Author: NZRacingDesk

Quality six-year-old mare Lekvarte (NZ) (Reliable Man) recorded a hard-fought Group Two victory when landing the Emancipation Stakes (1500m) at Rosehill on Tuesday. The Joe Pride-trained mare was previously a three-time winner at Group Three level and narrowly prevailed from favourite Lazzura who was held up before making late-ground to finish second.   A ten time winner, Lekvarte’s best form had been on firmer ground than the heavy8 presented on Tuesday, and she had previously been unplaced in five attempts on heavy going. “Gee she sprinted quickly on that ground…

Favourite backers breathed a collective sigh of relief when a small margin victory went the way of $1.50 chance Ceolwulf (NZ) (Tavistock) in a photo-finish to the Gr.2 Neville Sellwood Stakes (2000m) at Rosehill on Tuesday. The Joe Pride-trained four-year-old carried 59.5kg topweight to wear down Just Fine by a nose with Our Gold Hope in third. “It wasn’t really the result that counted today – it is easy to say that after a race – but it is more about the performance,” Pride said. “I’ll be honest, he presented…

Foxton trainer Gail Temperton feels she has some unfinished business with the Gr.3 Manawatu Breeders’ Stakes (2040m) and she is hoping to rectify that on Saturday at Wanganui.  Temperton placed in last year’s edition of the race with Royal Flower (NZ) (Proisir), a mare she bred and races with her partner Stanley Alexander under their Taikorea Thoroughbreds banner, and she is hoping for an improved result this weekend.  The six-year-old daughter of Proisir has been raced sparingly since last autumn, having the one run in spring before returning to the…

A start in next Saturday’s Southern Alps Challenge (1600m) is in the offing for Ears Back (NZ) (Jakkalberry), but the talented mare must overcome recent barrier woes in her lead-up run at Ashburton on Thursday to make the $350,000 target. A six-year-old by Jakkalberry, Ears Back has seven wins to her name including this season’s Timaru Cup (1600m). She was among the favoured runners in the Listed Hazlett Stakes (1400m) in February but uncharacteristically failed to load and was late-scratched. The mare returned to Wingatui last month and finished sixth…

It’s a best of season one! Michael looks back at all of the big moments, notable interviews, re-rides the emotional rollercoasters, and dives back into some of his favourite moments, before a final check-in and update on Mickey G. Guerin Report – Ep.31 – Best Of

Connections of top-class mare Joliestar (Zoustar) will wait until later this week before making a call on her involvement at Randwick at the weekend. A start in Saturday’s Gr.1 TJ Smith Stakes (1200m) is in the balance for Chris Waller’s representative due to Sydney’s inclement weather and no chances will be taken with Cambridge Stud’s high-profile daughter of Zoustar. “It would be nice to give her one more run before we tip her out for a spell and then come back for the spring,” Cambridge Stud chief executive Henry Plumptre…

Trainer Peter Didham was pleased to see his regally-bred mare Manifique (NZ) (Savabeel) return to form at Trentham last Saturday when finishing runner-up behind Waitak in the Gr.2 Awapuni Gold Cup (2400m). The daughter of New Zealand Champion Sire Savabeel and multiple Group One winner Shez Sinsational has been an enigma for the Awapuni trainer but rewarded his faith with a gallant effort over the weekend. “I am always expecting that (good performance) with her, she just disappoints me quite often,” Didham said. “She has got a tonne of talent.…

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Slipper Island has been near-unbeatable down the chute at Trentham and the gelding will likely return to the Champagne Turf one more time this preparation in pursuit of black-type honours. A five-year-old by No Nay Never, Slipper Island won his maiden as a juvenile at Trentham and has only been beaten once at the track since, with his three subsequent victories coming in his last three starts. The most recent of those was on Saturday, where he started a deserved favourite in the Japac Homes (1200m) over Party Rocking ($4.40).…

Awapuni racecourse’s renovated grass track was given its first test on Monday with four sets of jumpouts, and it was given the tick of approval by participants. The Palmerston North track has been out of commission for 18 months as it has undergone renovations, and RACE Inc General Manager of Racing Brad Taylor said it was great to see the track back in action on Monday. “It is nice to tick off the first phase of it (return),” he said. “The feedback has been positive. The riders were all happy,…