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New Zealand Racing News
Monday, December 11 2017

A trip north for Kawi has been ruled out with the star galloper set for a return to Trentham in the New Year in pursuit of further top-flight honours.

Posted by: AT 08:32 pm   |  Permalink   |  Email
Sunday, December 10 2017

Ever Loyal came a long way in a short time during the spring and continued improvement is expected during his summer campaign.

Posted by: AT 08:31 pm   |  Permalink   |  Email
Sunday, December 10 2017

Fully Funded is making excellent progress toward the Gr.1 Sistema Railway (1200m) at Ellerslie on New Year’s Day.

Posted by: AT 08:27 pm   |  Permalink   |  Email
Sunday, December 10 2017

Talented colt Aim Smart is back at Tony Pike’s Cambridge quarters.

Posted by: AT 08:26 pm   |  Permalink   |  Email
Sunday, December 10 2017

Opie Bosson is the new rider for last-start Gr.3 Counties Cup (2100m) winner Maygrove in Saturday's Gr.3 SkyCity Hamilton Waikato Cup (2400m) at Te Rapa.

Posted by: AT 06:57 pm   |  Permalink   |  Email
Sunday, December 10 2017

Speedy filly Gift Of Power is on target for a Group One meeting with the older horses.

Posted by: AT 06:33 pm   |  Permalink   |  Email
Sunday, December 10 2017

Haunui Farm studmaster Mark Chitty never had any thoughts of selling Showcasing’s daughter Xpression

Posted by: AT 06:31 pm   |  Permalink   |  Email
Sunday, December 10 2017

Volpe Veloce has firmed to outright favouritism for a New Year’s Day feature following her blistering return to racing at Ellerslie.

Posted by: AT 06:29 pm   |  Permalink   |  Email
Sunday, December 10 2017

Jake Bayliss’ impact on New Zealand racing went to another level at Ellerslie.

Posted by: AT 06:26 pm   |  Permalink   |  Email
Sunday, December 10 2017

Powerhouse Taranaki performer Kawi has edged closer to a significant slice of New Zealand racing history.

Posted by: AT 06:24 pm   |  Permalink   |  Email
Sunday, December 10 2017

Despite being one of the runners most affected by a barrier malfunction prior to the last race at Trentham on Saturday, royally bred northern visitor Seraphim shook off the pre-race drama to notch another highly impressive victory.

Posted by: AT 04:37 am   |  Permalink   |  Email
Sunday, December 10 2017

Progressive mare Yearn put her name in the frame for higher honours with a gritty performance at Ellerslie on Saturday.

Posted by: AT 04:35 am   |  Permalink   |  Email
Sunday, December 10 2017

New Zealand’s busiest jockey extended her lead in the National Jockey’s Premiership with a winning treble at Trentham on Saturday.

Sam Collett  - Trish Dunell

Off the back of her best year to date, where she bagged a career high eighty winners in the 2016-17 season, Samantha (Sam) Collett has her foot firmly on the accelerator as she attempts to secure her first premiership.

Collett picked up victories on the John Bary trained High Spirits and Smokin Oak along with another Hawkes Bay runner in Xpression, which saw her extend her lead to eight over cousin Alysha Collett in the race for the title.

“It was a great start to the day and I was thrilled to ride a double for John Bary as he has been a great supporter of mine throughout my career so far,” she said.

“High Spirits is a horse I seem to click with although she is a funny wee thing in that you never quite know whether she is on her game when you get on her. On Saturday we were just plugging away and then she just seemed kick into gear and nothing was going to stop her winning.

“John has done a great job with Smokin Oak as he can be a bit insecure. He jumped well, and I didn’t want to fight him, so I let him roll along and he produced a nice kick.

“I was also thrilled for Guy Lowry, Grant Cullen and the connections of Xpression as it was a big ask backing her up after her first run just eight days ago.

