Author: NZRacingDesk

Champagne Diblu won’t lack support when the trial-winning youngster opens his career on his home track at Riccarton on Saturday. The Anna Furlong-trained son of Russian Revolution will be cheered on by a sizeable ownership crew when he steps out in the Listed Riccarton Park Function Centre Welcome Stakes (1000m). “He was our first micro-share horse and we’ve tried to get people involved in the game at a lower cost,” Furlong said. “It’s been pretty successful and there’s a wonderful group behind him who are all pretty excited to get…

The $5 million Queen Elizabeth Stakes is shaping as a moment of truth for Ceolwulf (NZ) (Tavistock) as the dual Group One-winning miler seeks to prove he can mix it with the country’s best horses over a middle distance. Ceolwulf will take his place in a crack field that boasts Cox Plate winner Via Sistina, international raiders Dubai Honour and Rousham Park, Australian Cup winner Light Infantry Man and pre-post Melbourne Cup fancy Vauban. The winner of the Epsom Handicap-King Charles III Stakes double over a mile in the spring, Ceolwulf had his autumn campaign interrupted when he missed a scheduled run in the Verry Elleegant Stakes. He was forced…

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Multiple Group One winner Atishu (NZ) (Savabeel) will bid to have a fairytale ending to her racing career when she heads to Randwick on Saturday to contest the Gr.1 Queen of the Turf Stakes (1600m).  The daughter of Savabeel, who is raced by New Zealand syndicator Go Racing, will bid to add a fourth Group One crown to her record, and second in the race, before she is offered through Magic Millions’ Gold Coast National Broodmare Sale next month.  “It will be a day of mixed emotions with this being…

New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing (NZTR) and RACE Inc. are delighted to announce the successful completion of the final phase of the Club’s ‘Return to Racing’ plan for the RACE Awapuni track, marked by a full day of trials held on the newly completed track proper. A total of 88 horses took to the track across 11 heats run over 1000m, 1200m, 1600m and 2000m distances. The trials were attended by senior Jockeys including Jonathan Riddell, Leah Hemi and Kate Hercock, who provided positive feedback on the track’s performance, especially in…

The deep south will be well-represented in this year’s TAB Southern Alps Challenge (1600m), with Maximus Augustus (NZ) (War Decree) one of three Ascot Park gallopers in the $350,000 feature at Riccarton Park on Saturday. A five-year-old by War Decree, Maximus Augustus earned his place in the innovation race when taking out the $200,000 ODT Southern Mile Final (1600m) at Wingatui last month. His breeder, part-owner and trainer Bill McNamara elected to bring the gelding to Riccarton in-between times, where he finished a meritorious fourth in open company behind Conor…

The last time Faraglioni (NZ) (El Roca) competed at Trentham she finished runner-up in the Gr.2 Manawatu Challenge Stakes (1400m), and trainer Josh Shaw is hoping for a similar result from his stable star when they return to the Upper Hutt track this weekend.  The six-year-old daughter of El Roca has only had the one start since that December contest, finishing 11th a month later in the Gr.2 Westbury Classic (1400m) at Ellerslie on Karaka Millions night, and will head into Saturday’s Listed City Of Napier Sprint (1200m) in a fresh…

Whangaehu (NZ) (Proisir) proved himself up to the country’s top middle-distance gallopers over the summer and he’ll aim to complete a top campaign at Trentham in Saturday’s Listed Valley D’Vine Restaurant Hawke’s Bay Cup (2200m).  The talented six-year-old kicked off his hot streak winning the Listed Wanganui Cup (2040m) and Gr.3 Trentham Stakes (2100m) before making a serious impression with top-four finishes in the Gr.1 Herbie Dyke Stakes (2000m) and Gr.1 Bonecrusher New Zealand Stakes (2000m) behind Hong Kong-bound El Vencedor (NZ) (Shocking). After a string of standout efforts, it…

A good performance from Von Hauke (NZ) (Savabeel) in Saturday’s Listed Golden Mile at Bendigo would set the Cliff Brown-trained gelding up for another interstate trip. Mornington-based Brown said a trip to Queensland is on the cards for Von Hauke, who is first scheduled to run in Victoria in Saturday’s 1600-metre feature at Bendigo after competing interstate in Sydney at his most recent start in the Gr.2 Ajax Stakes (1500m) second-up at Rosehill on March 15. The five-year-old gelding finished second-last in the Ajax Stakes after racing keenly in the…