Business

The legacy of the late Peter Setchell had a fitting final flourish on Wednesday night, producing the sale-topping lot in the 2023 National Online Breeding Stock Sale on Gavelhouse Plus. Group Three-winning mare Ticket To Ride was the final horse to ever be sold from the estate of the respected breeder, who bred a remarkable number of top-line performers including Australian Horse of the Year Red Anchor and fellow multiple Group One winner Oopik.

Cambridge trainers Shaune Ritchie and Colm Murray had the perfect day at their local meeting on Thursday, scoring three wins from as many starts on the synthetic surface.

New Zealand-bred filly Dolphin Skin will be vying to seal a spot in the Gr.1 Victoria Oaks (2500m) at Flemington in November when she heads to the Melbourne track on Saturday.

JJ Rayner will head to Trentham with two strong chances and events on Saturday will determine whether she ventures further afield with the pair next month.

Hurry Cane tested his jumping talents against the best in Australia earlier this year and he has returned to New Zealand in search of an elusive prestige jumps scalp.

Cambridge trainers Roger James and Robert Wellwood are happy to take their shot at a rare winter feature race double.

Trainer Royden Bergerson will put the Gr.3 Winning Edge Presentations Winter Cup (1600m) aspirations of stable runners Bradman and Queen Of Spades to the test at Trentham on Saturday.

Although he won’t be at Ruakaka on Saturday as he finishes up a brief break on the Gold Coast, Cambridge trainer Tony Pike believes he is represented by two strong chances at the meeting.

A nine-strong team of runners will carry the hopes of local trainers Ken Rae and daughter Kystal Williams at Ruakaka on Saturday, with a trio of promising two-year-olds set to feature at the finish of the ITM/GIB 2YO Winter Championship Final (1200m).

Local gelding Strides added to his winning haul at Otaki on Friday when taking out the Cavallo Farm & Chris Rutten Bloodstock Handicap (1200m), but it wasn’t without its drama.

Golden Sixty’s record-breaking performance during the 2022/23 racing season saw Hong Kong’s champion earn the Horse of the Year title for a third consecutive year at a special presentation in Hong Kong on Friday night.

A perfectly judged ride by Shaun Fannin helped pave the way for West Coast to add another feature steeplechasing event to his blossoming career record when the pair took out the Grant Plumbing Wellington Steeplechase (5500m) at Trentham.