Author: NZRacingDesk

Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott will take a trio of three-year-olds to Trentham on Saturday in search of a second straight win in the Gr.2 IRT Wellington Guineas (1400m). The Matamata trainers won the race by a wide margin last year with Grail Seeker, who has gone on to add the Gr.1 Tarzino Trophy (1400m) and Telegraph (1200m) as a four-year-old this season. This year’s Wexford Stables contingent is made up of Sethito, Cheaha and Wounder. Sethito finished sixth in the inaugural $3.5 million NZB Kiwi (1500m) at Ellerslie two…

Ciaron Maher is backing in the class of Group 1 Oakleigh Plate winner Jimmysstar (NZ) (Per Incanto) ahead of his Valley debut in Saturday’s $1 million William Reid Stakes. A new fresh-is-best approach has seen Maher stick to a sprinting path with the son of Per Incanto, having only started below 1200 metres once before his last-start Oakleigh Plate win – when he also won fresh first-up in the spring. Maher said he has no concerns about the powerful finisher navigating the tight circumference at The Valley. “I think he’ll…

While distance may be a query for Island Life (NZ) (Vadamos) in Saturday’s Gr.1 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai New Zealand Oaks (2400m), the talented filly has given Steven Ramsay and Julia Ritchie every reason to attempt the million-dollar Classic. Racing in the colours of Sir Peter Vela’s Pencarrow Stud, Island Life has done little wrong in her three-year-old season, placing behind Tuxedo in the Gr.3 Wellington Stakes (1600m) and Real Class in the Gr.2 Sir Patrick Hogan Stakes (2000m). The Oaks was always the long-term goal for Island Life, and…

Joe Pride joined Racing Pulse with Michael Felgate to discuss his runners for the upcoming weekend, headlined by Ceolwulf in the George Ryder. CLICK TO PLAY AUDIO

Fancy Like Lass (NZ) (Hellbent) has been no stranger to adversity and a black-type credit would be just reward for the gallant mare.  Several setbacks have been overcome by the lightly raced daughter of Hellbent who on Saturday will bid to make the most of her first crack at stakes company.  The Sue Thompson-Brown and Mick Brown-trained sprinter returns to Trentham, where she is a two-time winner, to contest the Listed Bill Tito Book Repair Specialist Lightning Handicap (1200m).  Fancy Like Lass will be partnered by Kate Hercock, who has…

Ben and Ryan Foote have taken a single-minded approach to Saturday’s Gr.1 New Zealand Oaks (2400m) with their genuine filly Myakkabelle (NZ) (War Decree).  The father and son team have been solely focussed on their daughter of War Decree ahead of a return trip to Trentham to again do battle with dominant market leader Leica Lucy (NZ) (Derryn) in the Al Basti Equiworld Dubai-sponsored Classic at Trentham.  “One thing that Ben has taught me is that you can only worry about your own job,” Ryan Foote said.  “I don’t know…

Procul Boy (NZ) (Proisir) made up for a late start to his racing career with an eye-catching victory in the Property Brokers – Wanganui (1200m) at Waverley on Wednesday. A five-year-old by Proisir, Procul Boy has been patiently handled by Gail Temperton, who bred and owns the gelding under her Taikorea Thoroughbreds banner. He made his first appearance to the trials back in December of 2023, and over a year later, he returned to Foxton to finish a narrow second over 1000m, showing promising signs ahead of his debut. That…

 An exciting host of 28 individual Group 1 winners headlines entries for FWD Champions Day on Sunday, 27 April at Sha Tin – all chasing a chance to compete for the record HK$74 million prize money on offer across three of world racing’s pre-eminent contests.  Representing owners from Hong Kong, Great Britain, Australia, France, Japan, Ireland, New Zealand, the United Arab Emirates, the United States of America, Bahrain and Qatar, 95 horses are vying for starts in the HK$28 million G1 FWD QEII Cup (2000m), HK$24 million G1 FWD Champions…

Derby placegetter Golden Century (NZ) (Pierro) will travel to Sydney next week to contest the Gr.2 Tulloch Stakes (2000m) at Rosehill, ahead of a possible tilt at the A$2 million Gr.1 Australian Derby (2400m) on April 5.  While still a maiden after seven starts, Golden Century has shown promise from his debut and only narrowly missed the top honours in the Listed Gingernuts Salver (2100m) in January. He continued on to the $1.25 million Gr.1 New Zealand Derby (2400m) on Champions Day, where he missed the start and powered home…

Retired superstar Imperatriz will have a race named in her honour from this season’s Cox Plate Day forward, with the program’s existing open 1000-metre handicap now titled the Imperatriz Sprint. The event’s prizemoney will be increased from $150,000 to $200,000 and will be run over the same course on which Imperatriz won the Group 2 McEwen and G1 Moir Stakes in 2023. The Moir victory saw Imperatriz set The Valley’s current 1000-metre course record at 56.47 seconds. She finished her career with five wins from as many starts at The…