Tuesday, August 31 2021
This week’s Waikato race meetings look likely to go ahead without leading jockey Opie Bosson after changes to the Auckland-Waikato border area have locked him in.
Tuesday, August 31 2021
The Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young stable will find out if they can add a bit more firepower to their three-year-old ranks when former kiwi-trained runner Riverplate (NZ) (Flying Artie) runs over 1200m at Sandown on Wednesday.
Tuesday, August 31 2021
New Zealand’s COVID-19 lockdown has made things a little more complicated for Ruakaka trainer Kenny Rae than he would have liked, but he’s hoping his horses are good enough to overcome them.
Monday, August 30 2021
Like most New Zealand trainers, Cambridge horseman Tony Pike is champing at the bit to see thoroughbred racing recommence once the current COVID lockdown restrictions are eased around the majority of the country.
Sunday, August 29 2021
Australian Grand National Steeplechase day at Ballarat on Sunday got off to the perfect start for supporters of the Kiwi-bred jumping contenders with sons of White Robe Lodge stallion Raise The Flag winning the first two races.
Sunday, August 29 2021
Fresh off his best year ever trading thoroughbreds to key Asian racing jurisdictions, trainer Glenn Old is keen to continue the momentum he has created.
Sunday, August 29 2021
One of the stars of last season’s New Zealand three-year-old crop made a bold return to racing at Caufield on Saturday.
Saturday, August 28 2021
Classy Kiwi mare Probabeel (NZ) (Savabeel) remained unbeaten at Caulfield when claiming Saturday’s Gr.3 W.W. Cockram Stakes (1200m) and will seek a second Group One success at the venue next month.
Saturday, August 28 2021
Friday’s announcement that New Zealand will remain in Alert Level 4 until 11:59pm on Tuesday has required New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing to reshuffle the deck when it comes to racing programs in the coming weeks.
Friday, August 27 2021
The Industry is still finalising dates and venues after the announcement at 3pm.
Friday, August 27 2021
Group One winner Sword Of State (Snitzel) has been scratched from Saturday’s first-up assignment in the Gr.3 San Domenico Stakes (1100m).
Friday, August 27 2021
Flemington trainer Michael Moroney admits he is in unchartered waters with triple Group One winning mare Tofane (NZ) (Ocean Park), who is set to contest the Gr.1 Memsie Stakes (1400m) fresh-up at Caulfield on Saturday.
Friday, August 27 2021
The New Zealand racing industry’s collective anticipation ahead of this afternoon’s Government edict on COVID lockdown status is being shared by TAB odds-setters in Petone.
Friday, August 27 2021
An explosive gallop along Southland’s Oreti Beach was enough to convince Invercargill trainer Sabin Kirkland that in Zacinto gelding Sea Shepherd (NZ), he might have something special on his hands.
Thursday, August 26 2021
While many of the country’s trainers will be hoping to be trackside this weekend with the possible resumption of racing, Lance Noble won’t be one of them.
Thursday, August 26 2021
Group One winner Aegon (NZ) (Sacred Falls) has arrived in Melbourne ahead of a tilt at a competitive A$1 million Gr.1 Memsie Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on Saturday.
Thursday, August 26 2021
Star jumper Tallyho Twinkletoe (NZ) (St Reims) was not amongst the nominations for Sunday’s Grand National Steeplechase (4500m) at Ballarat, with connections of the Kevin Myers-trained 11-year-old opting against a trip across the Tasman.
Thursday, August 26 2021
Following on from last year’s successful Series, New Zealand Bloodstock is pleased to announce a further eleven NZB Ready to Run Sale Trainers Series race sponsorships, with incentivised prize packages awarded to domestic trainers over the next three months.
Wednesday, August 25 2021
Local trainer Chrissy Bambry is looking forward to lining up a handful of runners at Awapuni on Saturday, should the Government announce an easing in alert levels.
Wednesday, August 25 2021
Cambridge trainer Tony Pike is happy to be treading water waiting for the return of racing but his mood might change if New Zealand’s COVID-19-enforced lockdown is extended for more than a couple of days on Friday.
Wednesday, August 25 2021
The Peter McKay-trained Wolfgang (NZ) (Puccini) was quick to show he had plenty of promise.
Wednesday, August 25 2021
Stephen Marsh has a strong hand for the supporting races on Foxbridge Plate day at Te Rapa on Saturday. His main hope is that he gets to play it.
