Local trainer Graham Eade enjoyed success at his Riverton home track on Saturday and is hoping for more of the same when he lines up four of his team on the second day of the annual two-day carnival on Easter Monday.
Levin trainer Ilone Kelly will unveil an intriguing new addition to her stable when the well-related Linara makes his New Zealand debut in Monday’s McMillan Equine Feeds Maiden (1100m) at Otaki.
Promising up-and-comer Gringotts added a fifth win to his record with a stylish come-from-behind performance in Saturday’s HKJC World Pool Handicap (1400m) at Rosehill.
Emerging stayer Mark Twain capped a dream day for Cambridge trainers Roger James and Robert Wellwood when he won Saturday’s Listed Lexus Roy Higgins (2600m) at Flemington and secured himself a ballot-free entry into the Melbourne Cup (Gr.1, 3200m).
A daughter of two-time Riverton Cup (2147m) winner Miss Three Stars lined up on the same raceday on Saturday for the same trainer and jockey, delivering a major victory of her own in the Bupa Care Services Francolin Stakes (1400m).
A year after winning the Gr.1 Vinery Stud Stakes (2000m) with Prowess, Cambridge trainers Roger James and Robert Wellwood returned to Rosehill on Saturday and achieved a repeat result with another special filly.
Race favourite Prince Alby carried the hopes of the locals in Saturday’s Kennedy Building Riverton Cup (2147m), and he didn’t let anyone down as he ground out a terrific victory in the feature event on the day.
Wymark’s connections are likely to pay a late nomination fee for next week’s Gr.1 Australian Derby (2400m) after the rapidly improving three-year-old collected his fourth win in a row in Saturday’s Gr.2 Toyota Forklifts Tulloch Stakes (2000m) at Rosehill.
Linebacker became the first stakes winner for freshman Waikato Stud stallion Super Seth with a classy and tenacious victory in Saturday’s Gr.3 Hyland Race Colours Baillieu (1400m) at Rosehill – a performance that also earned him a shot at next month’s Gr.1 Champagne Stakes (1600m) at Randwick.
Perennially under-rated mare Belclare had a richly deserved day in the Ellerslie sun on Saturday, bringing her high-class New Zealand racing career to a close with a successful defence of her title in the Gr.1 NZEA New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1600m).
Talented filly Grey Haze earned her connections a lucrative payday in claiming the inaugural Entain – NZB Insurance Pearl Series Final (1400m) at Ellerslie on Saturday.
A drop back in distance paid dividends for progressive filly Nepheti when she bounced back to winning form at Ellerslie in a three-year-old 1400m contest.
