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Extreme Warrior two year old impresses on debut
Southland trainer Ebony Turner is eyeing spring black-type targets with Glamour Extreme (Extreme Warrior) after the filly produced an impressive debut victory at Oamaru on Sunday. The two-year-old settled midfield before surging clear late under Rohan Mudhoo to score by two lengths over 1200 metres, despite starting at odds of 28-1. “I am rapt. She is a cool wee horse,” Turner said. “I was pretty confident, I knew she has got ability.” Purchased as a weanling for A$6,000 by Kerri Spence Bloodstock, Glamour Extreme later failed to meet her $22,000 reserve at the 2025 New Zealand Bloodstock Book 2 Yearling Sale before Turner secured a share in the filly. Turner said the dominant debut had encouraged her to target black-type races, with the Grand National Carnival and even the New Zealand 1000 Guineas (Gr 1, 1600m) under consideration. “Off that run I am pretty confident that she will give them a wee shake at stakes level,” she said. “There are a lot of nice three-year-old races coming up and I am not against having a nudge at the Guineas.” Extreme Warrior has produced four winners and three place getters from his nine runners, headlined by Stakes winner, Extreme Warrior.
Winter Cup beckons for Bella Luce
Bella Luce (Belardo) earned a shot at black-type with a determined victory in Sunday’s Oamaru Cup (1600m), booking her place in next week’s Winter Cup (Gr 3, 1600m) at Riccarton. Trained by Lance Robinson, the rising eight-year-old led throughout under apprentice Triston Moodley to score by three-quarters of a length and secure ballot exemption for the South Island feature. “It was a good effort, I am very pleased,” Robinson said. “She began well, led and was just too good for them. It was a good ride by Triston.” Robinson believes Bella Luce will be even better suited by the expected Heavy conditions at Riccarton and is hopeful she can finally secure valuable black-type. “She has qualified for the Winter Cup now, so we might as well have a crack at that,” he said. “If she can get a bit of black-type, that is what she is down there for, so that is the main aim.” Robinson also welcomed back stakes performers Iron Hawk (Written Tycoon) and Alottago (Tagaloa), with both geldings being aimed at the TAB Mile (Gr 3, 1600m) at Riccarton in November.