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Talented two-year-old puts Staphanos on the board

With a dominant performance at Trentham on Saturday, promising two-year-old filly Pignan (Staphanos x Horindelle) became a fitting first winner for Novara Park stallion Staphanos. A placegetter in both of her two previous appearances, the Lisa Latta-trained filly was a class above her four rivals in Saturday’s Kernow Construction 2YO (1100m). She produced an impressive turn of foot in the hands of jockey Joe Doyle, kicking clear to score by three and a half lengths. Pignan is the first runner ...

No doubting Darci at Trentham

Pocket rocket Darci La Bella (Darci Brahma x Bellaroof) added another present under the Christmas tree for her connections when she proved too strong in the closing stages when taking out the Gr.2 Bramco Granite and Marble Manawatu Challenge Stakes (1400m) at Trentham. The Allan Sharrock-trained mare made it four wins in a row, three of them at stakes level, as she downed Group One winner Coventina Bay in a driving finish to the Group Two feature. Rider Jonathan Riddell had a few anxious moments...

No catching Sagunto in Manawatu Cup

A day that started in perfect fashion for trainer Peter McKay when Purrfect Puss (Sacred Falls x Miss Purrfection) saluted in the second race got even better for the Matamata mentor as Sagunto (O'Reilly x Queen Sabeel) landed his biggest victory with an all-the-way win in the Gr.3 Humphries Construction Manawatu Cup (2300m). Rated to perfection by Lisa Allpress, the seven-year-old son of O’Reilly never looked like flinching in the run home after setting up a solid speed throughout the 2300m of...

Polygon heads straight to podium top step at Te Rapa

Lightly raced three-year-old Polygon (NZ) (Highly Recommended) took the step up to stakes company in her stride as she dashed home to take out the feature race at Te Rapa on Saturday, the Gr.3 Lawnmaster Eulogy Stakes (1600m). The Group Three contest was transferred to the Waikato venue after racing at Awapuni was abandoned last Saturday and that played into the hands of the Lance Noble-trained runner who was originally being aimed at the Gr.2 Eight Carat Classic (1600m) at Pukekohe on Boxing Da...

Kovalica demolishes Grand Prix rivals

Smart staying three-year-old Kovalica (Ocean Park x Vitesse) gave favourite punters few concerns when he cruised to victory in Saturday’s Gr.3 Grand Prix Stakes (2100m) at Eagle Farm. Sent out $1.45 favourite, the Chris Waller-trained son of Ocean Park was allowed to find his feet by jockey James Orman, getting back to last in the eight-horse field before looping his rivals and proving a class above. Raced by Neville Morgan and David Devine, Kovalica has now won four of his five starts and t...

Ucalledit thriving in Queensland

Like many Kiwis, five-year-old gelding Ucalledit (Zacinto x Special Bay) is relishing life in Queensland. The former New Zealand-trained galloper has proved a handy addition to the Kris Lees stable and broke through for his maiden stakes success when comfortably accounting for his rivals in the Listed Lough Neagh Stakes (1400m) at Eagle Farm on Saturday. Originally prepared by Kevin Myers, for whom he won four of his 14 starts, Ucalledit was purchased by Australian Bloodstock after two Riccarto...

Meet the Breeder - Warwick Jeffries

This week we speak to Warwick Jeffries who bred Dark Destroyer (Proisir x All Can Party), winner of the Gr.1 Tarzino Trophy (1400m) at Hastings last Saturday. How many mares do you breed from? I have six mares here in New Zealand – with another in Australia. One is at Grange William Stud and the others are foaling down at Highline Thoroughbreds with Cam and Eva Heron. What else do you have in your bloodstock portfolio (youngstock, racehorses etc)? I have a couple of two-year-olds with Stephen...

Meet the Breeder - David Archer

We chatted to David Archer who lives in Karaka Auckland, he is the breeder and owner of Queen Sarabi (Rip Van Winkle/Keepa Cheval) who won the Colin Thompson NZB Insurance Pearl Series race at Matamata on Wednesday.  He is also the breeder of Mufhasa – pictured. Queen Sarabi just won the Pearl Bonus, how important do you think this series is for breeders of fillies/mares to be able compete for? Very valuable, Amy Durant chose the race because of Pearl Bonus and targeted it. I wa...

