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Kovalica a class above in Queensland Derby

Rising star Kovalica lived up to his red-hot favouritism with a dominant display in Saturday’s Gr. 1 Queensland Derby (2400m) at Eagle Farm, continuing an astonishing season of Australian Group One success for New Zealand-breds.The A$1 million classic was the 21st win from 69 Group One races in Australia so far this season – an extraordinary success rate of 30 per cent, despite making up only 8 per cent of runners.Three-year-olds have shone particularly brightly, with Group One victories fro...

Kovalica heads strong Waller hand in Queensland Derby

Trainer Chris Waller has a stranglehold on Saturday’s Gr.1 Queensland Derby (2400m) with a two-pronged attack, headed by $1.70 favourite Kovalica and impressive last-start winner Special Swey ($9.50).A son of Ocean Park, Kovalica has long been set for the A$1 million feature.The winner of five of his eight starts, Kovalica won the Gr.2 Queensland Guineas (1600m) two starts back but missed his intended target of the Gr.3 Rough Habit Plate (2000m) a fortnight ago due to a foot abscess.  &nb...

Daytona Bay gets important bob

A ‘Goldilocks’ track has helped Daytona Bay (American Pharoah) find his way back to the winner’s circle when he nosed out the previously unbeaten Altivo (Wootton Bassett) in a photo finish at Flemington on Saturday in the In Memory of Dean Holland (1800m).Prepared by Peter Moody, Daytona Bay won four of his first five starts, with the consistent galloper returning a winner for the first time since August.Bred by Rangiora’s Geoff Taylor, the son of American Pharoah sat second throughout u...

Curraghmore and Sir Owen Glenn team up for second Group One

From a select group of only four broodmares based at Curraghmore, Sir Owen Glenn has now bred two Group One winners on opposite sides of the Tasman and over wildly different distances.Three-year-old filly Ruthless Dame produced an outstanding performance to defeat older mares in last Saturday’s Gr.1 Robert Sangster Stakes (1200m) at Morphettville. It was just the sixth career start for the high-class daughter of Tavistock. She has now earned more than A$500,000 for an ownership syndicate ...

Ruthless Dame soars to Sangster triumph

The Group One gold rush for New Zealand-bred horses in Australia this autumn kept on rolling with three-year-old filly Ruthless Dame conquering an elite field of older mares in Saturday’s A$500,000 Furphy Robert Sangster Stakes (1200m) at Morphettville.The daughter of Tavistock recorded the 10th elite-level victory for a New Zealand-bred since the start of April, following on from Militarize in the Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) and Champagne Stakes (1600m), I Wish I Win in the TJ Smith Stake...

Kovalica all class in Queensland Guineas triumph

The Chris Waller-trained Kovalica further enhanced his Gr.1 Queensland Derby (2400m) claims with an arrogant performance to win the Gr.2 Queensland Guineas (1600m) at Eagle Farm on Saturday.The son of Ocean Park was posted three-deep throughout but clicked into gear late under Nash Rawiller to get the better of Perfect Thought and The Vowels.Raced by proud Queenslander Neville Morgan and David Devine, the Derby in the Sunshine State has long been on the cards for the high-class three-year-old.Th...

Outback Opal seeking fairytale ending

It would be a comeback story for the ages if Outback Opal were to take out the Gr.2 Travis Stakes (2000m) at Te Rapa on Saturday.The daughter of El Roca has been in terrific form of late, winning her last three starts on-end, but she has had to overcome some hurdles to get there.“She had a serious problem early on, she’s not really meant to be here,” trainer Mark Brosnan said.“She had a slab fracture of her back cannon bone and it was very touch and go of whether she survived or not.“T...

Ballarat win sets Bitcoin on Derby path

Kiwi three-year-old Bitcoin (NZ) (Tarzino) made a good impression at his Australian debut when winning the Brandt Maiden Plate (2000m) at Ballarat on Wednesday for new trainer Lindsey Smith.The son of Tarzino had been placed twice from four starts for Cambridge trainer Andrew Forsman, including a third placing in the Listed Gingernuts Salver (2100m), after which he was partially sold to Spicer Thoroughbreds.After finishing down the track in a muddling-run Gr.2 Avondale Guineas (2100m), connectio...