Tuesday, August 24 2021
Like many New Zealanders, Andrew Carston will be keeping a close eye on the COVID-19 Alert Level announcement on Friday.
Tuesday, August 24 2021
Connections of star mare Avantage (Fastnet Rock) have opted to keep the six-year-old on home soil as she works towards a start in the Gr.2 Valachi Downs Foxbridge Plate (1200m) which will be run at Te Rapa on Saturday, pending an Alert Level downgrade on Friday.
Monday, August 23 2021
With New Zealand set to remain under COVID-19 Alert Level 4 restrictions until at least 11:59pm this Friday, racing will not resume until Saturday at the earliest.
Monday, August 23 2021
Like all New Zealand trainers, Allan Sharrock has an anxious week ahead of him as he waits to see if there will be any racing this weekend following an announcement by Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern to extend New Zealand’s current Alert Level 4 lockdown until at least 11:59pm on Friday night.
Monday, August 23 2021
The Matamata and wider racing community is mourning the death of one its most respected and admired members, former trainer Norman Crawford, who has passed away at age 92.
Monday, August 23 2021
With the deluge of positive feedback from the recently completed synthetic tracks at both Cambridge and Riccarton, Central Districts trainers are looking forward to being able to race on the surface on their own backyard next year.
Monday, August 23 2021
Andrew Campbell has become the second high-profile trainer in the past week to announce his retirement.
Sunday, August 22 2021
While the majority of New Zealanders hit the pause button on their lives under the current Level 4 COVID lockdown, the same can’t be said for those involved in the thoroughbred breeding industry.
Sunday, August 22 2021
Less than a month into the new racing season and leading rider Lisa Allpress is right where she wants to be at the head of the National jockeys’ premiership.
Sunday, August 22 2021
There was a spring in Albert Bosma’s step on Sunday afternoon as he spent time outside exercising with his daughter during the COVID-19 lockdown in Auckland.
Saturday, August 21 2021
A pair of New Zealand’s leading breeding operations would have been delighted with the finishes of their respective charges in the Roll The Dice Racing Plate (1200m) at Moonee Valley on Saturday.
Saturday, August 21 2021
All things being equal, last season’s Gr.1 Auckland Cup (3200m) winner Ocean Billy will step out for his first raceday assignment at Te Rapa next Saturday as he begins a campaign that could see him contest both the Gr.1 Caulfield Cup (2400m) and Gr.1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) later in the spring.
Saturday, August 21 2021
While getting ready to enjoy a far more relaxing Saturday than he normally would at this time of the year, trainer Jamie Richards still had his eye firmly on the prize as he looked ahead to what’s coming up for the Australian-based members of the Te Akau Racing stable.
Friday, August 20 2021
Matamata trainer Graham Richardson may not have any horses in New Zealand racing this weekend as a result of COVID-19 restrictions, but his colours will still be seen.
Friday, August 20 2021
The spring pathway of exciting Savabeel mare Atishu (NZ) will become clearer when she tackles Saturday’s Darwin Turf Club Trophy (1400m) at Randwick at her Australian debut.
Friday, August 20 2021
Following a Government announcement that New Zealand’s nation-wide COVID-19 Alert Level 4 lockdown would be extended until 11:59pm on Tuesday, all race meetings, trials and jumpouts scheduled up to and including Tuesday have been abandoned.
Friday, August 20 2021
There is to be less use of the whip in New Zealand Thoroughbred racing.
Friday, August 20 2021
Tivaci filly Never Been Kissed made the perfect start to her career when winning on debut over 1000m at Hawkesbury on Thursday.
Thursday, August 19 2021
Cambridge trainer Tony Pike’s confidence is growing that Saturday’s meeting on his home track will go ahead.
Thursday, August 19 2021
Like many trainers in New Zealand, New Plymouth horseman Allan Sharrock has his fingers crossed that the country drops back to Alert Level 3 on Saturday so racing can resume.
Thursday, August 19 2021
Trainer Jamie Richards has this morning informed Racing NSW Stewards that Entriviere (NZ) (Tavistock), an acceptor in the Gr.3 Toy Show Quality (1100m) to be run at Randwick on Saturday, was found to be mildly lame in the off foreleg after working at Randwick this morning.
Thursday, August 19 2021
Cambridge trainers David and Emma-Lee Browne are thanking their lucky stars they made the decision to head to Victoria with their four-strong Victorian Spring team when they did.
