Author: NZRacingDesk

Te Akau Racing’s winning form in the Central Districts continued at Waverley on Sunday, with promising three-year-old Class (NZ) (Embellish) claiming his maiden on debut in the Summit Electrical (1400m). The son of Embellish had made six appearances at the trials since mid-February this year and that experience was evident from the jump, gliding to the lead under Lily Sutherland and setting up a solid tempo. Fellow debutant Movin Out joined the gelding at the 600m but Class gained a break turning for home, showing a slick turn-of-foot to score…

Progressive mare Arabian Songbird (NZ) (Pierro) took a step up in grade all in her stride at Ellerslie on Saturday, powering to victory in the Barfoot and Thompson 1600. The daughter of Pierro commenced her racing career in the care of Peter and Dawn Williams, and following their retirement, entered the stable of Roger James and Robert Wellwood, of whom she made a winning debut for at the venue last month. Remaining in the hands of jockey Masa Hashizume, Arabian Songbird jumped positively from her wide barrier and found a…

Guy Heveldt, is joined by Aidan Rodley in the studio and Jayne Ivil live from Sydney as they break down The Everest with Mark Chittick. Review the Caulfield Cup, and races from Ellerslie and Otaki Weigh In, October 20

Lightly raced six-year-old Marotiri Molly (NZ) (Per Incanto) made it back-to back victories as she ran her rivals off their feet to capture the AR Painters Handicap (1400m) at Otaki on Saturday.  The late blooming daughter of Per Incanto had won three of her eight starts to date since making her debut in July last year, including a last-start front-running performance at Hawera a fortnight ago in the hands of Kate Hercock, who was aboard again on Saturday.  Hercock took the Matt Dixon-prepared mare straight to the front and she…

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Two weeks after his brilliant Group One breakthrough in the Epsom Handicap (1600m), the New Zealand-bred rising superstar Ceolwulf (NZ) (Tavistock) conquered an even stronger line-up over the same course and distance in Saturday’s A$5 million Gr.1 King Charles III Stakes (1600m) at Randwick. Ceolwulf began his four-year-old season without any stakes wins to his name, but he hinted at a bright future at that level with runner-up finishes in the Gr.1 Rosehill Guineas (2000m) and Gr.1 Australian Derby (2400m) in the autumn. The Tavistock gelding broke his black-type drought…

The Gr.3 TAB Counties Cup (2100m) and Gr.3 Skycity Hamilton Waikato Cup (2400m) are looming large on the horizon for The Odyssey (NZ) (Zacinto) after a dominant win in the Elsdon Park (2100m) at Ellerslie on Saturday. Bred and raced by Gareth Downey and Mel Gamble, the Zacinto gelding emerged on the scene with four wins from seven starts last season including the inaugural $350,000 Remutaka Classic (2100m) at Trentham in January. The early stages of The Odyssey’s 2024 spring campaign had been a story of strong finishes that were…

Promising three-year-old Legally Binding made it two wins in succession when he led all the way at Ellerslie to take out the NZB Ready To Run Sale Trainers Series (1200m). The son of Exceedance judged his effort to perfection as rider Wiremu Pinn took him straight to the front and said to his rivals catch me if you can as he shot clear rounding the home bend. Three lengths clear at the 250m, the Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson-prepared galloper looked to have the situation well in control at that…

Talented mare Niance landed some valuable black-type for connections when prevailing in the Listed Alinghi Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield on Saturday. The former Kiwi has won four of her five starts since crossing the Tasman to join the stable of Cranbourne trainer Grahame Begg. Despite having not been seen on raceday since May, Niance was sent out a $3.20 favourite. Given a tactically brilliant ride by Jordan Childs, the jockey took his opportunity to pocket key rival Isthmus, who eventually finished fourth. Sporting the Ace Bloodstock silks, Niance raced handy…

Kiwi-bred mare Lekvarte (NZ) (Reliable Man) collected the third Group Three win of her career with another barnstorming come-from-behind performance in Saturday’s A$250,000 James Squire Angst Stakes (1600m) at Randwick. Previously the winner of the Gr.3 Belle of the Turf Stakes (1600m) and Gr.3 Aspiration Quality (1600m), the Joe Pride-trained Lekvarte has now earned A$923,330 from a 31-start career that has produced nine wins and five placings. The six-year-old resumed with a strong-finishing fourth in the Gr.2 Golden Pendant (1400m) on September 28, and the extra 200m of Saturday’s Angst…