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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...

Snazzytavi looks Snazzy

Highly regarded three-year-old Snazzytavi to make a perfect start to her career with a runaway victory in the T W Moore Maiden (1400m) at Rotorua on Sunday. The Cambridge Stud-raced Tavistock filly was quickly into stride to sit outside the leader and, despite racing greenly, coasted clear to score by five-and-a-half lengths in the hands of Joe Kamaruddin. Graham Richardson and Rogan Norvall have lofty goals for the filly including the Gr.1 New Zealand Oaks (2400m) as a long-term target. “She...

No Compromise triumphs in heart-stopping Metropolitan

Curraghmore-bred stayer No Compromise lived up to his name in a grandstand finish to Saturday’s Gr.1 Metropolitan (2400m) at Randwick, prevailing by a nose to claim his first triumph at the elite level. The Pins gelding has an exceptional pedigree, most notably as a half-brother to the multiple Group One winner Tofane, and he had shown big-race ability of his own with six previous victories headed by the Gr.3 NE Manion Cup (2400m). He had also placed in more than a dozen other races, four of ...

Caboche to resume at Rosehill

New Zealand-bred gelding Caboche could be in for a big spring according to his trainer Chris Waller. The son of Vadamos has returned in good order after capping his three-year-old season with a placing in the Gr.1 Queensland Derby (2400m) and Waller believes the best is yet to come from the New Zealand-bred. “He has come back really well,” Waller told Sky Racing. “We think he can take the next step as a four-year-old. He was a late developer at three and did a good job in Queensland. “He...

No Compromise set to resume

Group Three winner No Compromise is set to kick-off his preparation at Rosehill on Sunday over 1400m. The son of Pins has a liking for the Sydney track, having won three and placed in three of his six runs on the surface. He resumes after a pleasing autumn preparation which resulted in winning the Gr.3 Queen’s Cup (2400m) and placing in the Listed Parramata Cup (1900m). Trainer Chris Waller has been pleased with the way the gelding has returned from his spell and he is expecting a strong run f...

Proisir’s My Truth in strong all-the-way win

Three-year-old Proisir gelding My Truth (NZ) broke maiden ranks at Canterbury on Wednesday with a minimum of effort and the smart young galloper is tipped to extend his record as he steps up further in distance.The Anthony Cummings-trained chestnut had finished fourth at Wyong last month in his first appearance and showed impressive improvement to cruise home over 1580 metres.“He’s always showed ability, but he’s taken time and is a big, scopey animal, and he’s showed it here w...

Calvaria scores Cambridge win

Melbourne jockey Mick Dee made a winning return to his homeland on Wednesday when he rode Calvaria (NZ) (Tavistock) to victory in the Cambridge Equine Hospital 1550 at Cambridge for his parents Richard and Jo Dee.The filly is trained by Shaune Ritchie and Colm Murray, who recorded a winning double on the card, having been victorious in the opening race with Samina Bibi (NZ) (Reliable Man).Dee is back in New Zealand to visit friends and family and took the opportunity to get in the sadd...

Annavisto set to don Tatt’s Tiara

Co-trainer Mick Price has always felt Annavisto (NZ) (Reliable Man) had a good race in her and has set the mare to win a Group One in Brisbane first-up.The Gr.1 Tatt’s Tiara (1400m) at Eagle Farm on Saturday is the assignment Mick Price & Michael Kent Jnr have been eyeing off since Annavisto ran second to Nimalee (So You Think) on a heavy track at Randwick back in April.Price said the 1400m was the ideal journey for Annavisto who performs well fresh and will have the services of jock...

Po’s path not all smooth sailing

Named after a New Zealand love song, Po Kare Kare (NZ) (Savabeel) makes a highly-anticipated progression to Saturday grade at Randwick.It was love at first sight when Bryce Heys spotted her in Curraghmore’s draft at the New Zealand Bloodstock yearling sale, but the honeymoon period didn’t last long.Heys had ventured to the 2020 Karaka Sale to buy another horse and it was here that the daughter of Savabeel caught his eye.The trainer became intent on not leaving the sale without her ...

Bright future tipped for Po Kare Kare

A bright future is being tipped for promising filly Po Kare Kare after her two-length win at Gosford last Thursday. It was the second victory from four starts for the daughter of Savabeel, who has placed in her other two outings. Trainer Bryce Heys was pleased with the win, but he is trying to keep his feet on the ground with his filly. “We are happy to have her. She has always shown quite a bit of ability but had all sorts of issues from a behavioural standpoint for the first 12 or 14 months,...

Unwanted filly delivers for reluctant breeder

Renowned Australian Veterinarian Dr Chris Lawler admits to initially being reluctant to venture into the breeding game though after breeding Group One-winning filly Gypsy Goddess, he is enjoying the ride. Since her debut last October, Gypsy Goddess has been beautifully managed by David Vandyke to race nine times for six wins and three placings.  She was unbeaten in her first five starts in Queensland, which included a win in the Gr.3 BRC Grand Prix Stakes (2100...

Gypsy Goddess all class in Oaks triumph

New Zealand-bred filly Gypsy Goddess left her rivals with few excuses after landing the Gr.1 Queensland Oaks (2200m) for trainer David Vandyke and jockey William Pike at Eagle Farm on Saturday. The daughter of Tarzino went back from the horror outside draw of 18, and while the rangy filly relaxed well throughout, she was forced to cover plenty of ground rounding the home turn and presented widest in the home straight. It mattered little as the $4.40 favourite landed the Classic with a length to...