Herbie Dyke Stakes

Vance hoping for another royal performance

Posted on March 10, 2021
in New Zealand Horse Racing News

Bob Vance is hoping Royal Performer can secure another elite-level victory when he contests the Group 1 Bonecrusher NZ Stakes (2000m) at Ellerslie on Saturday. The eight-year-old gelding recorded Vance’s first Group One victory as a trainer when taking out the Herbie Dyke Stakes (2000m) at Te Rapa last month, and the former jockey is[...]

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

Jonathan Riddell didn’t have a great start at Te Rapa on Saturday, failing to make the weight for two of his six booked rides. But by the end of the day, he’d recorded a surprise Group One victory aboard Royal Performer, finished second in another, and guided the exciting Gold Watch to his fourth successive[...]

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

Former champion jockey Bob Vance got to experience the thrill of winning a Group One race from the other side of the fence on Saturday and he loved every minute of it. Vance was one of the world’s leading riders in his heyday, winning four New Zealand Derbys, two Auckland Cups and the 1993 Group[...]

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

On a day that promised much, Te Akau Racing trainer Jamie Richards was left wondering what might have been when racing concluded on Saturday evening. The Te Akau stable had been firing on all cylinders midway through the action at Te Rapa with successive feature races wins with Avantage in the Group 1 BCD Group[...]

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

Well-travelled galloper Royal Performer spoilt the party for the many supporters of race favourite Melody Belle when he caused an upset by racing away with Saturday’s Group 1 Herbie Dyke Stakes (2000m) at Te Rapa. The large on-course crowd were on hand to witness Melody Belle try and break the record of thirteen career Group[...]

Posted on February 13, 2021
in Australian Horse Racing News

Bonny New Zealand mare Melody Belle will have to wait another day to chase her fourteenth Group One win after she was beaten at Te Rapa.

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

Promising filly Force Of Will’s path to the Group 1 Al Basti Equiworld New Zealand Oaks (2400m) has hit a snag just a month out from the Trentham Classic. The three-year-old daughter of Power was set to line-up in the Group 2 Legacy Lodge Waikato Guineas (2000m) at Te Rapa on Saturday, however, trainers Lance[...]

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 10, 2021
in New Zealand Horse Racing News

Group One winner Tiptronic has taken the underdog tag into the last two editions of the Group 1 Herbie Dyke Stakes (2000m), and he will once again carry that label in the feature race at Te Rapa on Saturday. The Graham Richardson and Rogan Norvall-trained gelding defied his odds when runner-up in the 2019 edition[...]

Posted on February 10, 2021
in New Zealand Horse Racing News

Multiple Group One performer Deerfield was amongst the late nominations for Saturday’s Group 1 Herbie Dyke Stakes (2000m) at Te Rapa, with trainer Chrissy Bambry confident her hardy gelding will give a good account in the $400,000 weight-for-age feature. The seven-year-old gelding steps up to 2000m for the first time in his career, but Bambry,[...]

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

Co-trainer Andrew Forsman isn’t quite sure what to expect from top stayer The Chosen One when he tackles the Group 1 Herbie Dyke Stakes (2000m) at Te Rapa this weekend. The five-year-old entire will be having his first raceday start since doing his connections proud during the Melbourne spring carnival, finishing third in the Group[...]

Posted on February 3, 2021
in New Zealand Horse Racing News

Exciting three-year-old Rocket Spade is tackling older horses at Te Rapa on Wednesday as part of his preparation for the Group 1 Vodafone New Zealand Derby (2400m). Rocket Spade, trained by Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott at Matamata, is the favourite on the TAB futures market for the Derby following his victory in the Group[...]

Posted on February 2, 2021
in New Zealand Horse Racing News

Quality galloper Probabeel will kick off her summer campaign in Melbourne this Saturday when she contests the Group 3 Geoffrey Bellmaine Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield. The four-year-old Savabeel mare travelled to Australia last week in preparation for a three-race assignment culminating in the A$5m All Star Mile (1600m) at Moonee Valley on March 13. Trainer[...]

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[...]

Posted on January 25, 2021
in New Zealand Horse Racing News

Trainer Graham Richardson reckons he may have finally figured out what makes stable star Tiptronic tick. “I actually think he just loves his Christmas dinner,” Richardson said with tongue firmly in cheek. “Once he has had that he seems to grow a leg and really comes right with his racing. “He’s won seven races now[...]

Posted on January 21, 2021
in New Zealand Horse Racing News

Dual Horse of the Year Melody Belle and stablemate Te Akau Caliburn had an exhibition gallop at Te Rapa on Wednesday ahead of their feature targets at Trentham at the end of the month. Galloping at intervals, Melody Belle worked boldly over 1000m under jockey Opie Bosson, in preparation for the Group 1 Thorndon Mile[...]

Posted on January 20, 2021
in New Zealand Horse Racing News

Fairytales don’t often come true, but Tony Pike is very hopeful that comeback horse Sacred Elixir can provide him with one. Sacred Elixir was one of the Cambridge trainer’s best horses, winning the Group 1 J J Atkins (1600m) in Brisbane and finishing second in the Group 1 Victoria Derby (2500m), both in 2016. Sent[...]

Vance hoping for another royal performance

Riddell savours successful day at Te Rapa

First Group One thrill for trainer Vance

Richards experiences racings highs and lows

Royal Performer upsets in Group One feature

Melody Belle Beaten In Bid For Record

Force Of Will out of Waikato Guineas

History making day in the offing for Te Akau

Richardson welcomes underdog status

Brave Deerfield late addition to Herbie Dyke

Quality trio ready for Australian mission

Te Rapa test for Derby favourite

Probabeel set for Melbourne campaign opener

Sinarahma set for another Group One target

Tiptronic back to best at Ellerslie

Melody Belle pleases in Te Rapa hit-out

Pike turns back the clock with Sacred Elixir

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