News

Ascot Park-based trainer Sally McKay is looking forward to the traditional Melbourne Cup raceday at Wingatui on Tuesday with a small but select team of runners engaged.

Last start Group Three winner Town Cryer is ready to make another bold statement when she tackles the Listed Fulton Family Stakes (1500m) at Pukekohe on Tuesday.

Promising filly Tonia’s Dragon produced a deserved maiden victory in the testing conditions at Te Aroha on Friday, scoring in the Donaghys Pro-Dairy 1180.

Trainer John Sargent is well-regarded as a master trainer of fillies, and the affable Kiwi expat has a strong contender in Saturday’s Gr.2 Wakeful Stakes (2000m) at Flemington in Harlow Mist.

A stylish come-from-behind win in Saturday’s $50,000 Courtesy Ford Redcraze Bowl (1400m) at Trentham has put talented mare Faraglioni firmly on track for a black-type mission in the north later this month.

Puntura will head to Trentham on Saturday to help ready him for a trip south to Riccarton later this month to tackle the Gr.3 Coupland’s Bakeries Mile (1600m).

Kiwi import I’mintowin has made an instant impact for his new connections when leading throughout to land the Canadian Club Handicap (1500m) for trainers Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott at Rosehill on Saturday.

Bold front-running mare Pride Of Jenni broke her rivals hearts under a daring Declan Bates ride to score a thrilling victory in the Gr.1 Empire Rose Stakes (1600m) at Flemington on Saturday for trainers Ciaron Maher and David Eustace.

Seasoned sprinter Packing Rockstar has been a long-time performer for trainer Lauren Brennan, and the eight-year-old continued to show his class when scoring in the Flying Mullet Sports Bar 1400 at Tauranga on Saturday.

The Andrew Forsman-trained Mr Mojo Risin’ scored a well-deserved second career victory when successful at The Valley on Friday night.

Less than a week after Mr Brightside’s gallant effort when beaten a nose into second in the Gr.1 Cox Plate (2040m) at The Valley, connections were back at the inner-city venue to watch another New Zealand bred son of Bullbars.

New Zealand has held a strong influence on the A$10 million Golden Eagle (1500m) since it was added to Sydney’s spring itinerary four years ago, and top-class Matamata mare Legarto has the opportunity to add to that record at Rosehill on Saturday.