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Harlech arrives in Melbourne for Spring

Trainer Mike Moroney’s Melbourne team for the Spring has been bolstered by the arrival of Group Two winner Harlech (NZ) (Darci Brahma) from New Zealand. Harlech arrived on Wednesday morning, along with stakes-placed rising three-year-old Snapper (NZ) (Power), to continue preparations at Moroney’s Flemington stables towards their Australian spring campaigns. Harlech registered two wins and five placings from nine starts in New Zealand with his biggest win so far the G.2 James & Annie Sarten M...

Trumbull lands overdue win in Civic Stakes

Sluggish starts have proven costly for Trumbull (NZ) (Darci Brahma) this campaign but the talented sprinter has finally done everything right to land a deserved stakes win at Rosehill.The gelding had filled the minors in three of his four previous runs and had been luckless in the process, conceding big starts and often finding trouble.Trainer Kim Waugh has worked tirelessly to rectify his barrier issues and her investment paid off with Trumbull posting an overdue victory in Saturday’s Listed ...

Alfa Oro shows class at Caulfield

Talented four-year-old Alfa Oro (NZ) (Bachelor Duke) continued his picket fence formline when successful in the Neds Handicap (1100m) at Caulfield on Saturday after leading throughout under Ben Melham.The handsome New Zealand bred gelding has been patiently handled by Mornington trainer Matt Laurie after a life threatening injury early in his three-year-old year and notched his fifth win from seven starts, the last four in succession.“I’m probably a bit short of words, to be honest...

Alpha Oro out to continue picket fence form

New Zealand-bred gelding Alfa Oro will attempt to keep his picket fence form line intact at Caulfield on Saturday when he contests the Neds Handicap (1100m). The son of Bachelor Duke has had just the six lifetime starts after fracturing his right-fore cannon bone after his second start. After nearly two years of rehabilitation, Alfa Oro returned to the racetrack at Pakenham in April where he finished runner-up before posting three successive wins, including a last-start victory over 1100m at Fle...

Sky Darci helps Moreira close gap

Joao Moreira got the fillip he’d been looking for at Happy Valley on Wednesday, teaming up with Caspar Fownes to nail a much-needed double. The Brazilian entered the arena four wins adrift of championship leader Zac Purton and that widened to five when the reigning champ took the opener. But with the Australian unable to add to that early score, Moreira hit back with two wins that narrowed the gap to three, with the tally running 129-126 in Purton’s favour. Moreira kicked off aboard Sky Darc...

Assistant Stallion Manager required

The Oaks Stud have a position available for an Assistant Stallion Manager for the 2020 breeding season.  This position involves the daily care of our three stallions, work in the breeding shed and helping out with yearling preparation when needed. Previous experience with stallions preferred, although not necessary providing you are confident handling colts. For the right applicant there is the possibility for promotion at the end of the season, when our current Stallion Manager returns t...

Clayton chipper about Catalyst

Te Awamutu trainer Clayton Chipperfield is looking forward to welcoming back a beefed-up Catalyst in the coming days, with this season’s Gr.1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) winner being readied for a spring campaign. The winner of six of his seven starts in New Zealand, Catalyst finished second to Alligator Blood in the Gr.3 CS Hayes Stakes (1400m) in an enthralling clash at Flemington, but failed to fire when sixth in the Gr.1 Australian Guineas (1600m) to the same rival and was later found...

Hat-trick for resurrected Alfa Oro

Alfa Oro continued his impressive run of form when winning the Almandin Handicap (1100m) at Flemington on Saturday. It was the third win on-end for the four-year-old son of Bachelor Duke, who returned from an injury enforced two year layoff last month. The Matt Laurie-trained gelding suffered a spiral fracture in a front leg during trackwork, requiring surgery and a 20-month absence from the track. He resumed with a runner-up effort at Pakenham in April before going on to record a hat-trick of w...

Resurrected Alfa Oro to continue journey at Flemington

Talented four-year-old Alfa Oro heads to Flemington on Saturday where connections will be hoping to reap full rewards for their patience when the Matt Laurie-trained galloper contests the Almandin Handicap (1100m). The son of Bachelor Duke has shown well above average ability in his five career starts, fashioning an impressive record of three wins and two seconds. A last-start domination of his rivals in track record time on the Pakenham synthetic where Alfa Oro crossed the line under a strangle...