Caboche relishes extra distance at Bendigo

New Zealand-bred gelding Caboche was a placegetter in last year’s Gr.1 Queensland Derby (2400m), and a return to that distance paved his way to the winner’s circle in Saturday’s A$130,000 IMMIX, Metal Recycled Right Handicap (2400m) at Bendigo.Third behind fellow Kiwi-breds Pinarello and Paternal in the Derby at Eagle Farm in May of last year, Caboche had faded from prominence with only two placings from eight starts since.But after starting his latest preparation with three runs in Sydney...

Not An Option back in the winner’s circle

Nearly 12 months to the day, last season’s Listed Hareeba Stakes (1200m) winner Not An Option was back in the winner’s circle when scoring an easy win in the A$150,000 Choices Flooring Handicap (1400m) at Flemington.The Mike Moroney-trained five-year-old has raced solidly in stakes company since joining the Flemington trainer’s stable, and relished the drop back to a handicap as he notched his fifth win from 23 lifetime starts.Originally prepared by Tony Pike in New Zealand, Not An Option ...

Bonecrusher hope in line for Sydney

Wexford Stables have moved on from the unfortunate circumstances that blighted Asterix’s last outing and the talented son of Tavistock remains on target for the Sydney autumn carnival.It’s a case of forgive and forget for trainers Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott with last season’s Gr.1 New Zealand Derby (2400m) winner, who had a valid excuse when he finished well off the pace in the Gr.1 Herbie Dyke Stakes (2000m).Asterix pulled a plate at Te Rapa and a post-race veterinary examination...

Confidence boosting win for Tevere

A victory on New Zealand racing’s biggest stage is set to give talented mare Tevere a much needed boost of confidence after a luckless run at Group level this season.The daughter of Contributer had shown promise early on in her career, winning five of her first 10 starts, however, her form had tapered off this preparation, finishing midfield in her five appearances, the last three at Group level.For her next outing, trainers Michael Moroney and Pam Gerard kept her on the main stage when headin...

Group One in sight for Annavisto

Quality mare Annavisto trialled in ominous fashion earlier in the month and converted that to an explosive raceday resumption when comfortably winning the Gr.3 Tony Bourke Memorial (1400m) at Flemington on Saturday.The five-year-old daughter of Reliable Man won the Group Three feature last year and produced a dominant on-speed performance on Saturday under Jamie Kah to go back-to-back.Pressured for much of the contest by Wrote To Arataki, the pair of in-form mares got away from the field coming ...

Po Kare Kare scores breakthrough Group win

Warwick Farm trainer Bryce Heys has a small but in-form team and the roll continued when four-year-old mare Po Kare Kare scored a comfortable victory in Saturday’s Gr.3 Triscay Stakes (1200m) at Randwick.The victory provided Heys with his first Group success, with the New Zealander having previously trained Spieth to a Listed win in 2016 prior to multiple Group One placings.Despite entering the race off a rating of just 74, Heys was keen to run Po Kare Kare third-up in the Group Three feature ...

Australia calling Te Rapa Group One contenders

Plans have been made for Asterix and Dragon Leap to cross the Tasman this year, but first the stablemates face ultra-competitive line-ups in their respective Group One engagements at Te Rapa.Trainers Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott have been more than satisfied with the duo’s most recent performances and both have trained on well ahead of Saturday’s challenges.Asterix will head into unchartered weight-for-age territory in the Gr.1 Herbie Dyke Stakes (2000m) with Craig Zackey booked for t...

Curraghmore filly secured by Te Akau Racing

David Ellis was once again at the top of the buyers’ sheet at Karaka this year, but this time it was for a filly.The Te Akau principal went to $1 million, to purchase lot 586, the Fastnet Rock filly out of stakes performer Test The World.It is the highest price Ellis has paid for a filly at Karaka, and for good reason.“I had a good chat with Karyn (Fenton-Ellis, wife) this morning and I said this was the best filly since 1988 that I have seen on this ground. This complex was opened in 1988 a...

