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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...

Gypsy Goddess requires Wizard magic

Gypsy Goddess has continued her bad run of luck with barriers after drawing the outside gate in the 18-horse field for Saturday’s Gr.1 Queensland Oaks (2200m) at Eagle Farm. It is nothing new for the daughter of Tarzino who has had to overcome wide draws in her previous outings this preparation when placing in the Gr.1 Vinery Stakes (1850m), Gr.1 Australian Oaks (2400m), and Listed Gold Coast Bracelet (1800m). “It is a terrible barrier,” trainer David Vandyke said. “I am glad that we ha...

Cunningham gets Flying Start with Godolphin

Godolphin has selected a dozen up-and-comers from around the world for the 2022-2024 edition of its Flying Start programme, including Liam Cunningham. He will be joined by 11 others from around the world including fellow kiwi Annabel Adams. Beginning in August at Kildangan Stud in County Kildare, Ireland, the two-year programme gives trainees the opportunity to learn and experience management operations and leadership in the global thoroughbred industry with phases in Ireland, the UK, the USA, A...

Tofane sells for A$3.1 million

Curraghmore principal Gordon Cunningham was on hand on the Gold Coast on Wednesday to watch Tofane, a product of his Waikato farm, sell for A$3.1 million to the bid of Yulong Investments. Cunningham bred the daughter of Ocean Park who went on to win eight of her 30 starts, four at Group One level, and more than A$3.6 million in prizemoney. “It has been a great thrill to see her on the sale grounds,” Cunningham said. “She was beautifully presented and looked her magnificent s...

Tevere in top form at Te Rapa

Track specialist Tevere converted with a genuine effort in the Waikato Draught Open (1200m) on Saturday at Te Rapa. Impressive winning her Maiden over in May last year, Tevere extended her course record to four from six, with a second to boot, and five out of 10 in total. Continuing his great affinity and aboard for each win at Te Rapa, jockey Michael McNab tracked in fifth before challenging to level with smart galloper Mega Bourbon and drawing to a winning advantage inside the final furlong. B...

Germanicus set to bounce back at Te Rapa

Multiple stakes winner Germanicus is in the right condition to turn his fortunes around with a return to top form at Te Rapa on Saturday in what may be his final appearance of the season. The six-year-old, who was born and raised at Curraghmore for breeder-owners the St Germaine Syndicate, will be aided in his quest to add the Wig (Noel) Wilson Memorial Mile (1600m) to his record with the booking of apprentice Masa Hashizume reducing the gelding’s impost to a more manageable 59kg. Germanicus h...

Talented Tevere back on favourite footing

Te Rapa has proved to be the happiest of hunting grounds for Tevere and a return to the Waikato course on Saturday may again bring out the best in the gifted mare. The Contributer four-year-old has made five appearances on the course for three wins and a runner-up finish and will bid to add to her record in the Waikato Draught Handicap (1200m). Tevere will be coming off an unplaced performance in the Listed Flying Stakes (1400m) at Awapuni, but co-trainer Pam Gerard has ruled a line through that...

Curraghmore top Online Yearling Sale

Curraghmore sold the top lot at the 2022 New Zealand Bloodstock National Online Yearling Sale hosted on Gavelhouse Plus.A colt by popular young sire Turn Me Loose purchased for $34,000 by NZB Agent Alex Teng on behalf of an internationally-based client. Breeder Gordon Cunningham was delighted by the sale of his colt in the online format. “He was a good colt and was bought very well. Timing can be everything and with his sire (Turn Me Loose) going so well at the moment, the price he made really...

Weekend Runners - Easter Weekend 15.04.2022

Good luck to connections of all Cm graduates racing over the Easter weekend including the following:AUSTRALIA FRIDAYCanberra RC- Race 8 Andy Stanham-Worksforyou H., A$22000 1400m Rover (AUS) 2015 (G. by Fastnet Rock-Gypsy Princess) (trainer: Joseph Ible) AUSTRALIA SATURDAYRandwick- Race 8 All Aged S. Gr.1, A$605000 1400m Tofane (NZ) 2015 (F. by Ocean Park-Baggy Green) (trainer: M D Moroney)Caulfield- Race 8 Victoria H. Gr.3, A$200750 1400m Kahma Lass (NZ) 2017 (F. by Darci Brahma-...

Swansong for Tofane

Tofane will be vying to finish her racing career on a high on Saturday when she lines-up in the Gr.1 All Aged Stakes (1400m) at Randwick. The daughter of Ocean Park won the race two years ago in the hands of Kiwi jockey Opie Bosson, her first at elite level. She was set to be offered in a broodmare sale last year, however, trainer Michael Moroney convinced her owners to have one final throw at the stumps at the Queensland Winter Carnival. His belief in the mare paid off, with Tofane going on to ...

Gypsy Goddess to lap up Oaks distance

Trainer David Vandyke can’t wait to see Gypsy Goddess over more ground at Randwick on Saturday. The daughter of Tarzino was impressive when running home for third in the Gr.1 Vinery Stakes (1850m) at Newcastle last start, with the race reducing from its original 2000m distance after being transferred from Rosehill. She clocked the fasted closing 200m of the race and Vandyke believes she will appreciate the step-up to 2400m in the Gr.1 Australian Oaks this weekend. “That is how we have traine...

Moroney mare shows Verve in Chairman’s victory

The Michael Moroney-trained mare Nerve Not Verve scored her biggest success to date when landing the Gr.2 Chairman’s Quality (2600m) on Day One of The Championships at Royal Randwick. Ridden by Regan Bayliss, the six-year-old daughter of Shocking sat handy to a sedate tempo set by Knights Order and shortly after straightening the pair cleared out from their rivals with Nerve Not Verve going to the post a short neck in front. Luncies was a further 3¼ lengths away in third. A winner at Moonee ...

Germanicus upsets in Flying Stakes

Enigmatic galloper Germanicus was back to his best when he produced an irresistible finish to take out the Listed Bramco Granite & Marble Flying Stakes (1400m) at Awapuni. The Danica Guy-trained son of Rip Van Winkle, who finished sixth in the Gr.1 El Cheapo Cars WFA Classic (1600m) at Otaki at his last start back in February, appreciated the strong pace throughout the race and loomed into contention for rider Taiki Yanagida rounding the home turn. A wall of horses stretched across the track at ...

Gelding option proves winning move

Flemington trainer Michael Moroney enjoyed further success with a Kiwi sprinter when four-year-old Not An Option took out Saturday’s Listed Hareeba Stakes (1200m) at Mornington. The stable, which recently sent out New Zealand arrival Roch ‘N’ Horse to win the Gr.1 Newmarket Handicap (1200m), received Not An Option as a tried horse from the Tony Pike stable. After a disappointing effort when ninth in his only start for Moroney last spring, the son of Not A Single Doubt returned to winning ...

Gypsy looking to camp out in Sydney

Classy filly Gypsy Goddess faces her biggest test to date when she contests Saturday’s Gr.1 Vinery Stud Stakes (2000m) at Rosehill, where the track is currently rated a Heavy 8. Trainer David Vandyke is confident the daughter of Tarzino will run well but has cautioned that the Gr.1 Australian Oaks (2400m) on April 9 at Randwick has long been the principal target for the staying filly. William Pike will ride the unbeaten Gypsy Goddess, who extended her record to five wins when resuming from a ...