Author: NZRacingDesk

Emerging filly Perfumist (NZ) (El Roca) has extended her picket-fence form-line when leading throughout to score a decisive victory in the Racing And Sports Handicap (1500m) at Rosehill on Saturday and flagging her credentials for a lucrative target in New Zealand. Ridden by Tyler Schiller, the daughter of El Roca made it four wins in succession, having stepped from a Mudgee Class 1 winner to a three-time city victor for in-form trainer Bjorn Baker and OTI Racing. “She has done a marvellous job. Four in a row. We liked her,…

Handy four-year-old Wolfy (NZ) (Tivaci) appreciated a change of approach by trainer Nick Ryan as he relished getting back to the Flemington straight six to land the VRC Summer Fun Sprint (1200m) under Ethan Brown. The son of Tivaci is a brother to NZB Kiwi contender Sought After (NZ) (Tivaci) and raced furthest from the outside rail where the majority of his rivals plotted a path. “He has been a frustrating horse,” stable representative Damian Kefford said. “We have always had a high opinion of him. He ran in a…

A long wait for Wolfgang’s (NZ) (Puccini) day in the big-race spotlight came to a spectacular end at Trentham on Saturday when he overpowered his opposition in the Gr.3 NZCIS Wellington Cup (3200m). The time-honoured $400,000 feature was the 13th appearance at Group or Listed level for Wolfgang, who had shown bright promise at that level ever since his two-year-old days. He finished fifth in that season’s Gr.2 Eclipse Stakes (1200m), second in the Listed Wellesley Stakes (1000m), third in the Gr.3 Taranaki 2YO Classic (1200m), sixth in the Gr.3…

Rugged stayer Titicaca (NZ) (Tarzino) made light of a hefty 59.5kg on his back to capture a deserved victory in the second running of the Race With Te Akau Remutaka Classic (2100m) at Trentham. The statuesque son of Westbury Stud resident stallion Tarzino only cleared maidens when successful over 2200m at Waverley back in September, with trainer Adrian Bull prepared to play a patient game with him as he began to mature into his sizeable frame. Taken to Riccarton during the New Zealand Cup Carnival in November, Titicaca won two…

Progressive stayer Mayor Of Norwood (NZ) (Ghibellines) rewarded his many followers when he added to an outstanding record on his home track by capturing the WAE Waikouaiti Cup (2200m) at Wingatui. The six-year-old gelding scored his fourth win from 10 starts at the venue after enjoying an economical passage against the rail throughout as the field chased after tearaway pacemaker Humbucker (NZ) (Iffraaj), who was out by 10 lengths in the mid-stages of the contest. Rider Corey Campbell managed to extract the Brian and Shane Anderton-prepared son of Ghibellines from…

Promising three-year-old Leica Lucy (NZ) (Derryn) added another important black-type victory to her burgeoning record when she dashed clear to take out Saturday’s Gr.3 New Zealand Bloodstock Desert Gold Stakes (1600m) at Trentham. The lightly raced daughter of Derryn was sent out a raging hot favourite ($1.40) after taking out the Gr.3 Eulogy Stakes (1600m) at the venue prior to Christmas and never really gave her supporters any cause for concern despite having to bullock her way into a narrow gap halfway down the home straight. Rider Craig Grylls had…

In-form mare Marble Arch narrowly prevailed in Saturday’s TAB We’re On (1600m) at Flemington, with the daughter of Per Incanto recording her third victory of the preparation. The five-year-old was well-ridden by apprentice Jaylah Kennedy, who showed good initive to push forward and sit outside the leader after it became apparent the small field was devoid of tempo. With a weight advantage, the Ben, Will and JD Hayes-trained mare narrowly defeated Wings Of Song and Munhamek in a time of 1:39.89. “Jaylah tried to take a sit early but then…

A decade after winning his hometown Cup with Maygrove (Authorized), prominent Wellington owner Lib Petagna was back in the spotlight again on Trentham’s biggest day of the year on Saturday. Petagna’s JML Bloodstock colours were carried to victory by emerging three-year-old Ballon d’Or (NZ) (U S Navy Flag), who upstaged a highly rated line-up in the Harcourts (1200m) on the Wellington Cup undercard. The countdown to Saturday’s three-year-old sprint was dominated by Komocean (NZ) (Ocean Park), who had made a big impression winning both of her first two starts including…

Zac Purton is confident Ka Ying Rising’s (NZ) (Shamexpress) sheer talent and versatility will enable the crack sprinter to overcome another challenging barrier in the HK$13 million Gr.1 Centenary Sprint Cup (1200m) at Sha Tin on Sunday (19 January) as history beckons for the seven-time Hong Kong champion jockey. Needing only three more wins to equal Douglas Whyte’s record of 1,813, Purton has seven rides across the 11-race card, headed by Ka Ying Rising and Beauty Eternal (Starspangledbanner) in the HK$13 million Gr.1 Stewards’ Cup (1600m). Purton, 42, will bid…

Caroline Searcy previews the 2025 NZB Karaka Yearling Sale to be held at New Zealand Bloodstock’s sale complex from January 26th to 30th.