now the most successful trainer in the history of the Group 1 New Zealand Derby (2400m), but even that enormous achievement was overshadowed at Ellerslie on Saturday by the new superstar of his Cambridge stable. Orchestral became the sixth Derby winner for James, following on from Tidal Light (1986), Roysyn (1995), Zonda (1997), Hades (1999) and Silent Achiever (2012). Saturday’s win…

Listed NZB Airfreight Stakes (1400m) winner Drakaina striding to a commanding maiden win last December. Photo: Monica Toretto Drakaina’s commanding victory in Saturday’s Listed NZB Airfreight Stakes (1400m) at Wingatui completed a remarkable rise to prominence for a filly that was bought for just $3,000. The daughter of Ace High caught the eye of her trainer and part-owner Ebony Turner on Gavelhouse last year. She was unplaced on debut at Ascot Park in November, then won at +4900 odds at Gore on December 24 before finishing fourth in the Listed…

Atishu ridden by Blake Shinn wins the Blamey Stakes at Flemington. (Photo by George Sal/Racing Photos) On return to her favourite track, Atishu (+300) has taken out the Group 2 Blamey Stakes thanks to a calm ride from Blake Shinn at Flemington, earning herself a run in the $4 million All Star Mile in two weeks’ time. The Chris Waller-trained mare was coming through the Group 1 C.F. Orr Stakes form, where she was only able to one of the nine runners’ home over 1400m, but many believed she would…

Hell Hath No Fury arrived in time to claim the Group 2 Guy Walter Stakes. Photo: RacingNSW The Annabel Neasham-trained Hell Hath No Fury (+900) has lunged late to secure victory in the Group 2 Guy Walter Stakes (1400m) at Randwick on Saturday afternoon. The daughter of Hellbent had been putting together a strong resume this campaign, scoring back-to-back wins in BM72 company, giving the stable license to throw her in the deep end to tackle her first stakes contest at start 16. She adapted to the occasion beautifully, courtesy…

Tropical Squall claimed the Group 1 Surround Stakes. Photo: RacingNSW Tropical Squall (+700) has returned after a 114-day spell to secure Group 1 glory for the second time in her career in the Group 1 Surround Stakes (1400m) at Randwick on Saturday afternoon. The daughter of Prized Icon had previously had Group 1 success in the Flight Stakes (1600m) last preparation, stamping her authority against the girls by producing another dominant front-running display. That was clearly the stable instructions again on Saturday, with the Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott-trained filly…

Southport Tycoon ridden by Jamie Kah wins the Australian Guineas. (Photo by Pat Scala/Racing Photos) Jamie Kah has taken out her second Group 1 race in a matter of a week, as she guided Southport Tycoon (+1600) to victory in the Australian Guineas after claiming the Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes last Saturday. Combining with trainer Ciaron Maher, Kah gave the son of Written Tycoon a peach of a ride from midfield and allowed her mount to build momentum rounding the home turn before unleashing with his finish. After Veight…

Nash Rawiller urges Think It Over to victory in the Group 1 Verry Elleegant Stakes. Photo: RacingNSW Nash Rawiller and Kerry Parker have combined with Think It Over (+800) to secure victory in the newly named Group 1 Verry Elleegant Stakes (1600m) at Randwick on Saturday afternoon. The now three-time Group 1 winner was given an elite steer by Rawiller pinching all the ground towards the inside running rail before fending off all rivals. The Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott-trained Just Fine (+1000) ensured a genuine tempo throughout the 1600m…

The newly christened Verry Elleegant Stakes, named in honour of the recently deceased champion mare, witnessed a stunning upset on Saturday at Randwick. Think It Over wins 2024 Verry Elleegant Stakes in a boil-over. Photo: Steve Hart. Think It Over, trained by Kerry Parker and ridden by Nash Rawiller, defied the odds to claim victory over heavily favored Fangirl, trained by Chris Waller. The race carried extra weight this year, serving as a tribute to Verry Elleegant’s legacy. Waller, aiming for an emotional 11th win in the renamed race, entered…