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Shamal strikes

A small field of five runners did battle in the Win the Group 2 Waikato Guineas Steeplechase (3900m) on Saturday and it was Waikato Steeplechase winner Shamal who took the honours.Punters sent out impressive last start winner It’s A Wonder favourite, with topweight Shamal carrying a deserved notable amount more than his race rivals.It’s A Wonder set a solid tempo for most of the event until down the back straight for the final time. Shamal, with regular rider Buddy Lammas aboard, coasted up ...

Lindsay Park unveil 'flying machine'

The Lindsay Park-trained Excelida (Exceed And Excel x Lady Sayyida) broke her maiden in the most emphatic of styles on Pakenham’s synthetic track on Friday.The two-year-old filly sauntered clear of the field under a hands and heels Jamie Kah ride to score by seven and a half lengths. Kah was suitably impressed with the filly, who is set to reappear as a three-year-old in city races next month. "I gave her a gallop on Monday and thought, 'geez this thing absolutely flies' and I was su...

Fradd's With Igraine In History Making Grafton Cup Bid

Jockey Robbie Fradd isn’t letting the fact Igraine needs to set a weight carrying record to win Thursday’s Listed G McMullan Contracting Grafton Cup (2350m) concern him – he’s confident he’s on the horse to beat.Igraine, a dominant last start winner of the Caloundra Cup over Grafton rival Sopressa on a heavy track, will equal the metric record held by Oppressor (1995) and Bonfire (2015) of 59kg and set a new mark for a mare if she takes out the feature event. Only one mare has won the ...

Emily Margaret recovering from operation

Riccarton trainers Pam and Kevin Hughes are looking forward to welcoming stable star Emily Margaret back into the team next month after her bone-chip operation. A decisive winner of the New Zealand Bloodstock Southern Filly of the Year title, Emily Margaret was sent to Cambridge for surgery after ending her three-year-old campaign with a second behind Secret Allure in the Listed New Zealand Bloodstock Airfreight Stakes (1600m) at Riccarton in early April. “She went up to the Cambridge Equine C...

Bachelor delivers special win

Te Rapa specialist Sultan Of Swing struck again at the Hamilton track on Saturday, providing a poignant result in the U S Navy Flag Foxbridge Plate 17 Aug (1600m). Winning jockey Taiki Yanagida wore a black armband over the blue, black and green colours of owner-breeder Dominic Li, whose long-time New Zealand racing manager and friend Maryanne Simon lost her father Jim Mead this week. “It’s a tough time for Maryanne, but I’m pleased the horse could deliver for everybody,” trainer Shaune ...

Taylors savour Igraine’s big year

With stakes wins on both sides of the Tasman, imported European mare Igraine has earned herself a special place in Brent and Cherry Taylor’s broodmare band and hearts. The Trelawney principals are in the midst of a winter escape to Spain, but watched with delight as the Robert Priscott-trained Igraine scored a dominant victory in Saturday’s Listed Caloundra Cup (2400m) in Queensland. “It was a huge thrill to see her do that,” Brent Taylor said. “She’s a mare we’ve always had faith ...

Igraine scores Aussie stakes win

A return to a soft track helped the Trelawney Stud owned Igraine (Galileo) score in the Listed Caloundra Cup (2400m) at the Sunshine Coast on Saturday. Trainer Robert Priscott brought Igraine to Queensland with the Brisbane Cup at Eagle Farm three weeks ago as her main aim.  However, she was never in the hunt after being blocked for runs in the straight to finish 12th. Priscott said he expected a much better run in the Caloundra Cup, especially when rain fell all week. H...

How tough is Shamal?

Only Ken Duncan really knows just how tough Shamal is. And that's not just the courage the Zabeel eight-year-old gelding showed during his recovery from a tendon injury that threatened his career as a four-year-old. Or the tenacity he displayed in grinding out a win over subsequent Manawatu Steeplechase (4200m) winner Gagarin when he claimed the Waikato Steeplechase (3900m) at Te Rapa last month when not fully fit. "They don't get any tougher," the Hunterville sheep farmer and trainer said when ...

