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Jimmy shines brightly in Oakleigh Plate

Former Kiwi galloper Jimmysstar (Per Incanto) scored a stunning win in the Gr.1 Oakleigh Plate (1100m) at Caulfield on Saturday under a brilliant Ethan Brown ride.The son of Per Incanto stalked eventual runner-up She’s Bulletproof and launched from the rear of the field to record an emphatic length and a quarter victory in a slick 1:02.25.The winner of two of his three starts in New Zealand for Hastings trainer Guy Lowry, a majority share in Jimmysstar was sold to clients of Ciaron Maher follo...

Nine of the best for Brightside

Champion galloper Mr Brightside (Bullbars) notched his ninth Group One victory when winning the Gr.1 Futurity Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on Saturday for trainers Ben, Will and JD Hayes under a positive Craig Williams ride.The son of Bullbars displayed all his fighting qualities as he made it back-to-back Futurity Stakes, defying his widest draw and a strong head-wind as he raced outside the leader Private Life, with that rival trailing the field home.Mr Brightside scored by the barest of m...

Group One target for Classy Coeur Volante

Coeur Volante (Proisir) delivered a commanding performance at Caulfield on Saturday, securing her third Stakes victory in the Gr.3 Mannerism Stakes (1400m) under the guidance of jockey Blake Shinn.Prepared by Mike Moroney and Glen Thompson, the talented Proisir mare overcame a challenging run at Sandown in her previous start, showcasing her class this time around.Grinzinger Belle set a brisk early pace, allowing Coeur Volante to find the trail from a wide barrier.As the leader's momentum wa...

Just another day at the office for outstanding El Vencedor

El Vencedor, (Shocking) or the big EV as he is becoming affectionately known, continued his career-best form with another superb victory at Ellerslie in Saturday’s Gr.1 Sport Nation Otaki-Māori WFA Classic (1600m).The gelded son of Shocking sat three back off the pace set by Belclare and looked to be travelling like a winner throughout for rider Wiremu Pinn.Given his head rounding the home bend, the Stephen Marsh-trained runner charged to the front at the 200m and never looked like being deni...

Sethito sparkles in NZB Kiwi audition

Four confirmed candidates for the inaugural $3.5 million NZB Kiwi (1500m) had their final dress rehearsal in the Listed Trevor & Corallie Eagle Uncle Remus Stakes (1400m) at Ellerslie on Saturday, and a classy performance by Sethito (Super Seth) put a spring in the step of her connections and slot-holders.Bred and raced by Waikato Stud patriarch Garry Chittick, Sethito was selected to represent Waikato Thoroughbred Racing’s slot after an impressive run of form that started with a six-...

Group Two victory for Firestorm

Smart four-year-old mare Firestorm (Satono Aladdin) snared a well-deserved Group Two victory when getting the better of her rivals in the Millie Fox Stakes (1300m) at Rosehill on Saturday.Prepared by Chris Waller and ridden by Jason Collett, Firestorm was resuming from a spell and got the better of her rivals late to defeat Dark Glitter and stablemate Scarlet Oak.The daughter of Satono Aladdin commenced her career in New Zealand when prepared by Paul Mirabelli and finished sixth in the Gr.1...

Upset Cup double for Blue Sky At Night

Blue Sky At Night (Shamexpress) has defied double-digit odds to win both of New Zealand’s biggest 2400m handicaps this season, adding Saturday’s Gr.3 Eagle Technology Avondale Cup at Ellerslie to her victory in the Gr.3 Waikato Cup in December.The Shamexpress mare landed a $13 upset with her Te Rapa triumph three starts ago, but subsequent unplaced finishes in the Gr.3 Queen Elizabeth II Cup (2400m) and Gr.3 Taranaki Cup (1800m) saw those odds balloon to $34.70 on Saturday.But under a w...

Shanwah cruises to Autumn Classic success

Well-bred three-year-old Shanwah (Too Darn Hot) is fulfilling his potential as a gelding for trainer Ciaron Maher with a dominant display in the Gr.2 Autumn Classic (1800m) at Caulfield.The New Zealand-bred son of Too Darn Hot has recorded three victories in succession with Saturday’s win coming under a heady ride by Blake Shinn, who found the trail behind a solid tempo set by Emphasize.Shanwah came off the leader’s back rounding the home turn and was a soft length and a half winner ove...

