New Zealand Bloodstock’s 2024 Ready to Run Sale is just moments away, set to take place on 20 and 21 November at the iconic Karaka Sales Centre. Inspections and parades and well and truly underway, and the grounds are busy with many guests also staying onsite at the DoubleTree by Hilton Karaka hotel situated just a minutes’ walk from the complex. Various international buyers will be met by an astute line up of Kiwi judges to provide strong competition in the sale ring, all looking to secure their next champion from…
Category: Gallops
Stakes victory a tonic for Hennessy
The past year has been a tough one for Matamata horseman Gary Hennessy, but he got plenty of satisfaction out of watching Mystic Park (NZ) (Ocean Park) take out Saturday’s Listed Stewards’ Stakes (1200m) at Riccarton. Hennessy bred the five-year-old gelding, who is by his five-time Group One winner and Gr.1 Cox Plate (2040m) hero Ocean Park, and out of unraced Dubawi mare Spirit of Karlu. “It was terrific. I have followed him all the way through, and I have his dam set to foal any day to Ocean Emperor,”…
Rising stars recognised at regional apprentice awards
New Zealand has an exciting group of apprentice jockeys coming through the ranks, and last season’s standout performers were recently recognised at the Northern, Central Districts and South Island Apprentice Awards. On Monday night, the Milan Park Northern Apprentice Jockey Awards acknowledged the achievements of the region’s rising stars, with Niranjan Parmar awarded the Premier Apprentice Jockey Award as the highest-achieving Northern apprentice on the premiership table. Parmar, who was apprenticed to Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson, recorded 50 winners last term, finishing second to Lily Sutherland in the premiership.…
Simon celebrates memorable double
Last week will live long in the memory of northern race caller George Simon. On New Zealand Trotting Cup Day at Addington Raceway, he became a Group One-winning standardbred breeder when Marketplace took out the Woodlands Stud Sires’ Stakes Series Final (1980m), and four days later he called Talentoso, who he bred and part-owns with his wife Maryanne, to victory at Tauranga. “It was an unbelievable week,” Simon said. “I was calling Te Aroha last Tuesday and I just sat in the commentary box and watched the race from Addington…
World Pool to arrive in NZ in early 2025
Ellerslie is set to host two World Pool meetings in early 2025. Photo: Nicole Troost In a coup for the New Zealand racing industry, the Hong Kong Jockey Club (HKJC) have announced the arrival of World Pool to two New Zealand thoroughbred meetings in early 2025. In an unprecedented development for the New Zealand racing industry, the Karaka Millions meeting at Ellerslie in Auckland on January 25 will be the first of the two World Pool meetings in New Zealand, with the second taking place on the newly created Champions…
Happy Valley racing preview, tips & quaddie | Wednesday 20/11
What Happy Valley Races Where Happy Valley Racecourse – Wong Nai Chung Rd, Happy Valley, Hong Kong When Wednesday, November 20, 2024 First Race 6:40pm HKT (9:40pm AEDT) Visit Dabble The bright lights of Happy Valley Racecourse await punters on Wednesday evening, with a bumper nine-race program set for decision. The rail is in the C course for the meeting, and although there is some light rainfall expected to hit the course proper, it shouldn’t deteriorate from the current Good 4 rating. All the action is scheduled to get underway…
Spacewalk ready for Meteorite challenge
Spacewalk. (Photo by Pat Scala/Racing Photos) The James Cummings-trained Spacewalk is set to line up in the inaugural running of the $1 million Meteorite (1200m) at Cranbourne on Saturday afternoon, with the son of Exosphere being put through his paces at trackwork on Tuesday morning. Stable representative Nacim Dilmi was on course to discuss the work of the Godolphin five-year-old, suggesting he should be ready to peak in the newly scheduled slot race. “He was good,” said Dilmi speaking with Racing.com. “Obviously he’s fourth-up, he was just here to look…
Pride chasing Gong success with three-pronged attack
Trainer Joseph Pride. (Pat Scala/Racing Photos) Warwick Farm trainer Joe Pride is gearing up for a potential three-pronged attack on the $1 million The Gong (1600m) at Kembla Grange this Saturday. Pride has entered Little Dance (1600m) runner-up Estadio Mestalla, recent winner King Of The Castle, and Group 3 victor Lekvarte for the mile feature. Lekvarte comes into the race off a stellar performance two starts back, winning the Group 3 Angst Stakes (1600m) at Randwick. She was last seen finishing sixth behind Atishu in the Group 1 Empire Rose…
Baraqiel looking to end campaign on winning note
Baraqiel. (Photo by Brett Holburt/Racing Photos) Jockey Ben Allen remains unfazed by the competition that Group 2 McEwen Stakes (1200m) winner Baraqiel will face in Saturday’s inaugural The Meteorite. Baraqiel, who last ran sixth in the Group 1 Champions Sprint (1200m), is viewed by connections as facing a more manageable field this weekend. “He’s in really good order,” Allen told Racing.com after a workout at Moonee Valley on Monday. “He’s bright, quite keen—not bad keen, but showing that he’s back to himself. (I) couldn’t fault his work. “After the run…
Arkansaw Kid to chase Meteorite riches
Arkansaw Kid. (Photo: George Sal/Racing Photos) Arkansaw Kid, last month’s Group 2 Gilgai Stakes (1200m) runner-up, is set to represent Lindsay Park in Saturday’s inaugural $1 million The Meteorite (1200m) at Cranbourne. The gelding, trained by Ben, Will, and JD Hayes, was confirmed for the 1200-metre slot race on Monday. Arkansaw Kid has not raced since finishing tenth in the $2 million Group 2 Sydney Stakes (1200m) at victory in the Group 2 Bobbie Lewis Quality (1200m) at Flemington in September. The Meteorite is the first of two new $1…