Author: NZRacingDesk

A brilliant spring return by Joliestar has her sitting high in Everest markets. Exciting mare Joliestar made a clear Everest statement with her thumping first-up win in the Show County Quality, now her challenge is to back it up. The four-year-old has rocketed into $5 equal favouritism for the $20 million showpiece and could firm further if she repeats her fresh effort in the Group 2 Sheraco Stakes (1200m) at Rosehill on Saturday. Trainer Chris Waller is the first to admit Joliestar must produce a similar standard again to bed down her Everest credentials. “At that level, it is…

Over the next two Saturdays, Dom Sutton will be in a better position to ascertain whether his exciting three-year-old geldings Detroit City and Feroce (NZ) ( Super Seth) can continue towards their potential spring goal of the Caulfield Guineas. The Ballarat-based trainer’s undefeated Detroit City will return to the same track and distance which provided him with his last-start victory when he contests the Exford Plate at Flemington on Saturday, while a week later Feroce will contest the Caulfield Guineas Prelude. Sutton said races such as the Exford Plate are…

The Victress has got the nod as Te Akau’s leading black-type chance at Riccarton on Saturday, but it might be an opposing stablemate who will lead the chase for higher honours later in the season. The Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson-trained daughter of Zousain will run in the Listed New Zealand Bloodstock Canterbury Belle Stakes (1200m) with About Last Night (NZ) Capitalist)  and Dream Of The Moon to also represent the stable. Opie Bosson will be aboard The Victress, the winner of two of her four starts and she impressed…

Taranaki trainer Allan Sharrock’s upcoming top-flight prospects can take turns for the better across two venues this weekend. Ladies Man (NZ) (Zed) will resume at New Plymouth on Saturday in his first step toward the defence of his Gr.1 Livamol Classic (2040m) title while Islington Lass (NZ) (Proisir), who runs at Te Rapa on Sunday, is also headed toward the weight-for-age feature. While he will be racing over a distance short of his best, Ladies Man is forward to return to action in the Seaton Park Handicap (1400m) and will…

The Lindsay Park team is confident Mr Brightside (NZ) (Bullbars) can give them back-to-back wins in the Makybe Diva Stakes at Flemington. The Makybe Diva Stakes at Flemington is a race that can shape the spring.  The Group 1 race over 1600m at Flemington on Saturday attained Group 1 status in 2013 with horses of the calibre of Fawkner (2015), Humidor (2017), Incentivise (2021), I’m Thunderstruck (2022) and Mr Brightside last year being successful.  Going back further when run as a Group 2 race, horses like Sky Heights (1999), Northerly (2002), Weekend Hussler (2008) and Shocking (2010) were successful.  Only eight runners will face the starter on Saturday, but all eight will…

With the submission date now closed, New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing (NZTR) would like to provide an update on the next steps of the Future of NZ Jumps Racing consultation process. In total, 240 submissions were received with representation across all areas of the racing industry. “The volume of submissions that we received is testament to the passion of those involved in the racing industry and is further proof of the need for immediate action,” NZTR chief executive Bruce Sharrock said. While there were differing views, 90 percent of the submissions…

Ellerslie is set to host some of the biggest race meetings on the calendar this season, but for Auckland Thoroughbred Racing (ATR) chief executive Paul Wilcox, one raceday stands above the rest. The newly installed StrathAyr track is set to host its first meeting of the season on Saturday-week, with many industry participants eager to see how it will cope with the stresses of racing after undergoing remedial work over winter. The new surface hosted its first race meeting in January to much fanfare, however, a fortnight later at the…

Ozzie Kheir has an impressive string of spring contenders to look forward to across Melbourne and Sydney on Saturday, but also front of mind for the successful owner is a comparatively lowly maiden at Geelong on Friday. When Savabeel filly Exuberance (NZ) (Savabeel) contests the race for three-year-old fillies over 1140 metres, it will be the first horse to race in Kheir’s colours for Matamata (New Zealand) and Cranbourne-based trainer Mark Walker. “I met Mark for lunch and really enjoyed his company and passion towards horses,” Kheir said this week.…

Robbie Patterson will utilise the Taranaki and Te Rapa meetings largely as stepping stones for his talented contingent, which includes the Group One-bound One Bold Cat (NZ) (The Bold One). One Bold Cat had a breakthrough season last term, winning the Gr.3 Counties Cup (2100m) in November before third and fourth placings in the Gr.1 Thorndon Mile (1600m) and Gr.1 Herbie Dyke Stakes (2000m) respectively. Now a six-year-old, the son of The Bold One flashed home late into third over 1200m on August 31, and Saturday’s Seaton Park 1400 at…

Kim Reid will get a decent line on Hi Yo Sass Bomb’s (NZ) (Complacent) prospects at the Hawke’s Bay Spring Carnival when the talented mare steps out on her home track this weekend. The New Plymouth trainer will run the daughter of Complacent in Saturday’s Seaton Park Handicap (1400m) at New Plymouth where the depth of opposition will prove a handy guide. Reid is keen to test Hi Yo Sass Bomb at the elite level in the Gr.1 Arrowfield Stud Plate (1600m) and the Gr.1 Livamol Classic (2040m) on the…