A powerhouse performance in Saturday’s Financial Services (1300m) at Tauranga proved that former star three-year-old Wild Night(NZ) (Vanbrugh) is right back at the top of his game. Te Akau Racing’s flashy chestnut strung together five wins in succession two seasons ago, including the Gr.2 Sarten Memorial (1400m) and the Listed Uncle Remus Stakes (1400m). Wild Night followed up that winning sequence with a second placing in a star-studded Karaka Millions 3YO (1600m), chasing home Prowess and finishing just in front of Desert Lightning and Legarto. In his next start, he…
Author: NZRacingDesk
Fly My Wey Cruises to Victory at Tauranga
Underrated stayer Fly My Wey(NZ) (Sweynesse) showed there is more in store for him when he came out on top after a stirring battle in the Aztech Signs 2100 (2100m) at Tauranga. The Mark Brosnan-trained six-year-old has been a consistent performer during an extended campaign that saw him race throughout the winter and into the spring, collecting the Whangarei Gold Cup Stayers’ Final (2100m) and several minor placings along the way. Regular pilot Jasmine Fawcett was aboard again on Saturday and had the son of Sweynesse travelling sweetly in midfield…
Sacred Pearl Achieves Cup Double
Under-rated mare Sacred Pearl(NZ) (Sacred Falls) has taken her career earnings past $200,000 with back-to-back wins in feature staying races this spring, including Saturday’s Mode Technology Feilding Cup (2100m) at Trentham. The daughter of Sacred Falls hit a new career high with her last-start win in the Egmont Cup (2100m) at Hawera on October 5, and she continued that upward trajectory with another outstanding performance in Saturday’s $80,000 feature. Sacred Pearl was again partnered by visiting Australian jockey Harry Grace, who rode her for the first time in the Egmont…
Shoes Pulls Away with Style
In-form mare Shoes(NZ) (Derryn) extended her winning sequence to three in a row with a brilliant front-running performance at Tauranga on Saturday. The daughter of Derryn had previously won a Rating 65 at Ruakaka on September 7, then stepped up into Rating 75 company at Te Rapa on October 12 and delivered a repeat result. Shoes stayed in the same grade on Saturday, albeit with a rise to 58kg in the handicap and a difficult draw of 10 in an 11-horse field. Trainer Pam Gerard opted to use the 3kg…
Molly Secures Three Wins in a Row
Progressive mare Marotiri Molly(NZ) (Per Incanto) made in three wins in a row when she overcame a chequered passage in the home straight to take out the Courtesy Ford Redcraze Bowl (1400m) at Trentham. The Matt Dixon-trained six-year-old has always promised plenty however bad luck and wayward manners had hampered her progress in her earlier campaigns. An eye-catching runner-up finish at Taupo back in August signalled she may have finally come of age and although she finished well back at her next start she hasn’t stopped winning since with victories…
Leveque trains first winner
Former jumps jockey Cyrille Leveque made his mark in a new role on Friday when Saviour (NZ) (Echoes Of Heaven) won the ILT Foundation Maiden (1400m) at Ascot Park. Saviour delivered a first training success for Leveque, who is based at Otautau. The same horse, who was previously trained by his part-owner Rebecca Bevin, had been Leveque’s very first runner when he was unplaced at Wingatui on October 18. “Getting that first win today was very good, and from only two starts, so I’m very happy,” the 40-year-old said. “One…
Te Akau and Fortuna out in force on Flemington’s big stage
The Melbourne Cup Carnival holds special memories for both Te Akau Racing and Fortuna Racing, and there could be more to come with five black-type contenders on Derby Day at Flemington on Saturday. Te Akau basked the carnival spotlight 12 months ago with their sensational sprinter Imperatriz, who won the Gr.1 Champions Sprint (1200m) with a performance worthy of the race’s name. That was one of five Group One wins in Melbourne last season for the incomparable mare, whose all-conquering campaign earned her New Zealand Horse of the Year honours.…
Cole maps out path to Telegraph with Navigator
Cody Cole is eyeing up a Group One assignment in January for emerging sprinter Navigator (NZ) (El Roca), who will contest the Financial Services (1300m) at Tauranga on Saturday. Cole is working backwards from the Gr.1 Telegraph (1200m) at Trentham on January 4. Navigator was a winner of his only previous start at the Wellington course, taking out a Rating 75 over the Telegraph distance on April 6. “This race on Saturday is really just a run to shorten the gap leading into the Telegraph,” Cole said. “He’ll go into…
Atishu seeking redemption in Empire Rose
Group One-winning mare Atishu (NZ) (Savabeel) will be seeking redemption in Saturday’s Gr.1 Empire Rose Stakes (1600m) at Flemington after finishing runner-up in the race last year to Pride of Jenni. She backed up a week later to win the Gr.1 Champions Stakes (2000m) in the hands of leading hoop James McDonald, who will don New Zealand syndicator Go Racing’s silks once more and reunite with Atishu this weekend. The Chris Waller-trained mare has been building towards a peak performance in the race, having finished unplaced in her first three…
Derby déjà vu in Busuttin’s sights
Trent Busuttin believes the stars have aligned in his quest for a second Gr.1 Victoria Derby (2500m) title at Flemington. The expatriate New Zealand horseman prepared Sangster (NZ) (Savabeel) to win the Blue Riband staying feature in 2011, and a case of déjà vu beckons on Saturday with another Kiwi-bred contender in Keeneland (NZ) (Almanzor). There are an uncanny number of similarities between the pair, serving to boost confidence around the successful Cranbourne stable Busuttin operates with Natalie Young. “We’ve got the same ownership group, the same colours, the same…