Month: February 2025

Three-year-old filly Way Out West made a winning debut when comfortably defeating older horses in the Laser Electrical Tauranga Maiden (1400m) at Tauranga on Friday. The Andrew Forsman-trained daughter of U S Navy Flag had placed in two of her four trials, including an eye-catching effort at Matamata prior to her raceday debut. From an inside draw, Way Out West came from midfield on the rails to score under Craig Grylls. The premiership-leading jockey took a gap closest to the fence when it presented at the top of the straight…

Ciaron Maher says it’s ‘possible’ Pride Of Jenni could come out of retirement. Rumours have swirled in racing circles for weeks about the door remaining open for Pride Of Jenni to return to work with her status on Racing Australia listed as ‘spelling’ rather than ‘retired’. Owner Tony Ottobre has played a straight bat when asked about her racing future, preferring not to comment. However Maher on Friday said the prospect of a return for Pride Of Jenni was ‘exciting’. “Possibly. I’ll have a yarn to Tony and see what…

Emotions will run high at Te Rapa if specialist short course performer Babylon Berlin can finally break through at the highest level. The multiple top-flight placegetter will chase a deserved victory in the Gr.1 BCD Group Sprint (1400m) on Saturday with the Ben and Ryan Foote-trained mare to jump from a handy enough barrier in gate six. Stablemate Myakkabelle will also be in action at the meeting when she pursues a maiden black-type victory in the Gr.2 David & Karyn Ellis Fillies’ Classic (2000m) on her way to a higher…

King Of The Castle will make a welcome return to New Zealand racing on Saturday when he contests the Listed Nellies Restaurant & Bar Hazlett Stakes (1400m) at Wingatui. The eight-year-old son of Castledale was a standout for trainer Kelvin Tyler as a younger horse, winning three races before his talent was identified by Newcastle trainer Joe Pride, who struck a deal with the Riverton horseman, who retained a 30 percent share. King Of The Castle went on to win a further five races in Australia for Pride, and placed…

The connections of Our Time are continuing a successful association with the family of the promising four-year-old who has earned an early crack at a major prize at Te Rapa. The lightly raced Peter Lock-trained representative has made an encouraging start to his career to be in line for a share of the $350,000 pot on offer in Saturday’s Sir Patrick Hogan Karapiro Classic (1600m). The well-related son of Time Test has already showed he has inherited a good measure of the family ability with a course and distance victory…

A win in Saturday’s $350,000 Sir Patrick Hogan Karapiro Classic (1600m) at Te Rapa on Saturday would be a great tonic for trainer Lynda German, who is currently at her mother’s bedside at Gisborne Hospital.  While in Gisborne, Steely Man’s final preparations for the weekend are being overseen by German’s partner, Group One-winning harness racing trainer John Dickie, whose colours are carried by the four-year-old gelding.  “John is really happy with him, he has been sending me through reports,” German said. “I am not impressed at all by the draw…

Group One performer Sacred Satono will be looking to bounce back to form when he heads to Te Rapa on Saturday to tackle a star-studded line-up in the Gr.1 BCD Group Sprint (1400m). The five-year-old entire was runner-up behind Grail Seeker in the Gr.1 Telegraph (1200m) at Trentham last month before finishing ninth in the Gr.1 Railway (1200m) at Ellerslie three weeks later in inclement conditions. Grant Cooksley, who trains the son of Satono Aladdin in partnership with Bruce Wallace, has been pleased with the way he has come through…