Day: 28 June 2024

Terry Kennedy has the firepower to make an early impact at his local meeting on Sunday. The Wingatui trainer will be represented by the in-form duo of Anticipate (NZ) (Ghibellines) and Sadler’s Lass (NZ) (Gallant Guru) in the opening event, the Grand Casino R88 Handicap (1600m). Ghibellines mare Anticipate resumed from a break on the course earlier this month and romped home in her first appearance since January. “I think she will be very hard to beat, she won nicely last start,” Kennedy said. “She has come up really, really…

A year after winning a maiden steeplechase on the biggest jumping day on the Hawke’s Bay calendar, Torque Time (NZ) (Guillotine) will head back to Hastings on Saturday in search of a bigger prize. The Jo Rathbone-trained gelding will take on New Zealand’s reigning champion jumper West Coast (NZ) (Mettre En Jeu) and a talented supporting cast in the 2024 edition of the Animal Health Direct Hawke’s Bay Steeplechase (4800m). Torque Time has had nine steeplechase starts for a win and six placings. He was a last-start third placegetter behind…

Former top three-year-old filly Llanacord (NZ) (Contributer) will be offered to the public through gavelhouse.com’s National Online Breeding Stock Sale, which will go live at 5pm on Friday, June 28. The daughter of Contributer gave trainer Stephen Nickalls and her fellow owners a massive thrill, particularly over a golden couple of months in her three-year-old term. Bred by Mapperley Stud’s Simms Davison, Llanacord was purchased at New Zealand Bloodstock’s 2019 Book 2 Yearling Sale by Nickalls’ stepfather Kevin Hopson after she caught his eye at an on-farm yearling inspection earlier…

Local trainers Kenny Rae and Krystal Williams unveiled an exciting new talent at the last Ruakaka meeting three weeks ago, and they are hoping for a repeat result in Saturday’s Truweld Engineering 3YO (1400m) over the same course and distance. Bred and raced by Totara Park Stud in partnership with Little Avondale, Dan Vegas (NZ) is a well-related son of Per Incanto and Miss Bluebell (NZ) (Savabeel). That makes him a brother to stakes performers Gringotts (NZ) and Millefiori (NZ), while Miss Bluebell’s dam Operavega (NZ) (Stravinsky) is a half-sister…

Talented winter galloper Spencer (NZ) (Derryn) will be chasing his third win in succession when stepping up in the Taradale Club Handicap (1200m) on Saturday at Hastings. Spencer has been a consistent performer for Waverley horsewoman Erin Hocquard this season, producing three wins including back-to-back successes at his most recent starts in Rating 75 grade, despite nearly dislodging Lisa Allpress when crossing the line at Otaki. “He was really good again at Otaki, it was a shame he had to shy at the post but that’s just him, a bit…

While a firm plan has yet to be locked into place, Gentian Blue’s (NZ) (Reliable Man) connections are giving thought to a trip across the Tasman. The gifted daughter of Reliable Man has impressed in a brief career and has already showed she’s a genuine stakes contender. Gentian Blue has won two of her seven starts and finished fifth in the Gr.3 Cuddle Stakes (1600m) and was spelled after following up with another bold run to fill an identical placing in the Gr.1 New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1600m). The…

British hoop Joshua Parker has been a welcome addition to the jump jockey ranks over the past month, and the success continues to come for the 24-year-old with a winning double at Te Aroha on Thursday. Riding for Wanganui trainer Kevin Myers, Parker partnered the $1.50 favourite in Call Me Jack (NZ) (Jakklaberry) to success in the TAJC Hospitality Function Centre Hurdles (3100m), settling near the speed throughout before breaking away to a comfortable 4-¼ margin at the post. “He was brilliant today, he was relaxed, his jumping was class,…