Levante’s Sydney autumn carnival mission has got off to the right start with a smooth trans-Tasman flight ahead of her campaign opener in next Saturday’s Gr. 1 George Ryder Stakes (1500m).
It was the case of third time lucky for the Lisa Latta-trained stayer Platinum Invador ($22.80), who upset calculations in Saturday’s Gr.2 Barfoot & Thompson Auckland Cup (3200m) to register a deserved big race success.
Three-year-old filly Prowess showed a combination of class and guts to upstage her older rivals in Saturday’s Gr.1 Bonecrusher New Zealand Stakes (2050m) at Pukekohe.
Increased opportunities for Polygon to add to her stakes record have encouraged her connections to lock in an autumn campaign in Australia.
With Hawke’s Bay ravaged by Cyclone Gabrielle, the decision has been made to abandon Wairoa’s meeting at Hastings on Sunday with the AFFCO NZ LTD Wairoa Cup (1900m) transferred to New Plymouth Raceway’s meeting on Friday.
Group One performer Desert Lightning is unlikely to get his preferred footing at Pukekohe in Saturday’s Gr.2 AJC Avondale Guineas (2000m), but will start regardless with his future grand final in mind.
Val Di Zoldo headlined a stellar day for Tony Pike at Awapuni where she added serious momentum to her preparation for the country’s premier staying feature for fillies.
Andrew Forsman has trained two previous victors of the Gr.1 New Zealand Derby (2400m) in partnership with mentor Murray Baker, and he is hoping he can claim one in his own right at Te Rapa this weekend.
Successful jumps jockey and trainer Shaun Phelan was instrumental in Cambridge horsewoman Diana Kennedy securing Kajino and he’s continued to play a major role in the eight-year-old’s progression.
