News

Late bloomer Apostrophe executed a near perfect domestic autumn campaign to put herself in line for a trip to the Queensland winter carnival.

Matamata trainer Cody Cole clocked up quite a few kilometres down State Highway One on Tuesday when he took a few of his team down to the Foxton trials.

Change is coming at the trans-Tasman Ballymore Stables operation, with Pam Gerard set to take sole charge of the Matamata base.

Well-performed sprinter Babylon Berlin has remained at home with another winter start on the cards for the multiple Group winner.

To say apprentice jockey Liam Kauri has been through a lot in the last couple of years would be an understatement.

A jumping future is looming for Group One performer Helena Baby following his 20-length victory in an Open Hurdle trial at Cambridge on Monday.

After beginning her career in the amateurs, Emily Woller broke into the apprentice jockey ranks in style when riding her first winner aboard Quid at Trentham on Saturday.

Waikato-based Woller had her first raceday ride as an amateur twelve months ago, and with another year of experience under her belt, took her first ride as a licensed apprentice for her mentor Clinton Isdale at Ellerslie last month.

A fantastic autumn of racing is nearly behind us, but racing fans have plenty to help them warm up through the winter with live racing action including stakes races and a packed jumps calendar.

Kicking off in the winterless north of Whangarei, Ruakaka Racecourse is bustling leading into the ITM Finals Day on July 13, with five feature races attracting a number of early nominations from across the North Island.

Trainers Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr are hoping their Gr.1 South Australia Derby (2500m) runner-up Warmonger can go one better when he heads to Eagle Farm on Saturday to contest the Gr.1 Queensland Derby (2400m).

A nightmare start for the Smithies family with Tactless’ breeding career has turned full circle following the emergence of high-class filly Scarlet Oak.

Under their Monovale Holdings banner, they purchased the well-related broodmare in foal to Kermadec at the Inglis Digital Sale in 2020 and the result of that mating was Saturday’s impressive Gr.2 The Roses (2000m) winner.

Dual license holder Shaun Fannin had a weekend to remember, training a double at Trentham on Saturday with Hazel Schofer, before jumping in the saddle at Woodville on Sunday to guide Champion jumper West Coast to victory.

Tayla Melvin had an afternoon to remember at Pukekohe Park on Saturday, riding her first winner in the saddle aboard the Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson-trained Devoted.

The 21-year-old is apprenticed to the Te Akau Racing trainers and made her raceday debut aboard the stable’s mare Polly Plum in mid-April at Matamata, finishing third.