Invoking memories of Phar Lap (Night Raid) for any comparison might be a sign of over-enthusiasm. The reverence surrounding Phar Lap places him in the untouchable category as he was in a world of his own in 1930 and has been ever since. Yet newspaper reports of his win in the Weight-for-Age King’s Plate, staged... Read More

Between Randwick, Caulfield and Trentham, New Zealand-bred highlights were many this past Saturday even if Group 1 success eluded the NZ Stud Book. Nevertheless, the stakes-winning and metro-winning performances achieved by the Kiwis helped to maintain a solid spotlight on our local product just as the Inglis Easter Yearling sale kicked into gear. Caulfield sweep... Read More

Same venue but a different race, Saturday’s Roy Higgins Quality (Gr 3, 2600m) brought to mind a longer race which is run on the first Tuesday of November. Replay the last 100 metres of the 1983 Melbourne Cup (Gr 1, 3200m) and there is Kiwi (Blarney Kiss), sprinting as if he had just joined in,... Read More

A true feast of racing was to be had on Saturday. The six Australian Group 1s just rolled on, one after the other. Those even partly interested in bloodstock breeding were treated to appetisers, mains and dessert. The stories are set to continue as March winds down with the Australian Cup (Gr 1, 2000m), the... Read More

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