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Ellerslie Runners - 30/11

The track is currently graded as a dead 5 and rail is out 3m. Highlighter (Craig Grylls, barrier 5) will kick off our day in race 4 at 4.15pm. She steps up in class tomorrow off the back of a strong maiden win at Te Aroha, 30/10. She has continued to train on well and lines up a fit horse. We see her as a nice E/W chance against a strong filed of older horses. Dragon leap (Craig Grylls, barrier 4) will line up in race 5 at 4.50pm. He put in a nice effort to win at Te Rapa on debut, 28/10. He st...

Dragon Leap continues down Derby trail

Article by NZ Racing Desk Lance O'Sullivan has gone close to winning the Gr.1 Vodafone New Zealand Derby (2400m) in his time training, five-times producing three-year-olds to finish in the top five. The Matamata trainer reels off a list of high-class performers to have run well recently for the stable in the Ellerslie showpiece, with 2010 runner-up Corporal Jones heading the list. But despite the quality of those that have gone before, O'Sullivan says none have had superior potential to his...

Arawa Park Runners - 27/11

AERO DE PARIS and AUTUMN WILD will go head to head in race 5 at 3.25pm. AERO DE PARIS (Craig Grylls, barrier 4) has been racing in good form as of late. He hits the quickest track of his prep and there is a question mark around the firm ground. He has won at Rotorua before, looks well and if he handles the ground, should put in another good performance today. AUTUMN WILD (Taiki Yanagida, barrier 6) is an unlikely runner. We will look to line her up next week at Pukekohe. PATCH MAN (Jason Wadde...

Arawa Park Runners - 19/11

The track is currently rated as a dead 6 and rail is out 2m. PATCH PRINCE (pictured) (Sam Spratt, barrier 3) will line up in race 3 at 1.50pm. He has been disappointing in recent appearances but we're hoping he will benefit from the fitness of those runs and race more competitively today. The yielding ground will suit and from a low gate he should race well. TWO MADISON (Sam Spratt, barrier 12) will line up in the penultimate event at 4.45pm. She has put in two very good performances recently a...

Te Aroha Runners - 30/10

The track is currently graded as a dead 4 and rail is in the true position. TWO MADDISON (Matt Cameron, barrier 8 ) will kick off our day in the first race on the card, set to run at 12.29pm. She put in a great performance last time out at Taupo 9/10, where she was narrowly beaten. She has continued to train on well looks ready to give another good account of herself today. INTELLIGENT PATCH (Craig Grylls, barrier 2) will make his raceday debut in race 5 at 2.49pm. He has had three trials to p...

Derby Prospect scores en debut at Te Rapa

Expensive yearling purchase Dragon Leap underscored his potential staying talent when he stormed home on debut to score over 1400m at Te Rapa.Raced by Hong Kong couple Eugene and Karen Chuang under their Hermitage Thoroughbreds banner, the Pierro three-year-old gelding was an A$1,050,000 purchase out of the Sydney yearling sales and is prepared by Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott from their Matamata base.O’Sullivan and Scott have enjoyed success for Hermitage Thoroughbreds through horses su...

Te Rapa Runners - 28/10

The track is currently graded a dead 5 and rail is out 2m. DRAGON LEAP (Craig Grylls, barrier 14) will line up in race 3 at 1.50pm. The Pierro gelding has had five trials to prepare for his raceday debut today. He's yet to win a trial although is a horse the stable likes long term, especially when he gets up over a distance. TWEEDLEDEE (Taiki Yanagida, barrier 2) will line up in race 4 at 2.25pm. He found track conditions too testing last time out at Rotorua, 19/10. He gets better footing today...

Tauranga Runners - 25/10

PRINCESS RIHANNA and FORTUNE PATCH will be going head to head in the penultimate event at Racing Tauranga today, set to run at 6.16pm. The track is currently graded as a slow 7 and rail is out 6m. Princess Rihanna (Taiki Yanagida, barrier 2) comes out of a very strong form race at Hastings and has enjoyed a good gap between runs. She will jump from a low barrier and will be assisted by Taiki's 2kg claim. She has worked the house down at home which suggests she'll be very competitive today. Fort...

