Author: NZRacingDesk

Trainer Dominic Sutton had mixed emotions as he watched his stable star Feroce go within a nose of victory in Saturday’s Gr.1 Caulfield Guineas (1600m) won by Private Life. The son of Super Seth was momentarily held up which was more than enough to cost the rookie trainer a Classic within his first 12 months of training. But on the bright-side there are now lucrative targets in the offing for the smart three-year-old, who could possibly have his next run in the A$500,000 Gr.3 Carbine Club Stakes (1600m) at Flemington…

Promising three-year-old Patch Of Cosmo has continued his winning run of form in Hong Kong. The son of Super Seth had returned from a break last month at Sha Tin to open his account over 1200 metres at his third appearance. On Sunday evening, the Manfred Man-trained representative produced a repeat performance over the course and distance and again in the hands of Luke Ferraris. Patch Of Cosmo was bred by Waikato Stud and purchased by Richard Racing for $70,000 at last year’s New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale and…

Te Akau Racing unshackled exciting filly Stage ‘N’ Screen (NZ) (Ace High) at Seymour on Sunday with a winning debut paving the way for some exciting spring targets. Stage ‘N’ Screen trialled on three occasions on home soil before departing for Australia to prepare for her first race-day appearance, which came in the Go Seymour Maiden Plate (1200m), where she started $2.40 favourite. Michael Dee utilised the filly’s inside barrier draw in the early stages, sitting on the speed at a moderate tempo. On straightening, Stage ‘N’ Screen found a…

Taranaki horseman Aidan Schumacher has put his faith in the family of his foundation broodmare Mini Mandy over the last few decades, and his loyalty paid off in a big way on Saturday when Spencer took out the Gr.3 Valley D’Vine Restaurant Spring Sprint (1400m) at Te Rapa. The Derryn gelding had been a revelation over winter, posting three wins and a runner-up result in the Listed Opunake Cup (1400m), and went one better on Saturday, scoring by 1-1/4 lengths over Geriatrix in the feature sprint. Schumacher, who bred and…

Cambridge Stud’s outstanding weekend continued at Rotorua on Sunday, with their exciting mare Luberon (NZ) (Embellish) adding a valuable black-type success to her name in the Gr.3 Sweynesse Stakes (1215m). The previous day at Te Rapa, Snazzytavi carried the prominent yellow and black-chequered silks to victory in the Gr.1 Livamol Classic (2040m) for Graham Richardson and Rogan Norvall, and it was the turn of the Stud’s private trainer Lance Noble in the feature sprint, where Luberon was rated a $6.20 hope on the TAB tote. A competitive field assembled in…

Trainer Danny O’Brien says it’s now or never in terms of winning a Caulfield Cup next Saturday for his seven-year-old gelding Young Werther (NZ) (Tavistock). “He’s going as well as he’s ever gone. That was a good run in the Turnbull, and he’s come out of it in good shape,” O’Brien said. “He will never get a better opportunity to win a Caulfield Cup. This is his opportunity.” Young Werther finished a last-start fifth in the Turnbull Stakes behind Via Sistina. It will be Young Werther’s second attempt at a…

Talented stayer Aljay (NZ) (Rock ‘N’ Pop) indicated he will be a big threat come New Zealand Cup Week, after a comprehensive winning display in the Staphanos Classic (1950m) at Rotorua. The Kevin Myers-trained seven-year-old was the winner of the Gr.3 Martin Collins New Zealand Cup (3200m) in 2022, and he looks to be on track for a third shot at the iconic Riccarton contest, as demonstrated by his performance on Sunday. In the hands of apprentice Ngakau Hailey, who decreased his 61kg impost by three-kilograms, Aljay settled near the…

Team Hayes will contemplate having two runners in the Cox Plate, with three-year-old gelding Evaporate (NZ) (Per Incanto) a possibility to join his stablemate Mr Brightside (NZ) (Bullbars) in the prestigious event at The Valley after his third in the Caulfield Guineas. On Sunday, Ben Hayes confirmed Mr Brightside would have his next run in the Gr.1 Cox Plate (2040) on October 26 after he pulled up well after his second in the Gr.1 Might And Power Stakes. “He ran very well. The race shape was not ideal and he…

Sterling Express (NZ) (Shamexpress) came from nowhere to collect the fourth victory of his promising career at Arawa Park on Sunday, taking out the MacMillan Accountants 1400. Prepared by Mark Brosnan at Matamata, Sterling Express has been lightly-raced with twelve previous starts resulting in three wins and three minor placings, a record punters anticipated he may improve, backing him into $5.20 favouritism ahead of Sudbina ($5.30). Slowest away from the barriers, Sterling Express settled among the backmarkers in the hands of Masa Hashizume, with This Little Light heading the field…

A four-win horse in a special conditions maiden is a rare sight, and rapidly improving mare Lux Libertas (NZ) (Almanzor) proved to be as dominant on the Te Rapa track in Saturday’s Three Wise Birds (1400m) as she was on paper.  The $65,000 race was restricted to horses that were maidens on July 16. At that stage, Lux Libertas had recorded a fifth and a seventh from her only two starts.   She then recorded a stylish maiden win at Te Rapa on July 27, followed by another three straight victories…