A daughter of two-time Riverton Cup (2147m) winner Miss Three Stars lined up on the same raceday on Saturday for the same trainer and jockey, delivering a major victory of her own in the Bupa Care Services Francolin Stakes (1400m).
A year after winning the Gr.1 Vinery Stud Stakes (2000m) with Prowess, Cambridge trainers Roger James and Robert Wellwood returned to Rosehill on Saturday and achieved a repeat result with another special filly.
Race favourite Prince Alby carried the hopes of the locals in Saturday’s Kennedy Building Riverton Cup (2147m), and he didn’t let anyone down as he ground out a terrific victory in the feature event on the day.
Wymark’s connections are likely to pay a late nomination fee for next week’s Gr.1 Australian Derby (2400m) after the rapidly improving three-year-old collected his fourth win in a row in Saturday’s Gr.2 Toyota Forklifts Tulloch Stakes (2000m) at Rosehill.
Linebacker became the first stakes winner for freshman Waikato Stud stallion Super Seth with a classy and tenacious victory in Saturday’s Gr.3 Hyland Race Colours Baillieu (1400m) at Rosehill – a performance that also earned him a shot at next month’s Gr.1 Champagne Stakes (1600m) at Randwick.
Perennially under-rated mare Belclare had a richly deserved day in the Ellerslie sun on Saturday, bringing her high-class New Zealand racing career to a close with a successful defence of her title in the Gr.1 NZEA New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1600m).
Talented filly Grey Haze earned her connections a lucrative payday in claiming the inaugural Entain – NZB Insurance Pearl Series Final (1400m) at Ellerslie on Saturday.
A drop back in distance paid dividends for progressive filly Nepheti when she bounced back to winning form at Ellerslie in a three-year-old 1400m contest.
Impressive last-start Gr.1 New Zealand Oaks (2400m) winner Pulchritudinous will continue her racing career in Australia following her sale this week.
A rain-affected Riverton track poses both positives and negatives for Leda Beck, as she prepares one of the leading contenders for the Bupa Care Services Francolin Stakes (1400m).
