The John Sargent-trained Toesonthenose scored the fifth victory of his career when running out a strong winner of the Karaka 2024 Midway Benchmark 72 Handicap (1600m) at the Newcastle feature meeting on Saturday.
Highly regarded filly About A Girl will continue her career in Australia from the champion Sydney stable of Chris Waller.
Chad Ormsby has been preparing two-year-olds for New Zealand Bloodstock’s Ready To Run Sale for the last decade and he believes he will be offering his best draft at Karaka next week.
Visits to Christchurch have been few and far between for Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott during their decade-long training partnership, but the Matamata pair have two strong reasons for venturing south this weekend.
The two-mile distance is a step into unknown territory for most Gr.3 Martin Collins New Zealand Cup (3200m) contenders every year, but Nest Egg’s trainer Stephen Marsh has more confidence than most that his runner’s stamina will shine through at Riccarton on Saturday.
High-flying mare Express Yourself took a big step towards the sprinting big time with another dominant performance in the $50,000 Woodridge Homes (1100m) at Trentham on Friday.
Cambridge trainer Sam Mynott has enjoyed her first New Zealand Cup Week with stable star Imwonderfultonight and is hoping she can finish it with a bang at Riccarton on Saturday.
Tony Pike doesn’t have any concerns about Impendabelle’s ability to cope with a step up in trip in Saturday’s Gr.1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) at Riccarton.
Group One-winning trainer Nikki Hurdle will swap out horsepower for horses when she heads to Trentham on Tuesday.
Stakes targets could be looming for Dream Of The Moon following her dominant victory in the Halls Refrigerated Transport Two-Year-Old Premier (1000m) at Riccarton on Wednesday.
Trainer Robbie Patterson and jockey Craig Grylls were again to the fore at Riccarton where they combined with Puntura to claim the major prize on Wednesday’s program.
A tilt at Group One level could be in the offing for Lady Telena following her upset victory in the Amicus Insurance Brokers Premier (2000m) at Riccarton on Wednesday.
