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Wexford win Railway with Waitak

Former champion jockey Lance O’Sullivan captured five Gr.1 Railway (1200m) successes in the saddle and on Monday he finally got his hands on the silverware as a trainer, courtesy of Waitak’s (Proisir) explosive victory in the Sistema-sponsored feature.As expected, Johny Johny set a breakneck speed upfront, while at the opposite end of the field, in-form hoop Warren Kennedy switched Waitak off at the back of the pack.The son of Proisir was still well off the pace at the top of the straig...

Collett makes most of fleeting visit home

Ex-pat Kiwi jockey Jason Collett well and truly paid for a flying visit home from his Sydney base when he guided promising stayer Trust In You (Sweynesse) to a gritty victory in the Gr.3 Queen Elizabeth II Cup (2400m) on New Year’s Day.On his old stomping ground at Pukekohe, Collett produced an inch perfect effort to bring the Bruce Wallace and Grant Cooksley-trained son of Sweynesse with a decisive late burst to reel in pacemaker Khan Hunter, who looked like he would steal the race after...

Campionessa breaks through for Group One win

Campionessa (Contributer) shed her Group One bridesmaid’s tag at Pukekohe Park on Boxing Day when recording a well-deserved victory in the Cambridge Stud Zabeel Classic (2050m).Previously runner-up in the Gr.1 Herbie Dyke Stakes (2000m) and Gr.1 Bonecrusher New Zealand Stakes (2050m) earlier this year, Campionessa returned in the spring where she disappointed in her two outings at Hastings and the decision was made to put her aside for summer racing.That decision by trainers Mark Walker a...

Auckland Guineas gold for Pendragon

Enigmatic three-year-old Pendragon demonstrated just how tough he is as he took out the Gr.2 Shaw’s Wire Ropes Auckland Guineas (1400m) at Pukekohe with a strong front-running performance.The Mike Moroney and Pam Gerard-trained son of U S Navy Flag was ignored by punters to start at the juicy odds of $26 in the race, despite having beaten two of his more fancied rivals in Tokyo Tycoon ($3.60) and Quintessa ($4.80) by nearly two lengths at his previous start over 1200m at Te Rapa.Seeking a hat-...

Te Akau Racing take home Wingatui feature

Pint sized mare Kai (Ocean Park) showed her undoubted ability on wet and loose footing when she stormed down the outskirts of the Wingatui track to take out the feature race there on Boxing Day, the Listed Property Brokers – Ray Kean Hazlett Stakes (1200m).Heavy overnight rain and persistent showers during the day saw the track downgraded to a Heavy 10 which played into the hands of the Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson-trained northern visitor as three of her previous four career wins had co...

Molly blooms in Eight Carat Classic

Visiting Australian rider Blake Shinn made good use of his trip across the Tasman to ride at Pukekohe on Boxing Day as he guided Gr.1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) winner Molly Bloom (Ace High) to a nail-biting victory in the Gr.2 Hallmark Stud Eight Carat Classic (1600m).The Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott-trained daughter of Ace High had been unsighted since her victory at Riccarton last month and she gave her supporters, who backed her into a $1.60 favourite for the race, plenty o...

Sagunto defends Manawatu Cup title in style

After leading all the way to claim his first black-type win in last year’s Gr.3 Humphries Construction Manawatu Cup (2300m), Sagunto returned to defend that crown with an even more spectacular front-running performance at Trentham on Saturday.Sagunto defied $20 odds for his narrow victory over Subtle Point and Soprano Supreme in the 2022 edition of the Cup, and the Peter and Shaun McKay-trained runner started as a distant $10 second favourite on Saturday behind dominant market leader Manifique...

Puntura dominates at Trentham

Puntura showed he will be a force to be reckoned with over the coming months as he scored in dominant fashion in Saturday’s Gr.2 Bramco Granite & Marble Manawatu Challenge Stakes (1400m) at Trentham.Having his first start since a memorable victory in the Gr.3 Coupland’s Bakeries Mile (1600m) at Riccarton during New Zealand Cup Week, the Robbie Patterson-trained six-year-old was fitted for his first up run with a comfortable win over 1000m at the Foxton trials during the week.Unlike his R...

