Progressive filly Moonlight Magic took a significant last-start step toward the goal of a third Group One winner for The Sunlight Trust with her breakthrough success at stakes level.
Little Avondale Stud has elected to keep their resident stallion Per Incanto at a service fee of $50,000 plus GST for the 2024 season. The son of Street Cry has had another successful season highlighted by Belclare’s second consecutive win in New Zealand’s premier fillies and mare race, the Gr.1 NZ Thoroughbred Breeders Stakes (1600m).
Bidding to give David Hall his first success in the Gr.1 Chairman’s Sprint Prize (1200m) at Sha Tin on Sunday (28 April), Flying Ace (NZ) (Swiss Ace) cruised through a 1050m barrier trial on Monday morning as the course and distance specialist prepared for the HK$22 million feature.
Riverton galloper Lightning Jack will aim for back-to-back victories on his adopted home track of Otaki on Thursday when contesting the Listed ANZAC Mile (1600m).
Following the partial abandonments of race meetings at Ellerslie on 10 and 20 April, Auckland Thoroughbred Racing (ATR) have announced the planned winter renovation of their newly installed StrathAyr track will commence immediately, with their May 25 meeting to be transferred to Pukekohe Park.
Espadas could be destined for a future across the Tasman following his maiden victory at Ellerslie on Saturday.
John Blackadder will travel down to Phar Lap Raceway on Wednesday with the appeal of an Entain – NZB Insurance Pearl Series bonus for Yoshime.
Nimble Nimbus (NZ) (Sacred Falls) has been one of this season’s surprise packages and trainer Ricky Yiu is remaining optimistic the gelding can step it up again when he contests the HK$28 million Gr.1 FWD QEII Cup (2000m) at Sha Tin on Sunday, 28 April.
Aimee Peterken has only been breeding thoroughbreds for a few years, but she is already starting to leave her mark.
Central Districts-based jockey Portia Matthews got her jumps season off to the perfect start with a winning double at Hawera on Sunday.
