Author: NZRacingDesk

Michelle Bradley has found plenty of success of late on the road with Sulabella, and the capable mare will return to her home track at Ruakaka in search of a winning hattrick. Now a six-year-old, Sulabella has been a reliable member of Bradley’s barn, posting five wins in 23 starts, with the most recent pair coming on heavy track conditions at Rotorua and Counties through July. “It was a pretty hard run for her on a very testing track, but she’s come through it well otherwise I wouldn’t nominate her…

Peter and Jessica Brosnan are making the most of an exciting opportunity with up-and-coming steeplechaser Auld Jock during the Grand National Carnival in Christchurch over the next week. Auld Jock has come a long way in a short period of racing this year, winning a maiden hurdle and maiden steeplechase before a tidy performance for fourth in his first major test, the Hawke’s Bay Steeplechase (4800m). The diminutive seven-year-old gave the Brosnans a big thrill finishing just a half-length from star jumper The Cossack in the Wellington Steeplechase (5500m), earning…

Racing has always been a family affair for Brooke Kincaid, and that will continue at Riccarton on Saturday when the Riverton horsewoman makes her training debut alongside her grandfather, Graham Eade. The 23-year-old grew up assisting Eade at his Southland stable where she fell in love with horses and racing, and was intent on following him into a career in the industry. “I have pretty much been working with the horses ever since I could walk and I have spent a lot of time staying with my grandparents so I…

Lisa Latta will attempt to become the most successful trainer in the history of the Gr.3 Winning Edge Presentations Winter Cup (1600m) when she saddles the defending champion Belardo Boy in the 2024 edition of the time-honoured Riccarton feature on Saturday. Latta has won the Winter Cup on four previous occasions with Tuscany Warrior (2003), Mikki Street (2006), Platinum Command (2018) and Belardo Boy. According to statistics released by Riccarton Park this week, that makes her the equal most successful in the history of the race alongside fellow Awapuni trainer…

Nine years after his first taste of success in one of the South Island’s most time-honoured races, Riverton trainer Kelvin Tyler will return to Riccarton on Saturday with three live chances for another win in the Gr.3 Winning Edge Presentations 127th Winter Cup (1600m). Tyler won the Winter Cup in 2015 with Timy Tyler, who he bought for just $3000 as a yearling at Karaka and ended up earning more than $300,000 from a 107-start, nine-win career. Tyler’s contingent in this year’s Winter Cup is headed by another bargain buy, Master…

The Lindsay Park stable of Ben, Will and JD Hayes finished just shy of 200 winners in the recently completely season and will be looking for an early Stakes race win at Flemington on Saturday. The brothers prepared 199 winners Australia wide for the 2023-24 season and got the 2024-25 season off to a good start with an early double at Cranbourne on Thursday. But at Flemington on Saturday the Lindsay Park team will be pinning their hopes in Crosshaven (Smart Missile) and Nicolini Vito (Nicconi) in the Gr.3 Aurie’s…

JJ Rayner will bid to follow in the footsteps of her father Evan with rugged stayer Lord Spencer (NZ) (Zed) at the Riccarton carnival.  She has her sights set on Saturday’s Avon City Sydenham Hurdles (3100m) as a lead into the Hospitality New Zealand Canterbury Grand National Hurdles (4200m) seven days later.  Rayner senior completed the feature jumping double in 1990 with Mister Divinsky (NZ) (Lavinsky), a dashing performer who remained unbeaten in six starts over the smaller fences, while Van Winkle also placed in both events.  His daughter JJ…

New Zealand Horse Ambulance Trust are on-course assisting our equine athletes in their time of need, so the industry is preparing to give back during their “Here For The Horse” campaign from August 1. Established in 2016, the NZHAT was initially the brainchild of equine veterinarians Dr. Peter Gillespie and Dr. Bill Bishop over five years prior, who sought out a solution to how injuries on race day could be handled in a dignified, safe and effective manner. Through the assistance and support of New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing, Harness Racing…

Outstanding wet track performer Justaskme (NZ) (No Excuse Needed) will carry his lightest weight for years when he takes aim at the Gr.3 Winning Edge Presentations 127th Winter Cup (1600m) at Riccarton on Saturday. The evergreen performer will tackle the Riccarton feature for the third time, having finished fourth 12 months ago under 61kg and runner-up with 60kg in 2021. “He has travelled down better than last year and has eaten everything and has been working really well,” New Plymouth trainer and part-owner Allan Sharrock said. “It’s been a while since…

The South Island’s reigning champion stable will be out in force when the Grand National Carnival kicks off at Riccarton on Saturday. Michael and Matthew Pitman topped last season’s South Island trainers’ premiership with 54 wins, earning themselves a sixth-place finish overall on the national standings. The father-son duo will be represented by 10 runners on their home track on Saturday, including a three-pronged attack on the $45,000 Christchurch Casino 29th South Island Awards 13 September Open (1200m). That trio includes the nine-race winner Makabar (NZ) (Swiss Ace), who was a…