Day: 30 December 2024

Black-type targets are in the offing for Cambridge mare Doddle after she took out the Harcourts Taupo Cup (2000m) on Monday. The five-year-old daughter of Dundeel settled off the pace for jockey Teegan Newman, who bided her time before pushing the go button at the 600m mark and sent Doodle alight around the field. They entered the straight a length in arrears of leaders Opawa Jack and Rua Rocks but were able to wrestle the lead and hold off Midnight Blue to win by 1-1/4 lengths. Trainer Stephen Marsh enjoyed…

Stakes performer Sugah Sweet showed she is back to her best when comfortably taking care of a handy line-up in the Poverty Bay Turf Club Cup (1400m) at Taupo on Monday. Trainer Bryce Newman and jockey Masa Hashizume were seeking redemption at the South Waikato track after Sugah Sweet tailed the field home at the venue at her last raceday outing in October, where she took on the uncustomary role of pacemaker. Hashizume, who currently leads the New Zealand Jockeys’ Premiership, took the polar opposite approach this time, easing his…

The NZB Filly of the Year Series begins to take a different look with the sixth leg, the $270,000 Gr.2 Sir Patrick Hogan Stakes (2000m) at Ellerslie on New Year’s Day. After five races over distances ranging from 1200 to 1600 metres, the Sir Patrick Hogan marks the first step up to 2000 metres. The winner will earn 8 points in the NZB Filly of the Year Series, with 4 for second and 2 for third. Starting with the Sir Patrick Hogan, five of the remaining six legs of the Filly…

Sunday’s RM300,000 Penang Gold Cup (2000m) was won in powerful come-from-behind style by Lucky Magic (NZ) (Mendelssohn), who was bought from the Karaka sale ring and also has a half-sister catalogued for Karaka 2025. Lucky Magic was offered by Prima Park in Book 1 of Karaka 2022 and was bought for $35,000. He later returned to Karaka as a member of the Prima Park draft for the Ready to Run Sale, where the HY Cheng Racing Stable secured him for $75,000. He has now had eight starts for four wins, two placings and more than RM200,000…

It may have taken a little longer than desired, but enigmatic galloper Lanikai finally broke through for his maiden victory at Taupo in the Mort Weber – Good Sorts in Racing (1800m) on Monday. The four-year-old son of Ocean Park had shown plenty of promise for trainer Tony Pike, placing in five of his previous 14 starts, but was testing the patience of his group of owners, which includes leading thoroughbred nurseries Haunui Farm and Waikato Stud. However, Pike reassured the group of his ability, and they were rewarded for…