The 600km journey from Christchurch to Riverton paid off on Saturday for Michael and Matthew Pitman, who kicked off the annual two-day Easter fixture with three wins including a $44 upset by Makabar (NZ) (Swiss Ace) in the feature sprint. Makabar went into the Riverton Butchery Aparima Handicap (1200m) with unplaced finishes to his name in all of his last six starts. However, he had been a star performer at the Easter meeting 12 months ago, where he ran third in this same open 1200m sprint before winning over 1400m…
Author: NZRacingDesk
Little Black Dress snatches thrilling stakes win
Flashy filly Little Black Dress (Snitzel) maintained her unbeaten record with a dramatic victory in Saturday’s Listed SKYCITY Star Way Stakes (1200m) at Ellerslie. The only thing that seemed certain with 200m left to run in the two-year-old feature was that it looked like a Stephen Marsh-trained quinella with pacemaker Lady Iris (NZ) (U S Navy Flag) clinging resolutely to a narrow lead from Little Black Dress as the pair went stride for stride at that point. Lady Iris suddenly made a beeline to her left and hampered both her…
El Vencedor gives New Zealand hope in FWD QEII Cup
With four consecutive victories highlighted by the last three at Group 1 level and being named the equal 10th best galloper in the LONGINES World’s Best Racehorse rankings, the timing is perfect for New Zealand stayer El Vencedor (NZ) (Shocking) to tackle the G1 FWD QEII Cup (2000m) at Sha Tin on 27 April. El Vencedor will go into the HK$28 million feature after being freshened up following last-start victory in the G1 Bonecrusher New Zealand Stakes (2000m) at Ellerslie on 8 March. El Vencedor arrived in Hong Kong on…
Sterling Express shines with impressive victory at Ellerslie
Central Districts-based rider Kate Hercock pulled the right rein to ride at Ellerslie on Saturday when she guided Sterling Express (NZ) (Shamexpress) to victory in the Join TAB Racing Club (1200m). The Mark Brosnan-prepared four-year-old was fresh up after last being seen when finishing towards the rear at Tauranga back in November. Brosnan has plenty of faith in the ability of his charge, who was stepping up to open company for the first time and he didn’t disappoint as he found a powerful kick in the concluding stages to charge…
Waller keeping faith in Joliestar
Chris Waller isn’t reading too much into Joliestar’s (Zoustar) defeat as favourite in the Gr.1 T J Smith Stakes (1200m), adamant the mare is going well enough to make amends at Randwick. Joliestar finished ninth, beaten two lengths by Saturday’s Gr.1 All Aged Stakes (1400m) rival Briasa (Smart Missile), after jockey Damian Lane was left with little option but to make his run up the fence in the straight. Combined with a moderate tempo, Waller said it made Joliestar’s task difficult. “Damian had nowhere to go and he had to go up the fence,” Waller said. “There…
Egan teams with Werther in Cup bid
It only seems like yesterday that Billy Egan was partnering Young Werther (NZ) (Tavistock) to the gelding’s second ever career win. That win at Flemington was 22 months ago, and Egan was then associated with the Danny O’Brien-trained galloper in Young Werther’s next four starts. Egan reunites with Young Werther in the Listed Mornington Cup (2400m) on Saturday, the first time he will ride the gelding in a race since finishing second in the 2023 Listed Ballarat Cup (2000m). The jockey has had five rides on Young Werther, for two wins and two placings, including finishing third in the Gr.1…
Ka Ying Rising wins “perfect trial” at Sha Tin ahead of G1 Chairman’s Sprint Prize
Aiming to crown an unblemished season with victory in the HK$22 million G1 Chairman’s Sprint Prize (1200m) at Sha Tin on 27 April, Ka Ying Rising (NZ) (Shamexpress) produced an almost flawless barrier trial this morning (Thursday, 17 April), delighting trainer David Hayes and jockey Zac Purton. Jumping away moderately on Sha Tin’s dirt track, Ka Ying Rising quickly built momentum to lead from the 1000m and eventually won the hit-out by three and a half lengths from HK$13 million Hong Kong Classic Mile (1600m) winner My Wish in 1m…
Ormsby’s late decision proves a winning move
Chad Ormsby made a late call to ride his own horse Kirrawee (NZ) (Vanbrugh) in the Lest We Forget 1600 at Matamata on Thursday and that decision proved a winning one for the former top hoop. The former Group One-winning jockey stepped away from full-time riding in 2012, but briefly returned in the 2020/21 season, guiding home a further 10 winners during this period. Ormsby hasn’t ridden on raceday since Boxing Day in 2020, turning his complete focus to his business Riverrock Farm, which specialises in training, pre-training, young horse…
Talented gelding out to break through in northern feature
Dubai’s Potiki (NZ) (Ocean Park) has inherited all the better qualities of his talented dam and Chrissy Bambry hopes he can follow in her Group Three-winning footsteps at Ellerslie on Saturday. He is the youngest and final foal out of Dubai Belle (NZ) (E Dubai), a winner of the Gr.3 Metric Mile (1600m) in the care of Bambry’s father Tony. The mare passed away only days after Dubai’s Potiki was born, and after being passed in at the National Yearling Sales, he has been retained by the family to race.…
Wexford Eyeing Sydney Spoils with Group One Star
Grail Seeker (NZ) (Iffraaj) has added two Group One victories to her record this season and she will attempt to make it a third when she heads to Randwick on Saturday to tackle the All Aged Stakes (1400m). The lightly-raced mare has just had three runs this season, winning the Gr.1 Tarzino Trophy (1400m) at Hastings last September before doubling up in the Gr.1 Telegraph (1200m) at Trentham in January. She didn’t handle the firm going when sixth in the Gr.1 BCD Group Sprint (1400m) at Te Rapa a month…