Talented winter galloper Spencer will be chasing his third win in succession when stepping up in the Taradale Club Handicap (1200m) on Saturday at Hastings.
Capable flat performer Mont Ventoux scored a deserved maiden success over the fences in the Majestic Horse Floats Hurdles (3100m) at Te Aroha on Thursday.
Lofty British jumps jockey Jay Kozaczek made the perfect start to his riding venture in New Zealand at Te Aroha on Thursday when guiding Sound of Silence to victory in the Agrisea NZ Steeplechase (3500m) for Dave Blackie, who also celebrated his first training success.
Proven flat performer Helena Baby continued his flawless transition to jumping with another easy victory in Thursday’s $30,000 The Bottle-O Te Aroha Hurdles (3100m).
An affinity with Waikato Stud stallion Super Seth prompted Phoenix Broodmare Farm’s Damian Gleeson and Deb Gifford to make a spur-of-the-moment purchase of stakes-winning mare Zecora on Gavelhouse.com this week.
Group One performer Chase will be out to make it back-to-back wins when he heads to Hastings on Saturday to tackle the Vintech Pacific Poverty Bay Cup (1600m).
A $100,000 carrot at Cambridge’s synthetic meeting in August is firmly in the sights of trainer Howie Mathews with a pair of his gallopers, but he is being forced to take an unsuitable path to the lucrative target.
Star hurdler Berry The Cash will chase his first title at Hastings on Saturday, while stablemate West Coast is out to defend his crown in the AHD – Animal Health Hawke’s Bay Steeplechase (4800m).
Ross Beckett will head to Riccarton’s Synthetic meeting on Thursday with a handful of runners, including a couple of favourites.
Te Akau Racing have had another stellar season and some of their stars that contributed to their success have returned to their Matamata barn to try and continue their dominance next term.
