Author: NZRacingDesk

Well-known racing photographer Trish Dunell had a day to remember on Tuesday, recording success as a breeder on racing’s biggest stage at Flemington on Melbourne Cup Day.  Following a busy day plying her trade at the Ellerslie races, Dunell was able to watch Fancify take out the Gr.3 The Hong Kong Jockey Club Stakes (1400m) in the hands of Joe Bowditch for trainer Michael Hickmott.  Dunell had raced the daughter of Niagara up until recently before selling to a client of Hickmott’s, and while disappointed she wasn’t able to enjoy…

Group One star Crocetti(NZ) (Zacinto) moved a step closer to his return to racing with a pleasing exhibition gallop between races at Pukekohe on Thursday. The son of Zacinto was one of the standouts of New Zealand’s three-year-old crop last season, winning six of his seven starts including the Gr.1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m), Gr.2 Sarten Memorial (1400m), Gr.3 Almanzor Trophy (1200m) and Gr.3 Northland Breeders’ Stakes (1200m). His only defeat in that campaign was a runner-up finish behind Bonny Lass when he took on older horses in the…

New Zealand-breds finished first, second and third in the A$150,000 Good Friday Appeal Trophy (2000m) on the Crown Oaks undercard at Flemington on Thursday, headed by a lightly raced mare whose star is on the rise. The aptly named Alma Rise(NZ) (Almanzor) recorded her third win from only a six-start career in Thursday’s Benchmark 80 handicap. The Almanzor mare has placed in all of the other three, including a runner-up finish in the Listed VRC St Leger (2800m) in April, and has now earned A$203,125 in stakes. Alma Rise was…

Hi Yo Legacy(NZ) (Per Incanto) is the latest success story for Kim Reid out of her family’s late broodmare Hi Yo Wassup, with the five-year-old producing an impressive victory on debut at New Plymouth on Wednesday. A quiet trial at Foxton prepared Hi Yo Legacy for his first raceday appearance over a mile, where he settled back in the field early under George Rooke. The gelding loomed into contention turning for home and kept finding in the closing stages, powering away from the remainder of the field by 3-3/4 lengths.…

Dear Trainers and Owners, The NZB Kiwi (1500m) is set to introduce a new era in New Zealand racing. With over $4.5 million in stakes and bonuses, the race aims to boost domestic racing with a significant prize pool and attract international attention. Alongside the base prizemoney of the NZB Kiwi, an additional $1 million in bonuses is up for grabs each year across several iconic New Zealand and Australian lead-up races, with allocations for the bonus pool split as follows: $600k for 1st, $250k for 2nd and $150k for 3rd. With this added bonus, the NZB Kiwi…

An online purchase over COVID-19 lockdown is proving fruitful for a group of Otago mates.  Four years ago, Craig Hunter was perusing New Zealand Bloodstock’s National Weanling Sale on gavelhouse.com, and a Per Incanto weanling filly piqued his interest.  Under his pseudonym Wagonwheel, Hunter went to $11,000 to secure the half-sister to stakes performer Princeton Spirit, and put a small syndicate together to race her with Wingatui trainer Steven Prince.  Hunter subsequently named his filly Tikki(NZ) (Per Incanto) and she has become an astute buy, recoding four wins and two…

Clinton Isdale will be represented by two strong chances at Riccarton on Saturday and he’ll also be keeping a close watch on a pair of other runners on the program. The Cambridge trainer’s prospects are headed by Listed Donaldson Brown Pegasus Stakes (1000m) contender Is That So(NZ) (Sufficient), with Mahoe(NZ) (Alamosa) to tackle the Gold Club Premier Handicap (2000m). Isdale also shares in the ownership of Words Of Mine(NZ) (Staphanos), who runs in The Ned Fashions 13 & 16 Premier (1600m), with trainers John and Karen Parsons and also races…

New Zealand Cup Week is the highlight of the racing calendar for multi-talented horsewoman Samantha Wynne, and this Saturday, she will partner her own Amberecho(NZ) (Echoes Of Heaven) in the Listed Donaldson Brown Pegasus Stakes (1000m). Wynne has been race-riding in the South Island for over a decade with well over 400 winners to her credit, while in recent seasons, she has added another string to her bow, building a team of horses that she trains out of Canterbury. Talented sprinter Amberecho has been a recent addition to Wynne’s stable,…

An Oaks path is being tipped for three-year-old filly Leica Lucy(NZ) (Derryn) following her debut win in the Christmas At The Races Friday 5th December (1400m) at New Plymouth on Wednesday. Favourite Merchant Banker flew the gates and assumed an early lead, while jockey Joe Doyle was able to find the rail three deep with Leica Lucy and follow the speed. The pack swung wide when turning for home on the rain-affected surface, but Doyle elected to take the shortest way home and continued to stalk Merchant Banker, drawing level with…

A bright future is tipped for promising mare Confiance(NZ) (Proisir) following her eye-catching win in the NZB Ready To Run Sale Trainers Series 1600 at Ellerslie on Tuesday. The daughter of Proisir was taken straight to the back of the field from her outside barrier by jockey Warren Kennedy where she had an economical trip throughout. Kennedy asked her to improve when turning for home and she showed a brilliant turn of foot, quickly reeling in her rivals and ran out a convincing 1-3/4 length victor. Trainers Graham Richardson and…