Author: NZRacingDesk

Inglewood Stud is in the running to defend its title in the Karaka Millions 2YO (1200m). Gus and Bianca Wigley’s North Canterbury nursery bred and sold last year’s winner Velocious, whose subsequent victory in the Gr.1 Sistema Stakes (1200m) earned her Champion Two-Year-Old honours. Inglewood homebred Vega For Luck is now following the lead of the Stephen Marsh-trained filly with his debut success at Tauranga on Saturday rewarded with $14,375, which almost certainly guarantees a berth in January’s juvenile feature. The stud also bred and sold the two-year-old’s promising stablemate…

There are plenty of horses to follow from the star-studded Lindsay Park stable this spring, but co-trainer Ben Hayes couldn’t be happier with Evaporate (NZ) (Per Incanto) heading towards the Gr.1 Caulfield Guineas. The son of Per Incanto only broke his maiden in August but has since won three more times, all at The Valley, with the latest coming at Gr.2 level in the Stutt Stakes last Friday. Evaporate is by no means out of Guineas betting at $11, but with Broadsiding a current $1.75 favourite, Hayes thinks his galloper…

Star New Zealand mare Orchestral’s exhibition gallop at Tauranga on Saturday confirmed she would take her place in Saturday’s Gr.1 Toorak Handicap at Caulfield. Her co-trainer Roger James said if she had a good couple of days she would be on the plane on Wednesday heading to Australia. The dual Group 1-winning mare looked strong in her gallop in the clockwise direction. “I’m very happy. That was a sign we are right on the button for where we want to be,” James told NZ Trackside. The James and Robert Wellwood-trained…

Although Will Hayes may be better known for his football exploits, he used a cricket analogy to explain their approach to the Cox Plate this year with stable star Mr Brightside. “We’ve decided to follow the line and length approach of the traditional path towards the Cox Plate by running him in the Might And Power Stakes,” Hayes said. The Gr.1 Might And Power Stakes (2000m) run at Caulfield on Saturday has proven to be the best guide to the Cox Plate. In the past 14 years, four horses have…

Guy Heveldt, Emily Bosson and Jayne Ivil are joined by Robbie Patterson to chat Breeders Stakes and Arrowfield wins. Britt Taylor talks Aussie racing and Russell Warwick is in studio to discuss the appointment of a new CEO at NZTR. Weigh In, October 6 – YouTube

Donavan Mansour has defied the odds and has made a winning return to the saddle after a five-year absence as a result of what was deemed to be a career-ending injury. In October 2019, Mansour was airlifted to Waikato Hospital after sustaining a broken pelvis and numerous internal injuries after his mount, Lets Roc, reared up near the starting gates, went over backwards and came down on top of him. “She just completely flipped and crushed me. I was basically split into two,” Mansour said. Mansour underwent a couple of…

Group Three performer Chattahoochee (NZ) (Reliable Man) continued his good run of form at Tauranga on Saturday when placing in the Team Wealleans 1600, putting him in line for a potential trip across the Tasman. The grey gelding settled in just behind the speed for jockey Lynsey Satherley, who asked her charge to improve with 500m to go and presented him four wide at the turn. He hit the lead with 150m to go but was run down late by Mustang Valley and Ladies Man to finish third. Trainer Debbie…

Promising filly Connello (NZ) (Time Test) backed up a strong showing in stakes company at her most recent start with a comfortable win over 1200m at Hawera on Saturday. The daughter of Little Avondale Stud stallion Time Test had finished fifth first-up in the Listed Canterbury Belle Stakes (1400m) at Riccarton last month, with trainer Lisa Latta using the trip south as a test for a potential return to Christchurch next month for the Gr.1 Barnswood Farm New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m). Latta was pleased with how her charge measured…

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A two-time second placegetter at the elite level last autumn, Ceolwulf put the spotlight firmly on himself with a stunning coming-of-age performance in Saturday’s Gr.1 TAB Epsom Handicap (1600m) at Randwick. The Tavistock gelding was bridesmaid behind Australia’s standout three-year-old of last season, Riff Rocket, in the Rosehill Guineas (2000m) and Australian Derby (2400m). The stamina he showed in those two races may have made Saturday’s Gr.1 Metropolitan Handicap (2400m) appear a more likely spring target than the time-honoured Randwick mile. But trainer Joe Pride saw something a bit sharper…