Changing of the guard at NZ Racing Hall of Fame

Chris Luoni, the driving force behind the establishment of the New Zealand Racing Hall of Fame, is stepping down as Chairman after serving seven years in the post but will continue as a director. “Chris was the catalyst behind establishing the Racing Hall of Fame,” past Chairman and director Gerald Fell said. “I was the first Chairman of the Hall of Fame and between us we drove the development of it. “I retired and Chris took over, and it has just got stronger and stronger.” Luoni, an...

Travancore too strong at Canterbury

Travancore’s (Savabeel x Stella Livia) form line continued on an upward trajectory when the Clare Cunningham-trained gelding flew home to claim the Canterbury League Club Handicap (1550m) on Wednesday. The five-year-old gelding travelled at the rear of the field before jockey Jason Collett made his move with 600m to go. When the gap opened up on the straight Travancore pushed through and finished strongly to win by just under a length. It was the fourth career win for the Trelawney Stud gradua...

Indecision on the improve

The Tony Pike-trained Indecision will contest the Listed Gai Waterhouse Classic (1350m) at Ipswich on Saturday.James Orman has been booked for the ride on the five-year-old mare who races in the Trelawney silks. Indecision has been unplaced at both her winter runs over 1200m but Pike expects improvement from the daughter of Per Incanto. "She is a Listed race winner in New Zealand and there were excuses in both her defeats in Brisbane," Pike said. "We thought enough of her to bring her across fro...

Blog Post- Ryan Stacey

It’s hard to believe that I only have 5 weeks left at the Irish National Stud. The past 20 weeks really have flown by, almost at the click of a finger. The stud has really slowed down now as we get near to the end of the breeding season. Foaling season has officially been completed with a total of 218 foals born this year on the farm. With Donnacha having the honours of delivering the last baby. A big thanks to our foaling managers Lauren Eisemann and Nicola Joyce for their knowledge, support ...

Sydney consolation for Star of the Seas

The Chris Waller-trained Star Of The Seas (NZ) (Ocean Park) made up for missing a start in the Stradbroke with a win in the Racing to Win Handicap (1600m) at Randwick on Saturday. The four-year-old gelding has been a model of consistency having record four wins and four placings from eight starts this preparation and never running out of the money in his 13 career starts. “He’s had a fantastic preparation,” Waller’s racing manager Charlie Duckworth said. “He was balloted...

Sultan Of Swing back in winning rhythm

Class galloper Sultan of Swing returned to winning form with a vengeance when he dealt to his open-class rivals over 1600m at Te Rapa. The Shaune Ritchie-trained six-year-old indicated he was nearing his peak after a sound effort for second at Ellerslie a fortnight ago and franked that form with his ninth career victory on Saturday. After enjoying a cosy run against the rail in midfield throughout, rider Jonathan Riddell had Sultan Of Swing handily placed to make his challenge one-off the fence ...

Igraine seeks further Cups success

Igraine has proven to be an astute purchase for Brent and Cherry Taylor of Trelawney Stud. The Taylor’s purchased the Galileo mare as a broodmare proposition for 65,000 Guineas in England through bloodstock agent Paul Moroney and she has quickly added to her value under the care of Robert Priscott. Igraine has won four of her 11 starts for the Te Awamutu trainer, including the Gr.3 Counties Cup (2100m) in November and she has also finished runner-up in the Gr.3 Waikato Cup (2400m) and Listed H...

Group One treble on the cards for The Bostonian

The Tony Pike-trained The Bostonian will be attempting to keep his unbeaten Queensland streak alive when he contests the Gr.1 Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) at Eagle Farm on Saturday. The four-year-old son of Jimmy Choux has won all five of his starts in the Sunshine State, including two successive Group Ones this campaign and Pike is hopeful for a third this weekend. The Bostonian surprised many pundits when taking out the Gr.1 Doomben 10,000 (1200m) as a $41-shot when fresh-up last month, before ...

Berry to partner Nobu in QLD Derby

In-form jockey Tommy Berry is poised to keep his winning momentum rolling when he heads to Eagle Farm for a strong book of rides on Stradbroke Handicap day. Berry booted home a double at the track two weeks ago then returned to Sydney last Saturday and made it an afternoon to remember with a four-winner haul, each of them for different stables. The Chris Waller-trained Queensland Derby favourite Nobu is arguably the best of his rides. The three-year-old has hit his straps since returning to Aust...