Unlaced to do her future racing in Australia

Guy Lowry and Grant Cullen are looking to the youth in their stable ahead of spring racing. The Hastings trainers have recently lost promising three-year-old Unlaced to Australian shores and Lowry doesn’t think she will be the last they will farewell in the next couple of months. The daughter of Niagara won two of her six races in New Zealand and finished runner-up on two occasions before her fourth-placing in the Gr.2 Lowland Stakes (2100m) at Hastings. “Unlaced has gone to Michael Hickmott...

Moroney considers Harlech for Aust Spring

Moroney, whose Melbourne yard is taking all before it this season, has identified Harlech (NZ) (Darci Brahma) as a potential Australian carnival horse. A rising four-year-old, Harlech is a Group Two winner over 1400m in New Zealand and was twice a runner-up at Group One level this season in the NZ 2000 Guineas and Levin Classic. He had been considered for a possible Sydney autumn campaign this year before those ambitions were shelved. Moroney has won two Australian Group One races this season wi...

The Oaks Stud service fees to remain unchanged in 2020

The Oaks Stud’s ever consistent sire Darci Brahma has had another season to remember, highlighted by the emergence of star 3YO Catalyst, along with a host of other horses who have performed at black type level for their owners. Catalyst was a dominant winner of the New Zealand 2000 Guineas in November, but the race was also a special feat for Darci Brahma who not only sired the winner but also the 2nd placed horse, Harlech, providing a rare Group 1 quinella for the sire who was himself a winne...

D B Pin retires

Darci Brahma’s Group One winning son D B Pin is the latest Hong Kong retiree after last weekend’s Champions Day. The John Size-trained D B Pin has been officially deregistered by the Hong Kong Jockey Club, with his former stablemate and long-term foe Mr Stunning also set to be deregistered in the coming days. D B Pin worked his way through the grades, landing the 2018 Gr.1 Centenary Sprint Cup (1200m) and finishing second twice to  fellow Karaka graduate Mr Stunning in the Gr.1 Hong K...

Sierra Sue set for Oaks assignment

Connections of exciting Darci Brahma filly Sierra Sue are hoping the New Zealand-bred three-year-old can continue her near perfect formline when she contests the Gr.1 Australasian Oaks (2000m) at Morphettville on Saturday. The Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young-trained filly has won three of her four career starts, with her only blemish coming when she finished runner-up over 1600m two starts back. Part-owner John O’Neil has been thrilled with her performances and he is enjoying the experience o...

Busuttin hoping for plenty of luck in Sydney

Former New Zealand galloper Chuck A Luck (NZ) (Niagara) (centre above) has hardly put a foot wrong since joining Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young’s Cranbourne stable and they are hoping he can continue his good run of form in the Gr.3 Frank Packer Plate (2000m) at Randwick on Saturday. The three-year-old son of Niagara has had three starts in Australia for a win and two placings and Busuttin said he was unlucky when finishing runner-up over 1600m at Caulfield earlier this month. “He is going...

Group Three test for Parsifal

Darci Brahma five-year-old Parsifal is on a path to the Gr.1 Goodwood (1200m) on May 16 and trainer Will Clarken is expecting an improved performance when the seven-time winner contests Saturday’s Gr.3 R N Irwin Stakes (1100m) at Morphettville. The gelding finished sixth behind Diamond Effort when resuming over 1000m at Caulfield earlier in the month and has taken good benefit from the run. “I’d lie if I was to say I was rapt with his run,” Clarken said. “He was a little bit soft the ...

Trainer staying chipper over lockdown

Te Awamatu trainer Clayton Chipperfield is thanking his lucky stars that he has his 60 acre property to keep him busy over the Covid-19 alert level four lockdown period. “I don’t know how these people are getting on in town,” Chipperfield said. “We have got 60 acres, so there is still plenty of work to do on the farm.” While the Waikato conditioner has been kept busy on his property, he was also able to utilise it over the Easter weekend to take his young family on a little adventure. ...

