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…
Year: 2025
Miller to make training return
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…
Track specialist bidding for stakes send off
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 back to defend Alps crown
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)…
Te Rapa dress rehearsal for Yaldi
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…
Te Akau juveniles hunting black-type at Riccarton
Te Akau Racing have dominated the northern juvenile features this term and they will have a pair of fillies out to continue that trend in the south in Saturday’s Listed Riccarton Park Function Centre Welcome Stakes (1000m) at Riccarton. Courtesy of star two-year-olds Return To Conquer and La Dorada, the tangerine silks collected the Karaka Millions 2YO (1200m), Gr.2 Matamata Breeders Stakes (1200m), Gr.3 Matamata Slipper (1200m), Gr.1 Sistema Stakes (1200m) and Gr.1 Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m). Down in Christchurch, Best Rose and Queen’s Evidence will have their first…
Hayes brothers to lead Mike Moroney’s Flemington operation
Will , Ben and JD Hayes after Mr Brightside won the VRC Champions Mile at Flemington. (Photo by Scott Barbour/Racing Photos) Hayes brothers Ben, Will, and JD will take over the Flemington operation of the late Mike Moroney, with Lindsay Park now overseeing the historic Ballymore Stables. The news was shared by Karen Moroney in a letter to owners on Thursday, following her partner’s sudden passing in February. Since then, Anthony Feroce and Glen Thompson had been managing the stable, with Feroce transitioning to Lindsay Park, while Thompson will pursue…
Royal Patronage to represent Australia in HK Champions Mile
Royal Patronage winning the Group 1 Canterbury Stakes. Photo: Bradleyphotos.com.au Royal Patronage is set to join Mr Brightside in representing Australia in Hong Kong’s Group 1 Champions Mile (1600m) at Sha Tin. Tim Clark will continue his partnership with the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained import in the prestigious Group 1 event on April 27. They will face tough competition from local standout Voyage Bubble, who aims for a fourth Group 1 victory in Hong Kong this season. “It’s very exciting,” Clark expressed to Racing.com. “It will be Adrian’s first…
Muscle Mountain chases return to top form
By Michael Guerin Ben Hope says the plan is simple with Muscle Mountain in the $60,000 Lone Star Lyell Creek Trot at Alexandra Park tonight.The rest is up to the big trotter. Muscle Mountain is racing like a horse in the twilight of his career, still a wonderful trotter but a few percentage points down on his previous top speed and with his ambition levels not always suggesting a full tank. He was fourth in the TAB Trot last Friday, no small deal, but his new co-trainer and driver Hope…
Merlin ready despite tough draw in Taylor Mile
By Michael Guerin Exceptional pacer Merlin may find himself in the unusual position of a $1million race last Friday improving him for a $100,000 race at Alexandra Park tonight. That is the belief of co-trainer Scott Phelan as his stable star attempts to overcome another bad draw in the Dawson Harford Taylor Mile, the Group 1 which is traditionally one of the fastest miles in New Zealand every season. Merlin comes into tonight’s race off the back of his third in Leap To Fame’s crushing Race By Betcha at Cambridge…