Group One-winning mare Glory Days (NZ) (Red Giant) returned from retirement at the Foxton trials on Tuesday where she finished fourth in her 1000m heat. The Bill Thurlow-trained eight-year-old failed to fire after returning from her spring campaign in Melbourne last spring and was subsequently retired after her fourth-placing in the Listed New Zealand St Leger (2600m) at Trentham in March. However, after her sale fell through her connections elected to bring her back into work and she could once again be on a Group One path this spring, with…
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Sentimental Miss pleases in Rosehill trial
Group One-winning mare Sentimental Miss (NZ) (Reliable Man) has made a pleasing start to her Sydney spring preparation, winning her 1100m Group trial at Rosehill on Tuesday. She began well from her barrier to settle just in behind the leader and travelled generously through the early stages. Approaching the home turn, jockey Hugh Bowman angled her into clear galloping room and she was able to finish off nicely to win by 0.2 lengths. “Hugh was very happy with her trial this morning,” trainer Chris Waller said. “He said her fitness…
Masks mandatory at trial and race meetings
New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing has updated its Level 2 and 3 directives to introduce a requirement for the wearing of face coverings at race or trial meetings. Face masks are required to be worn at all times in the weigh-room, birdcage, and starting gates. Riders are permitted to lower their mask during racing, after loading up in barriers and before re-entering the birdcage. NZTR said this change has been brought in line with updated Government advice, and specifically to help protect the wellbeing of jockeys, upon which the ongoing conduct…
Saracino breaks long drought with stakes win in Perth
A three-year absence from the winners’ enclosure was ended in spectacular style on Saturday when ex-Kiwi galloper Saracino led all the way to take out the Listed Heineken-Belmont Newmarket (1200m) at Belmont. Originally prepared by Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman at Cambridge, Saracino had enjoyed spectacular success in the early stages of his career when finishing third in the Gr.1 Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) as a two-year-old before defeating the older horses in the Gr.2 Foxbridge Plate (1200m) at Te Rapa and then crossing the Tasman to win the…
Moseley collects winning treble at Riccarton
One of the elder statesman of the South Island jockey ranks was to the fore at Riccarton as he collected a winning treble and went within a whisker of tearing off the major prize on the day. Fifty three-year-old Terry Moseley is riding as well as he ever has in a career that stretches nearly fourty years in the saddle yet still finds plenty of satisfaction in days like he had on Saturday where he won three of the first four races on the card. Moseley kicked off his winning…
WOOTTON BASSETT SALE WELCOME NEWS FOR CAMBRIDGE STUD
The arrival of Almanzor at Cambridge Stud on Friday in preparation for his third Southern Hemisphere breeding season coincided with a major announcement from Coolmore Stud overnight. Coolmore announced that they have purchased Almanzor’s sire Wootton Bassett from Haras d’Etreham and he will take up residence at the international powerhouse’s Irish base. The announcement of Wootton Bassett’s sale and departure for Coolmore vindicates the decision made by Cambridge Stud in 2018 to purchase the Southern Hemisphere rights to his best son, the European Champion three-year-old of 2016, Almanzor. At the…
AUDIO: Kenny Rae
Andrew Bensley talks to trainer Kenny Rae on Zoltan’s win at Riccarton on Saturday and Major Tom who lines up in the feature of the day, the Gr.3 Winter Cup.
No end of Affair in sight
The lush green paddocks of Trelawney Stud are ready and waiting, but trainer Jason Ong feels there is no need to put old boy War Affair (NZ) (O’Reilly) out to pasture just yet. At 10, most of his fellow competitors, especially the high achievers, would have long left the racing game, but the 16-time winner and multiple- Singapore feature is still going strong at Kranji. This Sunday, the 2014 Singapore Horse of the Year will, at his 42nd start, go off as the veteran among the 16 horses contesting the…
Tyler has big plans for promising stayer
Former North Island galloper Dr Velocious (NZ) (Haradasun) may have earned himself a tilt at the Gr.3 Christchurch Casino New Zealand Cup (3200m) after providing Singapore-born apprentice Yong Chew with his first victory at Riccarton on Saturday. The twenty-four-year-old Chew transferred south to Riccarton trainer Lance Robinson after spending time in the North Island and has had just four raceday rides this season. Despite his inexperience Chew kept his cool when he was trapped three-wide in the early running aboard the Haradasun five-year-old who did his early racing for owner…
Class galloper back to winning form at Riccarton
Quality short course galloper He Kin Fly (NZ) (Darci Brahma) reminded racing enthusiasts there is still plenty of life left in his eight-year-old legs when he boomed home to claim his tenth career victory when taking out the main sprint feature at Riccarton on Saturday. The Neill Ridley-trained Darci Brahma gelding won his only two local starts from the Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman stable before being sold to Hong Kong during his three-year-old campaign. Successful once from five starts in Hong Kong he was returned to New Zealand in…