Mark Walker put a winning seal on a stellar season when taking out the last race of the card at Te Rapa on Saturday with Hero Worship.
Bluegrass Bloodstock principal Lenny Russo looks to have unearthed another treasure from his regular forays into the New Zealand tried horse market with Struck Gold, a three-year-old son of Castledale who romped home by four lengths at Echuca on Friday when making his Australian debut.
Riccarton trainer Andrew Carston finished the season off on a high at his home track last Friday when scoring a winning treble and securing the South Island Trainers’ Premiership in the process.
Turn The Ace returned to his favourite track at Te Rapa on Saturday and immediately bounced back into the winner’s enclosure with a dominant front-running victory in open company over 1400m.
Underrated mare Enchanted Elle provided trainer Shaun Phelan with another major prize as a trainer when she took out the Taumarunui RSA Gold Cup (2200m) in the hands of apprentice Jess Allen
In a thrilling finish to the Listed Phils Electrical & Gipsy Caravans Ryder Stakes (1200m), Cambridge visitor and race favourite Itza Charmdeel got in the deciding stride at the winning post to claim the two-year-old feature at Otaki.
After a series of near-misses for foundation stallion Pentire, Rich Hill Stud has finally broken through and taken top honours with New Zealand’s new champion sire Proisir.
As the 2022/2023 season draws to a close, the superstars of New Zealand racing will be acknowledged and celebrated at the prestigious New Zealand Thoroughbred Horse of the Year Awards on September 10.
All the key indicators point to continued success for The Oaks Stud’s young resident stallion U S Navy Flag, although experience has taught General Manager Rick Williams to never look too far ahead.
Shaun Phelan is expecting improved showings from his lightweight prospects in the main event on the Te Rapa card on Saturday.
