Author: NZRacingDesk

The past two winners of the Gr.1 T.J. Smith Stakes gave notice on Tuesday that they are firmly on track for feature-race returns, with stablemates I Wish I Win (NZ) (Savabeel) and Chain Of Lightning enjoying comfortable jumpout victories at Pakenham. I Wish I Win cruised in his 800-metre heat to record a soft win, as later did Chain Of Lightning, who was wearing the bottle green colours of her new owners Yulong Investments for the first time. She was purchased at public auction late last season by Yulong for…

A change of plans has seen Mr Brightside (NZ) (Bullbars) take to The Valley on Tuesday morning as an important part of his build-up towards a mouth-watering first-up bout against Pride Of Jenni in the Gr.1 Memsie Stakes at Caulfield on August 31. Co-trainer Ben Hayes said the Lindsay Park team snapped up the chance to gallop the Cox Plate runner-up at The Valley rather than trial on a country track later in the week, as had been originally programmed. “He had a nice gallop there with a workmate and…

Michael Kent Jnr has revealed that the connections of Queensland Derby winner Warmonger (NZ) (War Decree) rejected a significant offer from Hong Kong owners to purchase the gelding. Previous Derby winners like Ruthven and Dark Dream were quickly snapped up by Hong Kong buyers with the intention of running in the lucrative Hong Kong Derby the following year, but Kent Jnr explained that the horse’s owners weren’t interested in following that trend after his dominant Group One triumph. “There was one particularly good one, but it was a clear no,”…

Auckland Guineas winner The Pendragon (NZ) (U S Navy Flag) is expected to make an altogether different impact at his second Australian start than he did at his first when he lines up to begin his spring campaign at Caulfield on Saturday. The effects of a long campaign in New Zealand told on The Pendragon at his Australian debut in the Australian Guineas at Flemington in March and Anthony Feroce from the Mike Moroney and Glen Thompson stable said little notice should be taken from his 15th placing. “He’d been up…

Thanks to the long-term support of Majestic Horse Transport as well as new partner Dunstan Horsefeeds, NZB is pleased to announce that the popular Ready to Run Sale Trainers Series will return for its fifth edition in 2024. The well-received series was introduced by NZB in 2020 to help support New Zealand trainers wishing to attend and purchase from its Ready to Run Sale in November.  Trainers Adrian Bull, Anne Davies, Andrew Carston, Guy Lowry, Rosie Buchanan, Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson, Stephen Marsh, Ross Beckett, and Lance Noble were…

Synthetic specialist Monza (NZ) (Rios) will be looking for redemption in the Richard Bright Memorial 1550 at Cambridge Synthetic on Wednesday. The seven-year-old son of Rios was runner-up behind Stonybreck in the $60,000 feature last year and trainer Danica Guy is keen to go one better in this year’s edition. Monza injured a tendon last December and returned to the races last month, finishing last first-up over 1300m at Cambridge before heading to Awapuni Synthetic last Friday where he was third in the $100,000 Martin Collins Polytrack 1400m Innovation Race.…

A spanner has been thrown in the works for Legarto (NZ) (Proisir) spring preparation, with the multiple Group One winner having strained a muscle following her trial at Te Rapa last week. Trainers Ken and Bev Kelso were pleased with her 900m heat victory last Tuesday on the Heavy10 footing but said it has also been the undoing of their initial spring plans with the mare. “She is on the quiet list. She has been pulled out of Hastings,” Ken Kelso said. “It is nothing major, she has strained a…

Ben and Ryan Foote have enjoyed plenty of success with a pair of lightly raced older gallopers in Ultimate Focus (Smart Missile) and Keegan (NZ) (Swiss Ace), and they will both front-up as key hopes in the Richard Bright Memorial (1550m) at Cambridge Synthetic on Wednesday. A seven-year-old by Smart Missile, Ultimate Focus has spent time racing in Hong Kong and Australia but has found his feet across the synthetic track season in New Zealand, recording two wins and three minor placings on his home course this preparation. Most recently,…

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West Coast (NZ) (Mettre en Jeu) may not have any black-type against his name, but he is proving to be one of best performers for his ill-fated sire Mettre en Jeu. On Saturday, West Coast etched his name into the history books when recording his third consecutive Grand National Steeplechase (5600m) victory at Riccarton Park for trainer Mark Oulaghan. It was the nine-year-old gelding’s 11th career victory, all over fences, and brought his earnings to just shy of $500,000. Breeders Nigel and Adaire Auret, of Letham Stud, were proud as…