Month: September 2024

The Lindsay Park team is confident Mr Brightside (NZ) (Bullbars) can give them back-to-back wins in the Makybe Diva Stakes at Flemington. The Makybe Diva Stakes at Flemington is a race that can shape the spring.  The Group 1 race over 1600m at Flemington on Saturday attained Group 1 status in 2013 with horses of the calibre of Fawkner (2015), Humidor (2017), Incentivise (2021), I’m Thunderstruck (2022) and Mr Brightside last year being successful.  Going back further when run as a Group 2 race, horses like Sky Heights (1999), Northerly (2002), Weekend Hussler (2008) and Shocking (2010) were successful.  Only eight runners will face the starter on Saturday, but all eight will…

With the submission date now closed, New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing (NZTR) would like to provide an update on the next steps of the Future of NZ Jumps Racing consultation process. In total, 240 submissions were received with representation across all areas of the racing industry. “The volume of submissions that we received is testament to the passion of those involved in the racing industry and is further proof of the need for immediate action,” NZTR chief executive Bruce Sharrock said. While there were differing views, 90 percent of the submissions…

Ellerslie is set to host some of the biggest race meetings on the calendar this season, but for Auckland Thoroughbred Racing (ATR) chief executive Paul Wilcox, one raceday stands above the rest. The newly installed StrathAyr track is set to host its first meeting of the season on Saturday-week, with many industry participants eager to see how it will cope with the stresses of racing after undergoing remedial work over winter. The new surface hosted its first race meeting in January to much fanfare, however, a fortnight later at the…

Ozzie Kheir has an impressive string of spring contenders to look forward to across Melbourne and Sydney on Saturday, but also front of mind for the successful owner is a comparatively lowly maiden at Geelong on Friday. When Savabeel filly Exuberance (NZ) (Savabeel) contests the race for three-year-old fillies over 1140 metres, it will be the first horse to race in Kheir’s colours for Matamata (New Zealand) and Cranbourne-based trainer Mark Walker. “I met Mark for lunch and really enjoyed his company and passion towards horses,” Kheir said this week.…

Robbie Patterson will utilise the Taranaki and Te Rapa meetings largely as stepping stones for his talented contingent, which includes the Group One-bound One Bold Cat (NZ) (The Bold One). One Bold Cat had a breakthrough season last term, winning the Gr.3 Counties Cup (2100m) in November before third and fourth placings in the Gr.1 Thorndon Mile (1600m) and Gr.1 Herbie Dyke Stakes (2000m) respectively. Now a six-year-old, the son of The Bold One flashed home late into third over 1200m on August 31, and Saturday’s Seaton Park 1400 at…