Author: NZRacingDesk

A decade ago, Rory Hutchings had the most successful day of his career at Ellerslie on Boxing Day, and the expat Kiwi hoop will kick off a stint riding in his homeland at the iconic meeting this Thursday. Hutchings was a three-time champion apprentice jockey in New Zealand whilst under the tutelage of Graeme Rogerson, for whom he won his first Group One aboard Soriano in the 2014 edition of the Zabeel Classic (2000m). “That was the greatest day I’ve had on a racecourse for sure, I was apprenticed to…

Don Goodwin, the breeder of 11-time Group One winner Verry Elleegant, has passed away, aged 86. Goodwin was a proud student of thoroughbred pedigrees, and it was this passion that led him to acquiring Verry Elleegant’s dam, Opulence, to send to Grangewilliam Stud stallion Zed, for whom he was a shareholder. It was purchasing Opulence off trainer Nicholas Bishara that set the wheels in motion for the formation of a lucrative partnership and friendship between the pair, which took them on the ride of a lifetime. “I had the mare,…

Arguably there is no better stallion making race in Australasia than Victoria’s only Gr.1 event for two-year-olds, the Blue Diamond Stakes, and when you add the hottest bloodline in the Southern Hemisphere to the mix, you have an exciting stallion prospect.  Little Avondale’s Sam William’s extensive search for a new stallion and one to eventually replace the studs patriarch, Per Incanto, is complete, with the Wairarapa nursery pleased to announce the purchase of the 2023 Gr.1 Blue Diamond Stakes winner Little Brose (Per Incanto-Mohegan Sky by Straight Man), who will…

A winning double with Pick Of The Litter and Our Time at Te Rapa brought up a special milestone for Peter Lock. The Te Aroha-based trainer was sitting on 398 domestic victories prior to the Saturday meeting, and he edged closer to the 400 milestone when Pick Of The Litter (NZ) (Vadamos) produced a tough victory in the opener, the Dunstan Final Boxing Day 2400. The Vadamos mare had been a winner over 2100m in November and stepped up creditably for fourth over the mile-and-a-half at Ellerslie, placing her among…

The Gr.2 Adelaide Cup in March over 3200m is the next big race target for last-start New Zealand Cup winner Mehzebeen (NZ) (Almanzor). Mark Walker’s tough staying mare arrived in Melbourne this week ahead of an Australian campaign this summer and autumn. “She’s had a little freshen-up and she’s a horse that Mark wanted to send over to have a go at a race like the Adelaide Cup,” said Te Akau’s Melbourne-based assistant trainer Ben Gleeson. “She’s had the freshen-up, we’ll build her up, we’ll give her a jumpout here.…

Weigh In is full of the festive spirit. Bevan Sweeney joins the panel to review a bumper day at Trentham, plus Guy catches up with Halberg Sportsman of the Year nominee James McDonald. Weigh In, December 22

Consistent sprinting mare Egyptian Queen (NZ) (Zoustar) was rewarded for a string of solid performances at Te Rapa on Saturday, powering away with the Lodge Real Estate 1200. Egyptian Queen figured prominently throughout her three-year-old term, placing in the Listed O’Leary’s Fillies Stakes (1200m) and Gr.3 Almanzor Trophy (1200m), before rounding out her season with a fourth in the Gr.3 Cambridge Breeders’ Stakes (1200m). Often the bridesmaid, the daughter of Zoustar was on the verge of breaking through Rating 65 grade when going down narrowly to promising filly Hankee Alpha…

Progressive galloper Pericles (NZ) (Rubick) re-entered the winner’s circle for the first time since his three-year-old stakes success in the Innovate-Need A Website Call 020 4141 7448 (1600m) at Te Rapa on Saturday. The son of Rubick showed his sprinting prowess last term when taking out the Listed Uncle Remus Stakes (1200m) and produced a similar effort on resumption in September, going down by a nose to Luberon, who has subsequently won twice at Group Three level. Pericles has worked through the distances building up to Saturday’s Rating 75 mile…

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One-time Melbourne Cup favourite Goldman has bounced back to winning form for the first time in more than 18-months when leading throughout to score in the Listed Pakenham Cup (2500m) on Saturday. The Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained Goldman last saluted in the Listed Roy Higgins (2600m) in March of last year which rocketed him to 2023 Cup favouritism. While subsequent preparations haven’t gone to plan, Goldman relished being in his favoured on-speed ride under Beau Mertens and out-toughed runner-up Grand Pierro in winning the A$300,000 feature. Muramasa made the…