Business

Te Akau Racing’s former trainer Jamie Richards had a stranglehold on the Mufhasa Stakes (1400m) on New Zealand Derby Day, and his successors Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson continued that tradition at Ellerslie on Saturday.

Lynsey Satherley’s affinity with underrated stayers continued at Ellerslie on Saturday, guiding My Maebelline Girl to victory and a place in next week’s Gr.2 Barfoot & Thompson Auckland Cup (3200m).

Drakaina’s commanding victory in Saturday’s Listed NZB Airfreight Stakes (1400m) at Wingatui completed a remarkable rise to prominence for a filly that was bought for just $3,000.

Rider Masa Hashizume enjoyed one of his best days in the saddle when he claimed a winning treble at Ellerslie, including an impressive victory aboard Jaarffi in the newly minted $350,000 Rangitoto Classic (1500m).

Unheralded Almanzor filly Positivity sprang an upset at Ellerslie on Saturday when she fought doggedly in the run home to take out the Gr.3 McKee Family Sunline Vase (2100m) and claim her first stakes victory.

A powerful sprint finish has taken progressive South Island galloper The Grey Goose to an emphatic victory in the ODT Southern Mile Final (1600m) at Wingatui.

Roger James is now the most successful trainer in the history of the Gr.1 Trackside New Zealand Derby (2400m), but even that enormous achievement was overshadowed at Ellerslie on Saturday by the new superstar of his Cambridge stable.

Roger James is now the most successful trainer in the history of the Gr.1 Trackside New Zealand Derby (2400m), but even that enormous achievement was overshadowed at Ellerslie on Saturday by the new superstar of his Cambridge stable.

Smart four-year four-year-old mare Sans Doute recorded her third victory in succession when successful in the Resimax Group Plate (1100m) at Flemington on Saturday.

The curtain has come down on the decorated career of Callsign Mav following his sixth placed run in last Saturday’s Gr.1 Trackside Otaki-Maori Classic (1600m).