The standout-looking mare Tiantai rewarded the faith of her trainer Ken Kelso and favourite backers in the First Five 2026 Champion Sprinter Miler 1300 at Te Rapa today.
Giving jockey @michael_mcnab01 a back-to-back double in the process, Tiantai strode to the front at the 150m and drew on her fighting qualities thereafter, with Wyworry and Young Jackson mounting strong challenges for second and third.
The honest four-year-old mare has now had six starts for two wins and two placings.
Bred and raced by Elsdon Park, Tiantai is by Tivaci and is out of the Savabeel mare Nowheretorun, who is in foal to Ardrossan.
: Kenton Wright Race Images NZ
Zorero may once have been the yearling nobody wanted, but today he was the $2.30 market elect who duly delivered for his supporters with a brilliant return at Hastings.
Trained by Guy Lowry and Leah Zydenbos, Zorero was having his first start back as a four-year-old in the ‘Livamol Classic Raceday 10 October, 1200’. After settling well for jockey Kelly Myers, Zorero powered away when popped the question in the straight, crossing with three lengths to spare.
His smart record now reads four starts for two wins and a second.
“It was easy. He settled lovely – he’s a talented horse and was far too good for them,” said Myers afterwards. “In the past he’s tried to overdo it early, and to be fair to him he did have a horse outside him annoying him today, but he relaxed beautifully, so he’s definitely matured. He’s got an exciting future.”
This will be music to the ears for many in the team, but particularly so for Elsdon Park’s Spelling Manager, Gali Zorero, after whom the talented gelding is named.
Bred and raced by Elsdon Park, Zorero is by Per Incanto and is out of the Charm Spirit mare Lovecharm.
Lovecharm is currently in foal to Per Incanto again and has a colt by Alabama Express coming through our yearling system.
Race Photo: Race Images NZ
The Tony Gollan-trained Pure Alpha added another chapter to the promising record of his dam, Bridgewater, with a dominant victory at Eagle Farm today.
Sent straight to the front by jockey Ben Thompson, Pure Alpha produced an impressive pillar-to-post performance to claim victory number three over 1400 metres.
The six-year-old gelding began his career in the care of Chris Waller before transferring to Tony Gollan’s stable in February. He arrived in Queensland with two wins and seven placings already to his name for his owners, Mrs Z A Daly, Ozzie Kheir, M Gopperth, A C Bates and S M George.
Bred by Elsdon Park, Pure Alpha is by Ardrossan and is a full brother to the tough as teak, triple Group Three winner, Ardalio.
Now a five-year-old in the care of trainer Stephen Marsh, Ardalio appears to have fully matured this time in and the stable has high hopes for her this season.
Marsh also trains the three-year-old full brother Raymond, who had just one start as a two-year-old last season, finishing a promising second at Te Aroha and is certainly one to keep your eye on.
With her first two foals both talented winners and her third showing encouraging signs, there is plenty to be optimistic about from Bridgewater’s unraced progeny.
Bridgewater’s stunning fourth foal, an unnamed Per Incanto colt, was purchased by Upper Bloodstock at this year’s Inglis Easter Yearling Sale.
In 2025, Bridgewater produced another striking colt, this time by Sword of State (see parade video taken two days ago).
Bridgewater is currently in foal to Per Incanto. Due to this being a later foaling, she will remain empty this year before a likely trip to Australia for the 2027 breeding season.
Our March Gavelhouse graduate Ogun (Alabama Express – War Goddess) was sent out favourite today at the Riccarton Synthetic track and duly rewarded the support for his new connections, the South Island Racing Enthusiasts Syndicate, winning by 2.5 lengths.
Trained by Michael & Matthew Pitman, Ogun had warranted favouritism with his last start third, but had to draw on his fighting qualities for jockey Matt Cartwright from the draw, landing back in the field and wide.
With 100m to go, the talented four-year-old gelding had the race comfortably at his mercy and was able to ease down in the final stages.
Congratulations to all of his connections. We can’t wait to follow him in his starts ahead for you!