Friends celebrate Group Three success

The well-performed Per Incanto (USA) mare Faithful Feat (x On Yer Feet) is providing two old friends with loads of fun and enjoyment. The five-year-old was bred by Peter Hart and Ian McDonald and is raced in partnership with Peter’s wife Lynn and Melbourne-based son Blair. The recent winner of the Gr.3 J Swap Sprint (1400m), Faithful Feat has now won seven races from just 15 starts and also has a Group Two placing for good measure. “It’s very exciting, she gives us plenty to talk about aro...

Veteran raises the roof with Cup victory

Hardy veteran Viktor Vegas (NZ) (Tavistock x Purnima) struck a blow for the older generation when he plowed through the wet underfoot conditions at Te Rapa to blitz his rivals in the Gr.3 SKYCITY Hamilton Waikato Cup (2400m). The nine-year-old son of Tavistock has been reinvigorated under the guidance of trainer Casey Lock and belied his advanced age as he backed up the form that saw him run close up in third in the Gr.3 Counties Cup (2100m) at his most recent start. Rider Kozzi Asano ...

Kirwan’s Lane heads Kiwi trifecta in Ingham

New Zealand-breds dominated the inaugural running of the revamped A$2 million Gr.2 The Ingham (1600m) at Randwick on Saturday, with an all-Kiwi trifecta headed by a pair of John O’Shea-trained stablemates. Kirwan’s Lane (NZ) (Charm Spirit x Galway) was presented at just the right time by jockey Brenton Avdulla, bursting to the front with less than 200m remaining. His biggest challenge came from his own stablemate, with a resurgent former Group One winner Lion’s Roar (NZ) (Contributer ...

Sinarahma superior in Te Rapa feature

Warm favourite Sinarahma (NZ) (Darci Brahma x Shez Sinsational) provided a further example of her undoubted class when she cruised to victory in one of the feature events at Te Rapa on Saturday, the Gr.2 Cal Isuzu Stakes (1600m). The Allan Sharrock-trained mare thrived on the Soft7 track conditions, which had been downgraded from earlier in the day due to several heavy showers, as rider Craig Grylls gave her an armchair trip throughout. Settled in behind a steady pace set up by Express...

Flying mare rewards the faithful

Flying mare Faithful Feat (NZ) (Per Incanto x On Yer Feet) showed all her fighting qualities when she overcame a wide barrier, a hefty 58.5kg impost and a heavy downpour that created vision problems for all horses and riders to claim her first black type victory when taking out the Gr.3 J Swap Sprint (1400m) at Te Rapa. The daughter of Per Incanto had won her previous start on the track last month carrying just 54kgs but jumped up a further 4.5kgs for Saturday’s contest against a qua...

Prise De Fer achieves Group One glory

It has been a long time in the making but grand galloper Prise De Fer (Savabeel x Foiled) finally claimed his first elite level title when he took out the Gr.1 Rydges Wellington Captain Cook Stakes (1600m) at Trentham. In a distinguished career that is littered with black type wins the seven-year-old son of Savabeel shed the bridesmaid tag he had been saddled with after five placings at Group One level, including a runner-up finish in the race last year, to put a tick in the win column for the f...

Impendabelle proves too tough at Trentham

Despite a few moments of concern when placed in tight quarters at the top of the Trentham home straight, rugged filly Impendabelle (Impending x Applegate) maintained her unbeaten record with a dogged performance to win the Gr.2 Mode Technology Wakefield Challenge Stakes (1100m). The Tony Pike-trained filly had been an impressive first up winner at the venue back in October and went in to her first black type challenge on Saturday as a warm $2 favourite. Her backers had plenty of reasons to worry...

Sacred Satono all class in Bonecrusher Stakes

Progressive three-year-old Sacred Satono (Satono Aladdin x Belle Joie) produced a winning effort that more than honoured the memory of the champion galloper that Saturday’s feature race at Pukekohe was named after when taking out the Gr.3 Mitchell Family Bonecrusher Stakes (1400m). The Bruce Wallace and Grant Cooksley-trained runner was all out at the 200m as he battled with eventual runner-up The Intimidator for the win but pulled out something extra to put his head in front where it mattered...

Kissinger impresses in Pakenham Cup victory

Progressive New Zealand-bred galloper Kissinger (Tavistock x Berlin Belle) provided further evidence of his staying prowess when he produced a sustained home straight burst to comfortably score his first stakes success in Saturday’s Listed Pakenham Cup (2500m) Under the guidance of Damien Oliver, the lightly raced seven-year-old sat back in the early running before looping into contention approaching the home bend. Unleashed by Oliver at the 300m the son of Tavistock quickly mastered the front...

