Danielle Johnson

Avantage makes it nine Group One wins with Te Rapa triumph

Posted on April 17, 2021
in New Zealand Horse Racing News

Despite being delayed a week, the Group 1 Fiber Fresh New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1600m) lived up to its billing as one of the races of the season, as plucky mare Avantage made it Group One win number nine with a thrilling victory. The Jamie Richards-trained five-year-old started a red-hot favourite in the contest[...]

Posted on April 17, 2021
in New Zealand Horse Racing News

A lot can change in a week and the misfortune of the races being abandoned mid program at Te Aroha has resulted in leading jockey Danielle Johnson picking up the plumb ride on Avantage in Saturday’s rescheduled Group 1 Fiber Fresh New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1600m) at Te Rapa. Opie Bosson was originally engaged[...]

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

Five-year-old mare Savy Yong Blonk proved a class above her rivals in the Group 3 Japac Homes Manawatu Breeders’ Stakes (2000m) at Awapuni on Friday, with the daughter of Savabeel running out an easy three-length victor over Yatima and Platinum Rapper. Sent out a well-supported favourite, Savy Yong Blonk stepped well from her inside draw[...]

Posted on March 31, 2021
in New Zealand Horse Racing News

Talented juvenile Synchronize made an impressive debut at Matamata on Wednesday, winning the NZB Insurance Pearl Series Maiden 2YO (1050m), landing a Pearl Series bonus in the process. The daughter of Savabeel had been impressive in three trials victories prior to her raceday debut, and the Jamie Richards-trained filly was duly sent out a favourite.[...]

Posted on March 29, 2021
in New Zealand Horse Racing News

Promising mare Les Crayeres will head to the spelling paddock off the back of a stylish performance over 1400m at Tauranga on Saturday. The Ken and Bev Kelso-trained four-year-old survived a protest from the third placed runner, Duneagle, to register career win number four from just 8 starts and set herself up for a profitable[...]

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

A heavy downpour during the running of Sunday’s Group 3 Haunui Farm King’s Plate (1200m) proved no hindrance to exciting mare Entriviere as she produced a flashing burst of speed to capture her second successive Group Three victory. The Tavistock four-year-old had taken out the Group 3 Concorde Handicap (1200m) on Karaka Million night at[...]

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

Matamata trainer Chad Orsmby is looking forward to lining up debutant Mana Nui in the Group 3 Waikato Stud Slipper (1200m) at his home track on Saturday. Orsmby admits the two-year-old colt faces a stiff task against his more practiced opponents, which includes the likes of undefeated Karaka Million 2YO (1200m) winner On The Bubbles[...]

Posted on February 26, 2021
in New Zealand Horse Racing News

Group Three winner Germanicus showed he is in excellent order ahead of a return to racing, winning a 1000m trial at Pukekohe on Thursday that was restricted to stakes performers. The Danica Guy-trained five-year-old narrowly edged out the Lance Noble-trained Bavella, with the Jamie Richards pair of Prise De Fer and Entriviere running home nicely[...]

Posted on February 18, 2021
in New Zealand Horse Racing News

Former jockey Peter Johnson may have ridden 1370 winners in New Zealand, but it was at Te Aroha on Wednesday that he experienced one of his proudest moments in racing. His daughter, premiership-leading jockey Danielle Johnson, brought up her 1000th win in the saddle in New Zealand when piloting home Feelin’ Fancy to win the[...]

Posted on February 16, 2021
in New Zealand Horse Racing News

The significance of riding 1000 New Zealand winners is dawning on Cambridge jockey Danielle Johnson. Johnson sits on 999 wins in New Zealand and has a gilt-edged opportunity to become the 34th jockey to achieve the feat with a book of nine rides at Te Aroha on Wednesday. “I hope that monkey doesn’t just sit[...]

Posted on February 16, 2021
in New Zealand Horse Racing News

Trainers Ken and Bev Kelso left Te Rapa racecourse on Saturday evening with mixed emotions after contrasting performances from their two runners on the day. Two hours after quality mare Levante had shocked pundits with a tardy beginning that cost her all chance in the Group 1 BCD Group Sprint (1400m), exciting prospect Les Crayeres[...]

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

Exciting galloper Amarelinha bounced back to her very best after suffering a narrow defeat at her most recent start, when she captured the Group 2 David & Karyn Ellis Fillies Classic (2000m) at Te Rapa. Trained by Jamie Richards for the Te Akau Hopskip’n’jump Syndicate, Amarelinha was sent out a favourite for the contest as[...]

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

Champion trainer Jamie Richards is hoping he will witness history being made at Te Rapa on Saturday when Melody Belle contests the Group 1 Herbie Dyke Stakes (2000m). New Zealand’s darling of the turf equalled Sunline’s record of 13 Group One wins when victorious in the Thorndon Mile (1600m) at Trentham last start, and she[...]

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

Progressive mare Tabata collected her first stakes success when she prevailed in a desperate finish to the Listed Property Brokers Wairarapa Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1600m) at Tauherenikau on Monday. Owned by former Black Caps captain Brendon McCullum ONZM, who these days is sought after in both coaching and commentary roles around the globe, the four-year-old[...]

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

Trainer Roger James admits he feared the worst as he watched his star mare Concert Hall crash through the outside fence at New Plymouth on Saturday after escaping from the starting gates prior to the start of the Group 3 Powerworx Taranaki Cup (1800m). The last start Group 1 Zabeel Classic (2000m) winner was a[...]

Posted on February 5, 2021
in New Zealand Horse Racing News

New Plymouth trainer Allan Sharrock will use a home-track feature as a potential launching pad to next month’s Group 1 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai New Zealand Oaks (2400m) at Trentham. Sharrock had planned to use last week’s Group 3 Desert Gold Stakes (1600m) at Trentham to assess how promising fillies Sumi and Signora Nero were[...]

Posted on February 1, 2021
in New Zealand Horse Racing News

Although he enjoyed a wonderful day at Trentham on Saturday, trainer Allan Sharrock was left with a niggling feeling of what might have been had his promising mare Sinarahma jumped with the field in the Group 1 Harcourts Thorndon Mile (1600m). The six-year-old Savabeel mare produced an amazing performance to get within a length of[...]

Avantage makes it nine Group One wins with Te Rapa triumph

Johnson delighted with Group One pick-up ride

Vintage Manawatu performance from Savy Yong Blonk

Synchronize lands Pearl Series Maiden

Impressive Tauranga winner ready for a break

Rain no barrier for exciting Entriviere

Stakes test first-up for Mana Nui

Germanicus wins star-studded trial

Like father, like daughter – Johnson joins the 1000 club

Johnson keen to make history at Te Aroha

Les Crayeres provides pick me up for Kelso

Amarelinha back to her best at Te Rapa

History making day in the offing for Te Akau

Tabata takes Breeders’ Stakes for Cricket legend

Concert Hall escapes serious injury after nasty barrier incident

Sharrock fillies take home advantage into Oaks Prelude

Sinarahma set for another Group One target

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