Wednesday, August 18 2021
While racing has temporarily ceased in New Zealand as a result of COVID-19 Alert Level 4 lockdown restrictions, New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing (NZTR) has put in a contingency plan for its resumption this weekend.
Wednesday, August 18 2021
Former New Zealand mare Bonham (Per Incanto) could kick-off the Australian leg of her racing career in the Gr.2 Sheraco Stakes (1200m) at Rosehill next month.
Wednesday, August 18 2021
Zed may be one of New Zealand’s most solidly proven stallions, but there’s still plenty of room for broodmare owners that want their mares to visit him.
Tuesday, August 17 2021
Connections of many of the country’s early three-year-olds will be breathing a sigh of relief when they hear Group One winner On The Bubbles (Brazen Beau) won’t be contesting the first three-year-old stakes race of the season.
Tuesday, August 17 2021
Jockey Bridget Grylls has returned from a foray to Victoria and is sure to be a welcome addition to the New Zealand riding ranks.
Tuesday, August 17 2021
NZTR is working through the implications of today’s announcement that for three days from midnight 17 August 2021 the country will be under Alert Level 4, and Auckland and Coromandel regions will remain under Alert Level 4 for at least a further 4 days.
Tuesday, August 17 2021
Like many primary industries, there has been a growing shortage of skilled labour in the thoroughbred industry, but the cavalry are coming.
Tuesday, August 17 2021
Connections of high-class four-year-old Aegon (NZ) (Sacred Falls) are favouring a start in the A$1 million Memsie Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on Saturday week as the kick-off point for the athletic gelding’s spring campaign.
Monday, August 16 2021
Group Three winner Supreme Heights got her spring preparation off to the best possible start at Te Rapa on Monday when comfortably taking out her 1050m trial by 2-1/2 lengths.
Monday, August 16 2021
If anyone needed reminding about the ability of Ardsley Stud to raise top-level racehorses, they got a double reminder last Saturday.
Monday, August 16 2021
Graeme Rogerson left Te Rapa in a buoyant mood after his team’s efforts at the Hamilton trials on Monday.
Monday, August 16 2021
Talented five-year-old Harlech (NZ) (Darci Brahma) is back in New Zealand and is preparing for a tilt at the Hawke’s Bay features this spring.
Sunday, August 15 2021
Trainer Shaune Ritchie believes he has a handy three-year-old on his hands after Whiskey (NZ) (Burgundy) broke his maiden status with an impressive victory over 1200m at Te Rapa on Saturday.
Sunday, August 15 2021
With the onset of spring and summer racing just around the corner, you can hear the excitement in the voice of trainer Graham Richardson as he talks about the prospects his Matamata stable has for the new season.
Sunday, August 15 2021
Jo Rathbone will spend the next few days discussing the immediate plans for Saturday’s Racecourse Hotel & Motor Lodge Grand National Steeplechase (5600m) winner Tallyho Twinkletoe (NZ) (St Reims) with her co-owners, including the possibility of a lightning raid across the Tasman trip to contest the Australian Grand National Steeplechase (4500m) on August 29.
Saturday, August 14 2021
An eye-catching trial win over new stablemate Catalyst (NZ) (Darci Brahma) at Cambridge last week indicated promising mare Marchioness (NZ) (Iffraaj) was ready to win first-up and so it proved when she cruised home over 1200m at Te Rapa on Saturday.
Saturday, August 14 2021
Taranaki galloper Justaskme (NZ) (No Excuse Needed) gained a measure of revenge for an unlucky effort in last week’s Gr.3 Winter Cup (1600m) at Riccarton when he triumphed in Saturday’s Heatstore Open Handicap (1400m) at the venue.
Saturday, August 14 2021
An excited flourish of the whip by Shaun Phelan as he crossed the finish line said it all as champion jumper Tallyho Twinkletoe (NZ) (St Reims) wrote his name into Australasian jumping folklore as he took out the Racecourse Hotel & Motor Lodge Grand National Steeplechase (5600m) at Riccarton.
Friday, August 13 2021
Matamata trainers Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott are eyeing a trip south to Wanganui next month with Treasure State if he performs well at Te Rapa on Saturday.
Friday, August 13 2021
Byerley Park trainer Danny Walker senses an opportunity at Te Rapa on Saturday with in-form winter galloper Crystallize (NZ) (Iffraaj).
