Author: NZRacingDesk

Danny O’Brien can find enough reasons to assess his hardy galloper Young Werther (NZ) (Tavistock) as ‘a blowout chance’ in Saturday’s Gr.1 Australian Cup (2000m) at Flemington. “He’s got enough good runs at the track and distance at Group One level to say he’s in the mix,” O’Brien said of his $61 chance with Sportsbet, who will be ridden by Daniel Stackhouse. He also finished third in the 2023 Champions Stakes, with the only time he didn’t fire coming in last year’s Australian Cup, when he finished seventh but pulled…

Go Racing’s Group One darling Atishu will be offered for sale at the Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale on the Gold Coast in May. The daughter of Savabeel was set to go through the auction ring last year, however, her ownership group voted to extend her racing career, which paid dividends last spring where she went on to win the Gr.1 Empire Rose Stakes (1600m) and place in the Gr.1 Might and Power (2000m) and Gr.1 Champions Stakes (2000m). Initially purchased by Go Racing out of Waikato Stud’s 2019 New…

Two years after buying Alabama Lass from a Melbourne yearling sale, Matamata trainer Ken Kelso is retracing those steps to find out how the brilliant filly measures up across the Tasman. Alabama Lass will have her first Australian start in Saturday’s A$500,000 Listed HKJC World Pool Sprint Classic (1100m) at Flemington. She is the highest-rated runner in the field, and under the set weights and penalties conditions of the race, carries 2kg below the 59kg topweight. She is the TAB’s $2.70 favourite and will be ridden by Craig Williams. “This…

Cambridge trainer Stephen Marsh heads to Trentham on Saturday with an opportunity to move ahead of arch-rivals Te Akau Racing in terms of Group and Listed wins in New Zealand this season. The Te Akau team of Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson holds a clear premiership lead over Marsh with 97 wins to 68, but the two powerhouse stables are deadlocked with 13 black-type victories apiece. No other trainer has more than Robbie Patterson’s nine. Remarkably, Marsh has collected nine of those 13 features since New Year’s Day alone –…

Top-flight sprinter-miler Waitak will draw on his powers of versatility when he steps up in trip at Trentham on Saturday. The Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott-trained son of Proisir will be among the favoured contenders in Saturday’s Gr.2 Awapuni Gold Cup (2100m) following his return to winning form at his most recent appearance. Waitak was untroubled earlier this month to claim the Gr.2 Japan Trophy (1600m) at Tauranga following a prolonged and successful sprinting career highlighted by his Gr.1 Railway (1200m) victory. “He’s got a good base of fitness now…

Consistent mare Haughty has often been the bridesmaid throughout her short career and will get a prime opportunity to break through maiden ranks at Tauranga on Sunday. The daughter of Iffraaj has struck competitive races all the way through, placing behind the likes of Knights Realm, Zormella and last-start in Rating 60 company behind Sax ‘n’ Silks. Back in her own grade, Haughty will have the services of top senior hoop Michael McNab in the Ultimate Mazda Maiden (1600m), where co-trainer Sarah Fahy feels she is well-placed. “She’s a lovely…

Bidding is now open on Gavelhouse Plus for NZB’s National Online Yearling Sale, a 102-lot catalogue set for sale on the premium online platform. Bidding will run for a five-day period, commencing Friday 28 March with the first lot closing on Tuesday 1 April at 6pm (NZT). Buyers must register on Gavelhouse Plus in advance in order to gain bidding approval. Presenting a distinct advantage, all lots purchased from the National Online Yearling Sale are eligible to be nominated for NZB’s lucrative Karaka Millions Series. Just nine short months after they make their virtual…

Landlock came desperately close to landing an upset earlier this month at Ellerslie and the talented juvenile will have another shot at Group One glory as a key player in Saturday’s Courtesy Ford Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m). A gelding by Merchant Navy, Landlock was an early two-year-old winner and progressed on to place in the Gr.2 Wakefield Challenge Stakes (1100m) before a fifth-placed effort in the Karaka Millions 2YO (1200m). At overs in the Gr.1 Sistema Stakes (1200m) on Champions Day, Landlock boomed home to fall just short of…

Pacific Breeze has already showed he has the talent to match both his pedigree and his looks. The colt will bid to build on the encouraging start he has made to his career when he takes aim at Saturday’s Gr.1 Courtesy Ford Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) at Trentham. Trained by Steven Cole at Byerley Park, the well-related son of North Pacific finished fourth at Te Aroha on debut before he ventured south to Waverley to open his wining account over 1200m. “He’s a well-bred horse who has showed plenty…

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