New Zealand-breds fought out a thrilling finish to Saturday’s A$80,000 Dr Bernard Clarke Memorial Handicap (2040m) at Moonee Valley, with Lauding digging deep to score a narrow win over Lincoln Rocks.
New Zealand import Trosettee collected a long-overdue first Australian victory with a come-from-behind win in Saturday’s A$130,000 Ladbroke It! Handicap (1600m) at Moonee Valley.
There was a time when Darryn Weatherley wondered if Mali Ston would ever return to a racecourse, but patience and perseverance paid off when the talented gelding kicked off his season with a powerful second in Saturday’s Gr.2 Foxbridge Plate (1200m).
Promising three-year-old Suit Yourself honoured the memory of the late Kevin Hickman in perfect fashion when he scored a special victory at Te Rapa on Saturday.
Imported New Zealand stayer Strathtay has made an impressive start to his Australian career, and he kept that strong form going with a third Sydney victory in Saturday’s A$160,000 Gold Coast Turf Club Trophy (2400m) at Randwick.
Previously a stakes winner at the ages of two, three, four and five, Bonny Lass kicked off her six-year-old season on a perfect note when she defeated a star-studded field in Saturday’s Gr.2 Waikato Stud Foxbridge Plate (1200m) at Te Rapa.
Spring staying features are looming large on the horizon for Dashing Duchess after the Kiwi-bred mare’s dominant victory in Saturday’s A$150,000 Italian Chamber of Commerce Handicap (2500m) at Moonee Valley.
Local filly Diablo Blanco produced a bold audition for Christchurch’s upcoming spring features with a runaway victory in Saturday’s CJC Feature Nominations Close 27 August Three-Year-Old (1200m) on Riccarton’s synthetic track.
Memories of a jumping legend were rekindled at Te Rapa on Saturday when Ima Wonder carried the famous colours of Ken and Ann Browne to a comprehensive victory in the Bridges Insurance Services Pakuranga Hunt Cup (4800m).
John and Karen Parsons have had a lot of success with the progeny of their talented race mare Arietta, which continued at Riccarton Park Synthetic on Saturday with La Bella Nera collecting top honours in the Christchurch Casino 27th South Island Racing Awards – 13th September Rating 80 (1200m).
