Month: July 2024

Champion rider Michael McNab will be sidelined by injury for an indefinite period. After his first ride at Tuesday’s trial meeting on the synthetic track at Cambridge, the two-time National Jockeys’ Premiership winner was unable to fulfil his remaining commitments due to severe back pain. “He had his first ride and afterwards he was in agony and obviously couldn’t carry on,” McNab’s agent Aidan Rodley said. “He went to pack up his gear and couldn’t even do that, (trainer) Colm Murray had to help him.” McNab was taken to hospital…

John Bell has always had plenty of time for Spanish Lad and his patience has paid off with the well-bred three-year-old breaking maidens comfortably in the Martin Collins New Zealand MAAT 1550 at Cambridge Synthetic on Wednesday.  A son of Shocking out of Group One performer Celebrity Miss, Spanish Lad had a trio of races in the spring period but took until the following winter to show his true capabilities. Fresh-up over 1300m on the synthetic surface, he ran on with merit and was suited to the step-up in distance…

A pair of exciting young prospects from Andrew Forsman’s stable are in the running to strut their stuff in Melbourne this spring. Stakes performers Red Sea and Yaldi were among a number of the Cambridge trainer’s team in action at Tuesday’s trial meeting on their home synthetic course. The two-year-olds stepped out in a juvenile heat over 950m and they dominated the finish with Red Sea getting in the bob by a slender margin under rider Warren Kennedy. “We would like to see how Red Sea trials on a rain-affected…

Casino Princess (NZ) (Casino Prince) earned her first stakes-level crown last month and Cliff Goss is eyeing a bigger prize with the talented five-year-old. Casino Princess has been one of the finds of the winter, placing and winning at Rating 75 grade on four occasions before a comfortable success in the Listed Tauranga Classic (1400m) on June 22, much to the delight of her locally-based trainer. “It was great, she really deserved it because she’s a very kind filly who anyone can ride and she always tries. I was very…

Levin trainer Josh Shaw is keen to get an elite-level scalp with his Group One performer Faraglioni (NZ) (El Roca), and she will get her first opportunity this preparation in just over a month at Hastings. The rising six-year-old mare was a revelation for Shaw last summer, posting runner-up results in the Gr.1 TAB Classic (1600m), Gr.2 Auckland Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1600m), and Gr.2 Westbury Classic (1400m). She enjoyed a long spell before returning to work last month and Shaw has been pleased with her progress ahead of spring racing.…

This season’s standout three-year-old Crocetti (NZ) (Zacinto) made a pleasing start to his spring preparation on Tuesday at the Cambridge Synthetic trials, closing late to finish second in his 800m heat, and he could be in for a lucrative spring preparation. The Daniel Nakhle-bred and raced gelding won six of his seven starts this term, including the Gr.1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m), Gr.3 Northland Breeders’ Stakes (1200m), Gr.2 James and Annie Sarten Memorial (1400m), Gr.3 Almanzor Trophy (1200m), and was runner-up in the Gr.1 BCD Group Sprint (1400m). “I…