Meet the Breeder - Max and Joe Smithies

This week in Dunstan Horse Feeds Meet the Breeder, we caught up with Max Smithies of Monovale Farm. Max and his brother Joe have had plenty of success together since taking over the farm from their late-father Paul and mother Cushla. With a real hands on approach, Max and Joe's latest success story is 4yo Almanzor-gelding, Rise At Dawn who won the Listed Elms Handicap at Flemington.Tell us the story of Rise At Dawn.Rise At Dawn is out of a very handy race mare our father bought some years ago. K...

Group One-winning mare retired

It was an emotional day at Te Akau Racing’s Matamata stables on Sunday when co-trainer Sam Bergerson farewelled Skew Wiff (Savabeel) for the final time following her retirement from racing.Bred and raced by Waikato Stud, the daughter of Savabeel recorded Bergerson’s first Group One victory as a trainer when taking out the 2023 edition of the Tarzino Trophy (1400m), a day that will live long in the memory of the Matamata horseman.“She holds a really special place in my heart being my f...

Kiwi Chronicles - Obvious

Those interested in pedigrees and bloodlines had only to look at the catalogue page of La Dorada (Super Seth) to find the winner of this year’s Matamata Breeders’ Stakes (Gr 2, 1200m). It was obvious, although, to be fair, her last-start win in the Karaka Million 2YO (Listed, 1200m) was also a major factor.La Dorada’s dam, Gold Fever (Savabeel) won the Matamata Breeders’ Stakes in 2017. The previous year, Gold Fever’s half-sister, Gold Rush (So You Think), took out the same race.All th...

Valachi legacy living on in star filly

Kevin Hickman has left a lasting mark on New Zealand’s breeding industry, with the recent success of sensational filly Pivotal Ten (Ten Sovereigns) an embodiment of his vision at Valachi Downs.A daughter of Ten Sovereigns, Pivotal Ten has been unbeaten in her last five starts for trainer-jockey Samantha Wynne, including victories in the Listed NZB Insurance Stakes (1400m), Listed Gore Guineas (1335m) and Listed Southland Guineas (1400m). At Gore, her nearest rival was six lengths away, wh...

Embellish 4YO headlines memorable day for stud

Cambridge Stud was in the thick of the action at Matamata with a hat-trick of winners and also made an impression further afield.The premier nursery’s graduates were led by stakes victor What You Wish For, while Balance Of Power and Moschino starred on the undercard.In Australia, resident stallion Almanzor was represented by stakes winner Rise At Dawn and the farm also enjoyed success in Hong Kong, with veteran Gallant Crown adding to his tally at Sha Tin.What You Wish For is a son of Embellis...

Pivotal Ten completes black type treble

Sensational three-year-old Pivotal Ten (Ten Sovereigns) made it five wins in a row and importantly, three black type contests in succession, when she bolted clear to take out the Listed ILT Ascot Park Hotel Southland Guineas (1400m).The flashy daughter of Ten Sovereigns went into the Invercargill feature event off the back of comprehensive victories in the Listed NZB Insurance Stakes (1400m) and Listed Gore Guineas (1335m) and was confidently expected to prove too tough for her age-group ri...

What You Wish For completes big treble for Te Akau

Matamata’s biggest day of the year was completely dominated by Te Akau Racing, who won three of the four black-type features on Saturday afternoon.What You Wish For’s (Embellish) hard-fought victory in the Listed Matamata Veterinary Services Kaimai Stakes (2000m) completed a big treble for the tangerine army and trainers Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson. They had previously filled the trifecta in the Gr.3 Fairview Matamata Slipper (1200m) with Return To Conquer, He Who Dares and To Bravery...

Rise At Dawn resumes in style

Next month’s A$2.5 million Gr.1 All-Star Mile (1600m) is looming large on the horizon for Rise At Dawn (Almanzor), who scored his fourth win in succession with a smart first-up performance in the A$175,000 Listed The Elms Handicap (1400m) at Flemington on Saturday.The New Zealand-bred son of Almanzor rose impressively through the grades last winter, recording four wins and two second placings from a six-start campaign. That preparation ended with a winning treble on August 3, 17 and 31, c...

La Dorada claims local victory in Matamata feature

Local filly La Dorada (Super Seth) backed up from her stunning victory in the Karaka Million 2YO (1200m) last month with another gritty performance to take out her home track feature, the Gr.2 J Swap Contractors Ltd Matamata Breeders’ Stakes (1200m) on Saturday.The Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson-prepared daughter of Waikato Stud resident stallion Super Seth was expected to put in a strong showing and once she found the fence and the lead after 200m she was always going to be hard to beat.R...

