Author: NZRacingDesk

Ricky Yiu believes emerging talent Sunlight Power (Capitalist) can continue a sharp rise and eventually join the city’s elite after the gelding’s stunning win at Sha Tin on Sunday (15 September) as Zac Purton dominated the meeting with a quartet. Ridden by Jerry Chau, Sunlight Power travelled three-wide before surging clear of his rivals to win by two lengths and easing down before the line to notch his fourth win from 15 starts. The authority of the performance fuelled the wily Yiu’s hopes he has another quality galloper on his…

It has been a while between drinks for the connections of Loch Katrine, but the consistent stakes-winning mare collected a deserved success in the Kidney Kids Founder Mile (1600m) at Te Rapa on Sunday. The daughter of Ardrossan showed promise early in her career when winning the Listed Champagne Stakes (1200m) as a juvenile, but was winless through her three-year-old season, albeit finishing in the first four on eight occasions. She continued her honest form line through to the new season, with a third and a second finally culminating in…

Windsor Park Stud graduate Grinzinger Belle produced another quality first-up performance at Flemington to add to her stakes record. The Danny O’Brien-prepared representative was successful in last season’s Gr.3 Vanity Stakes (1400m) off a break and successfully resumed in the Gr.2 Let’s Elope Stakes (1400m) on Saturday. She is a mare close to the trainer’s heart as he guided her sire Shamexpress to victory in the Gr.1 Newmarket Handicap (1200m) before he retired to Windsor Park. The Cambridge nursery also celebrated the impressive debut victory of homebred Age Of Discovery…

New Zealand Cup week at Riccarton Park in November could prove to be an exciting one for The Oaks Stud. Farm principal Dick Karreman’s blue and white silks were already favoured to feature prominently in the Gr.1 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m), but now they may also be a major contender in the Gr.1 Barneswood Farm New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) seven days later. Homebred filly Raziah has put her hand up for the three-year-old feature following her win in Saturday’s Listed New Zealand Bloodstock Canterbury…

Grangewilliam Stud stallion Zed, the sire of 11-time Group One winner and Gr.1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) heroine Verry Elleegant, has passed away, aged 22. “He suffered a bout of colic and the only option was surgery,” Grangewilliam Stud principal Mark Corcoran said. “At his age, we just didn’t want to do that to him and unfortunately, we made the decision to euthanise him.” The well-bred son of Zabeel had just four starts on the track before initially joining the stallion roster at Little Avondale Stud. He then spent time in…

After almost spoiling the party for Point King in The Archer in terms of gaining a Melbourne Cup start, versatile stayer Hit The Road Jack (NZ) (Jakkalberry) will be aimed at a lesser race on the same day in the inaugural The Australian Heritage Cup. The Symon Wilde-trained Hit The Road Jack was the only horse in The Archer not nominated for the Melbourne Cup, and in a slogging finish went down narrowly to Point King who gained a ballot-free exemption into the big race. Co-trainer Liam Hoy said when…

Team Hayes will consider backing Mr Brightside (NZ) (Bullbars) up in Saturday’s Gr.1 Underwood Stakes (1800m) at Caulfield after his gutsy performance to win the Makybe Diva Stakes at Flemington. Ben Hayes said it was one of three options he will discuss with his co-trainers and brothers Will and JD on Monday morning. “He’s pulled up well and we can consider running in the Underwood Stakes this week,” Ben Hayes said on The Wrap. He said the other options were the Gr.2 Feehan Stakes (1600m) at The Valley on September…

Leading Brisbane trainer Tony Gollan walked away from Antino’s (NZ) (Redwood) brave third in the Makybe Diva Stakes proud of his run, but still in a quandary as to whether to push on towards a Cox Plate. Gollan said the Cox Plate was still the likely goal, but he was giving consideration to keeping him at 1600 metres. “I’m not certain about 2000 metres. He was out on his feet late, but it might have been the ground and also he had to do the donkey work in chasing Pride…

Lux Libertas (NZ) (Almanzor) continued to make every post a winner at Te Rapa on Sunday, collecting a fourth-consecutive victory in the Waikato Construction 1400 with plenty left in store. Since breaking her maiden in late July, Lux Libertas was unbeatable in her following two starts over 1200m, and punters had every faith a step up to 1400m would pose no issue for the mare, starting her the $2.30 favourite ahead of Fancypants ($4.30). After travelling closer to the speed at her most recent appearance at Matamata, regular rider Warren…

Allan Sharrock’s talented pair of Lazio and Islington Lass demonstrated their class in the open grade contests at Te Rapa on Sunday, with contrasting stakes assignments now on the horizon. The testing conditions at Te Rapa on Sunday caused a myriad of scratchings in the Norris Ward McKinnon 1200, leaving a field of seven where the lowest-rated, but a fast-improving runner in Lazio (NZ) (Per Incanto) burst into short-priced favouritism at $2.50. Alongside his Group Three-performing stablemate Sumi, Lazio was slow away from the barriers but soon ranged three-wide while…