Author: NZRacingDesk

Flying three-year-old Poetic Champion (NZ) (Super Seth) will spearhead Tony Pike’s trio of sprinters contesting the Gr.3 Cambridge Stud Almanzor Trophy (1200m) on Karaka Millions Night, staged this Saturday at Ellerslie. Poetic Champion was among the upper echelon of the country’s juveniles last season, placing in the Listed Counties Challenge Stakes (1100m), Gr.2 Wakefield Challenge Stakes (1100m) and Gr.3 Matamata Slipper (1200m). Returning as a three-year-old, the son of Super Seth pounced on a deserved stakes victory in the Listed El Roca – Sir Colin Meads Trophy (1200m) at Hastings,…

Awapuni trainer Roydon Bergerson finished runner-up in the 2022 running of the $1 million TAB Karaka Millions 2YO (1200m) with Wolverine (NZ) (Tivaci), and he is excited to have two bullets in the chamber to try and go one better in this year’s edition.  Wolverine was undefeated heading into the race three years ago, winning on debut at Otaki before she was sold to Australian Bloodstock, and she quickly repaid her new owners with victories in the Gr.2 Wakefield Challenge Stakes (1100m) and Gr.2 Eclipse Stakes (1200m), before she was…

Shaun and Emma Clotworthy will bring a mix of experience and new blood to the table on TAB Karaka Millions Night at Ellerslie this Saturday. Malt Time, a multiple Group One-performer, was not initially targeted towards the Gr.2 Westbury Classic (1400m), but the Byerley Park trainers confirmed the mare will take her place in the $500,000 feature after placing fifth-equal in a congested finish to the Gr.1 Thorndon Mile (1800m). “We were originally going to the BCD Sprint, and after Trentham and the trip back we thought she needed a…

A stellar mix of representatives by Waikato Stud’s proven stallions and their exciting younger residents has the champion vendor ready for the defence of their Book 1 aggregate title at Karaka 2025. As usual, the premier farm will present top-shelf offerings by the remarkable Savabeel and the hugely successful Ocean Park at New Zealand Bloodstock’s National Yearling Sale while also offering quality selections by their up-and-coming associate sires. Super Seth has made an impressive start to his career, as has Ardrossan from humbler beginnings, while the first crop of Savabeel’s…

David Hayes joined Racing Pulse with Michael Felgate to discuss a number of runners and racing topics.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. CLICK TO PLAY AUDIO

Respected New Zealand Bloodstock agent Chris Rutten knows a thing or two about the hard yards. He will meticulously work his way through the catalogue and inspections at the Karaka sales this year – just like he has in previous years. He attributes it as the reason he has been so successful at the sales and is hoping that can deliver more glory on the racetrack come Saturday. Rutten will have a dual-pronged attack on the Karaka Millions 2YO with second favourite Too Sweet (NZ) (Satono Aladdin) and roughie In The…

Renowned New Zealand punter Ted McLachlan will be wearing two hats at Saturday’s Karaka Millions meeting. McLachlan is one of the key lieutenants in the Boys Get Paid betting syndicate, which will pump through more than NZ$100,000 across Saturday’s six-race card. But he’s also a part-owner in Karaka Millions 2YO contender La Dorada (NZ) (Super Seth). It’s going to be a fine balancing act for the respected punter as he prepares to not only back winners, but cheer home the one he owns as well. “I’ve got a horse in…

New Zealand may be synonymous with breeding top-class middle-distance and staying horses, but now it is proving just as dominant with its sprinters. Last year New Zealand-bred Lucky Sweynesse (NZ) (Sweynesse) was ranked the world’s best sprinter with a rating of 125, and 12 months later compatriots Ka Ying Rising (NZ) (Shamexpress) and I Wish I Win (NZ) (Savabeel) share top honours with American speedster Cogburn, with ratings of 121, in the latest LONGINES World’s Best Racehorse Rankings. Ka Ying Rising has been a sensation in Hong Kong for trainer…

This time last year New Zealand syndicator Go Racing celebrated one of their biggest moments when Velocious carried their silks to victory in the TAB Karaka Millions 2YO (1200m), and this year, they will be out to add the 3YO crown to their mantle.  Velocious, a $190,000 Karaka purchase, was backed into an even money favourite for the rich juvenile feature following victory in the Listed Counties Challenge Stakes (1100m) and placing in the Gr.2 Eclipse Stakes (1200m), and Go Racing general manager Matt Allnutt said he was a relieved…

It was luck by name and luck by nature for Ben and Ryan Foote at the barrier draw for Saturday’s $1 million TAB Karaka Millions 2YO (1200m) at Ellerslie. The father-and-son training partnership will prepare Vega For Luck (NZ) (Lucky Vega) for the lucrative juvenile contest, the son of Lucky Vega drawing gate three, outside of Toretto (NZ) (Ardossan) and race-favourite To Bravery Born (NZ) (Snitzel). Vega For Luck was a winner on debut in early October, with three subsequent runs including a third in the Listed Counties Challenge Stakes…