Michael McNab

Two Illicit signs off in style at Te Rapa

Posted on May 1, 2022
in New Zealand Horse Racing News

If Saturday’s Group 2 Travis Stakes (2000m) at Te Rapa is to be the last race for class New Zealand mare Two Illicit then she has signed off a stellar career in the best possible fashion with a dominant victory. Trainer Roger James, who prepares the five-year-old daughter of Jimmy Choux with Robert Wellwood, had[...]

Posted on April 10, 2022
in New Zealand Horse Racing News

Trainer Stephen Marsh was delighted with the performance of promising three-year-old Hoard The Bourbon, who took out The Oaks Stud 3YO 1600 at Awapuni on Friday. The son of Iffraaj previously won well at Matamata when resuming, having shown good ability last spring in a campaign that was cut short. “He’s a horse we have[...]

Posted on March 29, 2022
in New Zealand Horse Racing News

The ever-reliable Vernanme has gone close to a Group One prize on multiple occasions this preparation and will chase a degree of compensation this weekend in a race that ideally fits his profile. There’s been honour in defeat at the highest level for the dependable six-year-old, who drops back a peg on Saturday when he[...]

Posted on March 23, 2022
in New Zealand Horse Racing News

New Zealand jockey Michael McNab is enjoying his best ever season and remains focussed on the immediate future, rather than becoming too caught up in the prospect of a first National Jockeys’ Premiership. McNab currently sits atop the table with 82 victories, including an impressive 13 at Group or Listed level, and an 11-win buffer[...]

Posted on March 22, 2022
in New Zealand Horse Racing News

A determined win in the opening event at Trentham on Saturday may have secured promising New Zealand two-year-old Slipper Island a berth in the team that trainer Tony Pike plans to take to the Queensland Winter Carnival this year. The son of No Nay Never showed plenty of heart to fight back in the hands[...]

Posted on March 22, 2022
in New Zealand Horse Racing News

Jamie Richards made the penultimate weekend of his current training stint in New Zealand a memorable one when he produced a Group One winning double at Trentham on Saturday. Richards, who will enter the next stage of his career when he makes the move to Hong Kong in May, will prepare his last runners in[...]

Posted on March 20, 2022
in New Zealand Horse Racing News

Jamie Richards’ relentless dominance of New Zealand racing keeps rolling on into his final few weeks on these shores, saddling all of the first four placegetters in Saturday’s Group 1 Wellington Seamarket Levin Classic (1600m) at Trentham – the second time he has achieved that remarkable feat this season alone. Richards – who will head[...]

Posted on March 20, 2022
in New Zealand Horse Racing News

Enigmatic performer Leaderboard put his best foot forward when he produced a superior staying effort to take out the Listed Barneswood Farm New Zealand St Leger (2600m) at Trentham. The former European stayer, who won once in his homeland before being purchased out of a UK sale for owners the Fortuna Leaderboard Syndicate, had won[...]

Posted on March 10, 2022
in New Zealand Horse Racing News

Tony Pike feels the time is right to take on older horses at weight-for-age with his top three-year-old Field Of Gold. The Cambridge trainer bypassed the Group 1 New Zealand Derby (2400m) last week in favour of Sunday’s Group 1 Bonecrusher New Zealand Stakes (2000m), where he will carry 54.5kg, 4.5kg less than the older[...]

Posted on March 9, 2022
in New Zealand Horse Racing News

Te Akau has been the all-conquering force in New Zealand juvenile racing for some time and they have another Group One two-year-old title firmly in their sights at Ellerslie this weekend. The Matamata operation has claimed the last six editions of the Karaka Million 2YO and sent out the last four winners of the Group[...]

Posted on March 7, 2022
in New Zealand Horse Racing News

Jamie Richards assault on the New Zealand black type features this season continued unabated at Ellerslie on Saturday when the Matamata mentor produced the quinella in the Listed Stella Artois Mufhasa Stakes (1400m). Richards saddled last season’s Group 1 Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) winner On The Bubbles and the runner-up that day in I[...]

Posted on March 4, 2022
in New Zealand Horse Racing News

A Queensland winter campaign could be instore for promising New Zealand juvenile Rudyard after his impressive debut victory in the MacMillan Accountants 2YO (1215m) at Arawa Park on Thursday. The Tony Pike-trained gelding jumped away fairly to settle at the rear of the field for jockey Michael McNab. The Waikato hoop sat patiently on his[...]

Posted on March 3, 2022
in New Zealand Horse Racing News

The Jamie Richards-trained Self Obsession cemented her place at the top of the Group 1 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai New Zealand Oaks (2400m) market with yet another game victory when landing the Group 2 Little Avondale Lowland Stakes (2100m) at Hastings on Wednesday. The daughter of Shocking has now won her past four starts, three[...]

Posted on February 24, 2022
in New Zealand Horse Racing News

It was a case of third time’s a charm for Miss Ella when she was a convincing winner of the Listed Grangewilliam Stud “Derryn” Oaks Prelude (1600m) at Pukekohe, New Zealand on Wednesday. The race was initially set to be held at New Plymouth on February 5 over 1800m, but the meeting was abandoned after[...]

Posted on February 23, 2022
in New Zealand Horse Racing News

The irony has not been lost on the connections of La Crique with her imminent reunion with jockey Vinnie Colgan. The veteran hoop rode the Vadamos filly in three of her first four starts but he was replaced by Craig Grylls after he was suspended from riding. Grylls has enjoyed a fruitful association with the[...]

Posted on February 13, 2022
in New Zealand Horse Racing News

Giant filly Self Obsession showed she has a heart to match her imposing frame when she triumphed in a torrid finish to the Group 2 David & Karyn Ellis Fillies Classic (2000m) at Te Rapa, New Zealand on Saturday. The Jamie Richards-trained three-year-old had things all her own way out in front in the early[...]

Posted on February 3, 2022
in New Zealand Horse Racing News

Strapping chestnut Field Of Gold is aiming to emulate his older half-brother Sherwood Forest by winning the Group 1 Vodafone New Zealand Derby (2400m) next month. The Tony Pike-trained three-year-old enhanced his credentials with an all-the-way win in the Group 2 Legacy Lodge Waikato Guineas (2000m) at Te Rapa on Wednesday under a brilliantly judged[...]

Two Illicit signs off in style at Te Rapa

Hoard The Bourbon on Queensland Derby path

Genuine Vernanme deserves winning trick

In-form McNab not getting ahead of himself

Promising juvenile could join Pike team in Queensland

Group One double a special result for Richards

Dazzling Imperatriz heads Levin Classic sweep for Richards

Leaderboard too tough in St Leger

Field Of Gold to come of age

Te Akau’s youthful juggernaut rolls on to Sistema Stakes

Richards claims quinella in Mufhasa Stakes

Queensland targets in the offing for Rudyard

Self Obsession cements Oaks favouritism

Third time’s a charm for Miss Ella

Colgan to reunite with Derby Favourite

Self Obsession proves too tough in Fillies Classic

Field Of Gold shines in Waikato Guineas

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