Author: NZRacingDesk

The Mark Walker stable did not expect the transformation Sans Doute (Not A Single Doubt) made during her initial campaign in Melbourne.  Sans Doute raced her way from a handicap rating of 72 when she landed at Walker’s Cranbourne stable and six months later, after eight starts, Sans Doute had increased that to 98.  That was a bit of a surprise for Walker’s assistant Ben Gleeson who runs the Cranbourne stable, especially after Sans Doute ran poorly at Seymour in her second Australian outing.  Not long after though, Sans Doute went on a four-run…

Trainer Mick Nolan and jockey Luke Nolen joked post-race who had the correct surname after they combined to land a winner at Sandown.  Lightly raced Stylish Secret (NZ) (Sweet Orange) took out the Thoroughbred Club Of Australia Plate (1500m) on Wednesday to give trainer Nolan his second city success.  Nolan was the longtime foreman for Mick Price at Caulfield, but when Michael Kent Jnr joined Price in a training partnership, Nolan decided to branch out on his own.  Having one previous city win to his name previously – Grand Touraine at Moonee Valley in November last year – Nolan said it…

Ken and Bev Kelso’s stable star Legarto may be on the quiet list at the moment after straining a muscle earlier this month, but the Matamata couple still have plenty to look forward to this spring with exciting filly Alabama Lass.  The three-year-old daughter of Alabama Express was an eye-catching winner on debut at her home track in February before finishing runner-up at the same track a fortnight later in the Gr.2 Matamata Breeders’ Stakes (1200m).  She returned in impressive fashion when winning her 900m trial at Te Rapa earlier…

Trials coverage from Taupo on Wednesday where a number of Stakes performers stepped out in three select heats. Reaction from Josh Shaw, Shaune Ritchie, Sam Bergerson, Craig Grylls, Roger James, Danny Walker & Warren Kennedy.

James McDonald is keen to stick with star Kiwi mare Orchestral when she arrives in Sydney. Co-trainer Robert Wellwood says there is a G2 race in Sydney on September 28 that she could potentially run in. CLICK TO PLAY PODCAST

Group Three winner Savaglee (NZ) (Savabeel) made the perfect start to his three-year-old season at Taupo on Wednesday when taking out the Poverty Bay Turf Club 3YO Colts/Geldings (1100m).  The son of Savabeel jumped well from barrier two and quickly settled outside leader When Stars Align. Savaglee continued to eke into his foes advantage and hit the lead with 200m to go, and he continued to build on his advantage to score a 1-1/4 length victory over race favourite Super Photon.  Purchased by The Oaks Stud General Manager Rick Williams…

Paul Nelson and Corrina McDougal’s talented pairing of Nedwin (NZ) (Niagara) and Taika (NZ) (Mettre En Jeu) have only gone head-to-head on three occasions on the feature jumping stage, and the stablemates will become rivals once again in Saturday’s CLC Pakuranga Hunt Open Hurdle (3200m) at Te Rapa.    Nedwin has a formidable hurdling record with his seven victories including last year’s Great Northern Hurdle (4200m) and two editions of the Wellington Hurdles (3100m), his second success in the race coming under 73 kilograms in July.   The son of Niagara then…

Roger James gave his seal of approval to glamour mare Orchestral (NZ) (Savabeel) following her hit-out at Taupo on Wednesday. The Cambridge trainer, who prepares the daughter of Savabeel with Robert Wellwood, was more than happy with her performance in an 1100m heat of the Fiber Fresh Group Trials held before the race meeting. “We came here with a job to do and achieved that. We’ve been pretty careful with her, she had a big puff afterwards and she’ll probably go to Ellerslie to trial again,” James said. The dual…

The Ōtaki-Māori Racing Club, Auckland Thoroughbred Racing and New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing (NZTR) have agreed, subject to NZ Pattern Committee approval, to relocate the Group 1 Ōtaki-Māori Racing Club WFA Classic to Ellerslie on Eagle Technology Avondale Cup & Guineas Day, Saturday 22 February 2025. The race was developed by the Ōtaki-Māori Racing Club from Listed level in 1986 and obtained Group 1 status in 1992. Previously run for $400,000, the race will now be contested for $500,000 in 2025 and will increase to $600,000 in 2026. The move was…

On the back of Warmonger’s star win in the G1 Queensland Derby, Inglewood Stud is close to putting up the ‘book full’ sign for its exciting young stallion War Decree. “We’re limiting his book to 120 this season and he’s pretty close to that now, we’ve had a lot of bookings in the last few days. We’ll take another 5 or 6 on farm bookings then close him off,” said Inglewood Stud’s Gus Wigley. “He’s an exceptionally fertile horse with a great libido, but with our season starting a few…