Author: NZRacingDesk

Te Akau principal David Ellis has extended his buying arm to Europe with the recent purchase of three-year-old stakes-winning colt Bright Stripes at the Tattersalls Autumn Horses in Training Sale in England.  A winner of four races, Bright Stripes was victorious in the Listed Coolmore Stud Tetrach Stakes (1600m) in May at the Curragh, and was secured by Ellis for 145,000 guineas (NZ$316,000 approx.) out of Stragrane House Stables’ draft.  Bright Stripes will continue his racing career under the care of Te Akau trainer Mark Walker out of their Cranbourne…

Wexford Stables look to have another exciting youngster on their hands following Hankee Alpha’s (NZ) (Proisir) impressive debut victory in the Donaghys Uddermax 1200 at Te Aroha on Wednesday. The three-year-old daughter of Proisir was fair away from the gates and settled at the rear of the field for jockey Lynsey Satherley, who gave her an economical trip along the rail. Satherley continued to take the shortest path home with her filly and made up significant ground on her rivals when rounding the final bend and Hankee Alpha soon found…

The road to Riccarton Park has not been an easy one for Savaglee (NZ) (Savabeel), but the colt indicated he is right on track with a stunning performance in Wednesday’s transferred Gr.2 James and Annie Sarten Memorial (1400m) at Te Aroha. Savaglee, alongside a number of other runners in the race, has fallen victim to a pair of abandonments, firstly with the Gr.2 Hawke’s Bay Guineas (1400m) which was rescheduled to Matamata, then the Sarten, which was set to be run on Monday at Te Rapa. The adaptable colt overcame…

High-class sprinter Babylon Berlin put a challenging season behind her with an impressive return to the Te Awamutu trials on Tuesday. Babylon Berlin has been a leading light for Ben Foote’s stable since she debuted as a three-year-old, performing consistently up to Group One level, including a trio of elite-level placings behind top-class mares Imperatriz and Levante in her five-year-old season. The daughter of All Too Hard picked up where she left off in the new term, winning the Listed Legacy Lodge Sprint (1200m) last November before finishing second to…

Ascot Park trainer Jo-Ann Gordon has taken a patient approach with giant gelding Polly’s Guru (NZ) (Gallant Guru), and she is hoping she can be rewarded when he lines-up in the Southland Honda Maiden (1600m) at her local meeting on Friday.  The five-year-old son of Gallant Guru made his debut at Gore last week where he finished runner-up over 1335m, much to the delight of Gordon, and her only concern heading into Friday is his barrier draw of two.  “I am really happy with him, he is just really green,”…

Stablemates Master Marko (NZ) (Contributer) and Prince Alby (NZ) (Sacred Falls) will end their northern tours of duty at Trentham before their focus switches to feature events closer to home. The Kelvin Tyler-trained duo will return to the South Island after Saturday’s meeting with major targets to chase during New Zealand Cup week at Riccarton. Master Marko will drop back in trip in the Courtesy Ford Redcraze Bowl (1400m) following his bold effort to finish fifth in the Gr.1 Livamol Classic (2040m). “I was really rapt and it did suit…

As New Zealand Racing Hall of Fame trainer Graeme Rogerson prepares for his shot at again winning racing’s Holy Grail, he has revealed: “I’m just lucky to be alive”. Rogerson and his wife Debbie will produce three-time Group One winner Sharp ‘N’ Smart (NZ) (Redwood) in next Tuesday’s $A8.56 million Gr.1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington but the larger-than-life trainer has already tasted victory in a much bigger event. Earlier this year, Rogerson underwent life-saving cardiac surgery. It took months before he was fully recovered and while he still bears…

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British hoop Kevin Stott achieved his biggest moment in racing in the colours of Cambridge Stud’s Brendan and Jo Lindsay at Royal Ascot four years ago, and now he has made his way to their homeland for a riding stint. The 30-year-old jockey recorded his first Group One victory aboard the Cambridge Stud part-owned Hello Youmzain in the 2020 edition of the Gr.1 Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes (1200m) at Royal Ascot, and the son of Kodiac now stands at the Cambridge farm. “That was the best day in my…

Chris Waller denied a top Japanese galloper in last Saturday’s Gr.1 Cox Plate (2040m) and he will look to bring down another of its stars this weekend. The champion trainer has Joliestar (Zoustar) heading towards the $10 million Golden Eagle (1500m) at Rosehill. The Group One-winning daughter of Zoustar is the considered the best local hope in a race that also includes Japanese Group One winner Ascoli Piceno (Daiwa Major) and unbeaten French gelding Lazzat (Territories). Ascoli Piceno is looking to give Japan back-to-back Golden Eagle wins after last year’s win to Obamburumai (Discreet Cat) and will have the services of Joao Moreira, who has…