Author: NZRacingDesk

Michael and Matthew Pitman have made the journey from Canterbury to Trentham for many years with an abundance of success along the way, a trend they hope to continue on Saturday with Mystic Park (NZ) (Ocean Park) taking on the Listed Bill Tito Book Repair Specialist Lightning Handicap (1200m). The father-son training partnership won the Lightning back in 2020 with Enzo’s Lad, a galloper that also won two editions of the Gr.1 Telegraph (1200m) at the champagne turf before campaigning in Hong Kong and England. Mystic Park is the newest…

Promising three-year-old Sought After (NZ) (Tivaci) is to head down a familiar route for Waikato Stud and continue his career in Australia.  The homebred and raced son of Tivaci will cross the Tasman next week to join the Pakenham stable of Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman.  Sought After will be following in the footsteps of the Matamata farm’s star galloper I Wish I Win (NZ) (Savabeel), who was recently retired following a glittering career.  He was a two-time Group One winner, claimed the Golden Eagle (1500m), posted multiple top-flight placings…

Improving four-year-old First Five (NZ) (Almanzor) will step into open company for the first time in Friday’s Nikau Contractors (1400m) at Pukekohe Park. The son of Almanzor was tried over middle-distance trips as a three-year-old and in the recent spring, but has found his sweet spot back over the sprint trips, winning twice and placing in the remainder of his last four starts. David Greene, who prepares First Five out of Te Rapa, had hoped to continue his momentum into the $350,000 Wairere Falls Classic (1500m) at Matamata earlier this…

Leading trainer Mick Price says Public Attention‘s (NZ) (Written Tycoon) racing days could be as a sprinter, with doubts over whether the grey colt sees out a strong longer trip. The Written Tycoon colt won first-up over 1200m and ran well in the Gr.2 Hobartville Stakes (1400m) won by Broadsiding but may not have seen out the 1500m in the inaugural NZB Kiwi in New Zealand. Public Attention was targeted at and eventually ran fifth in last year’s Gr.1 Caulfield Guineas (1600m). “He’s run 1400m, 1500m, 1600m and each time…

Wolfgang (NZ) (Puccini) will aim to complete his best season to date on a high on Saturday, chasing another Trentham distance feature in The Frac Club New Zealand St Leger (2500m). A gelding by Puccini, Wolfgang has flourished in his six-year-old season, kicking off with victories at the Hawke’s Bay and Matamata premier meetings, before a successful trip across the Tasman where he finished fourth in the Gr.3 Geelong Cup (2400m). Back at home, he went on to place in the Gr.3 Balmerino Stakes (2000m) and Gr.3 Manawatu Cup (2400m),…

A year after disaster struck in a stakes race at Riccarton Park, in-form mare Contemplation Bay (NZ) (Rageese) will be back for redemption as she takes on the Gr.3 South Island Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1600m) on Saturday. The daughter of Rageese was a fast-improving three-year-old, progressing through to an attempt at the Listed NZB Insurance Stakes (1600m), but after just 600m, her saddle slipped severely and she was ruled out of contention. Contemplation Bay swiftly bounced back, winning her final start of the campaign and opening up plenty of opportunities…

This week, Michael heads to Matamata to catch up with hall of famer, Lance O’Sullivan to discuss his career as a jockey including THAT race, his legendary dad and brother, life as a trainer, and love and loss. And we have a look at the newly launched TAB terminals. Guerin Report – Ep.29 – Ft. Lance O’Sullivan

Robbie Patterson couldn’t have wished for a smoother preparation with Leica Lucy (NZ) (Derryn) into Saturday’s Gr.1 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai New Zealand Oaks (2400m) at Trentham where the filly will make her Kiwi swansong as hot favourite in the $1 million feature. Leica Lucy made light work of her rivals on debut back in November, and from that point forward, she has been dominant. Along the way, the daughter of Derryn has won the Gr.3 Eulogy Stakes (1600m), Gr.3 New Zealand Bloodstock Desert Gold Stakes (1600m), and Gr.2 David…

Cambridge Stud are hoping Snazzytavi (NZ) (Tavistock) will continue to draw on all her fighting qualities to win out in her battle against illness.  The multiple Group One-winning daughter of Tavistock is currently doing as well as can be expected, receiving the best of local and international care.  “She remains at Matamata Vets where she has been for the last three or four weeks and has had an acute episode of laminitis, which is a chronic condition,” Cambridge’s Chief Executive Officer Henry Plumptre said.  “They got on to it pretty…

18 March 2025 NZB’s 2025 National Online Yearling Sale is now live, with the quality 102-lot catalogue available to view on Gavelhouse Plus.    For the fifth year, the digital edition to NZB’s National Yearling Sales Series is set to be conducted on the premium online platform Gavelhouse Plus with bidding closing on Tuesday 1 April from 6pm (NZT).    The Sale is a proven source of stakes winners including the likes of recent Group Two winner Hitabell (NZ) (Embellish), Southern Warrior (NZ) (Belardo), Bolshoi Star (NZ) (Russian Revolution) and TAB Karaka Millions 2YO runner Daylight Robbery (NZ) (Super Seth) to…