Month: July 2024

The Jones family’s boutique breeding operation are proud owners of a slice of international racing history. Father Wayne and wife Liz and their children Kane, New Zealand Bloodstock’s Sales Manager, and Lena bred Lim’s Saltoro who on Sunday evening at Kranji reigned supreme in the final running of the Singapore Derby (1800m). “It was a great thrill, we bred him under our Onyx Thoroughbreds brand and he’s certainly some horse,” Wayne Jones said. Lim’s Saltoro is a son of Windsor Park Stud’s Shamexpress and Fastnet Rock’s daughter Lamplighter, whose dam…

Former jumps jockey Nick Smith rode his first winner in New Zealand at Pukekohe on Sunday when guiding Middle Khan to victory in the Dunstan Horsefeeds 2100, bringing up his first win in the saddle in nearly 20 years. “It was excellent getting that win,” Smith said. “My last winner would have been in 2005.” The expat Englishman has spent his entire working life in the racing industry, competing as a jumps jockey in his homeland before transitioning to a career as a trainer, and subsequently moved to New Zealand…

Pride Of Jenni (Pride Of Dubai) was run over late in a Cranbourne jumpout on Monday morning, but those associated with the star mare considered it the perfect Spring pipe-opener. The 800-metre hit-out was Pride Of Jenni’s first public appearance since her Gr.1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) win and she raced in a three-wide position on the speed and held a slender lead until inside the final 100m when reeled in by Fortunate Kiss (Divine Prophet). The rising seven-year-old, a daughter of Pride Of Dubai, was never extended at any stage by regular rider Declan Bates who…

Gavin Opie’s last visit to Hawera ended before it began, but the Te Aroha trainer hopes an unexpected return to the South Taranaki track on Tuesday will produce a much better outcome.  Opie had Just A Tipple and Mister Pucci entered for Saturday’s Opunake Cup meeting at New Plymouth, which was abandoned after overnight rain left the track waterlogged. The eight-race card was rescheduled for Tuesday, and due to a prior commitment at the New Plymouth Racecourse, it has been relocated to Hawera.  According to Love Racing statistics, Tuesday’s two…

A seasoned version of talented galloper Bradman has shown up to the races this term and he will be out to continue a top-tier campaign in Tuesday’s rescheduled Listed Sinclair & Electrical Opunake Cup (1400m).   Having always shown ability, Bradman took his time in learning the ropes of being a racehorse, a patient game that has paid off in spades for his trainer and part-owner Roydon Bergerson. The son of Pins picked up the Listed Flying Handicap (1400m) and placed in the Listed City Of Napier Sprint (1200m) and more…

Stratford trainer Gavin Sharrock will line up a promising pair of two-year-olds at Hawera on Tuesday where he is keen to see if they can back up some impressive trial and jump out performances of late.    Hawera will host the abandoned New Plymouth meeting from Saturday after heavy rain and surface water conspired to prevent the day going ahead.   The Sharrock-prepared pair of two-year-olds, Vibration and Madamkipyegon, will take the stage against some older maiden gallopers over 1100m in Race 3 on the programme which is likely to be raced…