Hayes’ syndicate vision coming to fruition

Te Akau Racing marketing manager Julia-Rose Hayes has had plenty of success syndicating horses selected by her father, David Ellis, and that has continued with her latest syndicate. Hayes has been a key part of New Zealand’s leading stable, operated by her parents David Ellis and Karyn Fenton-Ellis, for several years and she has taken pride in the handful of syndicates she has formed. Her two biggest success stories have been syndicating Group One winner On The Bubbles and Group One performer Wild Night, and she is hoping she has…

Matamata Cup first-up for Blue Sky At Night

Blue Sky At Night (NZ) (Shamexpress) collected a couple of Cups last season and trainer Shelley Hale is hoping she can add to her haul when she heads to Matamata on Saturday to contest the Listed Team Wealleans Matamata Cup (1600m).  The eight-year-old daughter of Shamexpress was victorious in the Gr.3 Waikato Cup (2400m) at Te Rapa in December before winning the Gr.3 Avondale Cup (2400m) at Ellerslie in February, and Hale is pleased with the way she is coming up this time in.  “She had a great season last…

Good times keep rolling for family operation

Continued success with resident stallion Unusual Suspect and their racing team has kept Nigel and Adaire Auret busier than they may have envisaged, but without any complaints. They own and operate Letham Stud on the outskirts of Wanganui, with son and Group One-winning trainer Fraser close by at Marton. The family celebrated a winning trans-Tasman double at the weekend with homebred She’s Unusual scoring at Rosehill on Saturday and a day later enjoyed further success at Waverley with Unusual Gem. “It’s been terrific for us, and we are trying to…

One final goal for Williams

Canterbury jockey Kylie Williams ticked off a major goal over the weekend and she is hoping to achieve one more before retirement.  The 45-year-old hoop brought up her 1,000th victory in the saddle when piloting home Riviera Rebel (NZ) (Pure Champion) to win the North Canterbury Cup (2000m) in front of family and friends at her home track of Riccarton on Saturday.  “It’s good to finally get there, it has been a while,” she said. “The family were there, so that was even better.”  A career in the saddle was never…

Jenni bringing pride to Trelawney with comeback success

Comeback mare Pride Of Jenni has given Trelawney Stud a number of reasons to look forward to the spring after a dashing victory in the Gr.2 Feehan Stakes (1600m) on Friday night. Pride Of Jenni was crowned Australia’s Racehorse of the Year in the 2023/24 season after claiming three Group Ones, but was thought to be retired after finishing back in the Gr.1 Doomben Cup (2000m) in May. Her breeders Brent and Cherry Taylor had an idea that she might return as an eight-year-old and couldn’t have been prouder to…

Jenni bringing pride to Trelawney with comeback success

Comeback mare Pride Of Jenni has given Trelawney Stud a number of reasons to look forward to the spring after a dashing victory in the Gr.2 Feehan Stakes (1600m) on Friday night. Pride Of Jenni was crowned Australia’s Racehorse of the Year in the 2023/24 season after claiming three Group Ones, but was thought to be retired after finishing back in the Gr.1 Doomben Cup (2000m) in May. Her breeders Brent and Cherry Taylor had an idea that she might return as an eight-year-old and couldn’t have been prouder to…

Jenni bringing pride to Trelawney with comeback success

Comeback mare Pride Of Jenni has given Trelawney Stud a number of reasons to look forward to the spring after a dashing victory in the Gr.2 Feehan Stakes (1600m) on Friday night. Pride Of Jenni was crowned Australia’s Racehorse of the Year in the 2023/24 season after claiming three Group Ones, but was thought to be retired after finishing back in the Gr.1 Doomben Cup (2000m) in May. Her breeders Brent and Cherry Taylor had an idea that she might return as an eight-year-old and couldn’t have been prouder to…

Jenni bringing pride to Trelawney with comeback success

Comeback mare Pride Of Jenni has given Trelawney Stud a number of reasons to look forward to the spring after a dashing victory in the Gr.2 Feehan Stakes (1600m) on Friday night. Pride Of Jenni was crowned Australia’s Racehorse of the Year in the 2023/24 season after claiming three Group Ones, but was thought to be retired after finishing back in the Gr.1 Doomben Cup (2000m) in May. Her breeders Brent and Cherry Taylor had an idea that she might return as an eight-year-old and couldn’t have been prouder to…