NZTBA hosts Governor-General

The New Zealand thoroughbred breeding industry has gained a new fan following the visit by Her Excellency, The Rt Hon Dame Cindy Kiro GNZM, QSO, Governor-General of New Zealand to two of the country’s leading stud farms last week. The Governor-General is the representative of the Sovereign in New Zealand and an invitation was extended by the New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association (NZTBA) earlier this year as part of The late Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations. NZTBA CEO Justine ...

Dolan gets winning tune out of Bonny Ezra

Seven-year-old Road To Rock gelding Bonny Ezra (Road to Rock x Ascolini) provided his Kiwi connections with a good pay day when charging home to land the Listed ATC Cup (2000m) for trainer Chris Waller under a masterful Robbie Dolan ride. Sent out a $31 chance, Bonny Ezra upset the applecart after coming from last under Dolan, who picked a path through runners closer to the rail to score from Dr Drill. The victory reaffirmed the riding skills of Dolan, who these days juggles being a jockey wit...

Milford eclipses rivals at Caulfield

Improved underfoot conditions were the key to Milford (Savabeel x Etiquette) returning to winning ways in the Gr.3 Eclipse Stakes (1800m) at Caulfield on Saturday. The son of Savabeel was given an economical ride near the pace by Blake Shinn and the former New Zealand Derby runner-up pounced when presented. Successful in the Gr.3 Easter Cup (2000m) on the course earlier this year, Milford had been unplaced in his previous run in the A$2 million Five Diamonds (1800m) at Rosehill but trainer Micha...

Promising stayer the Belle of the Ball at Wanganui

Progressive staying mare La Flora Belle (Iffraaj x Tsarina Belle) set the scene for further success over the summer months with a determined effort to take out the Listed Steelform Roofing Group Wanganui Cup (2040m) on Saturday. The Mark Walker-trained five-year-old had picked up her first career victory back in February and added a second before being set aside for a decent winter break. Off the back of her third victory two starts ago and a last start second in the Waipukurau Cup (1600m), Walk...

Gin Martini triumphs for father of the bride

Trainer John Sargent had a good reason not to be trackside on Saturday to saddle smart staying mare Gin Martini (Rip Van Winkle x Tanqueray). While the four-year-old mare notched her maiden stakes success with a hard-fought victory in the Listed Sandown Cup (3200m), Sargent was walking daughter Lucy down the aisle. The flashy chestnut, who is raced by James Moss’ Tricolours Syndications, was placed in the Gr.1 ATC Oaks (2400m) back in autumn, to go with multiple Group Three placings. A daugh...

Prise De Fer captured his tenth career victory in winning the Gr.3 Eagle Technology Stakes (1600m).

Fresh off winning the first feature race on the card at Te Rapa on Saturday aboard Waitak in the Listed Trevor & Corallie Eagle Memorial (1500m), South African jockey Craig Zackey added the main event of the day when he guided Prise De Fer (Savabeel x Foiled) to a narrow victory in the Gr.3 Eagle Technology Stakes (1600m). Zackey used similar tactics to those he employed aboard Waitak as he allowed the seven-year-old Savabeel gelding to settle last before improving to join the leaders inside...

Impressive Waitak swoops on Eagle Memorial

A storming late run by powerfully built three-year-old Waitak (Proisir x Repo Bay) continued the latest run of success for his sire Proisir as he captured the Listed Trevor & Corallie Eagle Memorial (1500m) at Te Rapa. Placed at Group One level as a two-year-old when prepared by Peter and Dawn Williams, Waitak was having just his second run for the Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott team on Saturday. Rider Craig Zackey, who is also enjoying a purple patch of form since relocating to New Zea...

Devastate snares Wellington Stakes

Devastate (Vadamos x Passion Cut) continued his rapid progression with a successful return to Otaki on Thursday to add the Gr.3 Elsdon Park Wellington Stakes (1600m) to his record and continue a dream run for trainer Andrew Forsman. The son of Rich Hill Stud stallion Vadamos completed a double for the stable following the earlier debut victory of Bella Regazza (Tivaci x Ramazzotti) in the Foxton Fish & Chippie 2YO (1100m). Forsman posted his eighth stakes victory this season with the win of ...