Year: 2025

Whangaehu chasing Hawke’s Bay Cup success

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Whangaehu will contest Saturday’s Listed Hawke’s Bay Cup (2200m) at Trentham. Photo: Peter Rubery (Race Images Palmerston North) Whangaehu proved himself up to the country’s top middle-distance gallopers over the summer and he’ll aim to complete a top campaign at Trentham in Saturday’s Listed Hawke’s Bay Cup (2200m). The talented six-year-old kicked off his hot streak winning the Listed Wanganui Cup (2040m) and Group 3 Trentham Stakes (2100m) before making a serious impression with top-four finishes in the Group 1 Herbie Dyke Stakes (2000m) and Group 1 Bonecrusher New Zealand…

Green Light for Awapuni Racing After Positive Trials Yesterday 

NZRacingDesk

New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing (NZTR) and RACE Inc. are delighted to announce the successful completion of the final phase of the Club’s ‘Return to Racing’ plan for the RACE Awapuni track, marked by a full day of trials held on the newly completed track proper. A total of 88 horses took to the track across 11 heats run over 1000m, 1200m, 1600m and 2000m distances. The trials were attended by senior Jockeys including Jonathan Riddell, Leah Hemi and Kate Hercock, who provided positive feedback on the track’s performance, especially in…

Southerners Making Their Presence Felt in Southern Alps Challenge

NZRacingDesk

The deep south will be well-represented in this year’s TAB Southern Alps Challenge (1600m), with Maximus Augustus (NZ) (War Decree) one of three Ascot Park gallopers in the $350,000 feature at Riccarton Park on Saturday. A five-year-old by War Decree, Maximus Augustus earned his place in the innovation race when taking out the $200,000 ODT Southern Mile Final (1600m) at Wingatui last month. His breeder, part-owner and trainer Bill McNamara elected to bring the gelding to Riccarton in-between times, where he finished a meritorious fourth in open company behind Conor…

Faraglioni aiming to bounce back to form at Trentham

NZRacingDesk

The last time Faraglioni (NZ) (El Roca) competed at Trentham she finished runner-up in the Gr.2 Manawatu Challenge Stakes (1400m), and trainer Josh Shaw is hoping for a similar result from his stable star when they return to the Upper Hutt track this weekend.  The six-year-old daughter of El Roca has only had the one start since that December contest, finishing 11th a month later in the Gr.2 Westbury Classic (1400m) at Ellerslie on Karaka Millions night, and will head into Saturday’s Listed City Of Napier Sprint (1200m) in a fresh…

Whangaehu Eyeing Strong Finish to the Season

NZRacingDesk

Whangaehu (NZ) (Proisir) proved himself up to the country’s top middle-distance gallopers over the summer and he’ll aim to complete a top campaign at Trentham in Saturday’s Listed Valley D’Vine Restaurant Hawke’s Bay Cup (2200m).  The talented six-year-old kicked off his hot streak winning the Listed Wanganui Cup (2040m) and Gr.3 Trentham Stakes (2100m) before making a serious impression with top-four finishes in the Gr.1 Herbie Dyke Stakes (2000m) and Gr.1 Bonecrusher New Zealand Stakes (2000m) behind Hong Kong-bound El Vencedor (NZ) (Shocking). After a string of standout efforts, it…

Atishu looking to round out racing career in style

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Atishu will have her final start in Saturday’s Group 1 Queen of the Turf Stakes (1600m) at Royal Randwick. Photo: Bruno Cannatelli Multiple Group One winner Atishu will bid to have a fairytale ending to her racing career when she heads to Randwick on Saturday to contest the Group 1 Queen of the Turf Stakes (1600m). The daughter of Savabeel, who is raced by New Zealand syndicator Go Racing, will bid to add a fourth Group One crown to her record, and second in the race, before she is offered…

Changes to weight scale for Caulfield and Melbourne Cups

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The 2024 Melbourne Cup field. (Photo by Pat Scala/Racing Photos) Racing Victoria (RV), in conjunction with the Melbourne Racing Club (MRC) and Victoria Racing Club (VRC), has today announced key changes to the weight scale for the 2025 Caulfield Cup (2400m) and Melbourne Cup (3200m) following an extensive review of the conditions of the two iconic handicap races. September’s release of handicaps will see the minimum allotted weight for both Group 1 races increase from 50kg to 51kg while the minimum topweight will be raised from 58kg to 59kg. RV…

Sword In Stone targets Hawke’s Bay Cup after strong Awapuni trial

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Awapuni’s newly renovated grass track was given the tick of approval following Tuesday’s trials at the Palmerston North venue. Photo: Peter Rubery (Race Images Palmerston North) Talented stayer Sword In Stone appreciated a stretch of the legs on Awapuni’s renovated grass surface ahead of Saturday’s Listed Valley D’Vine Restaurant Hawke’s Bay Cup (2200m) at Trentham. The Redwood gelding stepped out in the first of 11 trials at the Palmerston North venue on Tuesday, where jockey Kavish Chowdhoory allowed him to cruise along comfortably in midfield through the mid-stages. When in…

Roydon Bergerson pleased with Awapuni track and Wolverine trial

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Awapuni trainer Roydon Bergerson. Photo: Peter Rubery (Race Images Palmerston North) Awapuni’s renovated grass track was given its biggest test on its return when it held 11 heats of trials under torrential rain on Tuesday. The track held up well, and the trial meeting concluded without incident, much to the satisfaction of local trainers, including Roydon Bergerson. “It was thumbs up from everybody; it was just great to get back there,” Bergerson said. “It poured with rain before the first heat, and if a horse were to slip, it would…

Gray with solid each way chances at Addington

NZHarnessNews

By Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk Could Sam Snead be the omen bet at Addington’s midweek meeting on Wednesday? The Joseph Gray-trained five-year-old lines up in race 7, the Book Now for Anzac Day Racing and League Mobile Pace (7.15pm) just days before the world’s best golfers compete in the first major of the year, the Masters at Augusta Georgia, a tournament the great Sam Snead won three times between 1949 and 1954. The closest Gray’s horse has come to winning has been two thirds at Addington on March…