Month: February 2025

Progressive juvenile Best Rose turned the tables on her key rival at Riccarton Park on Wednesday, scoring an impressive second-up victory in The Tea House At Riccarton Park 2YO (1000m). A filly by Maurice, Best Rose had made two trial appearances for Te Akau Racing’s Matamata stable before venturing south to their Riccarton base where she debuted for second behind Zelia. The pair were set to go head-to-head again at the midweek meeting and despite the last-start defeat, Best Rose closed an odds-on favourite at $1.60, with Zelia at $2.90…

After going through all stages of life together so far, it would be a fitting result for Meltemi (NZ) (Darci Brahma) and Wild Thyme (NZ) (Darci Brahma) to collect their maiden victories in respective races at Wanganui on Friday. The three-year-old fillies were bred by Richard McKenzie, an equine veterinarian by trade, who trains the pair in partnership with Jordan Bassett. Back in 2020, the Hastings couple elected to send the dams of both fillies to Darci Brahma, mating with The Oaks Stud’s former sire on the same day. “Ironically,…

There are only a few slots to fill in next month’s $3.5 million NZB Kiwi (1500m), and Ruakaka filly Vegas Queen (NZ) (Proisir) will be seeking to secure one of them when she heads to Ellerslie on Saturday to contest the Listed Trevor & Coralie Eagle Uncle Remus Stakes (1400m).  The daughter of Proisir scored her maiden win at her home track as a juvenile in July and has hardly put a foot wrong as a three-year-old, running fourth in the Gr.3 Northland Breeders’ Stakes (1200m) before posting two runner-up…

Linebacker (NZ) (Super Seth) might have been beaten fair and square by Public Attention (NZ) (Written Tycoon) first-up, but co-trainer John O’Shea can make a strong case for him to turn the tables in the Hobartville Stakes. Not only will Linebacker meet his last start conqueror at level weights, he is also expected to strip significantly fitter for what was just his third run in 10 months. “He has never won at six (furlongs, 1200m) so we were always a bit dubious on him first-up,” O’Shea said. “He just executed a little poorly but…

Talented southern filly Miss Ziggy (NZ) (Brazen Beau) will provide trainer Andrew Carston with answers to her immediate program on Saturday. The daughter of Brazen Beau has acquitted herself well in strong company this season and will step out in the TAB 2YO (1100m) at Ellerslie with her performance to determine the future path she takes. Miss Ziggy will be coming off a gallant third in the Karaka Millions 2YO (1200m), in which she didn’t enjoy the smoothest of runs. She settled well back after being crowded at barrier rise…