It’s been a tough road for Stephen Gray over recent times as Singapore racing has gone from racing powerhouse to closure in October, but now he’s back home and ready for the next chapter in his training career.
Stakes performer Conor O’Ceirin will take his first steps toward upcoming feature race targets when he resumes at Trentham on Saturday.
Paul Nelson and Corrina McDougal’s star jumpers Nedwin and The Cossack will line-up over the weekend, but they won’t feature over the fences.
Promising filly Star Shadow has the chance to break new ground for New Zealand’s leading stable when she lines up as a hot favourite in Saturday’s Listed Staphanos at Novara Park Champagne Stakes (1600m) at Pukekohe.
Talented three-year-old stayer First Innings has booked a place in the Gr.1 Queensland Derby (2400m) after coming from last to land a 2180m three-year-old handicap at Ipswich on Wednesday.
The Andrew Forsman-trained son of Contributer went back to last under jockey Jim Byrne and crept into the race shortly before rounding the home turn, making his run widest on the tight-turning Queensland track to score a resounding two length victory over a competitive field.
Courtney Barnes is on track for a career-best season in the saddle and continued her winning roll with a double at Taupo on Wednesday.
Originally commencing her career in the South Island, Barnes has surpassed the 30-win mark twice before, first as an apprentice in 2012/13 and last term where she accumulated 39 and a pair of stakes winners.
Riverton trainer Kelvin Tyler will be represented on both islands in the coming days, starting with Wingatui on Friday where he will line-up a trio of runners.
He will have a two-pronged attack in the Grand Casino 75 1600 courtesy of last start placegetters Classic Diva and Zambezi Zipper, and he is hoping the former can step up in particular on Friday.
“Classic Diva has disappointed because she looks good and works really well but on raceday she just doesn’t step up how we think she should,” Tyler said.
Cambridge trainer Andrew Forsman has always thought highly of two-year-old gelding Belardi, and he was pleased to see him display his talent on raceday when taking out the Dylan Johnson Bloodstock (1100m) at Taupo on Wednesday.
Awapuni trainer Mark Oulaghan will head over the hill to Woodville on Sunday with two of last season’s star jumpers in Berry The Cash and West Coast set to make their return over the fences in the features.
A son of Mettre En Jeu, West Coast was near-unbeatable over the steeplechase fences last season, claiming the Hawke’s Bay Steeplechase (4800m), Wellington Steeplechase (5500m), Grand National Steeplechase (5600m) and Great Northern Steeplechase (6500m), all in the hands of Shaun Fannin.
Capable stayer Hit The Road Jack has shifted camp to prepare for the next stage of his career.
The son of Jakkalberry arrived in Melbourne on Wednesday to build toward a jumping career from the successful Warrnambool stable of Symon Wilde.
