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Spring targets for Catalyst

A spring resumption is likely for talented galloper Catalyst. The son of Darci Brahma had two interrupted preparations in Australia last year, with trainer Clayton Chipperfield citing joint issues as the main culprit. Owner Dick Karreman, owner of The Oaks Stud in Cambridge, and his racing manager Rick Williams, have elected to take a cautious approach with him and they have given him time to mature over the last six months. He has spent plenty of time spelling at The Oaks Stud, and he has also ...

Quattro Quinta impressive at Trentham

The runaway leader of the National jockeys’ premiership, Danielle Johnson, notched her 100th winner for the season when she guided Te Akau Racing two-year-old Quattro Quinta to victory in the Listed IRT No.1 Wellesley Stakes (1000m) at Trentham on Saturday. Installed a warm $2 Fixed Odds favourite, the Darci Brahma gelding certainly didn’t have things all his own way as he was attacked by Ansu and Magneto throughout the first 600m of the contest. Asked for a serious effort at the top of the ...

Darci La Bella out to emulate her older brother

Exciting three-year-old Darci La Bella (NZ) (Darci Brahma) showed she has inherited plenty of the family ability when she made a winning debut at Otaki on Monday.The Darci Brahma filly is a half-sister to her trainer Allan Sharrock’s stable star Tavi Mac (NZ) (Tavistock), although Sharrock is quick to point out one major difference.“They are both very talented individuals, but she definitely got the looks in the family,” he said.“Neither of them are that big, but he’s called ...

Sky Darci to the fore at Sha Tin

Caspar Fownes could have the strongest hand of any trainer in January’s Hong Kong Classic Mile as smart four-year-olds Sky Darci and Enrich Delight came to the fore at Sha Tin this afternoon (Sunday, 29 November). Sky Darci made a big statement with victory in the Class 1 Chevalier Cup Handicap (1600m), the day’s feature, and he did so at his first try in the grade following two Class 3 successes over 1200m at the city circuit.“He was held up at a crucial stage of the race when everyone el...

Eleventh Group 1 winner for Darci Brahma

Darci Brahma filly Kahma Lass taking out the NZ 1000 Guineas on Saturday in impressive fashion....

Sky Darci stamps Classic Mile credentials

Sky Darci laid out his credentials for a tilt at the HK$12 million Hong Kong Classic Mile with a win over 1200m at Happy Valley on Wednesday. “We’ll go to 1400 metres in December then go for the Four-Year-Old Classic Series,” trainer Caspar Fownes said.  The Darci Brahma gelding mustered early from the gates to hold a midfield position under jockey Joao Moreira, before turning for home and switching back to the inside to pull away in style for a tidy two and three-quarter lengths win....

Cup challenge for in-form mare

In-form mare Desert Mirage could be in for an exciting few months if she performs up to expectations in the Steelform Roofing Group Waverley Cup 2200 on Sunday. The Clayton Chipperfield-trained four-year-old has won three of her four starts this preparation and Cup goals in Auckland next year could be on the cards for the daughter of Roc de Cambes. “I have been very happy with the way she has been going this prep,” Chipperfield said. “She was always going to be a nice mare, she went a ver...

Spelling paddock for Group 1 placed Bourbonaire

Bourbonaire (outer) went oh-so-close to collecting his first Group 1 win on Saturday ...

Sinarahma to contest Courtesy Ford Red Craze Bowl

Sinarahma (Darci Brahma) will give Allan Sharrock a two-pronged attack in the Courtesy Ford Red Craza Bowl tomorrow.   Her trainer was slightly disappointed with her unplaced run in the Gr.3 Taranaki Breeders’ Stakes (1400m) at Hawera earlier this month. “She is an interesting runner,” Sharrock said. “She was well backed and a big chance in the Taranaki Breeders’. “I put the blinkers on and she was in the barriers too long and missed the kick by two lengths. They walked an...

