Progressive staying three-year-old Bold Soul tuned up for next week’s Gr.1 South Australian Derby (2500m) with a strong win in the Gr.3 Chairman’s Stakes (2000m) at Morphettville for trainer Patrick Payne and jockey Jake Noonan.
If Apostrophe has run her final race, the talented mare signed off on a successful career in style with a powerful finish to capture the Gr.2 Travis Stakes (2000m) at Te Rapa on Saturday.
Handy three-year-old Lantern Way returned to his best at Wanganui on Saturday with the aid of a gear change paving the way for a visit to the winners’ enclosure following the running of the Commdives NZ 3YO (1340m).
Two years after taking out the Gr.3 Manco Easter Handicap (1600m) with Carolina Reaper, Matamata trainers Graham Richardson and Rogan Norvall have repeated and surpassed that result with a one-three finish headed by the rising star Snazzytavi.
Progressive filly Tomodachi provided a fitting result in the opening event at Te Rapa on Saturday, a day where one of the greats of the New Zealand training ranks was remembered after the passing of Dave “DJ” O’Sullivan twenty-four hours earlier.
The racing industry is mourning the death of training great Dave O’Sullivan at the age of 90.
Cambridge trainers Roger James and Robert Wellwood are heading into Saturday’s meeting at Te Rapa with the fixed-odds favourites for both of the thoroughbred mecca’s traditional flagship races.
Riverton horsewoman Kelly Shearing will head north to Wingatui on Sunday with a trio of runners, headlined by last start winner In Vogue in the Otago Daily Times 65 2200m.
Cambridge Stud stallion Almanzor played a starring role at Flemington on Anzac Day, siring the quinella in the A$200,000 Listed VRC St Leger (2800m) with his three-year-old daughters Ahuriri and Alma Rise.
Peter Didham was left scratching his head following Danjuro’s poor showing in the Gr.3 Manawatu Classic (2100m) at Trentham earlier this month, and has decided to go back to the drawing board with the talented three-year-old.
