Day: 31 December 2024

The New Zealand Thoroughbred racing industry is celebrating the exceptional achievements of two of its most dedicated figures, legendary Jockey Noel Harris and top Club administrator Terry Campbell, who have both received prestigious New Year 2025 Honours for their contributions to Thoroughbred racing and governance. Noel Harris: New Zealand Order of Merit for Lifetime Achievements in Horse Racing Legendary Jockey Noel Harris has been appointed to the New Zealand Order of Merit in recognition of his extraordinary contributions to Thoroughbred racing. This prestigious award highlights a lifetime of exceptional achievements,…

Tony McEvoy is again looking forward to seeing the familiar OTI Racing colours of navy blue and gold hoops aboard one of his runners when the former Kiwi filly Pick ‘N’ Mix (NZ) (Turn Me Loose) races at Geelong on Saturday. Pick ‘N’ Mix won impressively on debut at Cranbourne earlier this month to resume a link between McEvoy and OTI Racing that goes back a long way. “I haven’t trained for them for many years, but it’s great to have the colours back on a couple of our horses,”…

Danny Frye was a relieved man after watching his pride and joy Our Echo (NZ) (Echoes Of Heaven) return to form when taking out the Kurow Cup West Coast Steeplechaser (1400m) on Monday. The eight-year-old son of Echoes of Heaven was in career best form last autumn when winning the Listed Lightning Handicap (1200m) and placing in the Listed Flying Handicap (1400m) at Trentham, but hit a slump on his return this season, finishing unplaced in his four starts in the lead-up to his Kurow test. Left scratching his head…

This week on the Guerin Report, fresh off his side beating the Black Caps in the tests, Michael chats with England coach Brendon McCullum. They reflect on the series, discuss Baz’s coaching style, his career, as well as what and who he loves in cricket and racing. Guerin Report – Ep. 18, Ft. Brendon McCullum

Ben and Ryan Foote will head to Ellerslie on New Year’s Day with a pair of in-form black-type chances whose longer-term feature race prospects are equally as strong. The father and son combination will be represented by Myakkabelle (NZ) (War Decree) in the Gr.2 Sir Patrick Hogan Stakes (2000m) and Vega For Luck (NZ) (Lucky Vega) in the Gr.2 Skycity Eclipse Stakes (1200m). War Decree Filly Myakkabelle is a two-time winner who finished a sound third against older opposition two runs back and was luckless when fifth in the Gr.2…

Matamata horseman Benji King has a lifelong association with Henrietta, Dowager Duchess of Bedford, and he was delighted to train his first winner for her at Taupo on Monday. The Dowager Duchess has been a long-time family friend of the King family and continues to breed from her mares at Benji’s father, Nick King’s, Brighthill Farm in the Waikato. One of those mares was the late Inertia, a half-sister to multiple Group One winner and former Cambridge Stud stallion Tavistock. Benji King was there when she foaled an Ocean Park…

Riverton trainers Graham Eade and Brooke Kincaid are eyeing the lucrative Southern Cups Bonus with their stakes performer Riviera Rebel (NZ) (Road To Rock), and will kick-off his campaign towards the series at their home track on New Year’s Day. The series begins in February with the Gore Cup (2000m) before it moves onto the Invercargill Cup (2600m), Listed Dunedin Gold Cup (2400m), Wyndham Cup (2000m) and culminates with the Riverton Cup (2147m) on April 19. Points are accrued throughout the series, with the winner of each racing earning five…