Day: 11 April 2025

New Zealand’s star filly Leica Lucy will test her talent against Australia’s best on Saturday when she heads to Randwick in a bid to double her Oaks tally. The daughter of Derryn was a near unstoppable force in New Zealand, defeated in just one of her seven starts for former trainer Robbie Patterson, culminating in victory in last month’s $1 million Gr.1 New Zealand Oaks (2400m) at Trentham. She has made her way across to Sydney where she has joined leading trainer Chris Waller’s Rosehill barn, and her new handler…

Saturday’s Listed City of Napier Sprint (1200m) at Trentham could bring a long-range plan to fruition for Tomodachi’s trainers Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott. After racing the talented daughter of Tarzino over distances up to 2180m as a three-year-old, the Wexford Stables team has kept her to 1200m this time in with Saturday’s $80,000 feature in mind. “She’s a filly that’s always shown good levels of ability,” Scott said. “We tried her out over ground as a three-year-old, and she was probably just a bit immature at that stage. “With…

Matamata horseman Daniel Miller is set to return to the training ranks this weekend when he lines-up Pippy in the Inspire Racing Sprint (1200m) at Te Rapa on Sunday. The 28-year-old commenced training in 2018 and had instant success, winning his first race courtesy of Sheezallmine, who would go on to win the Gr.3 Stewards Stakes (1200m) and Listed Hazlett Stakes (1200m). In six seasons, Miller recorded 36 wins, four of those at stakes level, but two years ago he felt the need for change, with the former jumps jockey…

In-form sprinter Slipper Island will close out a lucrative summer and autumn campaign when he attempts to extend his winning streak at Trentham on Saturday. The five-year-old will chase a first black-type credit in the Listed City of Napier Sprint (1200m) off the back of a hat-trick of victories over the course and distance. Slipper Island hasn’t missed a beat since his last trip to Wellington and while he faces stiffer opposition, the son of No Nay Never will drop six kilos down the handicap. “We are running out of…

Matscot pulled off one of the biggest wins in his career in last year’s inaugural $350,000 TAB Southern Alps Challenge (1600m) and he’ll be back at Riccarton Park on Saturday to defend his crown. The talented son of Haradasun had previously won the Listed Spring Classic (2000m) but has really stepped up in top company since his Alps triumph, placing in the Gr.1 Arrowfield Stud Plate (1600m), Gr.3 TAB Mile (1600m) and was fifth in the Gr.1 Herbie Dyke Stakes (2000m). While considering the Gr.1 Bonecrusher New Zealand Stakes (2000m)…

Group Two winner Yaldi will return to age-group company at Te Rapa on Sunday in preparation for a feature target at the course later this month. The big-striding son of Ardrossan won the Gr.2 Auckland Guineas (1400m) on Boxing Day and progressed on to the Karaka Millions 3YO (1600m), where he finished seventh. After a freshen-up, Yaldi was right back to his best when resuming at Tauranga, only going down narrowly to classy mare Grande Gallo in open company. “I was very happy, his sectionals were really good, and it…