When the Hastings track, due to a sudden downpour, was not able to complete its Wednesday, February 28 card, plans among the staying three-year-old fillies aiming for the New Zealand Oaks (Gr 1, 2400m) were thrown askew. The Lowland Stakes (Gr 2, 2000m) is a popular and natural lead up to the classic and it... Read More

Although punters were caught unawares, students of bloodlines may have predicted the upset result in Saturday’s Bonecrusher New Zealand Stakes (Gr 1, 2000m). Naturally, hindsight is twenty-twenty not to mention that hot favourite Legarto (Proisir) came into the race in stunning form. Her win in the Herbie Dyke Stakes (Gr 1, 2000m) last month was... Read More

Ellerslie’s Derby day was a triumph for the fairer sex. The day’s first of four stakes races, the King’s Plate (Gr 3, 1200m) fell to six-year-old mare Maria Farina (Contributer). Up next was the Sunline Vase (Gr 3, 2100m) which went the way of Positivity (Almanzor). No surprise there. The race was restricted to three-year-old... Read More

Most local eyes were on the Matamata Breeders’ Stakes (Gr 2, 1200m) and its dominant winner, Captured By Love (Written Tycoon). However, Savaglee (Savabeel), successful in the Matamata Slipper (Gr 3, 1200m), is more interesting from a New Zealand industry perspective and the result may be the beginning of a long term plan, hatched just... Read More

It is all very well to note that Orchestral (Savabeel) was, as expected, an easy winner of the Avondale Guineas (Gr 2, 2100m) but what took place past the post should have her New Zealand Derby (Gr 1, 2400m) opponents looking for a miracle if they think she might find the longer distance a shade... Read More