Whether it is considered an ambitious move or not to take on the Gr.1 All Aged Stakes (1400m) so soon, Tony Gollan has just as higher aims for Antino (NZ) (Redwood) closer to home as the topline Queensland galloper returns to the races this Saturday. Antino trialled last week at Eagle Farm finishing behind Rothfire (Rothesay) with a heavier staff rider aboard, and since then Gollan has been happy for his versatile six-year-old to line up in the All Aged over the 1400-metre trip at Randwick before a campaign over longer trips in Brisbane. “He was getting a…
Day: 14 April 2025
Darren Danis, the ultimate athlete
Sidelined jockey Darren Danis passed the first test in his journey to return to the saddle when he competed in the Ultimate Athlete Obstacle Race at Mount Maunganui Beach last Saturday. Danis sustained a fractured C4 and C5 vertebrae following an incident at the Waipa trials in November last year, and last weekend’s challenge was an important milestone in his recovery. The 32-year-old hoop had wanted to compete in the obstacle race and he was given the green light by his doctor to return to light physical activity just over…
Childhood dream turns into reality for Hawkins
International racing journalist Andrew Hawkins’ imagination was captured by two things as a child, thoroughbred racing and the Canberra Raiders, and on Saturday he was able to combine his two loves. As a teenager, with the hope of one day racing his own horse, Hawkins designed a set of silks based on the colours of his three-time NRL Premiership-winning Canberra Raiders, and on Saturday he realised that dream when watching Bona Sforza carry those silks to victory in the Listed Welcome Stakes (1000m) at Riccarton Park in Christchurch. It was…
Queensland calling Nereus after Cup performance
Multiple Group-winner Nereus is being set for a Queensland campaign after powering into second in Saturday’s Listed Hawke’s Bay Cup (2200m) at Trentham. The Waikato Stud-owned son of Savabeel has a strong affinity with the Upper Hutt course, having won the Gr.2 Awapuni Gold Cup (2400m) last year before finishing sixth in the Listed Mornington Cup (2400m) in Victoria. His trainers Shaune Ritchie and Colm Murray opted to take a different path with the gelding this season, winning the Gr.3 Counties Cup (2100m) before testing his abilities over the two…
Cap Ferrat set to chase Hong Kong Derby–QEII Cup double
Cap Ferrat faces strong opposition on FWD Champions Day. Photo: HKJC Cap Ferrat will aim to join one of Hong Kong racing’s most exclusive and esteemed clubs when he lines up in Sunday week’s (27 April) HK$28 million G1 FWD QEII Cup (2000m) at Sha Tin. Trained by Francis Lui, Cap Ferrat prevailed in last month’s HK$26 million BMW Hong Kong Derby (2000m) by a short head at odds of $25 under Craig Williams, and the four-year-old is chanced with becoming the sixth horse to complete the Derby-QEII Cup double…
Bona Sforza wins Welcome Stakes in dream debut for Finnegan
Bona Sforza winning the Listed Welcome Stakes (1000m) at Riccarton Park on Saturday. Photo: Race Images South International racing journalist Andrew Hawkins’ imagination was captured by two things as a child, thoroughbred racing and the Canberra Raiders, and on Saturday he was able to combine his two loves. As a teenager, with the hope of one day racing his own horse, Hawkins designed a set of silks based on the colours of his three-time NRL Premiership-winning Canberra Raiders, and on Saturday he realised that dream when watching Bona Sforza carry…
Kiwi stayer Nereus booked for Queensland campaign in May
Multiple group winner Nereus is being set for a Queensland campaign after powering into second in Saturday’s Listed Hawke’s Bay Cup (2200m) at Trentham. The Waikato Stud-owned son of Savabeel has a strong affinity with the Upper Hutt course, having won the Group 2 Awapuni Gold Cup (2400m) last year before finishing sixth in the Listed Mornington Cup (2400m) in Victoria. His trainers Shaune Ritchie and Colm Murray opted to take a different path with the gelding this season, winning the Group 3 Counties Cup (2100m) before testing his abilities…
Trentham win puts Croupier on Queensland Derby trail
Croupier winning the Lisa Allpress Des Coppins Melbourne Cup Tour 1400 at Trentham on Saturday. Photo: Peter Rubery (Race Images Palmerston North) Quirky three-year-old Croupier has one more box to tick to book his passage to Brisbane. He might be a handful at times but has an abundance of ability, and comeback trainer Andrew Campbell has plans in place for Ace High’s son to showcase that talent at the Queensland winter carnival. Croupier was a luckless fifth on debut behind stakes winner Super Photon last month at Trentham and returned…
Top-class action set to light up the Southern Region
The Southern Region is set to deliver two outstanding days of top-class harness racing this April, with Winton and Invercargill each hosting feature race days. Winton Cup Day — Thursday, 17 April, Central Southland Raceway The Winton Harness Racing Club’s signature meeting returns, headlined by the Group 2 Entain 2YO Fillies Mobile Pace, a $70,000 race. This year the club is delighted to welcome All Lay Carpets & Drapes on board as new sponsors of the Winton Cup. The day’s action-packed programme features: · The Group 2 Entain 2YO Fillies…
Pop N Good Ponies’ big day out
A life after racing for Standardbreds can include all manner of things – from trekking and back country adventures to eventing and the show ring. And for one particular group of Canterbury-based Standardbreds and their NZSRA (NZ Standardbred Riding Association) member riders it is all about doing what they enjoy. “This is not the sort of competing we do often – it’s just about having fun and testing all the hard work we have put into our horses,” says one of the team members Melissa Whyte, a well-known owner and…