Meet the Breeder - Russell Rogers

Off the back of Zecora's tough win in the Gr.3 J Swap Sprint, we caught up with Russell Rogers who, in conjunction with wife Robyn, literally built Kendayla Park from the ground up; and has some fantastic success to go with it.How did you get into thoroughbred breeding?Russell: My grandfather was a dairy farmer who always bred a couple of mares each year in Gisborne to race the progeny back in the 60’s and 70’s. He bred and raced a very good horse called Master Morgan who won 18 races. He ac...

Guise bang on with racing and breeding decisions

Te Kuiti owner-breeder Paul Guise is hoping to be “bang on” when New Year’s Day rolls around and his pride and joy Still Bangon tackles the Gr. 2 Sir Patrick Hogan Stakes at Pukekohe Park.The Satono Aladdin filly produced a gutsy run to come from near last on the turn and take out the Gr. 3 Lawnmaster Eulogy Stakes last Saturday at Trentham, and her trainer Stephen Autridge has confirmed the Sir Patrick Hogan Stakes as her next assignment.Guise, a retired King Country farmer, has been laid...

Pottinger pining for Paris with Kiwi thoroughbred

As one door closes, another opens, and that is the case for leading New Zealand eventer Amanda Pottinger.The Kiwi horsewoman recently called time on the eventing career of her star thoroughbred Just Kidding, who took Pottinger to the lofty heights of competing at some of the most iconic competitions in the world, including the Badminton Horse Trials and the 2022 World Championships in Pratoni, Italy.By Kentucky Derby winner Fusaichi Pegasus, Just Kidding was initially destined for a career on th...

Campionessa dominates Cal Isuzu Stakes

A commanding victory in Saturday’s Gr.2 Cal Isuzu Stakes (1600m) at Te Rapa completed a rare fillies and mares’ feature double for Campionessa (NZ) (Contributer).The Te Akau Racing mare became only the fourth horse to win the Gr.2 Auckland Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1400m) and the Cal Isuzu in the same season, joining Just Apollo (1995), Calveen (2004) and Ruud Van Slaats (2008).Campionessa was bought by David Ellis for A$60,000 on the Gold Coast as a yearling in 2019, and her 26-...

Zecora dials up the smiles for her connections

Promising mare Zecora (NZ) (Power) made a welcome return to the winners’ enclosure at Te Rapa when she stormed home out wide to secure a thrilling victory in the Gr.3 J Swap Sprint (1400m).The six-year-old mare looked to have any amount of ability when winning three of her first nine starts before a fractured cannon bone intervened and saw her spend over a year away from the track for trainers and part-owners Russell and Robyn Rogers.A quiet run for second in a 1000m trial at Taupo last m...

Still Bangon wins Eulogy thriller

Under-rated filly Still Bangon (NZ) (Satono Aladdin) stepped up to stakes class and prevailed in a nail-biting finish to the Gr.3 LawnMaster Eulogy Stakes (1600m) at Trentham on Saturday.Trained by Stephen Autridge for owner-breeders Paul and Maureen Guise, the daughter of Satono Aladdin came into Saturday’s black-type debut with a win, three placings and a fourth to her name from her seven previous career starts. That included a relegation to second after being first past the post in a m...

Dionysus lifts stable spirits with Waikato Cup victory

Consistent stayer Dionysus (NZ) (Ocean Park x La Quinta) provided Roger James and Robert Wellwood with a positive end to a tough week when scoring a fighting victory in the Gr.3 SkyCity Hamilton Waikato Cup (2400m) on Saturday at Te Rapa.The Cambridge training partners announced the retirement of superstar mare Prowess earlier in the week, but were back at the fore on Friday at Tauranga with Hastobeawinner victorious over 1400m, and headed to Te Rapa with the Cup favourite on Saturday.With ...

Meet the Breeder - Luigi Muollo

Off the back of Lucky Sweynesse's win in the Gr.1 Hong Kong Sprint, we caught up with his breeder and Novara Park Stud principal, Luigi Muollo.Tell us the history of Novara Park Stud and Explosive Breeding Ltd.Explosive Breeding Limited was formed when my foundation mare Explosive by Exploding Prospect went to stud in 2004. She was a three win stakes placed mare and a full sister to The Red Express who won eighteen races.Explosive foaled six fillies in a row and I retained them all. I now have a...

Beau Dazzler rewarding Ardrossan's support crew

Waikato Stud’s young sire Ardrossan(AUS) was represented by his first Australian stakes winner when Beau Dazzler (NZ) (Ardrossan) won the Listed Phelan Ready Stakes at Eagle Farm last Saturday.He is the fourth stakes winner for the promising young Redoute’s Choice sire after he produced three two-year-old New Zealand stakes winners as a freshman sire last season. They were Codigo (Listed Wellesley Stakes), Saltcoats (Listed Futurity Stakes) and Loch Katrine(Listed Champagne Stakes).A gr...