Amazing Star moves Purton to within two

Amazing Star (NZ) (Darci Brahma) put a mishap in the gates behind him last month with an impressive win in Wednesday’s Class 2 Begonia Handicap (1200m) at Happy Valley, securing Hong Kong’s champion jockey Zac Purton a double and his sixth win from the last two race meetings. The bracemoved him to within two wins of championship leader, Joao Moreira, who remainedon 87 wins after drawing a blank. “There weresome very fast horses in that race and I drew wide, so I expected them to make me w...

Sergeant Blast produces front-running gem in St Leger

Rugged stayer Sergeant Blast (Darci Brahma) gave a polished front-running display when he led all the way to take out the first black type feature on Saturday, the Listed Lincoln Farms New Zealand St Leger (2600m) at Trentham. Initially viewed mainly as a sprinter/miler type by his trainer and co-owner Sam Lennox, the seven-year-old has proved a revelation when stepped up over more ground in the last twelve months, winning the Waverley Cup over 2200m on his home patch along with his lead up run ...

Sinarahma seeking a cuddle at Trentham

Exciting Taranaki mare Sinarahma will be looking to add a Group victory to her resume when she contests the Gr.3 Wentwood Grange Cuddle Stakes (1600m) at Trentham on Saturday. The Allan Sharrock-trained five-year-old has won three of her five starts this campaign, including a last start victory in the Listed Wairarapa Breeders’ Stakes (1600m) at Tauherenikau. It was the daughter of Darci Brahma’s first stakes victory and Sharrock said he has been pleased with her progress this preparation. �...

Hastings trainers hoping for another Trentham boilover

Guy Lowry and Grant Cullen know how to shock punters, especially at Trentham, and they are hoping they can do it again on Saturday. The Hastings training partners will be represented in the Gr.1 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai New Zealand Oaks (2400m) by the lightly tried Unlaced, a daughter of Niagara who has recorded two wins, two seconds and a last-start stakes placing in her five starts. “It would be nice to rock them again,” Lowry said. “It’s a big ask for her and we’re hopeful. I guess...

Catalyst ruled out of All-Star Mile

Catalyst (NZ) (Darci Brahma) has been ruled out of the A$5 million All-Star Mile (1600m) with bruised fetlocks. Trainer Clayton Chipperfield sent him to the Ballarat Vet Clinic on Tuesday fearing he was not quite himself after his below-par run in the Australian Guineas. He told Racing Victoria stewards late in the day tests revealed Catalyst had bruising to his four fetlocks and he was officially withdrawn from Saturday week’s All-Star Mile at Caulfield. This season’s Gr.1 NZ 2000 Guineas (...

Decision pending on Harlech's future

The immediate racing future of promising colt Harlech will be decided by his connections within the next 24 hours. The dual Group One placegetter has been marking time at the Matamata base of his trainers Mike Moroney and Pam Gerrard with Moroney to speak with his ownership group on Sunday regarding the options available for him in the next few weeks. Amongst those options is the opportunity to make a trip across the Tasman to tackle the Gr.1 Randwick Guineas (1600m) next Saturday followed by th...

Catalyst shines in work and the draw

Three days out from the biggest race of his career, trainer Clayton Chipperfield enjoyed two sizeable positives on Wednesday when his mighty horse Catalyst drew the barrier he wanted for Saturday's Group 1 Australian Guineas. New rider Damian Lane travelled to Mornington for an inside grass gallop on the Guineas favourite and his feedback, coupled with Chipperfield's own instincts, has the trainer well placed ahead of the $1 million classic where he has the chance to level the score with Alligat...

Catalyst crew Cox Plate dreaming

Australian Guineas co-favourite Catalyst could chase Cox Plate glory in the spring, with trainer Clayton Chipperfield suggesting on Tuesday that the gelding displays all the hallmarks of a genuine 2000-metre horse. While Chipperfield is focused on preparing the son of Darci Brahma for two of the biggest mile races on the Australian calendar in the next three weeks - the Guineas and The All-Star Mile - he's already given thought to Catalyst's potential spring campaign. "At this stage his best dis...