Captain Cook Stakes

Exciting times ahead for Richardson

Posted on January 14, 2022
in New Zealand Horse Racing News

Matamata trainer Graham Richardson left his local meeting a happy man on Wednesday after witnessing two of his runners quinella a star-studded trial. Last start Group One winner Tiptronic beat out stablemate, Group One performer Bonny Lass, to win his sedately run 1050m heat, which included Group One winners On The Bubbles, Sword Of State,[...]

Posted on December 27, 2021
in New Zealand Horse Racing News

Veteran galloper Tiptronic led all the way to take out his second career Group One prize when he captured the Group 1 Cambridge Stud Zabeel Classic (2000m) at Ellerslie. The Graham Richardson and Rogan Norvall-trained eight-year-old had hinted he could return to his best form when finishing on strongly for third in the Group 1[...]

Posted on December 24, 2021
in New Zealand Horse Racing News

Top-class jockey Vinnie Colgan will be reunited with quality mare Two Illicit in the Group 1 Cambridge Stud Zabeel Classic (2000m) on Sunday and should the Roger James and Robert Wellwood-trained five-year-old salute, no one would begrudge the veteran hoop success. Two Illicit enters the Ellerslie contest on the back of a devastating win in[...]

Posted on December 14, 2021
in New Zealand Horse Racing News

Roger James had plenty of time to reflect on a truly magical 48-hour period as he made the long trip home to his Cambridge base from Palmerston North on Sunday morning. James and training partner Robert Wellwood were the stars of the show at Te Rapa on Saturday, producing a perfect set of stakes victories[...]

Posted on December 14, 2021
in New Zealand Horse Racing News

Cambridge trainers Roger James and Robert Wellwood capped an already stellar day at Te Rapa on Saturday when Two Illicit strode clear of her rivals to claim the Group 1 Rydges Wellington Captain Cook Stakes (1600m), the first elite-level success of her career. The Cambridge conditioners had earlier secured a stakes double with Concert Hall[...]

Posted on December 14, 2021
in New Zealand Horse Racing News

Something about the start of summer brings the very best out of Concert Hall, who broke an 11-month win drought with a superb victory in Saturday’s Group 2 Cal Isuzu Stakes (1600m) at Te Rapa. The NZD$110,000 fillies and mares’ showpiece was the 10th win of a 29-start career for the high-class daughter of Savabeel,[...]

Posted on December 9, 2021
in New Zealand Horse Racing News

It will be something of a ‘girls day out’ for star members of the Roger James and Robert Wellwood stable on Saturday. The Cambridge training duo will produce mares in three Te Rapa features on Saturday and tackle the Group 3 Lawnmaster Eulogy Stakes (1600m) at Awapuni with a couple of emerging fillies. It will[...]

Posted on December 9, 2021
in New Zealand Horse Racing News

Team Rogerson will be represented by a quartet of black-type contenders at Te Rapa on Saturday and among them are two of the stable’s leading staying hopes for the summer. Beauden and Lowry hold nominations for major distance events at both the Wellington and Auckland carnivals and while programs have yet to be locked in[...]

Posted on December 8, 2021
in New Zealand Horse Racing News

Ballymore Stables will double their attack on the Group 1 Rydges Wellington Captain Cook Stakes (1600m) at Te Rapa on Saturday after its transfer from Trentham last weekend. Harlech was originally the stable’s only entrant, however, with the race now on their backdoor step, the Matamata operation has also elected to line-up On The Rocks.[...]

Posted on December 8, 2021
in New Zealand Horse Racing News

Michael Pitman won’t be bringing his classy mare Miss Tycoon Rose north for the rescheduled Group 1 Rydges Wellington Captain Cook Stakes (1600m) at Te Rapa, deciding to chase some features closer to home instead. Pitman, who trains at Riccarton with his son Matthew, wasn’t upset at the decision to cancel the Trentham meeting last[...]

Posted on December 7, 2021
in New Zealand Horse Racing News

Trainer Roydon Bergerson has been left angry and bemused by the decision to reprogram the feature events from Saturday’s abandoned Trentham meeting to Te Rapa this Saturday. The Group 1 Rydges Wellington Captain Cook Stakes (1600m) and the Group 2 Wakefield Challenge Stakes (1200m) will be run at the northern venue, which has infuriated the[...]

Posted on December 6, 2021
in New Zealand Horse Racing News

Twenty-four hours on from the decision to abandon the Group One raceday at Trentham after just one race due to safety issues caused by the slippery nature of the track, trainer Allan Sharrock is still trying to get his head around the circumstances that caused the cancellation. Sharrock, who had seen the last four races[...]

Posted on December 6, 2021
in New Zealand Horse Racing News

The abandonment of racing at Trentham on Saturday and the subsequent rescheduling of the Group 1 Captain Cook Stakes (1600m) to Te Rapa this Saturday has played nicely into the hands of trainers Jenny and Bob Vance and their quality galloper Royal Performer. The nine-year-old gelding had looked to be working nicely into form with[...]

Posted on November 27, 2021
in New Zealand Horse Racing News

Leith Innes is back into the swing of riding from a temporary new base and is looking forward to making up for lost time. He was robbed of opportunities as one of several jockeys unable to ride due to the Auckland region’s COVID-19 lockdown restrictions, but has been able to move out of the province[...]

Posted on November 15, 2021
in New Zealand Horse Racing News

A patient ride by Sam O’Malley proved the key to victory as Taranaki visitor Justaskme stormed clear to win the Group 2 Gartshore Tauranga Stakes (1600m) at Tauranga. The six-year-old son of No Excuse Needed relished the Heavy10 footing and looked to be travelling like a winner a long way out, despite being last in[...]

Posted on November 12, 2021
in New Zealand Horse Racing News

Allan Sharrock is full of admiration for his pint-sized equine prize fighter Tavi Mac, who continues to punch well above his weight as he heads toward the biggest challenge of his career in a fortnight’s time. The New Plymouth trainer is keen on a crack at the Group 1 Captain Cook Stakes (1600m) with his[...]

Posted on November 12, 2021
in New Zealand Horse Racing News

A Group One target is in the offing for Vigor Winner if he performs up to expectations in the Group 2 Gartshore Tauranga Stakes (1600m) on Saturday. The six-year-old gelding finished third for the second year running in the Group 3 Red Badge Spring Sprint (1400m) at Hastings last month and trainer Lauren Brennan said[...]

Exciting times ahead for Richardson

Warhorse Tiptronic triumphs in Zabeel Classic

Colgan eager to make up for lost Group One

James keen for more of the same after spectacular Saturday

Two Illicit caps magical day for James and Wellwood

James and Wellwood to the fore at Te Rapa

James and Wellwood to rely on girl power

Stable set for Te Rapa stakes charge

Venue change adds to Ballymore arsenal

Pitman elects for home features with classy mare

Bergerson’s plans for Wolverine in disarray

Sharrock gutted by Trentham abandonment

Royal Performer confirmed for rescheduled Captain Cook Stakes

Eager Innes back on winning trail

Justaskme takes Tauranga feature

Sharrock’s little battler on a Group One path

Captain Cook tilt in the offing for Vigor Winner

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