Author: NZRacingDesk

The deep south will be well-represented in this year’s TAB Southern Alps Challenge (1600m), with Maximus Augustus (NZ) (War Decree) one of three Ascot Park gallopers in the $350,000 feature at Riccarton Park on Saturday. A five-year-old by War Decree, Maximus Augustus earned his place in the innovation race when taking out the $200,000 ODT Southern Mile Final (1600m) at Wingatui last month. His breeder, part-owner and trainer Bill McNamara elected to bring the gelding to Riccarton in-between times, where he finished a meritorious fourth in open company behind Conor…

The last time Faraglioni (NZ) (El Roca) competed at Trentham she finished runner-up in the Gr.2 Manawatu Challenge Stakes (1400m), and trainer Josh Shaw is hoping for a similar result from his stable star when they return to the Upper Hutt track this weekend.  The six-year-old daughter of El Roca has only had the one start since that December contest, finishing 11th a month later in the Gr.2 Westbury Classic (1400m) at Ellerslie on Karaka Millions night, and will head into Saturday’s Listed City Of Napier Sprint (1200m) in a fresh…

Whangaehu (NZ) (Proisir) proved himself up to the country’s top middle-distance gallopers over the summer and he’ll aim to complete a top campaign at Trentham in Saturday’s Listed Valley D’Vine Restaurant Hawke’s Bay Cup (2200m).  The talented six-year-old kicked off his hot streak winning the Listed Wanganui Cup (2040m) and Gr.3 Trentham Stakes (2100m) before making a serious impression with top-four finishes in the Gr.1 Herbie Dyke Stakes (2000m) and Gr.1 Bonecrusher New Zealand Stakes (2000m) behind Hong Kong-bound El Vencedor (NZ) (Shocking). After a string of standout efforts, it…

A good performance from Von Hauke (NZ) (Savabeel) in Saturday’s Listed Golden Mile at Bendigo would set the Cliff Brown-trained gelding up for another interstate trip. Mornington-based Brown said a trip to Queensland is on the cards for Von Hauke, who is first scheduled to run in Victoria in Saturday’s 1600-metre feature at Bendigo after competing interstate in Sydney at his most recent start in the Gr.2 Ajax Stakes (1500m) second-up at Rosehill on March 15. The five-year-old gelding finished second-last in the Ajax Stakes after racing keenly in the…

Jockey Matthew Poon worked two key Champions Day hopes in barrier trials on Tuesday ahead of the HK$74 million showcase on 27 April at Sha Tin. Stepping out in the first heat ahead of a possible HK$22 million Gr.1 Chairman’s Sprint Prize (1200m) return, Lucky Sweynesse (NZ) (Sweynesse) broke smoothly from the wide draw before picking up between runners to win in 57.95s over 1000m on turf at Sha Tin. “I think with every trial he is getting better and better. Now he is almost ready to race, if he…

Steve speaks with kiwi Fraser Auret. Who bred and owned the world’s best sprinter Ka Ying Rising but sold for not a lot of money. Fraser Auret 08.04.2025 – Racing HQ with Steve Hewlett – Apple Podcasts

Talented stayer Sword In Stone (NZ) (Redwood) appreciated a stretch of the legs on Awapuni’s renovated grass surface ahead of Saturday’s Listed Valley D’Vine Restaurant Hawke’s Bay Cup (2200m) at Trentham. The Redwood gelding stepped out in the first of 11 trials at the Palmerston North venue on Tuesday, where jockey Kavish Chowdhoory allowed him to cruise along comfortably in midfield through the mid-stages. When in clear air down the straight, Sword In Stone ran down the leader with ease and powered through the line to take the heat by…

Awapuni’s renovated grass track was given its biggest test on its return when it held 11 heats of trials under torrential rain on Tuesday.  The track held up well and the trial meeting concluded without incident, much to the satisfaction of local trainers, including Roydon Bergerson.  “It was thumbs up from everybody, it was just great to get back there,” Bergerson said. “It poured with rain before the first heat and if a horse were to slip it would have been today, but they got around that corner really well…

John O’Shea has delayed a decision on the immediate future of Randwick Guineas champion Linebacker (NZ) (Super Seth) as he weighs up the merits of continuing his impressive three-year-old campaign. O’Shea and training partner Tom Charlton have decided against putting Linebacker up against hot favourite Via Sistina in Saturday’s Group 1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) at Randwick, but O’Shea confirmed on Tuesday that other options this campaign remain alive. “I think if Via Sistina wasn’t to run, we probably would have backed up on Saturday,” O’Shea said. “She’s running so…

Otago (NZ) (Ocean Park) will make his return to racing at Bendigo this Saturday, but do not go looking for the one-time Australian Guineas favourite among the entries for the day’s features. Co-trainers Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr have selected the $80,000 benchmark 70 as the likely kick-off point for the four-year-old, who will be having his first start in more than 13 months. It will be a return to where it all began for Otago, who created a massive boom when he won a 1300m Bendigo maiden in December 2023, and Kent said Saturday’s priority…