Friday, August 13 2021
Hawke’s Bay horsewoman Corrina McDougal’s love of life runs far deeper than the success she is enjoying as the training partner of Paul Nelson.
Thursday, August 12 2021
New Zealand training great Stephen McKee has announced his retirement.
Thursday, August 12 2021
Chilly Filly (NZ) (Swiss Ace) continued her impressive run of form at Riccarton on Wednesday when winning the McMillan Equine Rating 74 (1000m).
Thursday, August 12 2021
With names like Jumbo, Riccarton’s steeplechase fences are renowned for their size but Hunterville trainer Ken Duncan said the biggest obstacle facing Shamal (NZ) (Zabeel) in Saturday’s Racecourse Hotel Grand National Steeplechase (5600m) doesn’t need to be jumped.
Wednesday, August 11 2021
Prominent jumps trainer Paul Nelson has had plenty of top-class hurdlers pass through his care over the years but he labelled The Cossack (NZ) (Mastercraftsman) as the best after his dominant win in the Hospitality New Zealand Canterbury 131st Grand National Hurdles (4200m) at Riccarton on Wednesday.
Wednesday, August 11 2021
Two top-class horses are giving leading jockey Jonathan Riddell reason to look forward to an exciting spring of racing.
Tuesday, August 10 2021
Triple Group One winner Bostonian’s (NZ) (Jimmy Choux) racing career is over.
Tuesday, August 10 2021
Cambridge trainer Tony Pike will be keeping a close eye on the weather ahead of racing at Te Rapa on Saturday where Group One winner Sherwood Forest (Fastnet Rock) is set to kick-off his spring preparation in the Super Seth & Waikato Stud Mile (1600m).
Tuesday, August 10 2021
Canterbury locals will have just the one runner to cheer for in Wednesday’s Hospitality New Zealand Canterbury 131st Grand National Hurdles (4200m) at Riccarton, with Ringbolt (NZ) (Pentire) being the South Island’s sole representative.
Tuesday, August 10 2021
Last season’s outstanding juvenile Sword Of State (Snitzel) was back in action at the Cambridge trials on Tuesday, where he finished second under a hold over 800m.
Monday, August 09 2021
Ritani (NZ) (Makfi) was initially purchased by Ian and Kerry Taplin as a broodmare proposition, but on Saturday she delivered them their first Group success as trainers.
Monday, August 09 2021
Brian Anderton wanted to do the best thing by his old mate Jackfrost (NZ) (Gallant Guru), so he has retired the talented jumper after his disappointing return to racing.
Monday, August 09 2021
The thoroughbred industry lost one of its most respected men after prominent bloodstock agent Michael Stedman passed away at the age of 73 last week.
Monday, August 09 2021
Fresh from his 90th birthday, Tauranga horseman Cliff Goss is looking towards the Gr.2 Coupland’s Bakeries Mile (1600m) as the major spring target for his exciting galloper Gold Watch (NZ) (Swiss Ace).
Monday, August 09 2021
The New Zealand Thoroughbred breeding industry lost one of its trailblazing female breeders recently with the passing of Lorraine Jameson.
Sunday, August 08 2021
Track specialist Acutus (Sepoy) continued his blossoming love affair with the sandy Ruakaka surface when he dominated his open class rivals in the Dunstan Accumulator (1400m) at the northern venue on Saturday.
Sunday, August 08 2021
While he wasn’t really enjoying the serious drop in temperature that Christchurch was experiencing on Sunday, trainer John Wheeler was still savouring the success of a winning double at Riccarton 24 hours earlier.
Sunday, August 08 2021
Former Nigel Tiley-trained stayer Double Happy (NZ) (Sufficient) opened his account from his new base at Shaun and Emma Clotworthy’s Byerley Park operation when he took out the AUG 21 – Alibaba’s Flying Carpets Ruakaka Cup, an open 2100m contest at Ruakaka on Saturday.
Saturday, August 07 2021
Local runner Follow Your Dreams showed he was right on target for the Gr.3 Cambridge Stud Northland Breeders’ Stakes (1200m) in a fortnight when he took out the main lead-up event at Ruakaka on Saturday.
Saturday, August 07 2021
Scenes of unbridled joy and celebration broke out on the Riccarton public lawn shortly after outsider Ritani ($21) took out the 124th running of the Winning Edge Presentations Winter Cup (1600m) on Saturday.
