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Wolverine displays her X-factor at Te Rapa

Heavily backed $2.50 favourite Wolverine carried her many supporters to victory with a stunning performance to take out the Gr.2 Hiddenbed Wakefield Challenge Stakes (1100m) at Te Rapa. The Royden Bergerson-trained daughter of Tivaci had looked an exciting prospect when winning her debut at Otaki last month, albeit against just three opponents. Despite having to make the trip north from her Awapuni base due to the rescheduling of the race after the Trentham meeting was abandoned a week ago, the ...

Mature Mightybeel lands Christmas Cup

Four-year-old Savabeel gelding Mightybeel has enjoyed a fruitful campaign that has netted four wins from seven starts, including Saturday’s Listed Christmas Cup (2400m) at Randwick. Sporting the colours of Kiwi syndicators Go Racing, Mightybeel is yet another New Zealand-bred stayer that has benefited from the patient handling of champion trainer Chris Waller. The progressive stayer was ridden perfectly by Hugh Bowman, who bided his time before pouncing on race favourite Herman Hesse inside t...

Rockstar packs plenty of punch at Te Rapa

Ever consistent sprinter Packing Rockstar displayed all his fighting qualities when he downed a high-quality field of sprinters in the Gr.3 J Swap Sprint (1400m) at Te Rapa. Despite carrying the topweight of 60kgs, the six-year-old son of Fastnet Rock dictated affairs at the head of the field for rider Leith Innes and looked to be full of running turning for home. Maintaining a strong gallop, the Lauren Brennan-trained galloper refused to yield as he defeated Providenceprovides and Dragon Leap t...

Eulogy reward for consistent filly

Belle En Rouge bucked recent history when she headed to Awapuni and capped a consistent spring with a deserved victory in Saturday’s Gr.3 LawnMaster Eulogy Stakes (1600m). The Burgundy filly been a black-type placegetter in both of her last two starts, including a close third in last month’s Gr.1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m). On Saturday she became the first filly in almost a decade to win the Eulogy after contesting the Riccarton classic. The last to achieve that feat was Soriano in 201...

Stakes mission accomplished for Charmmebaby

Five-year-old mare Charmmebaby came from last to land the Listed Brisbane Handicap (1640m) at Doomben on Friday evening to become the 12th individual stakes winner for her sire Charm Spirit. Ridden by Taylor Marshall, the Kiwi-bred mare finished a quarter of a length ahead of the runner-up Niccanova with Kubrick two lengths behind the winner in third. After being moderately into stride, Charmmebaby was detached from the remainder of the field early in the piece but gathered momentum early in th...

Maiden Group One in the offing for Cameron

Catherine Cameron scored her first Group victory as a trainer last month and she could add a Group One to her resume on Saturday at Te Rapa. That Group win came courtesy of globetrotting galloper Cheval Prometteur in the Gr.3 Balmerino Stakes (2000m) at Te Rapa last month. “He deserved it,” Cameron said. “It wasn’t the strongest bunch but there was a bit of talk about the one that ran second (Concert Hall) and he managed to hold her off. “That is where he is at now and he has to chip ...

James and Wellwood to the fore at Te Rapa

Something about the start of summer brings the very best out of Concert Hall, who broke an 11-month win drought with a superb victory in Saturday’s Gr.2 Cal Isuzu Stakes (1600m) at Te Rapa. The $110,000 fillies and mares’ showpiece was the 10th win of a 29-start career for the high-class daughter of Savabeel, and it was the third time she has won a Group race in the month of December – following on from her victories in the Gr.3 Manawatu Cup (2300m) in 2019 and the Gr.1 Zabeel Classic (200...

Two Illicit caps magical day for James and Wellwood

Cambridge trainers Roger James and Robert Wellwood capped an already stellar day at Te Rapa on Saturday when Two Illicit strode clear of her rivals to claim the Gr.1 Rydges Wellington Captain Cook Stakes (1600m), the first elite-level success of her career. The Cambridge conditioners had earlier secured a stakes double with Concert Hall in the Gr.2 Cal Isuzu Stakes (1600m), closely followed by Cheaperthandivorce taking out the Gr.3 SKYCITY Hamilton Waikato Cup (2400m). Carrying the familiar Trel...

