Author: NZRacingDesk

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Slipper Island has been near-unbeatable down the chute at Trentham and the gelding will likely return to the Champagne Turf one more time this preparation in pursuit of black-type honours. A five-year-old by No Nay Never, Slipper Island won his maiden as a juvenile at Trentham and has only been beaten once at the track since, with his three subsequent victories coming in his last three starts. The most recent of those was on Saturday, where he started a deserved favourite in the Japac Homes (1200m) over Party Rocking ($4.40).…

Awapuni racecourse’s renovated grass track was given its first test on Monday with four sets of jumpouts, and it was given the tick of approval by participants. The Palmerston North track has been out of commission for 18 months as it has undergone renovations, and RACE Inc General Manager of Racing Brad Taylor said it was great to see the track back in action on Monday. “It is nice to tick off the first phase of it (return),” he said. “The feedback has been positive. The riders were all happy,…

A forced change of plan with a daughter of Dubawi has produced another success story for Sydney breeder Warwick Doughty. He initially sent his mare Pouter to Cambridge Stud to be mated with Roaring Lion, only for the multiple Group One-winning son of Kitten’s Joy to tragically succumb to colic. Doughty then decided on Contributor as a suitable replacement and Saturday’s Gr.3 Manawatu Classic (2100m) winner Kiwi Skyhawk is the profitable outcome. “It’s great for the mare, she’s a funny mare and has only got one ovary and I’m very…

Donna Logan recorded her first win since moving back to New Zealand when Larius Lacus took out the Waikato/BOP Racehorse Owners Maiden 1400 at Tauranga on Sunday. Based in Singapore for seven years, Logan returned to New Zealand late last year after racing ceased in the racing jurisdiction, and she has been in a rebuilding phase at her new base in Byerley Park. While in Singapore, Logan struck up a good association with Ben Kwok, with the prominent breeder and owner vowing to support her on her return to New…

Promising three-year-old stayer Lucan will join his stablemate Chattahoochee in feature races at Ellerslie next month after collecting an eye-catching maiden victory at Tauranga on Sunday. Te Awamutu horsewoman Debbie Sweeney lined up three runners in the Mills Reef Maiden (2100m), with Lucan the second-elect of her string in the market behind Protheatrics. The son of Proisir brought good form into the race and regular rider Joe Doyle managed him well in the early stages, getting the diminutive gelding to settle near the tail of the field. Denver controlled the…

Delivering a chilling reminder of his extraordinary talent, Ka Ying Rising (NZ) (Shamexpress) posted his 11th consecutive victory with a blistering display in the HK$5.35 million Gr.2 Sprint Cup (1200m) to crown Zac Purton’s return to race riding at Sha Tin on Sunday. The world’s highest-rated sprinter, Ka Ying Rising (128lb) demolished his opposition with familiar nonchalance to score by three lengths from Helios Express and Lucky With You in 1m 08.18s after being eased down by Purton with 100m to go. After stalking California Spangle to the 400m, Ka…

The future is looking bright for Andrew Forsman’s two-year-olds, with sharp gelding The Espy (NZ) (U S Navy Flag) defeating stablemate Belle Noire (NZ) (Turn Me Loose) in the Saddlery Warehouse Cambridge and Tauranga (1100m) on Sunday. After a smart trial victory at Ellerslie in mid-February, The Espy was a warm favourite to repeat that performance at Waverley on debut, but was caught three-wide throughout and finished fifth behind Pacific Breeze. Three weeks later, The Espy travelled to Tauranga and remained a short-priced favourite, albeit drifting late in the betting…

The Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr stable will have both the resuming Globe (NZ) (Charm Spirit) and comeback galloper Ayrton (NZ) (Iffraaj) in the Gr.3 Victoria Handicap (1400m) on Saturday. Ayrton won the race in 2023 and has had one run back from a near 12-month break, while Globe will be first-up off a spell having last raced in the Listed Ballarat Cup (2000m) in December. Both horses had an exhibition gallop between races at Sandown last Wednesday with the gallop being more beneficial for Globe with Ayrton there…

Livid Sky (NZ) (Proisir) was among the best of New Zealand’s staying fillies as a three-year-old and she is coming right back into that form this campaign, winning the Pyramid Trucking (2200m) at Te Aroha on Saturday. The Stephen Autridge-trained mare placed in the Gr.3 Bonecrusher Stakes (1400m), Gr.2 Sir Patrick Hogan Stakes (2000m) and Gr.2 David and Karyn Ellis Fillies Classic (2000m) last term and had a quieter spring, but a step back up to 2000m in early March was all she needed to return to the winner’s circle.…