Author: NZRacingDesk

Kiwi-bred dual Group One winner Belclare (NZ) (Per Incanto) is set to get her first taste of Australian racing when she heads to Rosehill on Saturday to tackle the Gr.2 Sheraco Stakes (1200m) for new trainer Bjorn Baker. The now seven-year-old mare had a stellar racing career in New Zealand, winning 11 races for Awapuni trainer Lisa Latta, including the last two editions of the Gr.1 New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1600m). Owner-breeder David Woodhouse offered Belclare at Magic Millions’ National Broodmare Sale in May where she failed to meet…

Tony Pike’s team of horses were airborne on the good track at Hastings last Saturday and the Cambridge horseman was pleased to return to Ellerslie with a similarly positive report following trials held at the venue on Tuesday. The Ellerslie course underwent a major renovation installing a StrathAyr surface through the 2022/23 season, which upon return, successfully staged the TAB Karaka Millions, Auckland Cup and New Zealand Derby meetings through the summer period. On April 10 and 20, the meetings at Ellerslie were partially abandoned as the result of safety…

The VRC has added a new race to its Melbourne Cup day program. The club announced on Monday that a $250,000 Australian Heritage Cup (2800m) would be run on the day, replacing the traditional 2800m Benchmark 96 race on the same program. It’s a race that is restricted to Australian and New Zealand trained stayers. There will be qualifying races held in each state across the country, allowing connections the chance to have a runner on Melbourne Cup day. The concept is supported by West Australian businessman and Executive Chair of…

Sam Mynott was recognised for her early achievements as a licensed trainer at the New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing Awards on Sunday, receiving the gavelhouse.com Newcomer To Training award. Mynott has previously excelled in Eventing, winning National titles at Junior and 2* level domestically while also plying her trade in the United Kingdom on two separate occasions. Initially entering the racing world through trackwork riding, she established a successful breaking in and pre-training business in Te Awamutu before a move to Cambridge produced a further opportunity to take out a Class…

This week on the Guerin report, Michael talks more on James McDonalds personal life and future, we reflect back on Day 1 of the Hawkes Bay Carnival & take a look at the new Queen of New Zealand Racing and whats in store for her future. Guerin Report – Ep. 2, Ft. James McDonald Part 2 – YouTube

Little Avondale Stud’s Per Incanto has reached another memorable milestone in his decorated stallion career.  The leading son of Street Cry sired his 400th individual winner on Sunday when the Masterton nursery’s homebred Rue de Royale was successful for trainers Tony and Calvin McEvoy at Bendigo.  While it was the three-year-old’s maiden victory, he showed his quality last season with runner-up finishes in the Gr.2 VRC Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m), the Inglis Millenium (1100m) and the A$1 million Golden Gift (1100m).  “It was really cool that it was Rue de Royale…

As part-owners of star performer Imperatriz, Waikato couple John Elstob and Denise Bassett understandably had high hopes ahead of the New Zealand Thoroughbred Horse of the Year Awards. Held in their hometown of Hamilton, the husband and wife’s expectations were surpassed on Sunday by their glamour mare and they also received another knockout acknowledgment. Imperatriz duly claimed the supreme award as Horse of the Year and also won the sprinter-miler title and the Award for Outstanding Global Achievement before Elstob and Bassett were stunned to be named Owner of the…

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The 2024 edition of the world’s best sale of two-year-olds is now only 71 days away, and NZB is excited to unveil another stellar catalogue for the Ready to Run Sale at Karaka. Showcasing both quality and quantity, an exceptional selection of 404 two-year-olds will go through the Karaka sale ring during the globally renowned two-day sale in November. Boasting the right pedigrees, physiques and sale preparations to follow in the footsteps of the incredible Ready to Run Sale roll of honour that has gone before them. In the last…

Te Akau Racing collected top honours at the 2024 New Zealand Thoroughbred Horse of the Year Awards on Sunday evening, which was headlined by Imperatriz, who was named Horse of the Year, while the Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson partnership were Trainer of the Year. Based in New Zealand, Singapore and more recently, Australia, Te Akau has collected the past four domestic Trainer of the Year awards with Jamie Richards (3) and last year’s record-breaking season by Walker, with the latter earning another title last season when training in partnership…