James keen for more of the same after spectacular Saturday

Roger James had plenty of time to reflect on a truly magical 48-hour period as he made the long trip home to his Cambridge base from Palmerston North on Sunday morning. James and training partner Robert Wellwood were the stars of the show at Te Rapa on Saturday, producing a perfect set of stakes victories as Concert Hall took out the Gr.2 Cal Isuzu Stakes (1600m), before Cheaperthandivorce scored in the Gr.3 Waikato Cup (2400m) and finally rounding out the treble with Two Illicit in the Gr.1 Cap...

New Zealand Small Breeder of the Year announced

Auckland resident Don Goodwin has been named the inaugural winner of the New Zealand Small Breeder of the Year Award for 2020-21 due to the feats of his outstanding mare Verry Elleegant (Zed x Opulence). Sponsored by Luigi Muollo, the award recognises the achievements of a New Zealand breeder whose small broodmare band represents true breeding merit in the quality of racing performance. Goodwin received the honour over fellow finalists Willie and Karen Calder (breeders of Avantage), Joan Egan (b...

New stakes winner for Bay of Plenty breeder

Bay of Plenty based farmer Warwick Jeffries, admits to getting a massive kick out of Dark Destroyer (Proisir [AUS] - All Can Party [AUS]) winning the Gr.3 Mitchell Family Bonecrusher Stakes (1400m). “It was great, the kids got a big thrill,” recalled Jeffries who bred the three-year-old gelding now owned by David Archer under his Archer Investments Limited banner. “He’s a lovely horse with a good owner and good trainers.” Trained at Matamata by Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott, Dark...

Chittick reflects as more awards claimed by Waikato

By Dennis Ryan, RaceformWaikato Stud principal Mark Chittick has been drawn back to his formative years in the bloodstock industry as he reflects on yet another raft of breeders’ awards.  In recognition of an outstanding 2020-21 season, last week the New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association announced that the Matamata nursery, in conjunction with Garry and Mary Chittick and Chittick Investments were the recipient of the Sir Patrick and Justine Lady Hogan Breeder of the Year trophy...

Angelic Miss Conquers 1400m In Jungle Dawn

The Simon Miller-trained Angelic Miss (NZ) (Savabeel) made it back-to-back stakes victories when dashing home to win the Listed Jungle Dawn Classic (1400m) at Ascot in Perth.The five-year-old daughter of Savabeel was the third stakes winner on the day for Miller, who had earlier sent out Liwa (Mulaazem) to win the Sir Ernest Lee-Steere Classic (1400m) and Valour Road (Frost Giant) to win the Gr.3 A.J. Scahill Stakes (1400m).From a wide draw Angelic Miss got back in the field and despit...

Dark Destroyer all class in Bonecrusher Stakes

A downgrade in the Matamata track due to persistent rain on the day played right into the hands of local runner Dark Destroyer as the promising galloper delivered a gritty victory in the day’s feature event, the Gr.3 Mitchell Family Bonecrusher Stakes (1400m). Sent out a warm $2 favourite after the late scratching of his well-fancied stablemate Karman Line due to the downgrade from a Dead4 to a Slow8 track surface, the Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott-trained son of Proisir showed plenty of...

Kah back in limelight with Smokin’ Romans Pakenham Cup win

Kiwi bred galloper Smokin’ Romans cruised to victory in Saturday’s Listed Pakenham Cup (2500m) under a perfect ride from comeback jockey Jamie Kah.  The Ciaron Maher and David Eustace-trained five-year-old provided Kah with her first win since August following her three-month ban for breaking COVID-19 protocols,  The star hoop had time to wave her whip to the crowd and drop her head in relief as she ran clear in the A$300,000 race aboard the favourite.  After being narrowly ed...

Waikato Stud named Breeder of the Year

Following a stellar season from horses carrying the iconic WS brand, Waikato Stud has been announced as the Sir Patrick and Justine Lady Hogan Breeder of the Year for the 2020-21 season. It is the eighth time the Chittick family operation has received this prestigious award and they are once again amazed and humbled by the honour. “Obviously we are very proud to get the award again and we are honoured and very pleased,” Waikato Stud proprietor Mark Chittick said. “To get four Group One wi...

Consultation is open on New Requirements for Importing Horses into New Zealand

MPI have notified the public that they are seeking feedback on their amendments to the import health standard (IHS) for horses with a specific focus on equine piroplasmosis. Their amendment is now available for external consultation. Please see the following weblink on the MPI consultation website: https://www.mpi.govt.nz/news-and-resources/consultations/ The direct link is: https://www.mpi.govt.nz/consultations/amendment-to-equine-piroplasmosis-measures-for-importing-horses The consul...

