Month: July 2024

The addition of blinkers allowed New Zealand-bred mare Defining (NZ) (Not A Single Doubt) to show her true colours in Saturday’s A$160,000 I Love 0% Cocktails Handicap (1400m) at Randwick. The five-year-old had been consistently close up in all of her recent starts, finishing within two lengths of the winner in running three placings at Warwick Farm in May and June before a close last-start fourth at Rosehill on June 29. Trainer Annabel Neasham put blinkers on for Saturday’s race and Defining delivered in style, settling in fifth and well…

Talented New Zealand-bred gelding Jabbawockeez (NZ) (Redwood) scored his first victory over 2000m with a potent finishing burst in Saturday’s A$130,000 Sportsbet Nobody Does It Easier Handicap at Caulfield. Previously a four-time winner between 1400m and 1600m, the five-year-old son of Redwood had his first attempt over a middle-distance with a close last-start third at Caulfield on June 29. Trainers Ben, Will and JD Hayes added blinkers for Saturday’s second start over the distance, and Jabbawockeez took a big step forward in the hands of jockey Blake Shinn. After settling…

With or without the unbeaten Dan Vegas (NZ) (Per Incanto), Ruakaka trainers Kenny Rae and Krystal Williams have been unstoppable in three-year-old races on their home track this winter. That trend continued on Saturday with Tide And Time (NZ) (Tide And Time) taking out the $60,000 ITM/Gib 3YO Winter Championship Final (1600m). Tide And Time has spent much of her career in the shadow of one or more of her stablemates. She finished fourth in the 2YO Final (1200m) on this day 12 months ago, with Whiskey Lies (NZ) (Embellish)…

Trainer Murray Garrett and jockey Sam Spratt continued their winning association of late when the pair combined to guide Overrated (NZ) (Wrote) to victory in one of the feature events at Ruakaka on Saturday, the ITM/GIB Progressive Winter Championship Final (1600m). Garrett, who prepares a small team from his base at Pukekohe Park, is enjoying a purple patch of form with Overrated picking up the second win of his career after breaking his maiden status on a heavy track in the hands of Spratt back in May. The four-year-old son…

There was a sense of unfinished business for The Cossack (NZ) (Mastercraftsman) heading into Saturday’s Grant Plumbing Wellington Steeplechase (5500m) at Trentham and the star jumper delivered a faultless performance to collect another major crown for Paul Nelson & Corrina McDougal.  After claiming all there was on offer in the hurdle scene, The Cossack transitioned into steeplechasing last season and was a leading hope to claim the iconic figure-eight feature, before being severely hampered by a fallen runner late in the race and eventually finishing third behind West Coast (NZ)…

Topweight Nedwin (NZ) (Niagara) showed there is simply no quit in his make up as he unleashed an outstanding finishing burst to capture his second Metroclad Limited Wellington Hurdles (3200m) at Trentham. Supporters of the Paul Nelson and Corrina McDougal stable had two options to choose from in the race and many put their faith in up and comer Taika (NZ) (Mettre En Jeu), who started a $2.20 favourite in the contest, ahead of his stablemate ($7.60) with the Kevin Myers-trained Invisible Spirit (NZ) (Charm Spirit) splitting the pair at…

The class of Group One performer Malt Time (Adelaide) shone through again at Ruakaka on Saturday, recovering from a sluggish start to score a runaway win in the ITM/Gib Sprinters’ Winter Championship Final (1400m). Malt Time was sent out as a $2.30 favourite for the $60,000 sprint feature, having scored impressive wins in both of her two previous starts at the venue including a six-length romp over the same distance two starts ago on June 8. In between times she was a strong-finishing second, against the pattern of the day,…