A jubilant Bruno Queiroz returns to scale on the winning Court Of Appeal
Riccarton 11th Sept 2025
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Headline News
NZTR Confirms Major Changes to Key Group 1 Races – NZ Oaks being moved to Ellerslie
Jamie Richards off to a flyer in new Hong Kong season
NZTR CEO, Matt Ballesty indicates some significant changes to NZ racetracks
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Fortuna has no runners this weekend
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Trackwork – Fortuna Runners
No timed trackwork for Fortuna runners this week
Matamata
Riccarton
Cranbourne
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Other News
NZTR Confirms Major Changes to Key Group 1 Races – NZ Oaks being moved to Ellerslie
New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing (NZTR) has confirmed two of the nation’s premier Group 1 races will move venues and dates this season in a step to protect their international status and strengthen the industry’s racing calendar.The $1,000,000 Group 1 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai New Zealand Oaks (2400m) will be run at Ellerslie Racecourse on 21 February 2026, two weeks before the $1,250,000 Group 1 Trackside New Zealand Derby (2400m) at Auckland Thoroughbred Racing’s Champions Day meeting, while the $600,000 Group 1 New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1600m) will return to its traditional late-March timing at RACE Awapuni on Saturday 28 March 2026.
NZTR Chief Executive Matt Ballesty said the changes were vital race-planning decisions for the country. “NZTR has made necessary adjustments to preserve the quality of New Zealand’s Group 1 calendar, protect critical breeding pathways, and deliver top-class racing experiences nationwide,”he said.
The New Zealand Oaks, long regarded as the ultimate test for three-year-old fillies, faced the risk of downgrade after three consecutive years below the required international ratings, prompting an Asian Pattern Committee (APC) review. Its move to February reflects both recent challenges in attracting top-level fillies and the opportunity to link more naturally with the Trackside New Zealand Derby and Australian Autumn features. The change has been approved for one year, with its position to be reviewed thereafter. Auckland Thoroughbred Racing (ATR) Chief Executive Officer Paul Wilcox said the change creates a fresh opportunity for the Oaks to flourish.
“The new February timing at Ellerslie strengthens pathways for fillies, creates synergy with the Derby two weeks later, and gives New Zealand’s Classic calendar better alignment with Australia’s Autumn features,” he said.
The $150,000 Group 2 Jennian Homes Lowland Stakes (2100m) will also move to RACE Inc’s Wellington Cup Day on 31 January to sharpen the lead-in to the Oaks. The New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes, New Zealand’s only Group 1 race exclusively for fillies and mares, will also undergo a reset. Won in recent years by champions such as Avantage and Imperatriz, the race will return to its traditional March slot at RACE Awapuni, creating a blockbuster Central Districts raceday with five black-type events, including two Group 1s (the Breeders’ Stakes and the Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes [1400m]).
Supporting pathway races will also be realigned, with the $200,000 Group 3 Wentwood Grange Cuddle Stakes (1600m) moving to RACE Awapuni on Sunday 1 March 2026, the $600,000 Group 2 Westbury Classic (1400m) shifting from ATR’s TAB Karaka Millions meeting on Saturday 24 January to Champions Day on Saturday 7 March, and the $90,000 Royal Descent Stakes (1400m) moving from ATR’s SkyCity Boxing Day Races to the TAB Karaka Millions.
As a part of that same APC review, the Group 1 classification of five races was considered, including: the New Zealand Oaks (2400m), New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1600m), Livamol Classic (2040m), Telegraph (1200m) and Thorndon Mile (1600m). Under APC rules, a vote is triggered when a race records three consecutive runnings below the Group 1 benchmark and tolerance levels.
As a result of the review, the Harcourts Thorndon Mile (1600m) has been downgraded from Group 1 to Group 2 status. The decision reflects the race’s recent performance history. The race will continue to carry prizemoney of $500,000 and will be staged at RACE Trentham on Saturday 17 January 2026.
The APC also confirmed continued Group 1 status, for now, for the New Zealand Oaks and New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes, supported by the calendar and venue changes stated above, and for the Livamol Classic and Telegraph, based on overall field quality and historical standing.
NZTR’s Senior Handicapper and APC representative Bruce Sherwin said while the downgrade was disappointing, there are encouraging signs for New Zealand racing.
“New Zealand’s ratings have been impacted by the recent retirement of top horses, but levels are now rebuilding,” Sherwin said. “Significant prizemoney increases, stronger turnover and renewed investment at the NZB sales are positive indicators. This season has also started strongly with the Group 1 Proisir Plate at Ellerslie showing excellent depth and quality. Looking ahead, it is critical our best horses contest Group 1 races if they are to remain at the highest level,” Sherwin added.
Details on nomination and acceptance dates will be included in NZTR’s Racing Programme Guide in due course.
View the full list of 2025-26 Group and Listed racesHERE
John says “Notable that within these changes, the Group One NZ Thoroughbred Breeders Stakes is being moved to Awapuni – here is a question – Melody Belle won 14 Group One races in her career – question is – did Melody Belle win the NZ Thoroughbred Breeders Stakes? – email your answer to this question and go in the draw for a copy of the NZ Racing Annual if you give the correct answer”
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Jamie Richards off to a flyer in new Hong Kong season
Richards stays on top (source The Straight)
Trainer Jamie Richards has well and truly put last season’s quiet run behind him and sits on top of the Trainer’s Premiership with five wins from the first three meetings in Hong Kong this season. His 5-year-old gelding Jubilant Winner(Capitalist) removed his maiden status in style, winning by two and a half lengths.
