Month: February 2025

Ka Ying Rising (NZ) (Shamexpress) continued his imperious reign as Hong Kong’s sprint monarch with a superb victory in the HK$13 million Gr.1 Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup (1400m) for David Hayes and Karis Teetan at Sha Tin on Sunday as the world’s joint highest-rated sprinter landed his third Group One. Settling outside the leader and last year’s winner California Spangle, Ka Ying Rising cruised to the lead entering the straight before rallying late under pressure to resist the charge of John Size-trained quartet Helios Express (second), Howdeepisyourlove (third), Beauty Eternal…

Bruce Wallbank describes Midnight Edition (NZ) (Wrote) as his one-in-a-million horse and the exciting three-year-old gave the Pukekohe horseman plenty to cheer about on his home track on Sunday. Midnight Edition showed early promise and defeated subsequent Group Three winner Checkmate when breaking maidens back in September. He lost no admirers when finishing fifth in the Gr.3 Bonecrusher Stakes (1400m), before coming desperately close to pulling off an big upset in the Gr.2 Auckland Guineas (1400m), losing the dead-heat in an enquiry. Wallbank opted to test his charge over the…

A newcomer to the South Island in Eastandwest (NZ) (Charm Spirit) made a winning start for the stable of Michael and Matthew Pitman at Ashburton on Sunday. A son of Charm Spirit, Eastandwest had four starts under the care of Cambridge trainer Lauren Brennan, including a pair of fourths behind Tristar and Rochmie Ray. He finished back in the field at Tauranga in mid-December, and fresh-up in the Rainer Irrigation (1400m), he was underrated in the market at $23. A downgrade in track conditions to a Heavy 8 caused the…

Emerging talent Betty Spaghetti (Stratum Star) made a deserved return to the winner’s circle at Ashburton on Sunday, powering away with a competitive Rugby, Racing and Fun (1400m). A mare by Stratum Star, Betty Spaghetti was a classy three-year-old, finishing runner-up in the Listed NZB Insurance Stakes (1400m), alongside fourth placings in the Listed Dunedin Guineas (1500m) and Listed NZB Warstep Stakes (2000m). She went on to collect a trio of victories at four, and after a couple of fitness-building runs to kick off her new prep this season, she…

Emily, Jayne & Bruce review all the racing action from Ellerslie yesterday, Wiremu Pinn & Tayla Mitchell join the show to talk about their big days, Darin Balcombe talks about the Otaki abandonment & Guy was at the Halberg Awards. Weigh In, February 23

Rider Masa Hashizume made a quick return to winning action following an injury-enforced stint on the sideline when he guided emerging star Tomodachi (NZ) (Tarzino) to an impressive victory in open company over 1200m at Ellerslie on Saturday.  The Auckland-based hoop suffered a broken collarbone in a race fall at Trentham in January but barely a month later he was back at trackwork with his sights set on returning for the ride on Gr.1 Trackside New Zealand Derby (2400m) favourite Willydoit in his final lead-up to the blue riband event,…