Strap Marks whips up a first win

Patience paid off for Trelawney Stud and trainer Stephen Gray on Friday night after Strap Marks bolted up in the Open Maiden race over 1200m in Singapore. The famous New Zealand stud (War Affair was born there) run by Brent and Cherry Taylor should have seen the son of Jimmy Choux make his Kranji debut as a three-year-old two years ago, but an unfortunate barrier trial injury derailed those plans. Strap Marks fractured his pelvis in a barrier trial on October 3, 2017. Vets gave a guarded prognos...

Medalza scores at Te Rapa

Three-year-old filly Medalza broke her maiden when successful at Te Rapa on Wednesday. The daughter of Medaglia D’oro, who was raised at Trelawney Stud for breeder/owner David Paykel, took out the Website Angels 1200, completing a double for trainer Stephen Marsh after stablemate Mrs Rumble had won the opening race on the card. Jumping from an awkward barrier of 11, Medalza was kept three-wide for the journey, with jockey Samantha Collett electing to stay out on the better footing. Collett was...

The Bostonian aiming at slice of history

Kiwi sprinter The Bostonian made it back-to-back Group One wins in clinical fashion when winning Saturday’s Gr.1 Kingsford-Smith Cup (1300m) at Eagle Farm and has duly been installed the $5 favourite for the Gr.1 Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) as he looks to create history. No horse has ever won the Doomben 10,000-Kingsford Smith Cup (formerly BTC Cup) -Stradbroke Group One treble, but the Tony Pike-trained four-year-old is in peak condition and, like many New Zealanders, thriving in the Queensla...

The Bostonian wins G1 Kingsford Smith Cup

Tony Pike's last-minute decision to run The Bostonian in the Gr.1 Kingsford Smith Cup proved a $420,000 bonus when the gelding scored an impressive win. The Bostonian completed the Cup-Doomben 10,000 double when he beat Princess Posh by three quarters of a length with a short neck to Trekking in third. He becomes fifth horse to complete to Kingsford Smith Cup-Doomben 10,000 double although the first to do it in reverse order. After The Bostonian won the Group One Doomben 10,000 two weeks ago, Pi...

Nobu continues path to Queensland Derby

A trip to New Zealand appears to have been the making of Nobu who will be given the chance to win the season's last Classic in Queensland. The Chris Waller-trained gelding crossed the Tasman for and unsuccessful bid at the NZ Derby at Ellerslie at the beginning of March. Waller brought him back to Sydney where he has had three starts since for a second and two wins including Saturday's Mizuno Handicap (2000m) at Randwick to cement $4.50 favouritism for the Gr.1 Queensland Derby (2400m) in two we...

Nobu out to press Derby claims

The Chris Waller-trained Nobu (NZ) (Reliable Man) will be out to cement his claims to Queensland Derby favouritism in Saturday's Mizuno Handicap (2000m) at Randwick. The gelding has stepped out twice since the New Zealand Derby in March and looked back to his best with a dominant last-start performance on the Kensington track. Jason Collett rode against him last time and is thrilled to have picked up the plum mount on Saturday. "I know he went over for a New Zealand Derby campaign and was unsucc...

Bostonian flying ahead of Kingsford-Smith

Tony Pike and his horses are revelling in the Queensland sun this winter. The Cambridge trainer has already sent out three winners from a select team he has brought to the Sunshine State, including The Bostonian, who was a surprise winner of the Gr.1 Doomben 10,000 (1200m). Pike subsequently intended to give The Bostonian four weeks’ between runs and target the Gr.1 Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) fresh. But a sparkling gallop on Tuesday has seen those plans change and the son of Jimmy Choux will ...

Loire impresses at the Bay

Cambridge trainer Tony Pike might be enjoying a purple patch across the Tasman, but on Wednesday he unearthed a filly on the home-front that looks destined to go to the upper grades. Two-year-old filly Loire relished the Dead4 track presented at Hawke’s Bay and closed from well-back in the field to win the Nufarm 2YO (1200m) impressively under a hold in the hands of jockey Michael McNab. The daughter of Redoute’s Choice is out of Syrah, making her a half-sister to Group One winner A Touch Of...