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Queensland star Antino retired

Multiple Group One winner and dual Queensland Horse of the Year Antino has been retired from racing after his fourth placing in the Brisbane Handicap (1600m) at Eagle Farm on Saturday.The Tony Gollan-trained seven-year-old was found to have heat and swelling in his right fore tendon on Sunday.Further veterinary examinations on Monday confirmed Antino sustained an injury to that tendon during the race.After consultation with the owners, the decision was made to retire the striking son of Redwood ...

Ka Ying Rising extends winning streak to 20 and breaks track record again

Ka Ying Rising (NZ) (Shamexpress) confirmed his status as the world’s best horse with a record-breaking victory in the HK$24 million Gr.1 Chairman’s Sprint Prize (1200m) at Sha Tin on Sunday (26 April) to crown a flawless season, sealing the Hong Kong Speed Series and extending his winning streak to 20.He has now broken the Sha Tin track record in each of his last two runs – one at 1200m and also in the Gr.1 Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup (1400m).His time of 1m 07.10s was slightly bette...

Fillies deliver memorable day for Nearco Stud

Drops Of God’s dazzling display at Te Rapa at the weekend set up a quickfire inter-Island black type double for Nearco Stud with the second leg stylishly closed out soon after at Riccarton by Perlino.The lightly raced pair of homebred fillies are now both three-time winners prepared by Te Akau’s Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson, with the former also carrying the colours of farm principal Greg Tomlinson.Drops Of God’s victory romp in Saturday’s Gr.3 Cambridge Breeders’ Stakes (1200m) came ...

Ka Ying Rising makes it 20 straight

As expected, Ka Ying Rising (NZ) (Shamexpress) has made it 20 successive wins with ease, narrowly breaking his own track record in the Gr.1 Chairman’s Sprint Prize on Champions Day at Sha Tin on Sunday. David Hayes’ superstar sprinter cemented his undisputed status as the world’s fastest horse in his usual stunning fashion, producing a jaw dropping turn of foot at the 300m mark and putting a space on one of Japan’s finest in Satono Reve. Though the immediate post-race...

Drops Of God dominant in Cambridge Breeders’ Stakes

Exciting filly Drops Of God (Hello Youmzain) proved to be too good for her rivals at Te Rapa on ANZAC Day when running out a dominant victor in the Gr.3 Windsor Park Stud Cambridge Breeders’ Stakes (1200m).The Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson-trained three-year-old had shown plenty of ability in her three prior starts, winning her first two outings before running third in the Gr.3 Almanzor Trophy (1200m) behind stablemate and subsequent Gr.1 Vinery Stud Stakes (2000m) winner Belle Cheval.She...

White Robe Lodge enjoy red letter day at Riccarton

The Brian and Shane Anderton team and White Robe Lodge enjoyed a day for the ages at Riccarton on Saturday when they collected two of the three stakes features on the ANZAC Day card.Underrated mare Inflamed kicked off proceedings by running down race favourite Iron Hawk to win the Listed Daphne Bannan Memorial Great Easter Stakes (1400m) before outsider Bauble (Ghibellines) ($27) defied a muddling form line to storm home out wide and capture the Gr.3 Coca-Cola Canterbury Gold Cup (2000m).Wa...

Poignant win by Inflamed in Great Easter Stakes

It was a poignant win by Inflamed (Ghibellines) in the Gr.3 Daphne Bannan Memorial Great Easter Stakes (1400m) at Riccarton on Saturday, which came just hours after the passing of her dam Ortem Fire at White Robe Lodge on Friday.Bred and raced by White Robe Lodge principal Brian Anderton and his late wife Lorraine, Inflamed had been in solid form heading into the ANZAC Day meeting, winning twice at Riccarton last month, including the Gr.3 South Island Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1600m)...

Khanshe storms to victory in Travis Stakes

Central Districts mare Khanshe (Mongolian Khan) put an unlucky effort at her last start well behind her when she produced a strong finishing burst to claim her biggest career victory, the Gr.2 Travis Stakes (2000m) at Te Rapa on Saturday.The Fraser Auret-prepared five-year-old had caught the eye as one of very few horses to make up ground in the Trentham home straight in her last start where she finished fourth in the Gr.1 New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1600m) last month.With ...