William Wallace turns back the clock with classic win

Versatile galloper William Wallace showed there was still plenty of fight left in his eight-year-old legs when he outlasted his younger rivals to take out the Listed Christchurch Casino Spring Classic (2000m) at Riccarton on Saturday. The Darci Brahma gelding has always enjoyed his visits to Christchurch, having won twice at the venue earlier in his career, and demonstrated that affinity with another spirited showing. Rider Sarah McNab allowed her charge to find his feet in the early running bef...

Trumbull chasing more riches

The Kim Waugh-trained Trumbull (NZ) (Darci Brahma) landed his biggest win to date when taking out the A$500,000 Gr.3 Sydney Stakes (1200m). The five-year-old gelding covered plenty of ground but showed a ready turn of foot in the run to the post to deny Standout (Exceed and Excel) and Signore Fox (Exceed and Excel).The A$1 million The Hunter (1300m) at Newcastle next month looks another lucrative target for the son of Darci Brahma, who has a good record when kept fresh.Jockey Tommy Ber...

Catalyst crowned NZ Champion Three-year-old

The Dick Karreman owned & bred Catalyst (Darci Brahma) was crowned Champion Three Year Old at last nights 2020 New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing Awards. There was considerable depth in the three-year-old division and five horses received votes, but Catalyst’s outstanding domestic campaign earned him the title. Catalyst was unbeaten in five starts in New Zealand, including the Gr.1 Two Thousand Guineas, and won each race by more than two lengths. He had two starts in Australia, finishing a close ...

Sierra Sue dazzles in Group Two win

It was a case of Kiwis sticking together when the Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young-trained Sierra Sue (NZ) (Darci Brahma) landed the Gr.2 Rose of Kingston Stakes (1400m) at Flemington on Saturday under an economical ten out of ten ride by jockey Michael Walker. Horse, trainers and jockey all started their careers in New Zealand and Sierra Sue has quickly fashioned a successful record in Australia, with Saturday’s win her fifth in seven starts and most important to date.“Wow, we had the gate ...

American syndicate in for an exciting season

A decision to invest in a handful of yearlings at Karaka last year is looking set to payoff for a group of American investors. The Bourbon Lane Stable LLC, led by American investor Dennis Foster, will look forward to watching three of their purchases compete in New Zealand this weekend. Bourbonaire will be the partnership’s major focus this weekend when he lines-up in the Gr.2 Dundeel At Arrowfield Hawke’s Bay Guineas (1400m) at Hastings on Saturday. The son of Darci Brahma finished sixth in...

Alfa Oro returns a winner

Talented five-year-old Alfa Oro (NZ) (Bachelor Duke) returned from a brief break to score at Moonee Valley on Friday night, when leading throughout in the 955m race. The son of Bachelor Duke won four races in succession last campaign and picked up where he left off for trainer Matt Laurie, who has been patient in his handling of the quality galloper, who suffered a life-threatening injury as an early three-year-old.“It was pretty easy in the end and I am happy to keep his winnin...

Quattro Quinta takes first two year old event of the season

Race favourite Quattro Quinta (NZ) (Darci Brahma) backed up an impressive trial performance ten days ago when he proved too quick for his rivals over 880m in the first two-year-old event of the season at Ellerslie on Saturday. The Darci Brahma gelding was warmly supported off the back of his impressive victory in a 650m trial heat at Te Rapa and never gave his backers cause for concern as he sat in behind a steady pace for rider Troy Harris before asserting his superiority in the run h...

Stakes dilemma for Laurie's smart sprinter

Having baulked twice before at sending his smart sprinter Alfa Oro (NZ) (Bachelor Duke [USA]) to stakes company, Mornington trainer Matt Laurie wants to give the 5-year-old one more chance to 'build the picket fence' before taking on the better sprinters.Alfa Oro, a winner of five of his seven starts, including his past four, is an acceptor for both the Listed Testa Rossa S. at Caulfield (1200 metres) on Saturday and the Ladbrokes 55 Second Challenge BM84 over 955 metres at Moonee Valley on Frid...

