Author: NZRacingDesk

Mark Oulaghan is hoping the extreme distance of Saturday’s Racecourse Hotel and Motor Lodge 150th Grand National Steeplechase (5600m) will play into the hands of West Coast (NZ) (Mettre En Jeu), as his champion jumper attempts to rewrite the history books at Riccarton Park. The adored 10-year-old has won the last three editions of the National, becoming the second horse to claim three titles since Agent in the 19th century, and the first to do so in successive years. After a top performance to finish second in the Hawke’s Bay…

Freegoing five-year-old Leroy Brown (NZ) (Ace High) will be chasing a crack at a weight-for-age feature when he resumes at Te Rapa on Saturday. The talented son of Ace High returns to action in the Dunstan Horsefeeds Handicap (1200m), and success would firm up plans for a return in two weeks’ time in a bid for higher honours. “We want to have a go at the Foxbridge Plate (Gr.2, 1200m) and we’re behind the eight ball a bit on the ratings,” trainer Stephen Ralph said. “It will be a tough…

Gemma Flitz (NZ) (Telperion) has been a model of consistency on Riccarton’s synthetic track and she capped off that form when it counted, claiming the major spoils in Wednesday’s $100,000 Polytrack Championship (1200m). The mare joined Ross Beckett’s Yaldhurst stable just under two years ago and swiftly announced herself on the synthetic circuit, winning or placing on the surface at each of her six attempts. On that form, Beckett eyed the six-figure feature for Gemma Flitz this year, and she produced a stunning dress rehearsal last start to come into…

Joe Waldron made the perfect start to his New Zealand return, with his first runner back collecting a winning cheque at Riccarton’s synthetic meeting on Wednesday. Waldron commenced his training career in the Waikato and has spent the last six years plying his trade in Victoria, and he has recently returned to his home region of Otago, where he trains out of Wingatui. He brought half a dozen horses back with him to New Zealand, including Secret Beau (I Am Invincible), who broke through for his maiden win in convincing…

Like many trainers, Raymond Connors has always dreamed of contesting the Gr.1 Melbourne Cup (3200m), and reality is now starting to hit home as he prepares Trav towards to coveted race in November. The Bulls horseman has had plenty of success in New Zealand’s three feature two-mile races, with Blood Brotha winning back-to-back Gr.3 New Zealand Cups (3200m) in 2011 and 2012, before taking out the Wellington Cup in 2013 (run at Group Two-level over 2400m that year), while Trav completed the set when victorious in the Gr.2 Auckland Cup…

Doctor Askar (NZ) (Derryn) has had a near perfect record this year and he will be seeking to continue his golden run this spring, with several Group Ones in the crosshairs. The homebred gelding won all but one of his six starts for trainer Joanne Moss earlier this year, culminating in victories in the Listed Flying Handicap (1400m) and Gr.3 Easter Handicap (1600m), and stakes targets are once again in the pipeline. “That was pretty exciting with what he did, but we are in a new season now,” Moss said.…

Local gelding Heart of Gold (NZ) (Niagara) will be out to defend his crown in the $100,000 TAB Polytrack Championship (2000m) at Cambridge’s synthetic meeting on Friday, and trainer Sam Mynott believes he is up for the challenge. The eight-year-old son of Niagara was a convincing 4-1/4 length victor of last year’s race but will have his work cut out for him in this year’s edition, having been lumbered with 62kg. “He has got 4kgs more than last year, but he is in a really good place, so we have…

Platinum Emperor (NZ) (Sweynesse) and Cavalry (NZ) (Tavistock) renewed their rivalry after finishing 1-2 respectively in the Mitavite Asia Cup (Metro A – 1400m) three weeks ago and repeated that result in the Supreme A race over 1600m at Selangor racecourse in Malaysia on Sunday. Whereas Platinum Emperor was hard-pressed before winning by half a length last time out, the Sweynesse gelding had it much easier this time, coasting home by 2-1/2 lengths to bring his record in the country to three wins from four starts for the former Macau…

Smart four-year-old Evaporate (NZ) (Per Incanto) is nearing a return to racing after winning a jump-out at Flemington on Monday morning. Prepared by Ben, Will and JD Hayes, Evaporate was a Group Two winner last season and coped admirably with a campaign that took in races in Melbourne, Auckland and Sydney.   Evaporate jumped out sporting earmuffs on Monday. “We were very happy with him,” Ben Hayes said. “He was in the same jump-out as Mr Brightside and having a harder hit-out. It was his second hit-out and we thought…

Bryce Newman is content on playing the long game with his talented filly Abbakiss (Microphone), who made a sharp return to the trials on Tuesday at Foxton. The Bulls horseman unveiled Abbakiss as an early two-year-old and she swiftly showed her talent, winning an open two-year-old event before going down by a narrow margin to To Cap It All in the Listed Wellesley Stakes (1100m). The daughter of Microphone earned her place in the Karaka Millions 2YO (1200m) and did her connections proud in the million-dollar feature, finishing sixth in…