Saturday, August 07 2021
Emerging hurdling talent Chief Sequoyah did everything trainer John Wheeler was looking for ahead of Wednesday’s Hospitality New Zealand Canterbury Grand National Hurdles (4200m) when he took out Saturday’s Avon City Ford Sydenham Hurdles (3100m) at Riccarton in fine fashion.
Friday, August 06 2021
Group One winning galloper Catalyst (NZ) (Darci Brahma) was back in action at the Cambridge trials on Thursday and pleased his connections when finishing a nose second behind stablemate Marchioness in a hit-out over 950m.
Friday, August 06 2021
Jamie Richards will be out on his own again at the 2021 New Zealand Thoroughbred Horse of the Year awards.
Friday, August 06 2021
The return of Riccarton’s Grand National Carnival is music to the ears of Michael Pitman, who hopes the three-day meeting on his home track will move him closer to a remarkable milestone.
Friday, August 06 2021
Trainers Shaun and Emma Clotworthy were eyeing an Australian campaign with Justacanta (NZ) (Per Incanto) this spring, however, a change in circumstances have altered those plans.
Thursday, August 05 2021
Rhythm and ringcraft might sound like a music festival but Hall of Fame trainer John Wheeler reckons they might be the only missing ingredients for his emerging hurdler Chief Sequoyah (NZ) (Redwood) on his path to greatness.
Thursday, August 05 2021
Tom Wood has come a long way since his race commentator’s debut as an 18-year-old at the Westport trots on Boxing Day 2008.
Thursday, August 05 2021
It’s A Wonder (NZ) (Istidaad) may get a bit of a shock when he lines-up in the Jolt Coffee House 2060 at Wanganui on Friday.
Wednesday, August 04 2021
Following on from last year’s successful Series, New Zealand Bloodstock is pleased to announce a further ten NZB Ready to Run Sale Trainers Series race sponsorships, with incentivised prize packages awarded to domestic trainers over the next three months.
Wednesday, August 04 2021
Undefeated filly Imperatriz (I Am Invincible) continued to impress at the Ellerslie trials on Tuesday, comfortably winning her 900m heat by five lengths over stablemate Palamos.
Wednesday, August 04 2021
Cambridge trainer Tony Pike was savouring the last few hours of a brief Queenstown getaway on Wednesday before the focus switches to overseeing his team for a busy spring.
Wednesday, August 04 2021
Ian Taplin’s heart sank when the Proisir colt he had such a high opinion of was led out of the ring at the 2018 Karaka yearling sales without reaching his reserve.
Wednesday, August 04 2021
Shaun Fannin reckons there’s no buzz for a rider that’s quite like winning a major steeplechase.
Tuesday, August 03 2021
Quality stayer The Chosen One (NZ) (Savabeel) commenced his campaign towards the Gr.1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) with a pleasing 1200m trial at Ellerslie on Tuesday.
Tuesday, August 03 2021
It was another busy day at the trials for Te Akau trainer Jamie Richards as he oversees the preparation of his spring stars.
Tuesday, August 03 2021
Richard Collett has kept a close eye on racing at Cambridge’s newly opened synthetic track and he will test the surface out himself with a couple of runners at their opening meeting of the season on Wednesday.
Monday, August 02 2021
It was a case of perseverance rewarded on Sunday when apprentice jockey Yash Coonee landed the first win of his career when promising gelding Some Like It Hot scored an impressive two-length victory at Te Aroha.
Monday, August 02 2021
Aero De Paris continued his purple patch of form at Rotorua on Saturday when winning the RG & CM Donaldson Memorial 1215.
Monday, August 02 2021
Apprentice jockey Erin Leighton drew her family in large numbers to watch her at Otaki on Saturday, and she rewarded them with her first black type victory.
Sunday, August 01 2021
Trainer Stephen Marsh cut a relieved figure after gritty mare El Noir (NZ) (El Roca) finally broke through for the win she had been promising of late, when taking out a rating 65 1200m contest at Te Aroha on Sunday.
Sunday, August 01 2021
Central Districts racegoers would have recognized a familiar surname amongst the winners at Otaki on Saturday as 22-year-old apprentice Liam Kauri registered his first winning ride aboard the Gail Temperton-trained Candy Cross (NZ) (St Reims) in the opening event on the card.
Sunday, August 01 2021
It’s been a foregone conclusion for several months, but as August 1 ushers in a new racing season, Jamie Richards’ name goes into the record books as the champion trainer for season 2020/21 in New Zealand.
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