Having finished second in last year’s Toorak Handicap, trainer Tony Gollan is looking to go one better with Antino (NZ) (Redwood) on Saturday. A slight alteration to the campaign of Antino is what trainer Tony Gollan is banking on turning around the fortunes of the gelding at Group 1 level. Antino finished second in the Toorak Handicap (1600m) at Caulfield last year and returns 12 months later, with 1kg more, looking to go one better. The gelding went into last year’s Toorak at his third run after a Winter campaign in Brisbane while this time around…
Author: NZRacingDesk
Poised to attract even more attention
It wouldn’t quite rate alongside Mick Price’s most stunning Caulfield Guineas upset, but he suspects Public Attention (NZ) (Written Tycoon) will live up to his name in Saturday’s $3 million classic. Public Attention is one of numerous three-year-olds who are in the sizeable Guineas shadow cast by odds-on favourite Broadsiding, but Price has faced similar odds in the classic, when 100-1 chance Mighty Boss thwarted the Godolphin charge of hot favourite Kementari in 2017. “Broadsiding is second-up and he’s got to go interstate and there have been a few go…
Seven rivals for Mr Brightside
Superstar galloper Mr Brightside (NZ) (Bullbars) will face just seven rivals as he steps up to 2000m for the first time this campaign in the Group 1 Might And Power Stakes at Caulfield on Saturday. The Ben, Will and JD Hayes-trained galloper drew barrier one and will be ridden by Craig Williams. Chris Waller’s Atishu (NZ) (Savabeel) also brings star power to the race, while Melbourne Cup winner Vow And Declare also features. Kris Lees brings a dual-pronged attack to the $1 million race, with Kalapour and Adelaide River both…
Evergreen galloper sets sights on plundering northern spoils
Evergreen galloper Green Luck will try to continue to belie his age when he heads to Te Rapa on Saturday to contest the Gr.1 Livamol Classic (2040m). The 10-year-old son of Street Cry made the long journey north to the Waikato earlier this week from trainer Stephanie Faulkner’s Timaru base, and the southern horsewoman said he has settled in well. “He arrived at Pam Gerard’s (in Matamata) at lunchtime yesterday (Tuesday),” Faulkner said. “My husband, Pete, went with him. It is his first trip away with a horse, so it…
Imperatriz has been crowned Australian Sprinter of the Year
New Zealand Horse of the Year Imperatriz had a near perfect season in Australia last term and was duly crowned Champion Sprinter at the Australian Horse of the Year Awards in Adelaide on Tuesday. Trained by Mark Walker, Imperatriz recorded each of her five Group One wins last season in the hands of Te Akau Racing’s stable rider Opie Bosson, who recorded his 98th Group One win when she retained her crown in the Gr.1 William Reid Stakes (1200m) at The Valley in March. “It was a great honour to win…
Pike is aiming to cover all Group bases with his talented lineup
Tony Pike will chase stakes features at both domestic venues on Saturday but will need withdrawals for a crack at the biggest prize on offer this weekend. The Cambridge trainer holds a strong hand at Te Rapa with Rudyard (NZ) (Charm Spirit) and Witz End (NZ) (Savabeel) in the Gr.3 Valley D’Vine Restaurant Spring Sprint (1400m) and Raziah in the Gr.3 Barneswood Farm Stakes (1400m) at Ashburton. However, their barnmate Val Di Zoldo (NZ) (War Decree) will require scratchings to get off the ballot for a run in the Gr.1…
Short Shorts has returned to New Zealand to take on some exciting stakes targets.
Iffraaj’s speedy daughter Short Shorts (NZ) (Iffraaj) acquitted herself well during her time in Australia and has returned home to further boost her future broodmare value. Bred and raced by Mark Fraser-Campin and brother Chris under their Chequers Stud banner, the six-year-old won six races up to 1400m during her time with Hawkesbury trainer Brad Widdup. She emphasised her quality when finishing runner-up on her then home track in the Gr.3 Hawkesbury Crown (1300m) and ran third in the Gr.3 Dark Jewel Classic (1300m) at Scone. “She obviously showed a…
Luke Nolen partners up with I Wish I Win in quest for Everest redemption
Leading Australian jockey Luke Nolen and Kiwi-bred sprinting star I Wish I Win will return to Randwick for the A$20 million The Everest next week, looking to go one better than last year’s desperately unlucky 2nd placing in the world’s richest race on turf. Nolen has shared riding duties on the Waikato Stud-bred six-year-old through 2024 with James McDonald but has been on board for I Wish I Win’s two lead-up runs this spring for a 5th in the Moir Stakes and 3rd in the Manikato Stakes. I Wish I…
Super Joy N Fun chases back-to-back wins
A quality Class 3 dash winds up Happy Valley’s eight-race fixture on Wednesday night (9 October), where Super Joy N Fun (NZ) (What’s The Story) and Reward Smile face off again along with 10 others in the HK$1.86 million Pottinger Handicap (1200m). First and second, respectively, last month over the course and distance, Super Joy N Fun denied a fast-closing Reward Smile by a neck. Aided with gate five that evening, Super Joy N Fun instead steps away from the widest of 12 barriers under jockey Jerry Chau tomorrow night.…
Ballot exemption for Auckland Cup winner
Auckland Thoroughbred Racing (ATR) is delighted to announce an exciting initiative in partnership with the Victoria Racing Club (VRC). For the first time, the winner of the Barfoot & Thompson Auckland Cup will be exempt from any ballot for both the Lexus Roy Higgins (late March) and Lexus Andrew Ramsden (mid-May). Both of these races offer ballot exemption into the coveted Lexus Melbourne Cup, providing a wonderful opportunity for the Barfoot & Thompson Auckland Cup winner to compete on an international level. In commenting on the initiative, Craig Baker, ATR’s…