Legarto all class in Lisa Chittick

After 322 days off the scene, triple Group One winner Legarto (Proisir) made a triumphant return to racing in Saturday’s Listed Lisa Chittick Champagne Stakes (1400m) at Matamata.The superstar daughter of Proisir was previously the winner of the Gr.1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m), Gr.1 Australian Guineas (1600m) and Gr.1 Herbie Dyke Stakes (2000m). She had been on the sidelines since finishing sixth in the Gr.1 Australian Cup (2000m) at Flemington in March of last year, having suffered...

Wrote To Arataki back on her game at Flemington

Multiple black-type winner Wrote To Arataki (Wrote) made a welcome return to top form in Saturday’s A$200,000 Gr.3 Frances Tressady Stakes (1400m) at Flemington.The New Zealand-bred mare had previously won the Gr.3 Geoffrey Bellmaine Stakes (1300m) in February of 2023 and the Gr.2 Tristarc Stakes (1400m) the following October, but had gone winless in seven starts through the 16 months since then.Wrote To Arataki showed a glimpse of her best form with a last-start third in the 2025 edition...

Group One performer Lady Telena for sale on gavelhouse.com

Four years after being sold for just $2,750 on gavelhouse.com, Lady Telena (NZ) (Vespa) is back for sale again on the online platform – this time as a Group One performer and valuable broodmare prospect.Lady Telena raced between the ages of two and seven. Her 58-start career produced six wins, 10 placings and $212,500 in stakes.But she really found her groove after her sale on Gavelhouse.com in March of 2021, which saw her relocate into the Rangiora stable of her part-owner Kenny Moore. She co...

Kiwi Chronicles - Overlooked

New Year began with a bang for Rich Hill Stud when four of their stallions sired five stakes winners within the first 11 days.A treble on New Year’s Day featured Satono Aladdin (Deep Impact) siring Too Sweet in the Eclipse Stakes (Gr 2, 1200m). Vadamos (Monsun) sired Real Class and Island Life to run first and third in the Sir Patrick Hogan Stakes (Gr 2, 1600m) and Proisir (Choisir) sired Bourbon Empress, winner of the Rich Hill Mile (Gr 2, 1600m). Third in the Mile was Uderzo (Vadamos). ...

Classic winner continuing top family trend

Progressive four-year-old Risque Ruler (Mongolian Khan) is the latest success story for a Windsor Park Stud family that for decades has been a constant source of stakes winners.The lightly raced daughter of Mongolian Khan won for the third time in her eight-start career when she powered home from last to claim the $350,000 Sir Patrick Hogan Karapiro Classic (1600m) at Te Rapa last Saturday.Risque Ruler is also furthering the strong partnership the nursery has with New Plymouth trainer Janel...

Shocking sires rare Group One double

Rich Hill Stud’s senior statesman Shocking again emphasised his potency and versatility when proving the dominant figure in Te Rapa’s flagship events on Saturday.His sons El Vencedor and Here To Shock produced commanding performances in the Gr.1 Herbie Dyke Stakes (2000m) and Gr.1 BCD Group Sprint (1400m) respectively for a memorable weight-for-age double.“You don’t take these things for granted, but for one stallion to win two Group Ones on the same card with one over 2000m and one over...

Guineas focus for Public Attention

Smart three-year-old Public Attention (Written Tycoon) is on a path to the Gr.1 Randwick Guineas (1600m) after an impressive first-up victory in the Gr.3 Eskimo Prince Stakes (1200m) at Randwick on Saturday.Ridden by Chad Schofield, the Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr-prepared son of Written Tycoon sat just off surprise leader Linebacker and forged clear of his fellow Kiwi-bred over the concluding stages to score by just over a length.The well-related grey colt has now on two of his five st...

Australians triumph in sprint showdown

Australia took the spoils in Saturday’s eagerly anticipated trans-Tasman sprint clash at Te Rapa as Here To Shock (Shocking) and Bosustow filled the quinella in the Gr.1 BCD Group Sprint (1400m).The presence of 11-race winner Here To Shock and last-start Magic Millions Guineas (1400m) hero Bosustow added international spice to an elite field of sprinters, which also featured top-flight Kiwi talent such as Grail Seeker, Savaglee, Luberon, Waitak and Babylon Berlin. But in the end, the local con...