“She is a lovely filly who is only going to get better as she matures so I think she has a nice future ahead of her.”
Although delighted with the success she enjoyed Collett’s day was tinged with some disappointment after her mount Miss Wilson failed to fire in the Gr. 1 Rydges Wellington Captain Cook Stakes (1600m) later on the programme. 

“Things just didn’t go our way in the big race, which was a shame as I think everyone was expecting a big run from her,” she said.

“That’s how it can pan out at times, but she is too good a mare not to bounce back from the disappointment, so I expect to see her back to winning form again pretty quickly.”

Having already taken 368 rides this season, the most of any jockey competing in New Zealand,

Collett believes the work she has done on both her physical and mental fitness along with the maturity that comes with experience has been crucial in her run of success. 

“I think I’m probably as fit as I’ve ever been which is necessity given the amount of riding I’ve been doing,” she said.

“Being in top shape has really helped me and I also think I’ve definitely matured in my outlook on my riding which comes about with the more of it that you do.

“Being able to think and act instinctively about situations that come up during a race comes with experience and that is now starting to pay off for me.

“I’m also very lucky that I’ve managed to get on some nice horses and with winning comes confidence which is also crucial.”

With the busy Christmas racing period about to start in earnest Collett’s services are sure to be in hot demand although she admits she is looking forward to a new initiative at Ellerslie this Wednesday where she will compete in the Auckland Racing Club’s inaugural Jockey World Cup Prelude.

“I heard about the concept about a month ago and told them I was keen to be involved so when they formally invited me I jumped at the chance,” she said.

“It will be great to compete against the Aussie jockeys who are coming, while I’m also looking forward to being part of the team with Alysha (Collett) and Danielle (Johnson).

“I’ve managed to get some pretty good rides including Sarabande for my dad (Jim Collett) which was a bit of a laugh when we saw the draw. He had said he had a 25% chance of drawing a Collett with three of us competing, so he got his wish.”

Posted by: AT 04:34 am   |  Permalink   |  Email
Sunday, December 10 2017

Stylish grey gelding Stratocaster put his racing career back on track with a dominant performance at Trentham on the weekend.

Posted by: AT 04:32 am   |  Permalink   |  Email
Saturday, December 09 2017

The summer preparation of the quality mare Mime is over.

Posted by: AT 08:29 pm   |  Permalink   |  Email
Friday, December 08 2017

The immediate programme of the Group One winner Rangipo will be decided after he resumes at Ellerslie on Saturday.

Posted by: AT 06:41 pm   |  Permalink   |  Email
Friday, December 08 2017

Te Akau Racing will ramp up their Gr.1 Sistema Railway (1200m) offensive when Group One winners Heroic Valour and Melody Belle tackle Saturday's Ray White NZ 1200m at Ellerslie.

Posted by: AT 06:39 pm   |  Permalink   |  Email
Friday, December 08 2017

The Stephen McKee-trained Gr.1 Zabeel Classic winner Consensus (NZ) (Postponed) could provide her dam Kate Cross (NZ) (Cape Cross) with a timely pedigree boost when she lines up in the Gr.1 Captain Cook Stakes (1600m) at Trentham on Saturday.

Posted by: AT 06:34 pm   |  Permalink   |  Email
Friday, December 08 2017

Stephen Marsh is anticipating strong runs from his Group One contenders at Trentham tomorrow, but it is at their next starts that he is expecting to see the very best of the pair.

Posted by: AT 04:28 am   |  Permalink   |  Email
Friday, December 08 2017

Riccarton starter Kevin Leigh-Ogden has received a warning following a near-miss during last month’s New Zealand Cup carnival.

Posted by: AT 04:25 am   |  Permalink   |  Email
Friday, December 01 2017

As the summer racing season kicks off the new racing minister Winston Peters is vowing to work with the $1.6 billion dollar industry to help it reverse falling attendance numbers.

Posted by: AT 03:55 am   |  Permalink   |  Email
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