Perlino enjoys Warstep Glory

Exciting filly Perlino (Super Seth) added significant value to any future breeding career she may have when she strode clear to win the Listed New Zealand Bloodstock Warstep Stakes (2000m) at Riccarton on Saturday.The daughter of Super Seth is prepared by Te Akau Racing duo Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson and has been based in their South Island base in the care of assistant trainer Hunter Durrant for the last four of her six starts, where she has crafted an impeccable record of two wins and ...

Kronenbourg all the way for Brisbane Handicap upset

Kiwi-bred gelding Kronenbourg (Vadamos) capped a big day for trainer Tony Gollan in Brisbane on Saturday with a boilover in the A$300,000 Listed Cricks Highway Brisbane Handicap (1600m) at Eagle Farm.It was Gollan’s fifth win on the card, following on from his earlier victories with Savagery Vibe, Bundella, Listed Calaway Gal (1200m) winner Boomella, and also the New Zealand-bred War Decree mare Give Giggles.Those earlier winners were all at single-figure odds for their respective races, ...

JJ Atkins on the radar for unbeaten Blind Raise

Expat New Zealand trainers Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young have their sights set on the Queensland Winter Carnival after Blind Raise (Ace High) added black type to his unbeaten record in Saturday’s A$175,000 Listed ANZAC Day Stakes (1400m) at Flemington.The Kiwi-bred son of Ace High kicked off his career with a stylish debut win at Sandown on April 6, and he stepped out at Flemington three weeks later as a $2.15 favourite to repeat that result. He duly delivered in the hands of jockey Be...

Atmospheric in rarefied air at Otaki

In form gelding Atmospheric (El Roca) was in rarefied air at Otaki on Friday when he broke through for a deserved maiden stakes victory in the Listed Jennian Homes ANZAC Mile (1600m).The four-year-old son of El Roca has been knocking on the door for some time, winning three of his previous 15 starts, and ran fourth in last year’s Gr.3 Championship Stakes (2100m), and he earned another crack at black-type when winning over 1500m at Ellerslie three weeks ago.From his ace barrier, he was onl...

Little Avondale announces fees for father-son duo

Little Avondale Stud stalwart Per Incanto continues to make his presence felt on racetracks across Australasia and Asia and his progeny keenly sought after at all major sales.The durable son of Street Cry is a multiple champion sire who has produced nine individual Group One winners during his decorated career and will serve a limited book in 2026 at an increased fee of $75,000 + GST.Among his elite level winners is his son and associate sire Little Brose, who was warmly welcomed by breeders in ...

Popular Alflaila heads White Robe roster

White Robe Lodge stallions Alflaila and Ancient Spirit will stand at 7,000+GST this breeding season, reinforcing the iconic Southern nursery’s commitment to supporting thoroughbred breeders at every level.Alflaila heads into his second season at White Robe Lodge after a strong debut year, where the multiple Group Two winner proved popular with breeders, covering 110 mares.A striking individual, he represents the first influence of the outstanding Dark Angel sire-line to stand in New Zealand, o...

Remarkable breeding partnership ends with Gavelhouse Plus action

A trio of high-quality mares will be offered on Gavelhouse Plus next month, bringing the curtain down on a decorated breeding and racing partnership that has spanned two decades.Rondinella (NZ) (Ocean Park), Sudbina (NZ) (Almanzor) and Tinnelly (NZ) (O’Reilly) are being put on the market by Haunui Farm and Frantic Bloodstock.“It’s the end of an era,” Haunui Farm’s managing director Mark Chitty said. “We’re putting up three mares that we own in partnership w...

Transformed sprint hero Lucky Sweynesse goes for FWD Champions Mile glory

Lucky Sweynesse (NZ) (Sweynesse) took a giant step forward in his newfound calling as a sprinter-turned-miler last start, and this Sunday on FWD Champions Day, the four-time Group One winner is aiming to cement his status as one of Sha Tin’s top performers over 1600m.Lucky Sweynesse is trained by Manfred Man and will be ridden by Derek Leung in the HK$24 million Gr.1 FWD Champions Mile (1600m). He is one of Hong Kong’s most beloved horses, boasting 17 wins from 33 starts, including eigh...

Golden family keeps on producing

O’Reilly mare Gram may only be 10 years old, but she is already proving to be a powerhouse producer for Waikato Stud.From her first three foals she has left Gr.1 Australian Derby (2400m) hero Major Beel, Australian placegetter Rose Gold, and Solid Gold, who carried owner-breeder Waikato Stud’s familiar silks to victory in last Saturday’s Gr.3 Championship Stakes (2100m) at Ellerslie.The daughter of Savabeel has shown plenty of ability to date for trainers Roger James and Robert Wellwood, a...