Versatile sprinter on Railway path

Trainer Stephen Ralph knows it is a big step up from an open handicap win at Ruakaka to the Gr.1 Sistema Railway (1200m) at Ellerslie on New Year’s day but he is confident he has the horse that can take that leap in versatile customer New York Jazz. The five-year-old Niagara gelding stormed home out wide to defeat Familia in the Harcourts Tai Tokerau Trophy (1200m) on Saturday with Ralph keen to lift his sights after the win. Ralph has tasted victory in Ellerslie’s elite sprint having taken...

Chipperfield hoping The Shorts proves Catalyst for Everest spot

Trainer Clayton Chipperfield is getting used to training his stable star Catalyst remotely. The Te Awamutu galloper is in Sydney preparing to run first-up in the Gr.2 The Shorts (1100m) at Randwick on Saturday, while his trainer is stranded in New Zealand due to COVID-19 restrictions. It will be the first time the Kiwi four-year-old has been seen on raceday since his sixth placing in the Gr.1 Australian Guineas (1600m) in February, with that campaign ending abruptly after detecting heat in his...

Avantage claims Te Rapa feature

Quality galloper Avantage showed she is the horse to beat in the upcoming Hawke’s Bay triple crown when she produced a strong fresh-up effort to take out the Gr.2 Valachi Downs Foxbridge Pate (1200m) at Te Rapa. The Fastnet Rock mare had closed out her four-year-old campaign with three Group One victories in the space of four starts and looked primed to resume her spring campaign with an eye-catching trial win at Taupo last month. Trainer Jamie Richards was confident he had the horse to beat i...

Sierra Sue scores first-up

New Zealand-bred mare Sierra Sue (NZ) (Darci Brahma) proved a class above her opposition at Sale on Sunday when taking out her 1200m contest. It was the first hit-out of the season for the Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young-trained four-year-old who has now won four of her six career starts, with all four coming on the Sale track.Her trainers were pleased with her efforts, but admitted they were slightly concerned about her fitness levels heading into her first-up assignment.“We were a...

Klaasen spearheads Patterson team for New Plymouth

New Plymouth trainer Robbie Patterson is hoping to pick up from how his last season ended when he produces Klaasen on debut on his home track on Friday. Patterson enjoyed one of his best seasons training despite the interruptions of the season just ended, winning 19 races from just 57 starters and he looks well-placed to continue that sort of form with Niagara (pictured) three-year-old Klaasen. Unbeaten in two trials, Klaasen will debut in the Landmark Homes 3yo Maiden (1100m) with Johnathan Par...

Stallion Parade cancelled

The gavelhouse.com Waikato Branch New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders Association stallion parade planned for this weekend (August 22/23) has been cancelled due to COVID-19 restrictions. After consultation with several stud masters the decision was made not to go ahead with the planned tour. “It’s unfortunate for the Waikato Branch who have put so much effort into this tour, but we cannot risk up to 100 people going around the Waikato from farm to farm under the current COVID-19 restrictions,�...

Bounty scores maiden win at Taupo

Cambridge trainer Glen Harvey sent out his first raceday winner on Wednesday when Bounty proved too strong in the Te Akau 2019/2020 No 1 Stable 1100m maiden. The 31-year-old horseman was confident of another bold showing from the Darci Brahma four-year-old who had placed on debut and finished a solid fifth at his second start before saluting at third-time of asking under a positive Andrew Calder ride. “It’s really nice to get that first win out of the way, as it was starting to eat at me a b...

Top class galloper back to winning form at Riccarton

Quality short course galloper He Kin Fly reminded racing enthusiasts there is still plenty of life left in his eight-year-old legs when he boomed home to claim his tenth career victory when taking out the main sprint feature at Riccarton on Saturday. The Neill Ridley-trained Darci Brahma gelding won his only two local starts from the Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman stable before being sold to Hong Kong during his three-year-old campaign. Successful once from five starts in Hong Kong he was retur...