Cunningham counting down to Karaka

Curraghmore principal Gordon Cunningham is heading into Karaka 2023 in a buoyant mood after the success of his farm’s graduates last year.The farm had four individual Group One winners and seven individual stakes winners, showcasing the quality of athlete raised at the Waikato thoroughbred nursery.“All those horses give you every encouragement that there are more good horses to excel from the same paddocks as they grew up in,” Cunningham said.Curraghmore will offer a 27-strong Book 1 draft...

Goldie takes her chance in Gore Guineas

Progressive filly Goldie’s Chance kept her connections happy when landing the Listed Liquorland Gore Guineas (1335m) on Saturday for trainer Ross Beckett.The daughter of Iffraaj pushed forward to sit outside the leader Bolshoi Star and was galvanised under jockey Terry Moseley to get the better of that rival at the line, with AbitSassy fighting on well for third.The winner of two of her five starts and now a stakes winner, Goldie’s Chance will most likely contest further legs of the Southern...

Riverplate races away to win at Sandown

The Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young-prepared Riverplate took the 1800m of the Roderick Bowman Handicap in his stride under a heady-ride from Damien Oliver at Sandown on Saturday.The four-year-old has now won three of his past four outings since being gelded mid last year.“The ride was ten out of ten. There was a question mark as to whether he would get the 1800m but on that he should have no problems getting a mile and a quarter or even further,” stable representative Brendon Hawtin said.�...

Super Chilled Opens Winning Account

Churchill filly Super Chilled delivered on her early promise when breaking her maiden over 1550m at Canterbury on Friday. Given a peach of a ride by James McDonald, Super Chilled led home a Chris Waller-trained trifecta defeating the Merchant Navy filly Maritima by two lengths with the Deep Field gelding Quintillion a nose back in third. "James gave her a great ride from the barrier, one off the fence so she could roll into the race when he wanted to", stable representative Damien Fitton said. &...

Kovalica demolishes Grand Prix rivals

Smart staying three-year-old Kovalica 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 the Kiwi bred shapes as ...

Derby winner returns at Te Rapa

Gr.1 New Zealand Derby (2400m) winner Asterix returns to the races at Te Rapa on Saturday. The four-year-old, who was purchased out of Curaghmore's draft as a Ready To Run 2YO, will race for the first time since his Derby success in the open 1600m handicap after a long build-up necessitated by remedial work on his feet. Co-trainer Andrew Scott said there were no set plans for Asterix, other than to get him up over ground over late summer and autumn. “We’re just excited to have him back runni...

French Emperor rules in Flemington opener

Tavistock four-year-old French Emperor provided his Singapore owners Aramco Racing with a thrill when landing the Twitter Trophy (1600m) on the final day of the Melbourne Cup Carnival at Flemington. Prepared by Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr, French Emperor enjoyed a perfect run under Jamie Kah, racing midfield off a solid tempo and the gelding was presented at the right time, going on to score narrowly from Beltoro and Worthily. “It was a beautiful ride,” Price said. “He’s a benchmar...

Last stride victory for Malt Time

Progressive mare Malt Time left it late but got in the deciding stride to register her first victory at Stakes level when she took out the Listed Legacy Lodge Sprint (1200m). The lightly raced six-year-old was having just her 15th career start in Saturday’s feature event at Te Rapa, although she had well and truly hinted she would be a serious lightweight contender after storming to victory over 1100m under a 57.5kg steadier in lesser company at her last start. Carrying a luxurious 53kgs on th...

Gypsy Goddess prospecting for gold at Rosehill

Gypsy Goddess will have just one run this spring but that could be more than enough to keep the wolf from the door. The Gr.1 Queensland Oaks (2400m) winner will head into the A$10 million Golden Eagle (1500m) at Rosehill on Saturday first-up, which was always the plan for trainer David Vandyke after his mare’s busy three-year-old season. “She had a very long, arduous time as a three-year-old and we just wanted to give her a nice, little preparation and the one run seemed ideal,” Vandyke t...