“I don’t really know what it is, but we’ve had some very good rides and the horses have paraded well and looked well. And when they look well and trial well, I think they run well,” Richards told scmp.com. “So we’ll just keep it simple and hopefully we can keep going.” Jubilant Winner’s record sums up Richards’ tricky season last year where the horse had 10 starts for four placings without winning. “He’s a horse that last season needed his races spaced a little bit, but hopefully he can hold more condition this year and if he does that, hopefully he can work his way up the ratings a bit. I think the horses that have been winning have run well last season. Jubilant (Winner) has just needed some time and the other ones have been going well. I think the horses are racing pretty consistently.”
Originally sold by Riversdale at the Inglis Classic Yearling Sale to Riversley Park for $150,000, he was pinhooked by Riversley Park at the Inglis Ready To Race Sale for $160,000 where Richards and Andrew Williams Bloodstock purchased him. He is the fourth foal of We Can Dance (Shinzig), whose 4-year-old gelding Golden Octavian (Impending) was a winner recently. She has a 2-year-old filly by Brazen Beau, a yearling colt by King’s Legacy and is in foal to Native Trail (GB).
A winner over 1000 metres, We Can Dance is a half-sister to winning mare Disguise (Grand Lodge {USA}), dam of four time-Group 1 winner Appearance(Commands) and Listed winner Mascareri (Commands).
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NZTR CEO, Matt Ballesty, indicates some significant changes to NZ racetracks
See this very informative interview with Mick Guerin
HERE and listen to Matt’s views on the future of Avondale, Waikato Greenfields project, Hastings, Awapuni and Trentham – this is a “must watch” if you wish to get insight into how the landscape of NZ Racing may look in the medium term
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Greetings John and Fortuna followers.
There’s been a fair bit going on in the last week; iconic races like the Thorndon being downgraded to group 2, another group one race heading to Ellerslie; NZ bred Mr Brightside getting group one number 10 and least I forget, Fortuna’s Court of Appeal winning impressively in the south and earmarked for the NZ Cup in November. Well done to you John and your owners.
NZ OAKS IN FEBRUARY TO ELLERSLIE
As hinted in this column last week the NZ Oaks is to move to Ellerslie and run next February on Avondale Cup day. That was all confirmed over the weekend. There’s hope that it’s new position will save its group one status and prove an important lead up to the NZ Derby. If it works, well done! However, whether the Oaks remained at Trentham or moved to Ellerslie, I’m inclined to think the best three year old fillies stables will still pick just one race, either the Derby or the Oaks, and if they do well, it’ll be off to Sydney.
TRENTHAM’S FUTURE
There’s been a lot of unsettling speculation this week that the sun is about to set at Trentham post next year’s Wellington Cup. It has a members stand issue that’s badly in need of repair in some vital areas.
But it still is a track that the industry can ill afford to lose as the series of race days proved last spring, summer and autumn when it picked up the slack for both Hastings and Awapuni. Turnovers were buoyant on each occasion; often better than they were on their own tracks.
The facts are simple. Trentham, Ellerslie and Riccarton are where it’s at when it comes to punting! That’s the template surely for industry growth! Those higher up in the industry should be doing everything in their power, therefore, to keep Trentham going ; irrespective of what decisions are made surrounding the members stand on whether it’s patched up or demolished.
I’m optimistic Trentham will be still around long after I’m gone and God willing I’ll be around for a while yet!
TRENTHAM IS ICONIC
Trentham has the romance and history associated with Cup carnivals, champion jockeys and great equine athletes. From Castletown to Great Sensations Wellington Cup three-peats, to world record times at 2 miles ( Il Tempo); 1200m ( Bawalaksana) to 1600m ( McGinty). It’s a track that has had rave reviews from Australia’s best jockeys like Glen Boss and Damien Oliver and NZ’s, Noel Harris, amongst many others. Turnovers for its big days have been as good and often better than any other venue. It has the uniqueness of a lightning 1200m hcute to an iconic figure of 8 steeplechase course.
HERE IS WHAT ONE CHAMPION RECKONS
Not long ago out of the blue Chris Waller called and asked me about Trentham. We spoke for about 20 minutes. His views are simple and he believes Trentham’s existence is important for NZ racing. He understood the infrastructure dilemma but he agreed that the Trentham track generates turnover and that’s the big plus for its protection and continuation. He also believed a track surface is more important than a grand stand. Chris added that you grow the product where the mass population is and he wasn’t talking about horse population either!
THREE TO FOLLOW FROM LAST SATURDAY AT RICCARTON
SPARK: to run 4th as a first starter in stakes company at Riccarton was massive. She’s a filly going places.
NOBLE KNIGHT: he’s one of the South Island’s proven stayers and a quick video replay of his run over 1800m proves that he’s come back as well as ever. He ran 5th in last years NZ Cup. He’s clearly on target again for the 2-miler!
MOUSSAIEFF: this lightly tried 4-race winner from just 13 starts was doing his best work at the finish, with the fastest final sectionals over 2000m. That was a top run considering he hadn’t raced for 5 months. Worth noting he ran two top 5 finishers at the Cup carnival last year and he, too, is hoping to make the Nz Cup field.
PUNTING FOR PROFIT
My email service has been doing its absolute best for subscribers – several of whom are Fortuna investors – with one of the many highlights on Sunday having both Best Bets at Te Rapa ( Sadhbh) at $3.40 and Awapuni ( Wonderboy) $2.40 winning!
It’s never too late to join, folks.
I’ll keep the subscription at $200 (gst inclusive) for readers of this column and you’ll start with this Saturday’s top 2 race by race tips which of course are accompanied by the Best Bet(s) and Value Bet(s) and every Nz gallops meetings covered throughout September, October and November.
My email is dcoppins@xtra.co.nz
Drop me a line to learn more.
Good punting!
Des Coppins
021 448 052
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