Author: NZRacingDesk

Guy, Emily & Jayne review the last Group 1 racing day of the domestic season. We’re joined by Michael McNab as he breaks back into the Group 1 winning circle. We also look across the ditch to review Alabama Lass winning at Flemington and much more. Weigh In, March 30

Smart four-year-old First Five (NZ) (Almanzor) continued his stellar form with a powerful display to win Saturday’s Capistrano Lodge 1400 at Te Aroha. The son of Almanzor showed early promise and was tested over middle-distance trips in his three-year-old and early four-year-old campaigns, but since reverting back to six and seven furlongs, he has been near unbeatable for Te Rapa trainer David Greene. Since mid-December, First Five had won or placed in every appearance, including a close second last-start to subsequent Listed Flying Handicap (1400m) placegetter December at Matamata. Greene…

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Four-year-old gelding Codigo notched a hard-fought victory in the Glorious Goodwood Handicap (1100m) at Flemington on Saturday for trainers Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman. Ridden by Blake Shinn, Codigo narrowly defeated La Defense and Shirshov as the son of Ardrossan made it back-to-back metropolitan victories in a new campaign. Codigo started his career with trainer Stephen Marsh in New Zealand, where he was the first winner for his sire Ardrossan when successful on debut, before becoming the Waikato Stud stallion’s first stakes winner when landing the Listed Wellesly Stakes (1100m)…

Matamata trainers Ken and Bev Kelso have once again come up trumps at Flemington with quality sprinting filly Alabama Lass successful in Saturday’s A$500,000 Listed HKJC World Pool Sprint Classic (1100m). Two years after landing the Gr.1 Australian Guineas (1600m) at the premier Melbourne track with stablemate Legarto, the astute Kiwi conditioners again plotted a successful hit-and-run with another quality three-year-old. Ridden by Craig Williams, Alabama Lass showed her customary early speed to lead throughout down the Flemington straight and when challenged dug in to hold off the challenge of…

A sparkling performance by La Dorada (NZ) (Super Seth) in Saturday’s Gr.1 Courtesy Ford Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) completed another Te Akau clean sweep of New Zealand’s biggest two-year-old prizes. La Dorada had previously won the Karaka Millions 2YO (1200m) and Gr.2 Matamata Breeders’ Stakes (1200m), while her unbeaten stablemate Return To Conquer strung together four black-type successes including the Gr.1 Sistema Stakes (1200m). Since the inception of the Karaka Millions in 2008, Te Akau Racing is the only stable to win the Karaka Millions, Sistema and Sires’ Produce…

Unheralded four-year-old Doctor Askar (NZ) (Derryn) has proved himself one of the finds of the summer as he completed his fifth win from just six starts since breaking maidens in December when taking out the Listed Bramco Granite & Marble Flying Handicap (1400m) at Trentham on Saturday. Trainer Joanne Moss, who bred and co-owns the son of Derryn in partnership with her mother Jill, had thought she had a handy horse on her hands when he showed plenty of ability by placing in five of his first eight starts before…

Last year’s Gr.1 Sistema Railway (1200m) winner Waitak (NZ) (Proisir) has showcased his versatility and class this autumn with a dominant double over 1600m and 2100m. The son of Proisir was a three-length winner of the Gr.2 Japan Trophy (1600m) at Tauranga on March 15, and on Saturday he stepped up over even further and won the Gr.2 City of Palmerston North Awapuni Gold Cup (2100m) at Trentham with similar ease. Waitak has joined a rare club, becoming only the second horse to win both the Railway and the Awapuni…

Fresh off her first stakes placed performance when running third in the Gr.3 Cuddle Stakes (1600m) last weekend at Trentham, talented mare Electron (NZ) (Turn Me Loose) gave her open class rivals a beating when easing to a comfortable victory in the feature event at Te Aroha, the NZTBA Mile (1600m). Purchased by Cambridge trainer Sam Mynott for just $1,000 off gavelhouse.com back in November 2023, the four-year-old daughter of Windsor Park resident stallion Turn Me Loose hasn’t looked back since breaking her maiden status in October last year, registering…

Last season’s boom two-year-old Velocious made her raceday return after a tie-back wind operation in stunning fashion when she stormed home from a clear last on the home bend to take out the Manco 1150 (1150m) at Te Aroha. The Stephen Marsh-prepared daughter of Written Tycoon had been off the scene since finishing near last in the Gr.3 Gold Trail Stakes (1200m) at Hastings in September where she was immediately operated on to alleviate her breathing issues. Given a long and slow build-up that saw her trial on three occasions…