Last roll of the dice for Sir Charles Road

Sir Charles Road is in danger of missing out on a start in the Gr.1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) next month, a race he finished seventh in last year. The Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott-trained six-year-old has pleased his connections with his spring campaign to date, placing in two of his three starts in Sydney including the Gr.1 Metropolitan (2400) and St Leger Stakes (2600m), but he remains 43 rd in the order of entry for the Melbourne Cup. O’Sullivan was particularly pleas...

Randwick and Arawa Park Runners, 19/10

Racing at Rotorua: TWEEDLEDEE (Sam Spratt, barrier 6) will line up in the listed Staphanos Classic at 2.42pm. We thought his effort in the Matamata Cup last Saturday had merit and he will not have to improve too much on that to be competitive. He has continued to train on well and we think is a good bet at longer odds. PRINCESS RIHANA (Taiki Yanagida, barrier 3) will line up in race 6 at 3.15pm. Her work has been encouraging heading into today, although she wouldn't want the track to be any hea...

Avondale Runners - 18/10

Avondale races tomorrow! The track is currently graded as a heavy 10 and rail is in the true position. ROCKIN ROBIN (Taiki Yanagida, barrier 5) will kick off our day in race 1 at 11.54am. Despite doing a lot wrong, we were happy with her fresh up run at Te Rapa, 25/9. We have added blinkers to her gear which we think will help her. AERO DE PARIS (Troy Harris, barrier 7) will line up in race 9 at 4.39pm. He has been racing in good form and we expect today to be no different. He will relish in th...

St Leger to dictate Sir Charles Road's spring

Saturday’s A$500,000 Bentley St Leger Stakes (2600m) at Randwick could have a major bearing on the 2019 spring campaign for well-performed New Zealand stayer Sir Charles Road. A highly creditable seventh in the Gr.1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) last November, Sir Charles Road is currently 43rd in the order of entry for this year’s running of the Flemington showpiece. Trainers Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott are favouring a ‘wait and see’ approach for the six-year-old’s programme.“W...

Matamata Cup Day Runners - 12/10

ONE MADDISON (Taiki Yanagida, barrier 11) will kick off our day in the first on the card, set to run at 12.20pm. She disappointed last start, where she got no favours during the running. We plan to ride her more patiently today and believe there's no reason she shouldn't run well. STAR TREASURE (Troy Harris, barrier 12) will step out in race 5 at 2.40pm. He lines up a fit horses in a very strong field. The track conditions certainly appeal and any further rain will only improve his chances. SP...

Taupo Runners - 8/10

The track is currently graded as a dead 4 and rail is in the true position. PATCH PRINCE (pictured) (Craig Grylls, barrier 9) will make his raceday return in race 6 at 4.04pm. He trialed well at Te Rapa, 20/8 and the team have been happy with how he's trained on since that run. He's a horse we've always thought a lot of and if he can settle today, he should quicken nicely and run well fresh up. FORTUNE PATCH (Taiki Yanagida, barrier 5) will line up in race 6 at 4.39pm. He's a super consistent ...

Wexford Graduates Shine at Sha Tin

It was a wonderful night for the Wexford team last night, with Paul O'Sullivan enjoying a winning treble at Sha Tin. This was particularly exciting for the team, with two of these winners, Band Of Brothers and Chicken Dance both coming from our Matamata base.Band Of Brothers has now won four from his six starts and over $2.1million in stakes. Chicken Dance has won two races and over $1.5million in stakes.It's a great thrill seeing our horses performing on the big stage. ...

Te Rapa Runners - 4/10

We'll be hanging around until the last today at Te Rapa Racing, with WISDOM PATCH and WILD SEAS both lining up in race 8, set to run at 5.23pm. WISDOM PATCH (pictured) (Taiki Yanagida, barrier 6) was unlucky last start when fourth at Hastings. He has been racing consistently well as of late and should run well in a very strong field. WILD SEAS (Craig Grylls, barrier 5) resumes today after enjoying a spell. She has had one trial to prepare and her work suggests she's forward enough to give a...

Sleeping Beauty In-Foal to Iffraaj

Dual stakes winner Sleeping Beauty has already been courted by her Prince following her race retirement earlier this month. The Sir Peter Vela-owned mare had her last run in the Gr.1 Tarzino Trophy (1400m) at Hastings and seven days later she was in the breeding barn being served by her selected suitor. “She has been scanned in-foal to Iffraaj,” said Leon Casey, studmaster of Vela’s thoroughbred farm, Pencarrow Stud.  “We were looking for a proven stallion and he succ...

