Author: NZRacingDesk

The breeding industry lost one of its most loyal and long-time supporters last week when 88-year-old John Richardson passed away in Waikato Hospital following a short illness, capping off a sad week for the thoroughbred industry after funerals for trainer Mike Moroney and veterinarian Bill Ewen. John substantially contributed to the New Zealand industry after arriving from England in 1974 aged 37. Early in 1975, he was appointed editor of the newly founded Bloodhorse Magazine, a position he held for three years before shifting to Dalgety Bloodstock as its pedigree…

Hong Kong champion jockey Zac Purton has been booked to ride Kiwi raider El Vencedor (NZ) (Shocking) in the Gr.1 FWD QE II Cup (2000m) at Sha Tin next month.  An invitation was extended to the connections of the in-form gelding following his golden run of form in New Zealand, which included consecutive victories in the Gr.1 Herbie Dyke Stakes (2000m), Gr.1 Otaki Maori WFA Classic (1600m), and Gr.1 Bonecrusher New Zealand Stakes (2000m).  In search of a rider, trainer Stephen Marsh was able to snare the services of Purton,…

Roger James and Robert Wellwood won’t be chasing Australian riches this Saturday with Orchestral (NZ) (Savabeel), but the Cambridge trainers will have a key hope on home soil with December (NZ) (Shamexpress) taking on the Listed Bramco Granite and Marble Flying Handicap (1400m). An earner of more than $2.7 million, Orchestral is one of the country’s brightest stars and came back into form when winning the $1 million Aotearoa Classic (1600m) in January. She went on to finish third in the Gr.1 Otaki-Maori WFA Classic (1600m) and sixth in the…

A trip to Riccarton Park next month for the $350,000 Southern Alps Challenge (1600m) is already locked in for Our Approval (NZ) (Ghibellines), and his stablemate Cherryville (NZ) (Ghibellines will aim to earn a place of his own at Wingatui on Friday. The pair are trained locally by Brian and Shane Anderton, with Our Approval gaining his place in the lucrative feature after a game third behind Maximus Augustus in the $200,000 ODT Southern Mile Final (1600m) earlier this month. Cherryville hasn’t been seen on raceday since defeating Iffididit to…

Promising three-year-old Mustang Morgan (NZ) (Preferment) will get his first taste of Australian racing when he heads to Rosehill on Saturday to contest the Gr.2 Tulloch Stakes (2000m).  It’s a race familiar to his conditioner Andrew Forsman, who won the 2017 (Jon Snow) and 2020 (Quick Thinker) editions when training in partnership with Murray Baker, and he believes his gelding is up to the task.  The son of Preferment has had a pleasing three-year-old campaign to date, winning the Listed Gingernuts Salver (2100m) at Ellerslie in January and returned to…

Crocetti (NZ) (Zacinto) will carry the hopes of the Kiwi sprinting ranks in Perth next month as the Trackside NZ / Perth Racing slot runner in the A$5 million KIA Quokka (1200m). The winner of nine of his 14 career starts, Crocetti’s connections accepted the invitation from Entain New Zealand – the operators of New Zealand’s Trackside television network and the TAB and betcha betting brands – after he claimed the NZ$300,000 bonus for winning the Sport Nation NZ Champion Sprint Series over the summer. Crocetti’s owner and co-breeder Daniel…

Our Echo (NZ) (Echoes Of Heaven) has a well-documented love affair with the champagne turf and the Balcairn galloper will cross the Cook Strait again this week in pursuit of Saturday’s Listed Bramco and Granite Flying Handicap (1400m). The eight-year-old son of Echoes Of Heaven has made a number of trips to Trentham since early 2022 and rarely goes home without a prize, including last year’s Listed Lightning Handicap (1200m), which was followed by a game third to Bradman (NZ) (Pins) in the Flying Handicap. After a mixed spring preparation…

Ciaron Maher admits his eyes will be firmly fixed on the sectionals during Saturday’s Group One Australian Cup when Craig Newitt will again be out to secure victory aboard Trelawney Stud bred Pride Of Jenni (Pride Of Dubai). A clash with fellow front-runner Deny Knowledge sets up for a genuinely run 2000-metre contest as Maher’s mare seeks redemption after finishing second to Cascadian in the same race last year. “They have a similar running style, but Jenni does seem that little more tractable and with each prep she’s got that…

Ken Kelso joined Racing Pulse with Michael Felgate to discuss how Alabama Lass is tracking ahead of heading across the Tasman to race at Flemington on Saturday. The exciting Alabama Lass will be at Flemington on Saturday – Racing Pulse with Michael Felgate – Omny.fm

There’s growing frustration within the thoroughbred racing industry surrounding the sport’s infrastructure, with the abandonment of Taupo’s trials on Tuesday the latest in a long series of raceday and trial cancellations. It comes just two days after the abandonment of Tauherenikau’s Sunday race meeting following a slip in the opening race of the card, adding to the growing track woes in the Central Districts, with both Hastings and Awapuni currently out of commission due to track renovations. “I think we are starting to get to a point where we have…