Day: 31 March 2025

Slipper Island has been near-unbeatable down the chute at Trentham and the gelding will likely return to the Champagne Turf one more time this preparation in pursuit of black-type honours. A five-year-old by No Nay Never, Slipper Island won his maiden as a juvenile at Trentham and has only been beaten once at the track since, with his three subsequent victories coming in his last three starts. The most recent of those was on Saturday, where he started a deserved favourite in the Japac Homes (1200m) over Party Rocking ($4.40).…

Awapuni racecourse’s renovated grass track was given its first test on Monday with four sets of jumpouts, and it was given the tick of approval by participants. The Palmerston North track has been out of commission for 18 months as it has undergone renovations, and RACE Inc General Manager of Racing Brad Taylor said it was great to see the track back in action on Monday. “It is nice to tick off the first phase of it (return),” he said. “The feedback has been positive. The riders were all happy,…

A forced change of plan with a daughter of Dubawi has produced another success story for Sydney breeder Warwick Doughty. He initially sent his mare Pouter to Cambridge Stud to be mated with Roaring Lion, only for the multiple Group One-winning son of Kitten’s Joy to tragically succumb to colic. Doughty then decided on Contributor as a suitable replacement and Saturday’s Gr.3 Manawatu Classic (2100m) winner Kiwi Skyhawk is the profitable outcome. “It’s great for the mare, she’s a funny mare and has only got one ovary and I’m very…

Donna Logan recorded her first win since moving back to New Zealand when Larius Lacus took out the Waikato/BOP Racehorse Owners Maiden 1400 at Tauranga on Sunday. Based in Singapore for seven years, Logan returned to New Zealand late last year after racing ceased in the racing jurisdiction, and she has been in a rebuilding phase at her new base in Byerley Park. While in Singapore, Logan struck up a good association with Ben Kwok, with the prominent breeder and owner vowing to support her on her return to New…

Promising three-year-old stayer Lucan will join his stablemate Chattahoochee in feature races at Ellerslie next month after collecting an eye-catching maiden victory at Tauranga on Sunday. Te Awamutu horsewoman Debbie Sweeney lined up three runners in the Mills Reef Maiden (2100m), with Lucan the second-elect of her string in the market behind Protheatrics. The son of Proisir brought good form into the race and regular rider Joe Doyle managed him well in the early stages, getting the diminutive gelding to settle near the tail of the field. Denver controlled the…