By Jess de Lautour, LOVERACING.NZ News Desk Legarto catapulted herself into the spotlight in last year’s A$1 million Gr.1 Australian Guineas (1600m), and Te Akau Racing is hopeful another Kiwi filly can follow suit in the Flemington feature on Saturday. That filly is Quintessa, a daughter of Shamus Award that has only once finished out
By Jess de Lautour, LOVERACING.NZ News Desk Te Akau Racing make their presence felt in a volume of top-flight New Zealand races, with Karaka Millions, Guineas, and weight-for-age crowns in constant flow. However, the iconic Gr.1 Trackside New Zealand Derby (2400m) is one that has eluded the Matamata giant since cult hero Gingernuts in 2017,
By Richard Edmunds, LOVERACING.NZ News Desk Two breakthrough performers from November’s New Zealand Cup Carnival will line up alongside a pair of promising staying three-year-olds in a talented team for New Plymouth trainer John Wheeler at Ellerslie on Saturday. The Hall of Fame horseman’s first runner will be Oso Savvy in the $90,000 Vertical Logistics
Wexford Stables look to have a strong hand in the Gr.3 Haunui Farm King’s Plate (1200m) at Ellerslie on Saturday where they will be represented by Group One winner Waitak and Group One performer Dragon Leap.
While Kelvin Tyler was pleased to take out the Listed Southland Guineas (1600m) with Aberlour at Ascot Park earlier this month, the Riverton trainer was left scratching his head after stablemate Lady Sass refused to jump from the gates and took no part in the race.
Group One winner Jon Snow got off the mark as a sire on Thursday when his son King Of The North took out the Farewell Dave Bradford (1400m) at Matamata.
Cambridge trainer Andrew Forsman will be looking to secure his first Gr.1 New Zealand Derby (2400m) in his own right at Ellerslie on Saturday when First Innings contests the Trackside-sponsored feature.
Matamata trainer Cody Cole will be more than happy to let his Gr.1 New Zealand Derby (2400m) contender Renegade Rebel do what he does best on Saturday.
Dual Guineas winner Aberlour’s racing future lies in Australia, following her majority sale to clients of Warwick Farm trainer Joseph Pride.
Tony Pike certainly knows how to win a Derby, but the Cambridge trainer is taking a philosophical approach into this year’s edition.
