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Staying future for Shakespeare

Progressive three-year-old Shakespeare broke maiden ranks for Otaki trainers Johno Benner and Hollie Wynyard on Thursday at Waverley and looks to be a stayer of promise. The son of Poet’s Voice came with a well-timed run under Lisa Allpress to win by a length going away, defeating older rivals. “He is a horse that we have had a lot of time for and it has been frustrating because we haven’t been able to get him to a trip that we know will suit him,” Benner said. Benner was critical of th...

Myers hungry for Tarzino success

Manawatu jockey Rosie Myers will step into uncharted territory when she teams up with Aalaalune in Saturday's Gr.1 Tarzino Trophy (1400m) at Hastings. A natural lightweight, Myers usually walks at 51kg but she is facing a rare task of shedding weight to get to Aalaalune's 48.5kg for the weight-for-age feature. "I don't think I've ever had to ride that light," Myers said. "It's only a couple of kilos I've had to lose and it should be sweet. The boys (male jockeys) keep telling me that's what they...

Tye Angland touched by generous gesture

Tye Angland has expressed his gratitude to the Kwok family, the owners of champion Hong Kong galloper Beauty Generation, a New Zealand-bred son of Road To Rock, following their $A1 million gift to his family. Angland, who rode horses for the Kwoks in Australia and Hong Kong, became a quadriplegic after suffering spinal injuries in a race fall in Hong Kong in November. The Kwok family's donation was made at a racing function in Hong Kong on Wednesday, just days out from the start of their new sea...

Thurlow scores local win with glamour filly

Waverley trainer Bill Thurlow picked up a win at his local meeting on Thursday when three-year-old filly Glamour took out the Ultra Scan 1000. It was the second start for the daughter of Pins who finished third on debut at Ashburton last month. Jockey Rosie Myers pushed forward early from their outside barrier to sit outside leader Meritorious. Glamour hit the front at the top of the straight and she was able to hold out fast-finishing debutant Crowning Star, who was subsequently disqualified a...

Humidor set for Memsie return

Humidor will attempt to defend his title in the Gr.1 New Zealand Bloodstock Memsie Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on Saturday. The New Zealand-bred and owned gelding has been on the sidelines with injury since his third-placing in the Gr.1 Cox Plate (2040m) last October and Ciaron Maher, who trains in partnership with David Eustace, is happy with his progress leading into Saturday’s race. "I am quite happy with the progression he’s made through the prep, he’s got a good base on him," Maher sa...

Parsons duo kick-off 3YO campaigns

Balcairn trainers John and Karen Parsons will kick-off the three-year-old campaigns for Touchabeel and Sombra Deamor in the Barneswood Farm Stakes Day 19th October (1250m) at Ashburton on Friday and their performances in the race will help dictate their spring paths. Touchabeel had the four starts as a juvenile and finished fourth on debut in the Listed Welcome Stakes (1000m) and while her trainers would have liked her to have developed a little more over winter, they are pleased with her headin...

Ritchie ready to put up a Good Fight

Cambridge trainer Shaune Ritchie is delighted with the way his five-year-old stayer The Good Fight has settled into Sydney life and believes Saturday’s Nathan's Famous Handicap (2000m) is the perfect race to get the ball rolling across the Tasman. “He is great, he has settled in really well,” Ritchie said. “He didn’t have a sweat mark on him when he got off the flight and he has a really laid back nature. I paid a lot of money for him as a yearling so he has got the attitude that come...

Audio: Bernard Saundry

Radio Trackside’s Des Coppins talks with New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing’s chief executive Bernard Saundry....

Tongue-tie addition ahead of Tarzino test for Danzdanzdance

Dual Group One winner Danzdanzdance will kick-off her spring campaign in the Gr.1 Tarzino Trophy (1400m) at Hastings on Saturday and her connections are hoping a gear change will aid the mare this weekend. Trainers Chris Gibbs and Michelle Bradley elected to trial the five-year-old over 1000m at Avondale earlier this month to test the addition of a tongue-tie and they were satisfied with the hit-out. “That’s basically the only reason why we trialled her,” Gibbs said. “We didn’t want to...

Wyndspelle primed for Tarzino

Otaki conditioners Johno Benner and Hollie Wynyard are pleased with Gr.1 Tarzino Trophy (1400m) contender Wyndspelle ahead of Saturday’s race. The six-year-old entire heads fresh-up into the feature race at Hastings off the back of two trial wins and Benner believes TAB bookmakers have underestimated his charge, installing him as an $18 winning chance.“He is a far better horse this year,” he said. “It’s hard to quantify in lengths, but we have managed to change a couple of things aroun...

Brideoake-trained mares gallop at Sandown

Princess Jenni has made an appearance at a midweek Sandown meeting with trainer David Brideoake taking the opportunity to give the Gr.1 Australasian Oaks winner a raceday gallop. The New Zealand-bred Princess Jenni is nearing her spring racing return and Brideoake galloped the four-year-old mare with new stable acquisition and fellow spring carnival hopeful The Real Beel before the opening race on Wednesday. After sitting off former Jim Pender-charge The Real Beel, Princess Jenni, ridden by Dami...

Pleasing first outing for NZB sales topper

No Limits, the $1.4 million sales topper at New Zealand Bloodstock’s Book 1 Sale in January, made a pleasing start to his career when taking out his 600m trial heat at Te Teko on Tuesday. The son of Savabeel impressed Te Akau principal David Ellis when he was inspecting Waikato Stud’s draft and he holds great expectations with the two-year-old. “He was one of the best athletes I’ve seen at Karaka in the last ten years,” Ellis said. “He’s an absolutely stunning horse, was on everyon...

