Year: 2025

Belclare is back in Sydney to contest Saturday’s Gr.1 All Aged Stakes (1400m) at Randwick. Photo: Race Images Dual Group One winner Belclare’s return home for a three-race campaign didn’t go to plan earlier this year, and now she is back on the other side of the Tasman to try and get her preparation back on track. She was reunited with former trainer Lisa Latta to attempt to defend her crowns in the Group 2 Westbury Classic (1400m) and Group 1 New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1600m) at Ellerslie, with…

Crocetti has landed in Perth ahead of next Saturday’s A$5 million The Quokka (1200m) at Ascot Racecourse. Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images) Kiwi Group One-winning sprinter Crocetti has landed in Perth ahead of next week’s A$5 million The Quokka (1200m) at Ascot Racecourse. Owner-breeder Daniel Nakhle accepted Trackside NZ and Perth Racing’s offer to fill their slot in the rich feature, and co-trainer Danny Walker, who flew to Western Australia with his stable star, is looking forward to testing his gelding’s talent across the Tasman. “It’s an honour and a…

El Vencedor pictured during his exhibition gallop at Te Rapa on Sunday. Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images) It is full steam ahead for the connections of El Vencedor, as the star galloper jets off to Hong Kong on Thursday in preparation for the Group 1 FWD QEII Cup (2000m) at Sha Tin on April 27. El Vencedor has been unstoppable in New Zealand’s middle-distance ranks over the summer, winning three consecutive elite-level crowns in the Group 1 Herbie Dyke Stakes (2000m), Group 1 Otaki-Maori WFA Classic (1600m) and Group 1…

Mehzebeen winning the Listed Hawke’s Bay Cup (2200m). Photo: Peter Rubery (Race Images Palmerston North) Time was always going to benefit Mehzebeen, and the Almanzor mare continues to emphasise that in her five-year-old season. She was bred and sold by Pencarrow Stud, and at Trentham furthered her black-type record with victory in the Listed Hawke’s Bay Cup (2200m) for trainers Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson. Mehzebeen had also completed the Listed Metropolitan Trophy (2600m) and Group 3 New Zealand Cup (3200m) double in the spring to realise the earlier staying…

An Australian campaign is in the offing for Pier. Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images) Pier may have fallen just short of winning Saturday’s Listed City Of Napier Sprint (1200m), but trainers Darryn and Briar Weatherley couldn’t have been happier with their returning star ahead of a potential campaign in Queensland. As a three-year-old, Pier won a competitive Group 1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) and placed in a Group 2 Hawke’s Bay Guineas (1400m) and Group 3 Almanzor Trophy (1200m). Since then, he has spent much of the last two…

Western Empire winning The Gold Rush at Ascot. Photo: Western Racepix Western Empire (Iffraaj) has signalled he’s ready to fire in the $5 million The Quokka (1200m) at Ascot on April 26, with a sharp trial victory at Belmont on Sunday. The seven-year-old, who hasn’t raced since claiming the Group 3 Gold Rush (1400m) in December, made all in the 1000-metre heat and surged through the line under William Pike, defeating stakes performers Twain’s Angel and Ripcord. It was the Grant and Alana Williams-trained gelding’s second and final trial ahead…

Without A Fight ridden by Mark Zahra winning the 2023 Melbourne Cup. Photo: Pat Scala (Racing Photos) Melbourne Cup winner Without A Fight and Group 3-winning mare Isthmus are on track to resume during the Queensland Winter Carnival, with co-trainer Sam Freedman confirming both horses are progressing well. Without A Fight hasn’t raced since finishing down the field in December’s Group 1 Hong Kong Vase (2400m) but is expected to trial in the coming weeks. His campaign could include a mouth-watering clash with Pride Of Jenni. “He is fresh and…