Venerable galloper Bankers Choice (NZ) (Mongolian Khan) provided a feel-good story for all concerned when he became trainer Glen Thompson’s first solo victor since the recent shock passing of his co-trainer Mike Moroney. The seven-year-old son of Mongolian Khan proved too good for his rivals in a tactical five-horse field when scoring a comfortable three-quarters of a length victory in the DCE Handicap (2400 METRES). Under the guidance of jockey Daniel Stackhouse, Bankers Choice sat outside leader Le Don De Vie (Leroidesanimaux) and applied pressure from the 600m to establish…
Category: Featured
Love Poem prevails in tight tussle at Tauranga
Classy three-year-old Love Poem (Snitzel) overcame a wide barrier draw and her tenacious stablemate I’m All In (NZ) (Zoustar) to score fresh-up at Tauranga in the J Swap Contractors 3YO (1200m). The Stephen Marsh-prepared filly hadn’t been seen since finishing a meritorious fourth in the Gr.1 New Zealand One Thousand Guineas (1600m) at Riccarton back in November last year. Given a decent summer break by Marsh, the Group One placed daughter of Snitzel was fitted for her raceday return when finishing hard held in behind Damask Rose (NZ) (Savabeel) and…
Riddells share Wanganui win with Mr Mojo Risin’
Trina Riddell and her daughter Amber shared a memorable victory at Wanganui on Saturday when Mr Mojo Risin’ (NZ) (Deep Field) romped home by almost five lengths in the $50,000 Wanganui-Taranaki Racehorse Owners Association Open (1340m). Mr Mojo Risin’ is trained by Andrew Forsman, who had a busy Saturday with runners at both Tauranga and Wanganui. The Cambridge trainer sent his senior staff member Trina Riddell south to oversee the stable’s Wanganui runners. Riddell’s daughter Amber was entrusted with the ride on Mr Mojo Risin’, with her 3kg claim reducing…
War Princess dominant in Wanganui opener
Impressive debut winner War Princess (NZ) (U S Navy Flag) made it two from two when she led from go to whoa in the opening event at Wanganui, the Wanganui Insurance Brokers 2YO (1200m). The two-year-old daughter of US Navy Flag looked to have untapped ability when she won over 1000m at Tauherenikau before enhancing that impression with a subsequent trial win at Foxton last month, where she headed home Group Two winner Too Sweet (NZ) (Satono Aladdin). Sent out a warm $2.60 favourite, rider Lily Sutherland bounced her away…
Pride Of Jenni returns with dominant Peter Young Stakes victory
Pride Of Jenni ridden by Craig Newitt winning the Group 2 Peter Young Stakes at Caulfield Racecourse. (Photo by George Sal/Racing Photos) Pride Of Jenni has returned to racing with a bang after claiming a dominant win in the Group 2 Peter Young Stakes at Caulfield, with Craig Newitt piloting the Ciaron Maher-trained mare to an impressive first-up triumph. After opening as a -125 favourite with horse racing bookmakers on Wednesday, the daughter of Pride Of Dubai was sent out as a +260 second favourite. Many expected Newitt to replicate…
Memo breaks maiden with Group 3 Magic Night Stakes win
Memo ridden by Kerrin McEvoy coming back to the mounting yard after winning the Group 3 Magic Night Stakes. Photo: bradleyphotos.com.au Kerrin McEvoy has recorded back-to-back Group triumphs at Rosehill by piloting Memo to victory in the Group 3 Magic Night Stakes, following his win on Skyhook in the previous race. The Peter Snowden-trained filly has solid formlines throughout her career, after racing Group or Listed grade in her first five starts for four placings, including a second-place finish in the Magic Millions 2YO Classic at the Gold Coast. Although…
Waitak claims Group 2 Japan Trophy in dominant fashion
Waitak winning Saturday’s Gr.2 Ultimate Mazda Japan Trophy (1600m) at Tauranga. Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images) A week after Blake Shinn’s rail-skimming masterclass to guide Damask Rose from last to first in the inaugural NZB Kiwi (1500m), Ryan Elliot followed a similar script to help Waitak triumph in Saturday’s Group.2 Ultimate Mazda Japan Trophy (1600m) at Tauranga. The $150,000 feature was a step down in class following a string of high-class summer assignments for Waitak, who has contested 10 Group One races in his 30-start career. The Proisir gelding had…
Orlov back to winning ways with strong staying effort at Wanganui
Orlov winning the Carpet Maintenance & Cleaning Open (2040m) at Wanganui on Saturday. Photo: Jack McKenzie (Race Images Palmerston North) Consistent galloper Orlov picked up his ninth career victory when he took out the feature event on the Wanganui card, the Carpet Maintenance & Cleaning Open (2040m), in the process providing trainer David Haworth with a winning double on the day. The seven-year-old son of Sweynesse had enjoyed a purple patch of form towards the end of his autumn campaign last season, and early in his current preparation he was…
Grande Gallo continues winning ways with Tauranga triumph
Grande Gallo winning the Triton Pacific Owens Plate (1200m) at Tauranga on Saturday. Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images) Grande Gallo collected her third win from four starts at Tauranga with a narrow victory over three-year-old Yaldi in the Triton Pacific Owens Plate (1200m) on Saturday. The daughter of Belardo won the three-year-old race on the undercard of this same Japan Trophy meeting 12 months ago, which has proved to be a strong form reference for the 2025 edition. Grande Gallo won that race by two lengths over You Say D’Orsay,…
Skyhook secures Golden Slipper spot with Pago Pago win
Skyhook winning the Group 3 Pago Pago Stakes. Photo: Bradleyphotos.com.au Following his dominant win in the Group 3 Pago Pago Stakes at Rosehill, Skyhook has secured his spot in next week’s Group 1 Golden Slipper for trainers Gerald Ryan & Sterling Alexiou. Kerrin McEvoy took luck out of the equation aboard the +190 favourite with horse racing bookmakers after he jumped smartly from his barrier to take up the lead. Settling behind the leader, Valedictorian (+1100) and Kilman (+1000) found good spots, while the other market fancies, United States (+500),…