Melbourne Cup Tour proves popular in Matamata

The Lexus Melbourne Cup Tour ventured to Matamata on Wednesday to celebrate the link between the horse-mad township and the race that stops a nation. The $200,000, 18-carat gold Lexus Melbourne Cup trophy began its New Zealand journey at the Hobbiton Movie Set in Matamata before visiting nearby thoroughbred nurseries Valachi Downs, Rich Hill Stud and Waikato Stud. Melbourne Cup-winning trainer and Matamata native Mike Moroney joined former Racing Victoria chief steward Des Gleeson as the ambassa...

Oceanex to start at Sandown

Mick Price is keeping expectations in check with lightly raced Oceanex first-up but the trainer believes the mare is poised for a good campaign. Oceanex is also nominated for a 1400m mares' race at Caulfield on Saturday but Price said she would resume in Wednesday's Clanbrook Racing Handicap (1400m) at Sandown, her first start since finishing second last in the Gr.3 Aspiration Quality at Randwick in March. Oceanex had earned her a trip to Sydney for the autumn carnival having won three straight ...

Auckland Stallion Parade

The Auckland NZTBA Stallion Parade will take place on Sunday September September 15 and will be followed by an awards lunch at New Zealand Bloodstock. The first parade will commence at 10:30am at Westbury Stud (700 Linwood Road, Karaka) where the farm will showcase stallions El Roca, Redwood, Reliable Man, Swiss Ace, Tarzino and Telperion. The tour will then continue to Haunui Farm (113 Kidd Road, Karaka) who will parade Iffraaj and Belardo, along with some of Belardo’s first crop of yearlings...

Guineas path for Harlech

The Michael Moroney and Pam Gerard-trained Harlech pleased his connections with his 1020m trial heat win at Te Teko on Tuesday and he will now be set on a path towards the Gr.1 Al Basti Equiworld NZ 2000 Guineas (1600m) at Riccarton in November. “Harlech we think he is probably our best three-year-old,” Moroney said. “We are going to aim him at the 2000 Guineas in Christchurch.  “We think a lot of him. He’s a Darci Brahma colt and he is just going to get better with practice, but ...

Melody Belle set to defend Tarzino title

Six-time Group One winner Melody Belle will attempt to add a seventh to her record when she lines-up in the Gr.1 Tarzino Trophy (1400m) at Hastings on Saturday. The Jamie Richards-trained mare won the race last year before going onto win a further four Group One races last season and is all but assured of being crowned New Zealand Horse of the Year for those deeds. The daughter of Commands put in a solid showing first-up at Te Rapa earlier this month when finishing fourth in the Gr.2 Foxbridge P...

Brendon Hawtin shifting to Cranbourne

After operating out of two Waikato stables, trainer Brendon Hawtin is taking another step in his career with a shift to Victoria. Hawtin has accepted a position as assistant trainer to expat New Zealanders Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young at Cranbourne and will also train a few horses on his own account. “The opportunity arose to be assistant trainer to Trent and Natalie and I will be applying for my trainers’ license over there so it is too good to turn down,” Hawtin said. “I’ve been ...

Sacred Capital the star of Macau

Raffles Racing’s New Zealand-bred Sacred Capital has quickly stamped himself as the star of Macau Racing, with the son of O’Reilly winning Sunday’s M$800,000 (NZ$155,000) Macau Gold Cup (1800m) in effortless fashion in testing conditions. The five-year-old has won six of his eight starts in Macau for trainer Joe Lau, having landed the M$2.6 million Macau Derby (1800m) at his previous start and the good-looking gelding is noted for his versatility, being able to adapt to different running ...

Audio: Dr Tim Pearce

Trackside Radio’s Des Coppins catches up with Dr Tim Pearce, of Southern Rangitikei Veterinary Service, about an upcoming nationwide stem cell lecture series....

Audio: Anna Clement

Trackside Radio’s Des Coppins speaks with trainer Anna Clement after Miss Lizzie’s victory at New Plymouth on Saturday....

Audio: Shaun Phelan

Trackside Radio’s Des Coppins catches up with Shaun Phelan after his win aboard Lacustre in the Pakuranga Hunt Cup (4900m) at Ellerslie on Saturday....

Big bonus possible in Cole’s comeback

After two years away from race riding, Reece Cole was back in the winner’s circle at Ellerslie on Saturday possibly opening the door for a bigger assignment on the track in a fortnight. Cole signalled his comeback with a decisive seven-length win on Magic Cannon, who broke through for his first victory over fences for trainer Mark Brosnan. Straight after the race Brosnan was considering taking a big step with Magic Cannon and lining him up in the Boutique Body Corporates Great Northern Hurdle...

Allan celebrates double

Former Levin jockey Tony Allan has capped off placings with a double in Queensland. Allan has been making the most of all opportunities since arriving in Queensland a few weeks ago, some times riding at two meetings in a day. He made the trip from his Deagon base to Toowoomba on Saturday night and was successful on the favourite Wall Street Tycoon in the first event, then ended the six-race meeting with victory in the last race on the second favourite Aladina, a five-year-old daughter of Darci ...

Thornton receives warm welcome home

Craig Thornton received a great welcome home gift at Ellerslie on Saturday when Lacustre took out the CLC Pakuranga Hunt Cup (4900m) for trainer Samantha Logan. Thornton has recently returned from a seven month training stint in China and he was pleased to be trackside on Saturday to watch the horse he formerly trained, and still part-owns, take out the time-honoured race. “To get home and have him back at Ellerslie and to get the job done it was a pretty special occasion,” he said. Thornton...