Rey Magnerio ridden by Jye McNeil wins the Rubiton Stakes at Caulfield Racecourse. (Photo by Pat Scala/Racing Photos) Robbie Griffiths and Jye McNeil have combined with Rey Magnerio to take out the Group 2 Rubiton Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield on Saturday afternoon, after wearing down Insurrection (+280) in the final strides to claim a valuable victory. The son of Magnus went into the race first-up, and he was heavily backed late with horse racing bookmakers from +300 into +270 in the last five minutes before the jump. After jumping well…
Month: February 2025
Northern visitor too strong in Hazlett Stakes
Matamata visitor Harlech (NZ) (Darci Brahma) made the trip down to Wingatui on Saturday a profitable one as he blitzed his rivals by four lengths in the Listed Nellies Restaurant & Bar Hazlett Stakes (1400m). Trainer Pam Gerard sent the eight-year-old south fresh up, having last raced when fourth of nine at Otaki back in November. Placed three times at Group One level as a younger horse, the Oaks Stud-bred son of Darci Brahma hadn’t visited the winners’ enclosure since May 2024 but didn’t let that statistic faze him as…
Tuxedo stakes Derby claim
A dominant performance in the Gr.2 Legacy Lodge Waikato Guineas (2000m) at Te Rapa on Saturday has thrust Tuxedo (NZ) (Tivaci) into the top echelon of contenders for next month’s Gr.1 New Zealand Derby (2400m). Tuxedo had already shown plenty of promise in his four-race career, winning twice including the Gr.3 Wellington Stakes (1600m) and finishing second in both of the other two. He chased home Derby favourite Willydoit (NZ) (Tarzino) at Ellerslie on New Year’s Day, then returned to the same venue for a runner-up finish behind Damask Rose…
El Vencedor dominates Herbie Dyke Stakes
Saturday’s Gr.1 Herbie Dyke Stakes (2000m) at Te Rapa marked another new high point in the career of the ever-improving El Vencedor (NZ) (Shocking), who took his career earnings past $1 million with a stunning three-length runaway. The son of Shocking initially showed promise as a sprinter, winning over 1200m in both New Zealand and Australia as a three-year-old and placing in the Gr.3 Concorde Handicap (1200m) and Listed Newmarket Handicap (1200m) at four. But El Vencedor has come into his own over longer distances at the ages of five…
Emphasize downs older rivals
The Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young trained three-year-old Emphasize (NZ) (Embellish( has again flagged his staying credentials with a hard-fought victory over older horses in the Super Bowl Monday Handicap (2000m) at Caulfield. The son of Embellish cruised to victory at Sale in January and was due to step out at Sandown last week, but dislodged his rider on the way to the barriers and was duly scratched. Seven days later the gelding put up a tough performance to loop the field and stave off handy four-year-old Inevitable Award as…
Risque Ruler storms to victory in Karapiro Classic
Progressive mare Risque Ruler (NZ) (Mongolian Khan) produced a performance that had to be seen to be believed when taking out the second running of the Sir Patrick Hogan Karapiro Classic (1600m) at Te Rapa on Saturday. The Janelle Millar-prepared daughter of former Gr.1 Caulfield Cup (2400m) winner Mongolian Khan was a clear $3.80 favourite for the $350,000 contest when the early Fixed Odds market was released off the back of an unlucky run for second at Ellerslie on New Year’s Day, following two consecutive victories. However, after the early…
Leica Lucy survives scare in Fillies’ Classic
Rising star Leica Lucy (NZ) (Derryn) had to live right up to her fast-growing reputation at Te Rapa on Saturday, getting herself out of deep trouble in the straight and winning the Gr.2 David & Karyn Ellis Fillies’ Classic (2000m). The classy daughter of Derryn went into the $275,000 feature as the hottest favourite of the day at $1.30, having won three of her four starts including dominant recent victories in the Gr.3 Eulogy Stakes (1600m) and Gr.3 Desert Gold Stakes (1600m). Soon after rounding the home turn at Te…
Palm Angel causes minor upset to claim Blue Diamond Prelude (F)
Ethan Brown returns to the mounting yard aboard Palm Angel after winning the Blue Diamond Prelude (F) at Caulfield. (Photo by George Sal/Racing Photos) The Jason Warren-trained Palm Angel ($7.50) has surged late to claim the Group 2 Blue Diamond Prelude (F) (1100m) at Caulfield on Saturday afternoon, turning the tables on My Gladiola ($1.90) to sting favourite backers. The daughter of Starspangledbanner was defeated by 5.8 lengths by My Gladiola in the Group 3 Blue Diamond Preview (1000m) at Sandown on January 25, and not many gave her a…
Field Of Play proves best of the boys in Blue Diamond Prelude
Field Of Play ridden by Blake Shinn wins the Group 3 Blue Diamond Prelude (C&G) at Caulfield Racecourse. (Photo by Reg Ryan/Racing Photos) Field Of Play ($3.00) has proven too good for the boys in the Group 3 Blue Diamond Prelude (C&G) (1100m) at Caulfield on Saturday afternoon, giving connections an easy choice to pay the late nomination fee to gain entry for the Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m). The son of Deep Field put the writing on the wall after a dominant debut victory at Moonee Valley on…
Bellazaine digs deep to claim Listed Lonhro Plate
Bellazaine winning the 2025 Lonhro Plate. Photo: Bradleyphotos.com.au The Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott-trained Bellazaine ($5.00) has sustained a tough run to claim the Listed Lonhro Plate (1000m) at Randwick on Saturday afternoon, holding out Beiwacht ($11.00) in the shadows of the post. It was a terrific constellation prize for the daughter of Zousain after being unable to gain a spot in the $2 million Inglis Millennium (1100m) later in the program, with the two-year-old listed as the first emergency after acceptances. Regan Bayliss took all luck out of the…