Author: NZRacingDesk

While many trainers are hoping to see the rain stay away from Hawke’s Bay this week, Andrew Forsman has the opposing view when considering whether to start Mustang Valley (NZ) (Vanbrugh) in Saturday’s Gr.1 Tarzino Trophy (1400m). Mustang Valley has collected both of her Group One victories during the spring carnival at Hastings, firstly with the 2022 running of the Gr.1 Livamol Classic (2040m), and last year’s Gr.1 Arrowfield Stud Plate (1600m). Returning in her six-year-old season, the mare was a strong fifth behind Bonny Lass in the Gr.2 Foxbridge…

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD NEWSLETTER

Cambridge thoroughbred nursery Wentwood Grange were thrilled to watch farm graduate Quintessa (NZ) (Shamus Award) add to her burgeoning record when victorious first-up in the Gr.3 Cockram Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield on Saturday. Bred by Peachester Lodge principals Graham and Linda Huddy, Quintessa was born and raised at Wentwood Grange, who offered her through their 2022 New Zealand Bloodstock Book 1 Yearling Sale draft where she was purchased by Te Akau principal David Ellis for $170,000. She won her sole start as a juvenile before winning her first two starts…

Wrote continues to find favour with breeders and the tried horse market also remains strong for the progeny of High Chaparral’s Group One-winning son. The Highview resident’s flagbearer has been his daughter and Gr.1 New Zealand Oaks (2400m) winner Pulchritudinous (NZ) while his son Read About It (NZ) gives every indication he will be a major player at the elite level this season. Trainer Robbie Patterson has his sights set on the Gr.1 New Zealand Derby (2400m) with Read About It who claimed the Listed Ryder Stakes (1200m) last term.…

Cliff Goss is looking forward to stepping his talented mare Casino Princess (NZ) (Casino Prince) back up in distance at Matamata on Wednesday, while he will also unveil another promising type earlier on the card. A dominant winner of the Listed Tauranga Classic (1400m) in June, Casino Princess has established an enviable record of five victories from 12 attempts in her light racing career. Goss, who prepares the daughter of Casino Prince at Tauranga, opted to freshen her after the stakes success in preparation for an Open 1200m contest a…

Basilinna (NZ) (Staphanos) has suffered a minor setback heading into her spring campaign, which ruled her out of a first-up run at Caulfield on Saturday. The daughter of Novara Park stallion Staphanos jumped out quietly over 1200 metres at Pakenham on Wednesday, but a post-trial scope revealed a degree of mucus. Accordingly, Emma-Lee Browne, who trains in partnership with her husband David, was happy to skip the weekend and will only kick Basilinna off when she is fully ready. “She trialled well enough, but she just had a bit of…

Monovale Farm have found plenty of excitement watching homebred gelding Rise At Dawn (NZ) (Almanzor) succeed across the Tasman, particularly with the next of his dam’s progeny about to hit the track in the farm’s colours. Bred by Monovale principals Joe and Max Smithies, Rise At Dawn was sold to Lindsay Park Bloodstock for $90,000 at the 2022 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale in Melbourne, and has continued to flourish in the care of trainers Ben, Will and JD Hayes. After winning on debut, Rise At Dawn has established an enviable…

Te Akau Racing celebrated five winners across three venues on Saturday, including the exciting return of stakes-bound filly The Victress (Zousain) at Riccarton Park. Te Akau trainers Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson posted four successes on home soil, including a treble at Riccarton Park headed by the Zousain filly, who won the open three-year-old contest named in memory of the late Kevin Hickman. The Victress collected her maiden success as a two-year-old in January, and indicated there is plenty to come in her spring campaign with a dominant front-running victory…

Rugged galloper Master Marko (NZ) (Contributer) was toughness personified at Riccarton on Saturday when he produced a front-running victory in the main race on the day, the TAB Open Mile (1600m).  Shooting for his third win in his last four starts, the Kelvin Tyler-trained six-year-old gelding carried just 54.5kgs thanks to the 2kg claim of in-form apprentice Yogesh Atchamah.  He had Master Marko bowling along at a steady clip from barrier rise and didn’t panic when stablemate Prince Alby loomed outside him at the 800m to inject more speed into…

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD NEWSLETTER