Author: NZRacingDesk

Marc Lerner had to wait longer than expected to get his New Zealand riding career underway, but the well-travelled jockey made up for lost time with a winning debut at Otaki on Thursday. Based in Singapore until racing ended there in October, the 33-year-old has arrived in New Zealand for an open-ended stay. He had his first raceday rides on Thursday and hit the ground running, landing an upset win with $13 outsider Blue Rata Boldness in the Racing This Time TV on Facebook Handicap (1600m). Lerner got the very…

Manawatu’s Josh Herd has been announced as the 2025 recipient of the Sunline Trust International Management Scholarship. The son of leading Central Districts trainer Lisa Latta and former top jockey Bruce Herd was inspired to apply for the scholarship after seeing the success of previous recipients, particularly fellow Palmerston North product Sam Bergerson, New Zealand’s leading trainer, alongside Te Akau training partner Mark Walker. “I have seen how successful some of the past recipients have been in the industry and thought it would be a pretty good pathway forward,” Herd…

Te Akau Racing will be well-represented in each of the four stakes races at Trentham’s LawnMaster Christmas At The Races meeting on Saturday. A pair of exciting juveniles in Cool Aza Rene and Marokopa Falls will kick off stakes proceedings when they meet for the first time in the Gr.2 Happy Hire Wakefiled Challenge Stakes (1100m), and like TAB bookmakers, trainers Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson are struggling to split the pair. Both fillies are undefeated to date, with Cool Aza Rene winning on debut over 800m at Otaki in…

Oaks-bound filly Leica Lucy will have her first taste of Group racing at Trentham on Saturday, taking her place in the Gr.3 Lawnmaster Eulogy Stakes (1600m). Robbie Patterson, who trains Leica Lucy at New Plymouth, identified right from her debut success that the middle-distance of the Gr.1 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai New Zealand Oaks (2400m) would be the perfect fit. The filly showed she has plenty of short-range talent to work with before the $1 million feature in March, going down a head to Wingman over 1400m at Trentham a…

Four has been Buoyant’s favourite number since his return to New Zealand, with the Group Three winner having recorded that placing in all three of his starts this preparation, and owner-trainer Sabin Kirkland is hoping to break that sequence when he heads to Gore on Sunday. The six-year-old son of Dalghar had been hampered by foot issues, however, Kirkland believes he has got on top of those issues now and is confident of a bold showing in the Dynes Transport Tapanui Cup (1335m). “I am very happy with him,” Kirkland…

There aren’t too many accolades missing from expat Kiwi jockey James McDonald’s mantle, but recognition from his home country’s sporting industry has been one, and that has finally been rectified with his announcement as a finalist for the ISPS HANDA Halberg Sportsman of the Year. McDonald, who will end a short-term riding contract in Hong Kong this weekend, has had a year to remember in the saddle, culminating with securing his second LONGINES World’s Best Jockey Award in Hong Kong earlier this month, having won the title for the first…

Smokin’ Romans(NZ) (Ghibellines), Herman Hesse and Strawberry Rock will aim to give Ciaron Maher a third Pakenham Cup success. The Ciaron Maher stable will saddle three hopes at it chases back-to-back victories in the Pakenham Cup.  Maher won the 2500m Listed race with Ashrun back in March after the race was not run in 2023 as Racing Victoria tinkered with race dates.  But with the Cranbourne Turf Club and Pakenham Racing Club merging to form Southside Racing and their desire to have a two-day Carnival, the Pakenham Cup is back to a December date, although…

Waikato filly Island Life(NZ) (Vadamos) will return to the Central Districts on Saturday, aiming to go one better than her last Group Three attempt in the Lawnmaster Eulogy Stakes (1600m) at Trentham. Straight out of maiden company, Island Life fought valiantly to be denied only at the line by Tuxedo in the Gr.3 Wellington Stakes (1600m) at Otaki in late November, a pleasing performance for her trainers Steven Ramsay and Julia Ritchie. “She was very brave, she was probably just travelling a bit too well and got there a bit…

Te Akau Racing, the country’s leading stable, has captured some of the biggest prizes in New Zealand racing this year, and trainers Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson are keen to add their home cup, the Listed Team Wealleans Matamata Cup (1600m), to their trophy cabinet on Friday.  “You would love to win your hometown Cup,” Bergerson said.  The stable will have a two-pronged attack in Friday’s feature, including recent New Zealand stable addition Midnight Blue and in-form mare My Lips are Sealed(NZ) (Ace High).  Midnight Blue has had just the…

Te Akau principal David Ellis CNZM is a man who has dedicated a lifetime of passion and commitment into the New Zealand thoroughbred industry, and is being honoured as an inductee into the New Zealand Racing Hall of Fame. Ellis had his first winner as an owner in 1978 at Paeroa, while Cosmetique, which he purchased and raced, provided his first Group One win in the 1986 Easter Handicap. Since first selling shares in horses he had purchased in 80’s, Ellis has grown Te Akau Racing to become the most…