A booming late run out wide on the track has carried promising stayer Crouch to an eye-caching victory in the first run of a new campaign as he took out the feature race at Otaki on Saturday, the Cavallo Farms and Chris Rutten Bloodstock Handicap (1400m). The Mike Breslin-prepared six-year-old rounded out his last campaign with a fourth in the New Zealand St Leger (2500m) at Trentham in March, a track where he performed with distinction by finishing runner up to Wolfgang in the Gr.3 Wellington Cup (3200m) two months…
Author: NZRacingDesk
Affirmative Action springs massive upset at Ellerslie
Trainer Pam Gerard had been confident of a good showing from her lightly raced three-year-old Affirmative Action and that’s exactly what she got when the showy gelding upset the applecart at a Fixed Odds quote of $91 when taking out the Listed Sir Colin Meads Trophy (1200m) at Ellerslie. The son of the 2019 Everest (1200m) winner Yes Yes Yes had finished third behind To Bravery Born over 1100m at Taupo last month and improved markedly for Saturday’s first stakes race on the Ellerslie card as punters ignored his claims…
Have A Crack makes it two on end with Ellerslie win
Promising gelding Have A Crack retained his unbeaten New Zealand record with a gritty performance to take out the Rich Hill Stud (1200m) at Ellerslie on Saturday. The five-year-old son of Zoustar made his way to Chad Ormsby’s Matamata stable after losing his rider during his only start in Australia last year for trainer Simon Zahra. Ormsby has worked hard on improving the manners of the horse and a trial win at Avondale over 1000m in June indicated he had plenty of ability. Taken to the synthetic track at Cambridge…
Bosch breaks Ellerslie duck in style
Ruakaka stayer Bosch took his best form over the Brynderwyn Hills on Saturday and scored his first Ellerslie victory in the Dunstan Horsefeeds 2200. The Pentire gelding headed into the $75,000 race with five wins to his name, all of them at his home track. His six previous visits to Ellerslie had produced a fourth, a fifth, two sixths and two ninths. It was a different story on Saturday as Bosch produced a relentless front-running performance. Ridden by Samantha Collett for trainer Michelle Bradley, Bosch drew the second to outside…
Saltcoats lands Wyong Cup
Saltcoats (NZ) (Ardrossan) delivered trainer Chris Waller his ninth Wyong Cup (2100m) victory when narrowly prevailing in the Listed feature from locally-trained Salt Lake City. The son of Ardrossan was ridden by James McDonald and heavily supported as he landed his fifth career victory from 18 starts, with a further eight placings. McDonald tracked eventual third Glory Daze (Cotai Glory) into the race and came off his back upon straightening to claim the prize. Victory in the Wyong Cup also makes the former Kiwi galloper eligible for the A$3 million…
Gelded Street Artist shows true colours
Smart three-year-old Street Artist notched his first victory in impressive style when leading throughout to defeat a strong maiden field over 1000m at Mornington on Friday by nearly five lengths. The Anthony and Sam Freedman-trained son of Super Seth has recently been gelded after showing raw ability but wayward tendencies at his first two starts as a colt, including a third placing behind stakes performer Express Call and subsequent Group Three winner Ferivia at Sandown on July 30. “If you could have scratched a horse for behavioural issues before a…
Tangerine army out in force at Ellerslie
Te Akau Racing will hold a strong hand on Proisir Plate Day at Ellerslie on Saturday, particularly in the age group features. Exciting three-year-old Hostility will kick-off his spring preparation in the Listed Sir Colin Meads Trophy (1200m), for which he is a $2.70 favourite with TAB bookmakers. A $1.65 million New Zealand Bloodstock Ready to Run Sale purchase by Te Akau Racing principal David Ellis, the son of I Am Invincible impressed as a juvenile, finishing runner-up in both of his starts, including the Gr.1 Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes…
Ceolwulf barking up the right tree in Chelmsford
Controversy marred Ceolwulf’s (NZ) (Tavistock) return in the Gr.1 Winx Stakes (1400m) but trainer Joe Pride has taken a philosophical view of Chad Schofield’s ride, backing horse and jockey to make amends at Randwick. Schofield was criticised on social media for scouting wide on Ceolwulf around the home turn as eventual winner and runner-up, Via Sistina (Fastnet Rock) and Aeliana (NZ) (Castelvecchio), saved ground closer to the inside. Ceolwulf flashed home to finish fourth, beaten 2-1/2 lengths, and while Pride said Schofield may have taken a different option if given his time again, he was equally adamant it was…
Cox Plate not off the table for Linebacker
Co-trainer Tom Charlton has a novel take on Linebacker (NZ) (Super Seth) being dealt an early slice of bad luck by drawing an outside gate for his Gr.2 Tramway Stakes (1400m) return at Randwick. “One way of looking at it is we’d rather get it out of the way early,” Charlton said. “It’s his first-up run and it’s a run that is going to get him to his next couple of runs so it’s not the end of the world by any means. “He’s got good improvement from Saturday.” As is the case for many of…
Oak Hill set to rebound at The Valley
The Lindsay Park team of Ben, Will and J D Hayes concede the Gr.1 Moir Stakes (1000m) will not be an easy assignment for Oak Hill (NZ) (Per Incanto), but the stable is confident the sprinter can turn around his form. A first-up winner over the 1000m journey at Moonee Valley last month, Oak Hill returns to the track and trip for Saturday’s Group One contest looking to put behind him a disappointing fifth of seven when sent out favourite at his most recent outing. That was in the Listed Carlyon Stakes (1000m) and Ben Hayes said the stable had subsequently…