Author: NZRacingDesk

Dual Group One winner La Crique(NZ) (Vadamos) will bid to add another elite level scalp to her record when she heads to Ellerslie on Boxing Day to tackle the Gr.1 Cambridge Stud Zabeel Classic (2000m).  The daughter of Vadamos came close to adding a third Group One title to her record at Trentham earlier this month but was denied a neck by Ladies Man(NZ) (Zed) in the Mufhasa Classic (1600m).  Trainers Simon and Katrina Alexander were pleased with her performance but said they could put their finger on the reasons…

Sam Mynott woke up to a pleasing result from her hospital bed on Wednesday afternoon, with Electron(NZ) (Turn Me Loose) taking out the Stella Artois 1500 Qualifying Race (1600m) at Ruakaka. The Cambridge horsewoman was having thumb surgery whilst her Turn Me Loose mare travelled to the far north, aiming to bounce back into the winner’s circle after fading from a tough three-wide trip at Ellerslie last start. In a compact six-horse field, jockey Joe Doyle allowed Electron to stride forward on to the lead and the race was entirely…

David and Emma-Lee Browne are hoping to continue to make their presence felt on Australian shores during autumn, as exciting three-year-olds Scary(NZ) (Shocking) and Statuario look to build on their spring momentum. The Browne stable has gone from strength to strength since relocating from New Zealand to Pakenham, with the husband-and-wife training team hoping that a run of second placings during the spring will graduate to winners in the coming months. “(I’m) incredibly proud of how the team is going, we just obviously like being bridesmaid quite a lot!” said…

Progressive staying mare Kattegat(NZ) (Redwood) is expected to return to top form at Otaki on Thursday.  The daughter of Redwood has been patiently handled and another major reward beckons the Shaun Fannin and Hazel Schofer-trained six-year-old in the Wheelhouse Sports Bar Horowhenua Christmas Cup (2100m).  Kattegat was an Ellerslie winner two runs back before she was a beaten favourite at Trentham, where she finished midfield from the ace draw, but there is confidence in the camp that she can turn her form around.  “Barrier one doesn’t really work for her…

Former New Zealand Horse of the Year Sharp ‘N’ Smart(NZ) (Redwood) is set to head to Trentham on Saturday to kick-off his summer campaign and ready for a Group One assignment at the Upper Hutt track next month.  The son of Redwood was runner-up in the Gr.1 Thorndon Mile (1600m) as a three-year-old before going on to win the Gr.1 Herbie Dyke Stakes (2000m) and Gr.1 New Zealand Derby (2400m), and trainers Graeme and Debbie Rogerson are keen to go one better in the Harcourts-sponsored race next month.  He will…

Tony Pike is confident Golden Century(NZ) (Pierro) can realise his full potential over ground and his opinion has been endorsed by a major international player. The Cambridge trainer’s lightly raced son of Pierro has recently been purchased by OTI Racing, but for the foreseeable future will remain in his care. Golden Century has hit the line well to finish third in both of his starts up to 1400m and is expected to show his true worth once stepped up in trip. Pike had intended to give the three-year-old that opportunity…

Well-travelled gelding Here To Shock (NZ) (Shocking) will have his first start in Victoria for close to four months when he lines up in the $1 million Supernova slot race at Pakenham on Saturday. After racing in Queensland during the winter, the Lindsay Park-trained galloper ran a gallant second to Another Wil on Memsie Stakes Day but was soon back on the road again. He enjoyed a successful stint in New South Wales during the spring, winning the Gr.3 Cameron Handicap at Newcastle and the lucrative Alan Brown Stakes at…

Blue Sky At Night (NZ) (Shamexpress) gave owner-breeder’s Isabel and Alistaire Barker a massive thrill last Saturday at Te Rapa when taking out the Gr.3 Waikato Cup (2400m), extending the couple’s great association with her family.  “It was pretty amazing,” Isabel Barker said. “She is a very genuine mare, she gives 120 percent. It was very close (half head winning margin), but a win is a win.”  With victory, Blue Sky At Night attained coveted black-type and assured her future broodmare career.  “That (black-type) was the aim,” Barker said. “To…

Such is the form his vast Darby Racing stable of horses are in that Scott Darby suspects Saturday’s $300,000 Pakenham Cup could see a reversal in fortunes of his syndicate’s runner Goldman (NZ) (Verdi). A one-time early Melbourne Cup favourite in 2023 after beating Soulcombe in the Roy Higgins Quality (2500m) at Flemington, Goldman has since gone on a puzzling nine-run losing streak. “It’s been a while between drinks, but Gai (Waterhouse) tells me he’s going along well,” Darby said on Tuesday. “Getting back that way (anti-clockwise) and down in…

This week we head to Cambridge Stud for an in-depth chat with Brendan and Jo Lindsay and we meet everyone’s favourite new foal; the unfortunately named, Mickey G. Guerin Report – Ep. 16, Ft. Cambridge Stud & Mickey G