News

Express Coup has been given the nod as Michael and Matthew Pitman’s best hope of success in Saturday’s age group feature at Wingatui.

It was a whirlwind trip to Saudi Arabia last week for New Zealand jockey Sam Spratt, but one that will live in her memory for some time.

Kelsey Hannan, the country’s leading apprentice jockey, has been sidelined following a fall at Riccarton last Friday.

Promising filly Val Di Zoldo will kick-start a big period of feature race participation for Cambridge trainer Tony Pike when she tackles Wednesday’s Gr.2 Little Avondale Stud Lowland Stakes (2100m) at Awapuni.

Prowess, the second-favourite for Saturday’s Gr.1 Auckland Thoroughbred Racing New Zealand Derby (2400m) at Te Rapa, has been withdrawn from the $1 million classic.

Fresh from a top-level victory last weekend, Ken and Bev Kelso are looking forward to the challenge of another in Melbourne.

A topsy-turvy week will hopefully take an upward swing for Little Avondale Stud this weekend ahead of an annual highlight next Wednesday.

Northern hoop Ryan Elliot will head home to Horowhenua this weekend where he is favoured to bring home the lion’s share of the $300,000 purse in the Gr.1 El Cheapo Cars WFA Classic (1600m) at Otaki on Saturday.

Matamata-trained mare Levante added a fourth Group One victory to her résumé when she defeated another class performer in La Crique to take out the Gr.1 El Cheapo Cars WFA Classic (1600m) at Otaki.

The Ben and JD Hayes-trained Little Brose ran out a ready winner of the Gr.1 Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m) at Sandown on Saturday, the tenth time the Hayes surname has claimed Victoria’s premier two-year-old race.

Group Two winner Dragon Queen put her hand up for Australian assignments after winning the Lisa Chittick Plate (1400m) at Matamata on Saturday.

Manawatu horsewoman Tineke Balcombe came up smiling on her first raceday experience at Matamata on Saturday when Colorado Star won the Listed Matamata Veterinary Services Kaimai Stakes (2000m).