Month: February 2025

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Chris Waller plans to run classy mare Atishu (NZ) (Savabeel) in next month’s A$2.5 million Gr.1 All-Star Mile (1600m) at Flemington, with fellow Group One-winning mares Via Sistina (Fastnet Rock) and Fangirl (Sebring) to remain in Sydney this autumn. The champion trainer confirmed that four-time Flemington winner Atishu will contest the All-Star Mile on March 8, before tackling the A$2.5m Gr.1 Australian Cup (2000m) at Flemington three weeks later. “Atishu is just so brilliant at Flemington,” Waller explained. “She is a length behind Fangirl and Via Sistina, but at her…

Ciaron Maher is contemplating the Gr.1 William Reid Stakes (1200m) and a Valley debut for Jimmysstar (NZ) (Per Incanto) after his Group One win in last Saturday’s Oakleigh Plate (1100m). Maher said the gelding has pulled up well and The Valley sprint on March 22 could be the next option for the eight-time winner, who on Monday afternoon was not in markets for the A$1 million sprint. “It will be interesting to see what his rating gets to,” Maher said on Monday. “There’s a plethora of options for him but…

Fast-improving stayer Complicate booked herself a ticket to Saturday’s Listed Positive Signs and Print Dunedin Gold Cup (2400m) with a gusty victory at Ashburton on Sunday. Complicate joined the Timaru stable of Brett Inglis in June last year after recording two wins for Wayne Hillis, showing a particular affinity for wet track conditions. Since heading to the South Island, the mare has been consistent on all surfaces, winning two in a row at Ashburton and Wingatui through December before a game third behind Mr Intelligence at the latter earlier this…

Shanwah’s victory in the Gr.2 Autumn Classic (1800m) at Caulfield on Saturday was timely for his breeder’s Trelawney Stud, who are set to offer his half-brother at Inglis’ Australian Easter Yearling Sale in April. It was the third consecutive win for the Ciaron Maher-trained gelding, who was having his first tilt at stakes level, and made light work of his opposition when scoring by 1-1/2 lengths. By Too Darn Hot, Shanwah was a popular commodity at the 2023 New Zealand Bloodstock Book 1 Yearling Sale, where he was purchased out…

Cambridge trainers Roger James and Robert Wellwood will head into next week’s Champions Day at Ellerslie with a trio of leading chances, with all three pleasing in their final hit-outs at the Auckland track on Saturday. Glamour mare Orchestral was strong late when finishing third in the Gr.1 Sport Nation Otaki-Maori WFA Classic (1600m) and will now step up to 2000m in the Gr.1 Bonecrusher New Zealand Stakes. The daughter of Savabeel was eye-catching when winning the Aotearoa Classic (1600m) last month, and her trainers felt another mile test was…

Talented apprentice jockey Tayla Mitchell not only collected one of the country’s biggest staying races on Saturday at Ellerslie, but she also reached a valuable milestone with a century of winners to her name. The 21-year-old partnered Ken Harrison’s four-year-old Please Sir in the Eagle Charters 2100, and after settling fourth in the running, the gelding kept finding in the straight to come out on top in a competitive finish where the first seven home were separated by just a length. Mitchell had been informed the weekend prior that she…