Month: June 2024

Te Akau trainers Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson have a small but select team entered for New Zealand’s two race meetings on Saturday, with all of their three starters looming as key chances. The premiership-leading stable’s day kicks off in the opening race at Trentham, the TAB Odds Surge Every Race at Trentham 3YO (1000m). Walker and Bergerson’s unbeaten Pokuru Gold is rated a $1.60 chance to add a fourth win to his unblemished record. The son of Darci Brahma made a big impression in his only start last spring,…

After highly creditable performances in seven Group races during the New Zealand season, Mary Shan (NZ) (Almanzor) has an opportunity to prove herself across the Tasman in Saturday’s Gr.3 Gunsynd Classic (1600m) at Eagle Farm. The Andrew Forsman-trained filly has travelled to Australia in winning form, having romped home by five and a half lengths in a three-year-old race at Pukekohe on May 25. That was Mary Shan’s first appearance outside of black-type company since October. In between times the daughter of Almanzor finished second in the Gr.2 Soliloquy Stakes…

Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott are gearing up for a big day on Saturday, with a $3 million milestone looming large on home soil while classy three-year-old Geriatrix (Almanzor) takes on a Group Three assignment in Brisbane. O’Sullivan and Scott have enjoyed an outstanding season in New Zealand, sitting in third place on the trainers’ premiership with 59 wins. That is easily a new career-best tally for a partnership that dates back to the 2013-14 season, and their runners have earned a total of $2.95 million so far this term.…

Riccarton trainers Michael and Matthew Pitman continued to enjoy a successful week on their local polytrack on Thursday, adding another win to their tally courtesy of Motiontime in the Riccarton Park Function Centre Three-Year-Old (1400m). “She ended up getting a nice cushy run and probably dictated the race even though she was sitting in second spot,” Michael Pitman said. “She has done a great job that filly.” It was a rare double-header meeting on Riccarton’s synthetic track this week, with Wednesday’s meeting scheduled following the abandonment of racing at Phar…

Premier Waikato farm Rich Hill Stud and the Proisir Syndicate have thrown their support behind a worthy cause by offering a nomination to champion sire Proisir. It will be auctioned at Luminary/2024, a CatWalk Trust dinner function to be held at the Ellerslie Events Centre on Saturday June 22 with all proceeds dedicated to cutting-edge, world-class research aimed at finding a cure for spinal cord injuries. A service nomination to champion Australian two-year-old sire Capitalist has also been donated by Newgate Farm. Rich Hill’s John Thompson was approached by CatWalk…

Wanganui trainer JJ Rayner will head to Te Rapa on Saturday with exciting jumper Lord Spencer (NZ) (Zed) to tackle the highly competitive Fairview Motors Waikato Hurdle (3200m). The six-year-old son of Zed has shown a lot of promise in his jumping career to date, winning one and placing in his six of his hurdle starts to date, but he will face his stiffest task this weekend. He will be met by a small but select field, including last year’s Grand National Hurdles (4200m) winner Berry The Cash and Great…