Day: 3 July 2024

Debbie Sweeney had expected Willit to give a bold account of himself at Rotorua and the three-year-old duly delivered at the first time of asking on Wednesday. The Te Awamutu trainer had been more than happy with the son of Swiss Ace ahead of his debut in the Macmillan Accountants Maiden (1215m) and he proved comfortably superior to his age group rivals. He is raced by breeder and Westbury Stud principal Gerry Harvey, whose colours were also later carried to victory by Murch in the Greenlight Insurance Brokers Maiden (1215m)…

Sulabella made the journey down to Rotorua worthwhile for Michelle Bradley on Wednesday, producing a tough win in the Arawa Park Hotel Rotorua 1560.   A five-year-old by Proisir, Sulabella has performed on all surfaces with three wins to her credit prior to her midweek triumph and was rated a $6.70 chance in a market headed by stakes winner Itza Charmdeel.   Jumping from an outside barrier under Kelly Myers, the mare was prominent early sitting outside pacemaker Kahma Suitsya and the pair were never headed, eventually fighting out the finish with…

Promising staying three-year-old Phats will tick an exciting box for Chrissy Bambry on Saturday at Flemington as her first runner in Australia.   A homebred son of Embellish, Phats secured his maiden victory comfortably at Waverley in April and subsequent placings at Rating 75 level warranted a start in the Kiwifruit Cup (2100m), where he finished a creditable fourth behind Khan Hunter.   Phats will contest the Mahogany Challenge Final (2500m) at the iconic venue, a race also featuring fellow Kiwi-bred and trained galloper Eliud.   “Everything we’ve thrown at him he has…

Cambridge trainer Darrel Lang is looking forward to heading to Te Rapa on Saturday where nine-win gelding Open Minded will make his New Zealand debut in the Group One Turf Bar Sprint (1200m). Bred by Tim Harrison, the now seven-year-old gelding was initially in the care of Darryl’s father Roger, for whom he won his sole trial in New Zealand before being sold to clients of Anthony Freedman. The son of Jimmy Choux went on to win nine and place in four of his 28 starts in Australia, including victory…

Talented and tenacious mare Town Cryer (NZ) (Tavistock) will be given every opportunity during her next preparation to break through at the highest level. The daughter of Tavistock is a multiple black-type winner and was spelled by trainer Roydon Bergerson following her gallant effort to finish runner-up in the Gr.1 New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1600m). “She’s been back in about five or six weeks now, she’s a really brave and tough mare,” Bergerson said. “She’ll go to the Hawke’s Bay carnival and the track should have the cut out…