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The high quality of New Zealand’s three-year-old crop last season is illustrated by the finalists for the Champion Three-Year-Old category at the NZ Thoroughbred Horse of the Year Awards. Eight horses, including five fillies, are finalists in the three-year-old division, which will provide the voting panel with plenty to mull over. Seven of the eight contenders won a Group One race in the 2019-20 season and between them the finalists recorded 29 wins and 29 placings from 67 starts. The Kiwi three-year-olds made a mark on both sides of the…

Evergreen galloper Irish Excuse (NZ) (No Excuse Needed) may be 10 years old but he is showing no signs of slowing down. The No Excuse Needed gelding has recently returned to Gore from a four start campaign in Canterbury where he recorded his 16th career victory at Riccarton first-up. “It was a pretty good campaign,” trainer Ellis Winsloe said. “All of his Christchurch runs were pretty good, but the track was probably a bit too firm for him at Ashburton last start.” Winsloe has been pleased with the way Irish…

Andrew Bensley and Aidan Rodley give their thoughts on the finalists for this year’s NZ Thoroughbred Horse of the Year Awards.

Injured Waikato jockey Ryan Elliot is determined to be leaner and keener to make the most of his future on the flat as the new season unfolds. Elliot, who served his successful apprenticeship under Graeme Rogerson, is currently sidelined with a broken collarbone after being tossed from Ave Maria at the first fence in the  Waikato Hurdle (3200m) earlier this month and doesn’t expect to be back in action until late next month. “I was told it could be up to six weeks, but it all depends how it mends.…

The first Group One race of the season will be a campaign-defining moment for Brandenburg (NZ) (Burgundy), who will be tested against 10 Group One winners. A full field of 16 will contest the Winx Stakes (1400m) at Randwick on Saturday, including some of the early favourites for the biggest races of the spring. Trainer John Sargent is happy to flush out exactly where Brandenburg fits into the mix but admits there is no slow road to discovery given the strength and depth of Saturday’s field. “He will take his…

When the going gets tough, you can count on the generosity of those involved in the racing industry. That’s what Pukekohe trainer Nigel Tiley has found as he prepares to send seven horses to race at Matamata on Saturday under the new Government Covid-19 restrictions around travel out of Auckland. New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing has implemented directives which means horses trained in the Auckland Supercity region are able to travel to meetings provided they are floated with an independent horse freight company and not accompanied by the trainer or stable…

Cambridge trainer Glen Harvey sent out his first raceday winner on Wednesday when Bounty (NZ) (Darci Brahma) proved too strong in the Te Akau 2019/2020 No 1 Stable 1100m maiden. The 31-year-old horseman was confident of another bold showing from the Darci Brahma four-year-old who had placed on debut and finished a solid fifth at his second start before saluting at third-time of asking under a positive Andrew Calder ride. “It’s really nice to get that first win out of the way, as it was starting to eat at me…

Multiple Group One winner The Bostonian (NZ) (Jimmy Choux) has drawn the ace barrier for Saturday’s Gr.1 Winx Stakes (1400m). Trainer Tony Pike couldn’t be happier with the way the draw panned out saying the inside gate will be a distinct advantage for the six-year-old son of Jimmy Choux. “It is a huge advantage,” Pike said. “The rail drops back to the true at Randwick on Saturday. “He is a horse that loves to follow that running rail, as he showed in the Canterbury Stakes (Gr.1, 1300m). Some of the…

Mark Chittick talks to Andrew Bensley after All Saints’ Eve prevailed in a nail biting finish at Randwick on Saturday.

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