Business

There has been a massive injection of stakes money to the racing calendar this year and Matamata trainer Wayne Hillis is keen to get his hands on some of it.

Johnathan Parkes has had many memorable wins throughout his riding career, but his victory aboard Chase at Otaki on Thursday would feature right up there sentimentally.

Emphatic last-start winner Grail Seeker will lead the Wexford Stables charge at Te Rapa on Saturday where she will step into stakes company, contesting the Listed Trevor & Corallie Eagle Memorial 3YO (1500m).

Sindacato has some unfinished business in the Stella Artois 1500 Championship Final (1500m) and he will be looking to rectify that at Pukekohe next month.

Explosive finishes are becoming a habit for Geriatrix, and co-trainer Andrew Scott is hopeful the eye-catching colt can produce another in Thursday’s Gr.3 Elsdon Park Wellington Stakes (1600m) at Otaki.

Cromwell holds fond memories for Lionel Dobbs and the Orari trainer is hoping that continues at their two-day meeting this weekend.

A successful first campaign will draw to a close on Thursday for future Group One hope Up The Anti when the promising three-year-old is stepped up in grade on his home track at Otaki.

Kingsclere Stables will have a slew of stakes representatives this week, with the first set to step out at Otaki on Thursday.

Modest purchase Bella Carolina has proved herself to be an exceptional investment for Mapperley Stud principal Simms Davison.

It’s nearing that time where the movie Love Actually finds its way onto television screens around the world, but it’s a mare by the same name that is getting Thomas Russell and his partner Pip D’Arcy-Brain excited this festive season.

Southern raider Lightning Jack is set to kick-off his northern campaign when he heads to Otaki on Thursday to contest the Vale Bav (Mick) Preston (1200m).

Precocious two-year-old Velocious is proving a gem of a filly on two fronts for Inglewood Stud.