Author: NZRacingDesk

The testing track conditions at Rotorua on Sunday posed no issue for Rudy Liefting’s jumpers, with Mont Ventoux and Renegade Fighter securing the two open contests by sizable margins. The Pukekohe Park horseman struck first in the Team Wealleans Hurdle (3000m) with Mont Ventoux (NZ) (Nom de Jeu), a capable seven-win flat performer who has been a model of consistency in the hurdling role with a win and nine placings to his credit. Entering the open contest, Mont Ventoux was rated a $8.10 third-favourite in a market dominated by previously…

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Ruakaka trainer Kenny Rae has a great record campaigning horses in the South Island and he is hoping that will continue this spring when he heads to Riccarton with Saturday winner Illicit Dreams (NZ) (Vancouver). The well-travelled four-year-old had been in great form on her home track over winter, placing in all four of her starts, including a last start third behind Group One winner Crocetti (NZ) (Zacinto) and Group Three winner Master Fay (Deep Field). Rae went into Saturday’s Mountfield Quarry (1100m) quietly confident, and that was duly rewarded…

The Bruce Wallace and Grant Cooksley training partnership had plenty to celebrate on Saturday when they produced a superb quinella in the feature event at Ruakaka, the Gr.3 Cambridge Stud Northland Breeders’ Stakes (1200m), with stable runners So Naive (NZ) (US Navy Flag) and Toruk Makto (NZ) (Eminent). So Naive, a stunning son of The Oaks Stud resident stallion U S Navy Flag, had won twice from four starts during his two-year-old campaign and was fitted for his new season resumption with a comfortable win at the Cambridge trials last…

Taranaki representative Tobias (NZ) (Complacent), carrying the black and gold hoops of the Taranaki province, proved too tough in a slogging finish to the ITM New Plymouth Interprovincial (1600m) on Saturday. Apprentice rider Ellie Sole made good use of her 4kg claim to reduce the seven-year-old’s weight from 61kgs to a more manageable 57kg impost as she sat in third before sending him to the lead at the 600m. With Sole riding hard, the Tony Dravitzki-prepared runner refused to yield as he held out the challenges of Ghazzah (Akeed Mofeed),…

In-form galloper Rise At Dawn is likely to be set for a black-type assignment after notching a comfortable victory at Caulfield on Saturday in the Catanach’s Jewellers Handicap (1600m). The four-year-old son of Almanzor is prepared by Ben, Will and JD Hayes, and has now won six of his 11 starts. Ridden by Michael Dee, Rise At Dawn sat outside Keats, who led throughout and applied the pressure upon straightening to score by three-quarters of a length from Kettle Hill and Rhapsody Chic. “Keats got rolling into the bend which…

It may have taken a few more races than expected but there couldn’t have been a more fitting result for local trainer Allan Sharrock as his great mate Justaskme (NZ) (No Excuse Needed) provided his mentor with his 1000th New Zealand win in the training ranks at New Plymouth on Saturday. Sharrock entered the day on 999 victories and was confidently expected to pick up victory in one of the opening races on the card, however, he had to play the bridesmaid role as Tisse (NZ) (Belardo), Bella Timing (NZ) (Time…

Stratford trainer Tina Egan was charging to the bar at New Plymouth on Saturday to celebrate Chajaba (NZ) (Keano) taking out the New Plymouth Building Supplies 1400. The eight-year-old son of Keano jumped well and was taken straight to the front by apprentice jockey Ciel Butler, who quickly handed up to Tavis Court (NZ) (Tavisock). Butler elected to keep to the rail throughout and her decision was rewarded on the Heavy10 footing, hitting the front with 400m to go and maintaining their advantage to the post, winning by half a…

Amber Riddell may be following her parents’ footsteps into racing, but the newly licensed apprentice jockey is keen to plot her on path in the industry she loves. The daughter of Group One-winning jockey Jonathan Riddell and former jockey and trainer Trina Riddell was always destined for a career in the saddle, however, she was keen to get some qualifications under her belt before she pursued that vocation. The 22-year-old has spent the last few years attending Waikato University but kept her passion for racing alive by competing as an…

John Bell came close to picking up a lucrative prize during the week at the Cambridge Synthetic, and he will now switch his focus over the fences on Sunday with rising jumping star Helena Baby (NZ) (Guillotine). Spanish Lad (NZ) (Shocking) represented the local horseman in the Richard Bright Memorial (1500m) on Wednesday after two comfortable victories on the surface at his last two appearances. Among a tidy line-up of seasoned gallopers, the son of Shocking held his own, flying late into second behind the well-performed Monza (NZ) (Rios). Bell…