Month: May 2024

Star steeplechaser West Coast (NZ) (Mettre En Jeu) added another crown to his impeccable record for Mark Oulaghan with a tough victory in the L J Hooker Manawatu Steeplechase (4000m) at Woodville on Sunday. The phenomenal record of West Coast over the bigger fences commenced when he won a maiden steeplechase at Hawke’s Bay in June of 2022, and he has made nearly every post a winner since with a Koral Steeplechase (4250m), Hawke’s Bay Steeplechase (4800m), Wellington Steeplechase (5500m) and a pair of Grand National Steeplechases (5600m) to his…

Berry The Cash (NZ) (Jakkalberry) firmly asserted himself among the top hurdlers in the country at Woodville on Sunday with a dominant display in the Manawatu ITM Awapuni Hurdle (3000m). The son of Jakkalberry contested last year’s edition at just his second jumping appearance, and a narrow second placing to talented jumper Suliman indicated there was plenty more in store. A fall in the Wellington Hurdles (3400m) in July was soon rectified when he travelled to Riccarton Park and delivered with a stunning victory in the Grand National Hurdles (4200m),…

Progressive galloper Devastate (NZ) (Vadamos) bounced back to winning form when he prevailed in a thrilling three-way finish to the feature race at Pukekohe, the Jamieson Park 1500. The four-year-old son of Vadamos displayed all his fighting qualities as he held out a stirring challenge from Zaila and the late finishing Accidental Tourist to register his fifth career win for a large group of owners that includes the sponsor of the race, Jamieson Park. Given a perfect trip in transit one-out behind pacemaker Pow Wow by rider Michael McNab, Devastate…

Days after Copper Belt Lodge went public with the news that Stephen Gray will return to New Zealand’s training ranks alongside his distinguished father Kevin, the opening race at Trentham on Saturday unveiled an exciting young prospect for the soon-to-resume partnership. The Kevin Gray-trained First Gear (NZ) (Derryn) was sent out as a $2.10 favourite for the TAB Odds Surge Every Race at Trentham 2YO (1200m), having finished second in both of his previous two starts behind the subsequent stakes winner Domain Ace and the Hong Kong-bound Endued. Saturday was…

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Here To Shock (NZ) (Shocking) has claimed a berth in the Gr.1 Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) by the barest of margins when nosing out Freedom Rally (Rubick) to land the Gr.3 BRC Sprint (1350m) at Doomben on Saturday. Prepared by Ben, Will and JD Hayes, the ever-improving six-year-old continued his strong recent form which included a win in the Gr.3 Victoria Handicap (1400m) last month, prior to a close second to Dashing (Magnus) over a mile at Caulfield. Winning jockey Michael Dee had Here To Shock on a clear path for…