Author: NZRacingDesk

Leading into the 2025 breeding season we reflect on the volume of mares covered by a stallion with 10+ mares in 2024.

Atishu (NZ) (Savabeel) may not be mentioned in the same breath as some of Chris Waller’s champions past and present, but the mare is far from a spent force on the racetrack.  The seven-year-old will be chasing a third Group 1 win at Flemington and her fourth in total when she lines up in the Australian Cup at Flemington on Saturday.  The same age as Pride Of Jenni and Deny Knowledge who have both improved as they have aged, Atishu also fits into that category.  Atishu registered her third Group 1 win last spring when successful in the Empire Rose Stakes (1600m)…

Central Districts filly Too Sweet (NZ) (Satono Aladdin) was all the rage ahead of January’s Karaka Millions 2YO (1200m), but now she seems to be the forgotten horse of the juvenile ranks, set to start as an outsider in Saturday’s Gr.1 Courtesy Ford Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) at Trentham.  “I think she is the forgotten horse, she has drifted from $6 to about $21, so it’s incredible really,” trainer Roydon Bergerson said. “She is the only horse in the race that has beaten La Dorada (NZ) (Super Seth), and…

Classy New Zealand filly Alabama Lass has conquered racing right and left-handed, now she must take to straight racing at her Australian debut.  Alabama Lass has arrived in Melbourne to contest the Listed HKJC World Pool Sprint Classic (1200m) at Flemington on Saturday after showing her ability in New Zealand.  Trainers Ken and Bev Kelso are no strangers to travelling horses to Australia having won the Group 1 Australian Guineas in 2023 with Legarto (NZ) (Prosir) while stablemate Levante (NZ) (Proisir) was also productive on an earlier excursion to Flemington.  Alabama Lass has won five of her eight starts to date, finishing second on…

Leading into the 2025 breeding season we reflect on the volume of mares covered by a stallion with 10+ mares in 2024.

The decision to back-up Ceolwulf (NZ) (Tavistock) in the Neville Sellwood Stakes is part of a bigger campaign picture as Joe Pride looks to give his star galloper the best possible grounding for his ultimate goal. Having identified the Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) as the race they want to win, Pride says Saturday’s Rosehill assignment is the logical next step. “This just looked like the obvious race,” Pride said. “The Doncaster (Mile) was also on the cards but the only trouble with the Doncaster is it would mean him backing up into the Queen Elizabeth. “The decision that…

Group One-winning trainer Andrew Campbell is set to return to the training ranks when he heads to Trentham on Saturday to line-up debutant Croupier (NZ) (Ace High) in The Oaks Stud 1200.  “It has been quite a few years now since I last had a runner, so it’s quite exciting,” Campbell said.  “I love it (training) and doing nothing gets quite boring, there are only so many fish you can catch out this way.”  The respected horseman transitioned into a career as a bloodstock agent three years ago, however, he…

It was No Fuss (NZ) (Jon Snow) by name and nature at Sandown on Wednesday, as Tony and Calvin McEvoy’s exciting import broke the Hillside 1500 metre record with a devastating victory. Now undefeated in three starts since arriving from New Zealand as a maiden, No Fuss was a stunning winner from last after flopping out of the gates fresh, but jumped much better second-up and sat third in isolation before challenging in the straight.   Divine Thoughts ($3.10) offered resistance from the front, while Liberami ($3.60) chased hard from…

Peter Didham and his owners can take a good deal of satisfaction from their dual representation in Saturday’s feature event at Trentham, regardless of the outcome. The Awapuni trainer and connections have the unbeaten War Princess (NZ) (U S Navy Flag) and the promising Shameless Star (NZ) (Shamexpress) to do battle in the Gr.1 Courtesy Ford Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m). The stablemates were purchased as early prospects and for both to be competing at the elite level this weekend is a sound reflection on the selection process. “I’ve got…

Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson will present nearly a third of the field in Saturday’s Gr.1 Courtesy Ford Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m), vying for a seventh title in the last eight years with their all-conquering juveniles. Te Akau’s glamour girl Melody Belle (NZ) (Commands) commenced their string of dominance in the $550,000 feature back in 2017, with the likes of Avantage and On The Bubbles taking the crown in the following years. Each of that trio also were victorious in the $1 million Karaka Millions 2YO (1200m), a feat…