Group Three success continues Rich Hill’s strong run

Leading thoroughbred nursery Rich Hill Stud has enjoyed a strong run of success this season, which was further enhanced at Ellerslie on Saturday when Lupo Solitario (Satono Aladdin) took out the Gr.3 Easter Handicap (1600m).Bred by John Thompson and Alan Galbraith’s Rich Hill Thoroughbreds Ltd, Lupo Solitario is by the farm’s shuttle stallion Satono Aladdin and out of Pentire mare She’s Aloof, who Rich Hill bred in a foal sharing deal with White Robe Lodge’s Wayne and Karen Stewart....

Group One winner Mercurial retired

Group One winner Mercurial (NZ) (Burgundy) has been retired from racing and will now embark on a new career as an eventer.The seven-year-old son of Burgundy won six of his 46 starts for trainer Stephen Marsh, highlighted by his victory in the 2024 edition of the Gr.1 Telegraph (1200m) where he fought out a tight finish with Express Yourself (NZ) (Shamexpress).He also placed in the Gr.1 Railway (1200m), Gr.3 J Swap Sprint (1400m), Gr.3 Spring Sprint (1400m) and Gr.3 King’s Plate (1200...

Champion European Miler to bolster Cambridge Stud’s stallion roster

Cambridge Stud have bolstered their stallion roster for the upcoming breeding season with the addition of World Champion Miler Charyn (Dark Angel).Charyn’s talent was evident from an early age, highlighted by victory in the Gr.2 Critérium de Maisons-Laffitte (1200m) at two.His championship season as a four-year-old featured victories in three of Europe’s premier mile contests - the Gr.1 Queen Anne Stakes, Gr.1 Prix Jacques le Marois and Gr.1 Queen Elizabeth II Stakes to become the first hor...

Lupo Solitario takes traditional Ellerslie feature

Talented performer Lupo Solitario (Satono Aladdin) is making every post a winner since his return from a stint in Hong Kong and captured the traditional Ellerslie feature, the Gr.3 Manco Easter Handicap (1600m), in a nail-biting finish on Saturday.The five-year-old son of Satono Aladdin had seven starts in the competitive Hong Kong racing jurisdiction, but a race fall knocked his confidence and the decision was taken to send him back to his former mentor, Danica Guy.Before his overseas vent...

Asterix lands JRA Plate

Smart stayer Asterix (Tavistock) resumed as a strong winner of the Gr.3 JRA Plate (2000m) for trainer Chris Waller at Randwick on Saturday.The seven-year-old son of Tavistock enjoyed a good preparation last campaign and had been trialling well in the lead-up to Saturday’s victory.Punters backed the former Kiwi from $31 into $15 and the gelding showed a ready turn of foot when finding clear air under Collett, tracking runner-up You Wahng throughout, with well-fancied stablemate Travolta fi...

Gold medal for James and Wellwood Filly at Ellerslie

Promising three-year-old filly Solid Gold (Savabeel) stepped from a maiden victory at Ellerslie over 1600m at her last start to Group Three glory at the venue on Saturday when she claimed the Gr.3 Trelawney Stud Championship Stakes (2100m).The Roger James and Robert Wellwood-prepared daughter of Waikato Stud super sire Savabeel dominated the betting markets to start a $2.60 Fixed Odds favourite, such was the strength of her maiden performance.Given a perfect trip in midfield by rider George...

To Bravery Born Hong Kong bound

To Bravery Born (Snitzel) will continue his racing career in Hong Kong following his recent sale.Bred by Nearco Stud, the son of Snitzel was purchased by Te Akau Racing principal David Ellis out of Curraghmore’s 2024 New Zealand Bloodstock Book 1 Yearling Sale draft for $200,000.Trained by Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson, he went on to win two of his five starts as a juvenile and placed in the Gr.3 Matamata Slipper (1200m).He made a winning start to his three-year-old term before adding a f...

Sale to cap exciting time for Windsor Park Stud

Windsor Park Stud are looking forward to a strong turnout for their annual Rugby, Racing and Beer Sale set for next Thursday 23rd April at Riccarton Park in Christchurch.The niche yearling sale, with 12 Lots, doubles as a charitable event and sportsman’s function, with guest speakers including former All Black Andy Ellis and Group One winning trainer Bjorn Baker.For Super Rugby enthusiasts, this year’s Super Round will take place at Christchurch’s brand-new One New Zealand Stadium, with fi...