Ellerslie is set to host some of the biggest race meetings on the calendar this season, but for Auckland Thoroughbred Racing (ATR) chief executive Paul Wilcox, one raceday stands above the rest.
Little Avondale Stud’s Per Incanto has reached another memorable milestone in his decorated stallion career.
The 2024 edition of the world’s best sale of two-year-olds is now only 70 days away, and New Zealand Bloodstock is excited to unveil another stellar catalogue for the Ready to Run Sale at Karaka.
Te Akau Racing collected top honours at the 2024 New Zealand Thoroughbred Horse of the Year Awards on Sunday evening, which was headlined by Imperatriz, who was named SENZ Horse of the Year, while the Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson partnership were Trainer of the Year.
It’s been a long and wet winter for Southland trainer Robert Dennis, and he is glad to be through the other side with spring racing on the doorstep.
Cody Cole made a winning start to his season earlier this week at Matamata, a trend he hopes to continue with a strong team heading down to Hastings on Saturday.
Ken and Bev Kelso are no strangers to big-race success during the Hawke’s Bay Spring Carnival, and the Matamata trainers will attempt to add another Hastings trophy to their collection when Alabama Lass steps out as favourite in Saturday’s Gr.3 HBPB Thoroughbred Breeders’ Gold Trail Stakes (1200m).
Grant Cooksley won the Gr.1 Westbury Stud Tarzino Trophy (1400m) as a jockey seven years ago aboard the Shelley Hale-trained Close Up, and on Saturday he will vie to capture the Hastings feature as a trainer.
Saturday is shaping up to be an exciting afternoon for Waikato Stud, whose colours will be carried by key Group One contenders on both sides of the Tasman.
Newly turned four-year-olds have a proud record of making early spring statements in the Gr.1 Westbury Stud Tarzino Trophy (1400m) in recent years, and one of New Zealand’s most exciting racehorses is poised to follow suit at Hastings on Saturday.