Ellerslie Runners - 28/9

We're racing at Ellerslie today, with three Wexford horses heading north. The track is currently graded as a heavy 10 and rail is out 9.5m. AUTUMN WILD (Taiki Yanagida, barrier 3) will kick off our day in race 5 at 3.14pm. She is resuming today following a lengthly spell. She looks forward and if she can relax during the running, is a nice place chance. ANDOYAS (Darren Danis, barrier 9) will line up in race 7 at 4.24pm. It's very hard to follow 'Andy's' form but he's certainly capable of winni...

Te Rapa Runners - 25/9

We're heading to Te Rapa Racing tomorrow, with two horses lining up. The track is currently graded as a dead 5 and rail is out 8m. DIVINE DUKE (pictured) (Taiki Yanagida, barrier 2) will kick off our day in the first on the card, set to run at 12.32pm. We're very happy with his condition and recent performances. He needs rain to show his best and if it comes, he will be hard to beat. ROCKIN ROBIN (Craig Grylls, barrier 3) will line up in race 3 at 1.42pm. She has drawn to get a nice run in wha...

Pukekohe Park Runners - 22/9

We're spending our Sunday at Pukekohe Park today, with three Wexford horses heading north. The track is currently graded as a slow 8, rail is in the true position and fine conditions are expected. STAR TREASURE (Sam Spratt, barrier 2) will line up in race 3 at 1.38pm. He has drawn to get a nice run. The team are very happy with his condition and believe he'll be competitive in a small field. AUTUMN FLASH (pictured) (Craig Grylls, barrier 8 ) will step out in race 4 at 2.13pm. This will be his ...

Sir Charles Road racing at Randwick today

Our attention will be over the ditch today with SIR CHARLES ROAD Wexford's sole runner for the day, lining up in the Gr.3 Kingston Town Stakes at Royal Randwick, set to run at 6.35pm NZT. Andrew Adkins will take the reins and he will jump from barrier 2. 'Charlie' is now starting to get up to a distance that will suit him more. He looks very bright and is well within himself. After his luckless run last start, we're hoping he can get a better trip from the 2 barrier and be figuring in ...

Sir Charles Road set to relish step up in Distance

A return to middle distance racing has Matamata trainers Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott confident that Charles Road can produce an improved performance two weeks out from his main Sydney spring target.Myboycharlie six-year-old Charles Road, who races as Sir Charles Road in Australia, steps up to 2000m in Saturday’s Gr.3 Kingston Town Stakes at Randwick after unplaced runs over shorter distances in his lead-up races.Charles Road produced an eye-catching run for seventh resuming in Sydney o...

Taupo Runners - 20/9

The truck is heading south to Racing Taupo tomorrow, with 3 horses on board. As of 10pm the night before the meeting, the track is graded as a dead 4 and rail is in the true position. TWO MADDISON (Sam Spratt, barrier 12) will kick off our day in race 3 at 1.07pm. Today is her first time to the races in some time. She's had one trial to prepare and will take good improvement from the run today. She has worked well and the team is confident she'll improve on her form from last prep. WILD SEAS (p...

Matamata Runners - 18/9

Home track racing today! The track is currently graded as a slow 7 and rail is out 7m.PATCH MAN and TWO MADDISON will kick off our day in race 3 at 1.42pm.PATCH MAN (pictured) (Taiki Yanagida, barrier 14) has played the bridesmaid in his last two starts at Matamata and we're hoping he can go one better today. He does meet a better track but is heading into today fit and well.TWO MADDISON (B2, barrier 9) has been scratched.JOHNNIE REDMOND (Taiki Yanagida, barrier 7) will line up in race 4 at 2.17...

Randwick & Ellerslie Runners - 7/9

DIVINE DUKE (Ashvin Goindasamy, barrier 4) is our sole runner at Ellerslie today, lining up in race 9 at 4.18pm. We were initially disappointed with his run at Matamata last start, however upon reviewing it we believe it had a lot of merit. The heavy 11 track will suit nicely and despite carrying a rather tough 61kg, he will be aided by Ashvin's 3kg claim. The team are very happy with 'The Duke' heading into today and expect him to run well. SIR CHARLES ROAD (Andrew Adkins, barrier 3) will line ...