Prowess retired

The stellar racing career of dual Group One winner Prowess (NZ) (Proisir) is over.The daughter of Proisir developed a foot issue and has undergone treatment at a rehabilitation centre, however, a veterinary examination spelled the end to her racing career, with a focus now turning towards a breeding career for New Zealand’s reigning Champion Middle Distance horse.“The mare has developed a foot issue following her return from Australia,” vet Greg Quin said in a statement.“Initially t...

Lucky Sweynesse claims Hong Kong Sprint

Any questions about Lucky Sweynesse (NZ) (Sweynesse) loosening his grip on the world’s best sprinter mantle were swept aside when Manfred Man’s speedster surged to victory in the HK$26 million Gr.1 Hong Kong Sprint (1200m) at Sha Tin on Sunday.It was a redemptive triumph for Lucky Sweynesse, who had no luck in last year’s sprint finishing sixth behind Wellington after a tiring horse took him back through the field.Lucky Sweynesse was sent off as the raging favorite last year and ...

Captain Envious goes to a new level in Ballarat Cup

Emerging stayer Captain Envious (NZ) (Savabeel) took his career to a new level with a runaway victory in the Listed Ballarat Cup (2000m), leading home a Kiwi-bred quinella in Saturday’s A$500,000 feature.With a highly impressive win over Young Werther, Captain Envious collected the first black-type success of a 16-start career that has now produced five wins, six placings and A$523,350 in stakes.The five-year-old son of Savabeel had been something of a perennial placegetter through this s...

Desert Lightning triumphs in take two of TAB Classic

In a race thrown into disarray by a false start, quality four-year-old Desert Lightning (NZ) (Pride Of Dubai) stood tall and claimed his first Group One victory in Saturday’s TAB Classic (1600m) at Trentham.The enduring story out of the $400,000 weight-for-age feature will be the auxiliary gates failing to open and the horses with the three widest draws – Faraglioni, Desert Lightning and Aegon – being left behind. Fortunately the remainder of the field all pulled up before the end of ...

Lupo Solitario takes Bonecrusher Stakes in thrilling finish

A desperate finish to the Gr.3 Bonecrusher Stakes (1400m) saw exciting three-year-old Lupo Solitario (NZ) (Satono Aladdin) extend his career record to three wins from just four starts as he defeated talented filly Orchestral by the barest of margins in a thrilling conclusion to the age-group feature.While it wasn’t plain sailing in the concluding stages of the contest as Orchestral put in a valiant challenge, it was a meritorious performance from the $1.40 race favourite who had been in s...

Beau Dazzler strikes in Phelan Ready

New Zealand-bred juvenile Beau Dazzler (NZ) (Ardrossan) was thrown in at the deep end for Saturday’s A$200,000 Listed Eureka Stud Phelan Ready Stakes (1000m) at Eagle Farm, and he rose to the occasion with a bold black-type win.The Ardrossan colt was making only the second start of his career on Saturday, having debuted with a second placing in a 1000m race at Toowoomba on November 25.After settling at the back among a field of only four, Beau Dazzler and jockey Robbie Dolan came across h...

Meet the Breeder - Eddie Bourke

After taking out the Gr.3 Counties Cup with One Bold Cat, we caught up with breeder Eddie Bourke to learn a little more about his background in the industry.How did you get into thoroughbred breeding?My first introduction to thoroughbred racing/breeding was my mother Daisy taking myself and my brothers to the races in Taranaki.  While we did this my Dad stayed home to milk the cows and feed to pigs.  Armed with a cricket bat, a rugby ball and a huge homemade picnic hamper with all the ...

Jumping future beckons Jericho Cup winner

A return to compete in front of Warrnambool’s boisterous crowd could be on the cards for Nassak Diamond (NZ) (Roc De Cambers) following her dominant win in Sunday’s Jericho Cup (4600m).Bred by The Oaks Stud, the five-year-old mare is by their resident stallion Roc De Cambes, and she showed her supreme staying prowess when running out a seven-length victor, with jockey Campbell Rawiller struggling to pull her up following the marathon trip.The Oaks Stud General Manager Rick Williams was ...