Author: NZRacingDesk

A dominant performance in the Gr.2 Legacy Lodge Waikato Guineas (2000m) at Te Rapa on Saturday has thrust Tuxedo (NZ) (Tivaci) into the top echelon of contenders for next month’s Gr.1 New Zealand Derby (2400m). Tuxedo had already shown plenty of promise in his four-race career, winning twice including the Gr.3 Wellington Stakes (1600m) and finishing second in both of the other two. He chased home Derby favourite Willydoit (NZ) (Tarzino) at Ellerslie on New Year’s Day, then returned to the same venue for a runner-up finish behind Damask Rose…

Saturday’s Gr.1 Herbie Dyke Stakes (2000m) at Te Rapa marked another new high point in the career of the ever-improving El Vencedor (NZ) (Shocking), who took his career earnings past $1 million with a stunning three-length runaway. The son of Shocking initially showed promise as a sprinter, winning over 1200m in both New Zealand and Australia as a three-year-old and placing in the Gr.3 Concorde Handicap (1200m) and Listed Newmarket Handicap (1200m) at four. But El Vencedor has come into his own over longer distances at the ages of five…

The Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young trained three-year-old Emphasize (NZ) (Embellish( has again flagged his staying credentials with a hard-fought victory over older horses in the Super Bowl Monday Handicap (2000m) at Caulfield. The son of Embellish cruised to victory at Sale in January and was due to step out at Sandown last week, but dislodged his rider on the way to the barriers and was duly scratched. Seven days later the gelding put up a tough performance to loop the field and stave off handy four-year-old Inevitable Award as…

Progressive mare Risque Ruler (NZ) (Mongolian Khan) produced a performance that had to be seen to be believed when taking out the second running of the Sir Patrick Hogan Karapiro Classic (1600m) at Te Rapa on Saturday. The Janelle Millar-prepared daughter of former Gr.1 Caulfield Cup (2400m) winner Mongolian Khan was a clear $3.80 favourite for the $350,000 contest when the early Fixed Odds market was released off the back of an unlucky run for second at Ellerslie on New Year’s Day, following two consecutive victories. However, after the early…

Rising star Leica Lucy (NZ) (Derryn) had to live right up to her fast-growing reputation at Te Rapa on Saturday, getting herself out of deep trouble in the straight and winning the Gr.2 David & Karyn Ellis Fillies’ Classic (2000m). The classy daughter of Derryn went into the $275,000 feature as the hottest favourite of the day at $1.30, having won three of her four starts including dominant recent victories in the Gr.3 Eulogy Stakes (1600m) and Gr.3 Desert Gold Stakes (1600m). Soon after rounding the home turn at Te…

Brett Crawford, one of South Africa’s top trainers with a career spanning over two decades, is embarking on a new and exciting chapter in Hong Kong. With an impressive record of 38 Group One wins and nearly 1500 career victories, Crawford has established himself as a prominent figure in South African racing. His transition to Hong Kong’s competitive training scene has been hailed as “the opportunity of a lifetime,” a sentiment echoed by both local and international observers. At 53, Crawford has experienced an eventful career, beginning as a young…

New Zealand Cup winner Mehzebeen is set to make her Australian debut in a Benchmark race at Caulfield on Saturday on a path towards a staying feature in South Australia next month. Trained by Mark Walker, Mehzebeen is scheduled to take her place in Saturday’s Benchmark 100 race over 2000m, which will be her first start since winning the Group 3 New Zealand Cup over 3200m at Riccarton in mid-November. The mare also won a 2600-metre Listed race at Riccarton a week before her New Zealand Cup success. “She has…

Cambridge trainer Stephen Marsh’s phone will likely be ringing red-hot following Penman’s win at Tauranga on Friday. The $3.5 million NZB Kiwi (1500m) is fast approaching and many of the slot holders have yet to show their hand and select their contender, and Marsh believes his classy three-year-old is the perfect candidate. The son of Contributer finished runner-up in his first two outings last year before breaking through for his maiden win over 1400m at Te Rapa last month and showed his class on Friday when running out a dominant…

Three-year-old filly Way Out West made a winning debut when comfortably defeating older horses in the Laser Electrical Tauranga Maiden (1400m) at Tauranga on Friday. The Andrew Forsman-trained daughter of U S Navy Flag had placed in two of her four trials, including an eye-catching effort at Matamata prior to her raceday debut. From an inside draw, Way Out West came from midfield on the rails to score under Craig Grylls. The premiership-leading jockey took a gap closest to the fence when it presented at the top of the straight…

Ciaron Maher says it’s ‘possible’ Pride Of Jenni could come out of retirement. Rumours have swirled in racing circles for weeks about the door remaining open for Pride Of Jenni to return to work with her status on Racing Australia listed as ‘spelling’ rather than ‘retired’. Owner Tony Ottobre has played a straight bat when asked about her racing future, preferring not to comment. However Maher on Friday said the prospect of a return for Pride Of Jenni was ‘exciting’. “Possibly. I’ll have a yarn to Tony and see what…