Te Akau Racing make their presence felt in a volume of top-flight New Zealand races, with Karaka Millions, Guineas, and weight-for-age crowns in constant flow. However, the iconic Gr.1 Trackside New Zealand Derby (2400m) is one that has eluded the Matamata giant since cult hero Gingernuts in 2017, and co-trainer Sam Bergerson is hopeful their fortunes can change on Saturday, when Ascend The Throne and What You Wish For contest the Ellerslie feature. A high-priced son of Savabeel, Ascend The Throne has been a Derby hopeful since producing a comprehensive…
Month: March 2024
Sha Tin Sunday racing tips & quaddie | March 3, 2024
What Hong Kong Classic Cup Where Sha Tin Racecourse – Tai Po Rd, Sha Tin District, Hong Kong When Sunday, March 3, 2024 First Race 1pm HKT (4pm AEDT) Visit Dabble The Hong Kong Classic Cup (1800m) — the second leg of the Four-Year-Old Classic Series — takes top billing on a quality 10-race program at Sha Tin this Sunday. The rail is in the B+2 position for the entire circuit, and with no rain predicted, it should be a genuine Good 4 surface. The opening event is scheduled to…
Busuttin & Young looking to go one better in New Zealand Derby
Interlinked will contest the Group 1 New Zealand Derby (2400m) at Ellerslie on Saturday. (Photo by Scott Barbour/Racing Photos) Seven years after settling for second in their last raid on New Zealand’s premier classic, expat trainers Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young are resigned to running into one better again when Interlinked contests the Group 1 New Zealand Derby (2400m) at Ellerslie on Saturday. Busuttin and Young tackled the 2017 edition of the Derby with Rising Red, who ran a gallant second behind Gingernuts. That hugely popular chestnut later proved himself…
Orchestral looking to hit right note in New Zealand Derby
Orchestral will contest the Group 1 New Zealand Derby (2400m) at Ellerslie on Saturday. Photo: Race Images Winning a Group 1 New Zealand Derby (2400m) is nothing new for Roger James, with the Cambridge trainer looking to extend his tally in the Classic to an even half dozen at Ellerslie on Saturday, while training partner Robert Wellwood will be looking for his first. Tidal Light (1986), Roysyn (1995), Zonda (1997), Hades (1999), and Silent Achiever (2012) currently fill Kingsclere Stables’ honour roll of New Zealand Derby winners, and they have…
Moruya free racing tips & quaddie picks | Sunday, March 3
What Moruya Races Where Moruya Jockey Club – 100 Donnelly Dr, Moruya NSW 2537 When Sunday, March 3, 2024 First Race 12:55pm AEDT Visit Dabble The $150,000 Country Championships Qualifier (1400m) headlines a massive eight-race program at Moruya on Sunday afternoon, with the action set to get underway at 12:55pm local time. The rail returns to the true position throughout the entire circuit, and with no rain forecast to hit the surface, it should be a Good 4 throughout the afternoon. Country Championships Qualifier: Associate Associate picked up a much-deserved…
Callsign Mav retired
Callsign Mav winning the 2021 edition of the Group 1 Windsor Park Plate (1600m). Photo Credit: Race Images – Peter Rubery The curtain has come down on the decorated career of Callsign Mav following his sixth placed run in last Saturday’s Group 1 Otaki-Maori Classic (1600m). Purchased as a weanling out of Windsor Park Stud’s 2017 National Weanling, Broodmate, & Mixed Bloodstock Sale for $3,000, he belied his initial purchase price when going on to win eight and place in 12 of his 38 career starts on both sides of…
Quintessa set for Australian Guineas tilt
Quintessa will contest the Group 1 Australian Guineas (1600m) at Flemington on Saturday. Photo: Peter Rubery (Race Images Palmerston North) Legarto catapulted herself into the spotlight in last year’s $1 million Group 1 Australian Guineas (1600m), and Te Akau Racing is hopeful another Kiwi filly can follow suit in the Flemington feature on Saturday. That filly is Quintessa, a daughter of Shamus Award that has only once finished out of the top two in seven raceday starts, with her quartet of victories including the Group 1 Levin Classic (1600m) at…
Future bright for Stars winner
Emerging filly Mislead (Shamexpress) could be set for higher tasks with a trip to Adelaide to chase black type on the radar for the Sportsbet Future Stars Series winner. Rachael Frost’s three-year-old took out the $300,000 1400m final on Thursday evening at Pakenham having won a heat two weeks earlier. Making the occasion even more special, Frost recently put family members into the horse. Her parents flew in from New Zealand and her brother travelled from Washington DC to be there. “To have mum and dad and my brother here,…
Quintessa ready for Australian Guineas test
Legarto catapulted herself into the spotlight in last year’s A$1 million Gr.1 Australian Guineas (1600m), and Te Akau Racing is hopeful another Kiwi filly can follow suit in the Flemington feature on Saturday. That filly is Quintessa, a daughter of Shamus Award that has only once finished out of the top two in seven raceday starts, with her quartet of victories including the Gr.1 Levin Classic (1600m) at Trentham in January. Mark Walker, and his New Zealand co-trainer Sam Bergerson, gave Quintessa her biggest challenge to date in last month’s…
Wheeler represented by talented quartet at Ellerslie
Two breakthrough performers from November’s New Zealand Cup Carnival will line up alongside a pair of promising staying three-year-olds in a talented team for New Plymouth trainer John Wheeler at Ellerslie on Saturday. The Hall of Fame horseman’s first runner will be Oso Savvy in the $90,000 Vertical Logistics Nathans Memorial (2200m) – a race Wheeler won with accomplished stayer Pentathon back in 2008. Oso Savvy has yet to scale the heights of that predecessor, but the Savabeel gelding made a big impression in two feature staying appearances in Christchurch…