International campaign could see Verry Elleegant offered to Northern Hemisphere Market

Jomara Bloodstock partners vow to stick to plan to put ten-time Group 1 winner to auction. A planned European racing campaign next year for reigning Melbourne Cup (Gr 1, 3200m) champion Verry Elleegant (Zed), possibly culminating in a tilt at the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (Gr 1, 2400m), could open up the door for the brilliant New Zealand-bred mare to be sold at auction in the northern hemisphere.  Jomara Bloodstock’s John Carter, a key figure in the ownership group behind the Chris Wal...

NZB pitches sale bubble proposal to Govt

The completion of the DoubleTree By Hilton Karaka hotel couldn’t come at a better time for New Zealand Bloodstock. Located at their Karaka sales complex, the hotel is set to open in February next year, just weeks before the delayed New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale Series, which will run from March 7-12. While New Zealand citizens will be able to return home for the sale from mid-January after a seven-day home isolation period, fully vaccinated foreigners won’t be able to enter t...

Zola Express wins Wanganui Cup

Underrated New Plymouth mare Zola Express captured the biggest win of her burgeoning career when she claimed the Listed Steelform Roofing Group Wanganui Cup (2040m). The Janelle Millar-trained five-year-old has struck a purple patch of form since commencing her latest campaign, winning her first two starts this season before not having much luck in her next two races before Saturday’s contest. Millar legged aboard lightweight jockey Chris Dell for his first ride on the mare on Saturday, who ca...

Picket fence continues for exciting Pareanui Bay

Exciting three-year-old Pareanui Bay made it three wins from three starts when he took out the Listed Trevor & Corallie Eagle Memorial 3YO (1500m) on Saturday at Te Aroha. The Tony Pike-trained Lonhro gelding hadn’t been seen since recording a stunning win in the Gr.2 James and Annie Sarten Memorial Stakes (1400m) at Te Rapa last month and was sent out a dominant $1.90 favourite on the strength of that performance and a strong midweek trial. Rider Michael McNab had the long-striding individual...

Dragon Storm swoops to land Sandown Cup

Kiwi stayer Dragon Storm came from last to land the Listed Sandown Cup (3200m) at the Caulfield meeting on Saturday under a well-timed Blaike McDougall ride. The son of Shocking had won last season’s Gr.3 New Zealand Cup for Chris Gibbs and transferred to Mike Moroney’s Flemington stable after an unplaced effort in the Gr.3 Wellington Cup (3200m). The seven-year-old gelding’s three runs leading into Saturday’s triumph had been less than inspiring, with Moroney resorting to training the ...

Polly is a Cracker

Seven-year-old mare Polly Grey landed her fourth stakes race when successful in Saturday’s Listed ATC Cup (2000m) at Rosehill on Saturday, lumping a clear topweight of 59kgs on the Heavy track. The daughter of Azamour has a liking for rain-affected ground and handled the rise in distance from 1400m fresh-up to 2000m with aplomb, scoring a comfortable win under James McDonald. Prepared by Chris Waller for her New Zealand owners, the champion trainer joked that a pep-talk from a star stablemate...

Savabeel colt impresses in Sandown Guineas triumph

Trainers Mick Price and Michael Kent Jr have posted their first Group winner from their new stables at Cranbourne after Blue Army proved too classy for his rivals to win the Gr.2 Sandown Guineas (1600m). The three-year-old feature was contested at Caulfield for the first time, the base Price and Kent had previously called home prior to its closure as a training centre during the week, with plans afoot by the club for a second turf track for racing purposes and a host of commercial developments. ...

Double celebrations for Rose 'N' Power camp

Cambridge trainers Fred and Lindsay Cornege celebrated a personal milestone in style on Thursday when their game mare Rose 'N' Power (Power-Diamond Rose (Danroad)) landed the Listed Courtesy Ford Levin Stakes (1200m) at Otaki. The four-year-old mare has now won four races in succession and ticked the black-type box, giving further cause for celebration for the Corneges who were celebrating their 43rd wedding anniversary. Noted on-pacer Rose 'N' Power wasn’t as quickly away as usual but muster...