New Plymouth trainer Allan Sharrock is using Saturday’s Gr.3 Hunterville Vet Club Metric Mile (1600m) as a crucial step along the road to bigger and better things for Ladies Man (NZ) (Zed).
The connections of promising three-year-old Danjuro have their eyes on a $1.5 million prize following his impressive debut win at Woodville on Thursday.
Local trainer Lisa Latta is keeping a close eye on the weather in the countdown to Saturday’s Gr.3 Hunterville Vet Club Metric Mile (1600m) at Awapuni.
Stephen Autridge is looking forward to taking two talented three-year-old fillies to Tauranga this weekend, including a debut winner who has a special connection to the past.
Last-start Gr.1 Tarzino Trophy (1400m) winner Skew Wiff has contested her last race in New Zealand for the foreseeable future, with co-trainer Mark Walker confirming the mare will head to Te Akau’s Cranbourne base early next month.
Matamata trainer Glenn Old could be in for an exciting season with four-year-old gelding Adam I Am following his five-length demolition of his rivals in the Christmas At The Races 22nd Dec 2023 (1200m) at his home meeting on Wednesday.
Cambridge trainer Tony Pike enjoyed a raceday double with two promising types at Matamata on Wednesday, highlighted by tough three-year-old Cannon Hill scoring in a competitive age-group race.
There was plenty of hype surrounding Valentine at Matamata on Wednesday, with the three-year-old gelding backed into $2.30 favouritism for the Clothier Farms (1200m), and he duly delivered.
He will be represented by consistent four-year-old Churchillian at Tauranga on Saturday, the mare recording three wins from her seven starts and will be a key chance in a competitive Bayleys Bay of Plenty (1200m).
Talented mare Cork (NZ) (Complacent) will return to stakes company on Saturday in the Gr.3 Hunterville Vet Club Metric Mile (1600m) at Awapuni, following her successful southern mission last month when recording another stakes placing.
Fonsi (NZ) (Shamexpress) will headline a quartet of promising three-year-olds representing multi-talented horseman Chad Ormsby at their home meeting at Matamata on Wednesday.
A trip across the Tasman could be on the cards for Sacred Satono (NZ) (Satono Aladdin) this spring following his pleasing first-up runner-up effort behind Johny Johny (NZ) (Charm Spirit) over 1200m at Te Rapa last Sunday.
The Trustees of the Christchurch Racecourse have announced they will provide a $100,000 bonus to the owners of the first three placegetters in the Gr.1 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) at Riccarton on November 11.