A statement 4.5 length win under Vincent Ho at Sha Tin last night has Champion trainer Ricky Yiu plotting an exciting BMW Hong Kong Derby path ahead for farm grad, Victor Supreme.
The talented Super Seth 3YO entered the Ip Jug Hcp (1800m) with a narrow last start second to his name and thrived at his first start beyond 1600m, winning for owner Law Hing Cheung in sublime fashion.
According to the HKJC, Victor Supreme would be aimed at the Four-Year-Old Classic Series, which features the Hong Kong Classic Mile (1600m), Hong Kong Classic Cup (1800m) and the 150th BMW Hong Kong Derby.
“He won by a reasonable margin – I thought he was a winning chance by maybe a length or two, but not in this style,” said Yiu, Hong Kong Champion Trainer in 2019/20.
“He’s an up-and-coming long-distance horse; even a mile is a bit sharp. He’ll be one of the Derby candidates. When the first stage Derby entries open, I’ll put him in. The way he looks, he’ll be a decent stayer.”
Yiu, who enjoyed three other training victories on the night with Rising Force, Lucrative Eight and Chill Easy, bought Victor Supreme at the 2024 NZB Book One Yearling Sale.
Bred and sold by Elsdon Park, Victor Supreme is out of the winning Makfi mare Collay, who is a noted half-sister to the Champion NZ 2YO and now black-type producer, Ruud Van Slaats.
Talented galloper Yaldi (NZ) (Ardrossan) extended his fine Ellerslie record when he stormed home to claim the open sprint at Ellerslie on Saturday, the Kingmakers “Become A Principal Owner” (1300m) today.
Yaldi has now competed 9 times at Ellerslie for three wins and three placings.
The addition of visor blinkers to the gear worn by the four-year-old son of Ardrossan combined with a nicely judged ride from Matt Cartwright proved important components in the victory as the pair bided their time towards the rear of the field before angling widest into the home straight.
Yaldi accelerated powerfully when asked to go and swept to the front at the 200m before holding out the late runs of Pokuru Gold (NZ) (Darci Brahma) and Lachie (NZ) (Belardo), who both closed off nicely to secure their minor placings.
Forsman wasn’t sure if the new gear had been the only reason for the improved performance by the enigmatic customer but was relieved to see him back to winning form.
“It feels like a fair while (since his last win), so it is great to get the job done,” Forsman said.
“It was a great ride by Matt as he is not an easy ride as you have to have everything go right for you.
“It was a muddling run race, but he got on to the back of the right horses and got the job done.
“There was a little bit of a gear change with the visor blinkers on for the first time but whether that made a big difference I’m not sure as he is a quirky horse.”
Cartwright reiterated Forsman’s thoughts regarding the nature of his mount.
“This horse has got more tricks than a magician to be fair,” he said.
“He enjoyed a nice run and I followed the right horse, but I hit the front way too soon and he tried to throw it away by laying in.
“I do hope he takes a lot of confidence from this as he has good ability and if he decides to work it all out, he is definitely black type material.”
Bred by Max Brown, Yaldi is raced by Elsdon Park and David and Nikki Wilson, who purchased him out of Little Avondale Stud’s draft for just $50,000 at Karaka 2023 with the assistance of bloodstock agent Bruce Perry.
He comes from the family of stakes winner Hammer Down (NZ) (O’Reilly) and the brilliant filly Plume (NZ) (Crested Wave), who numbered the 1990 Gr.1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) amongst her 12 race victories.
Yaldi has now won three of his 24 starts, including the Gr.2 Auckland Guineas (1400m), and more than $400,000 in prizemoney.
A brilliant rails-hugging ride from Jett Stanley paved the way for Kiwi-bred gelding Hezdarnhottoo (NZ) (Too Darn Hot) to claim an outstanding victory in the last race on the Caulfield card on Saturday, the Darren Gauci Handicap (1200m)
Bred by Elsdon Park’s Lib and Katrina Petagna, Hezdarnhottoo races out of the Bjorn Baker stable and was purchased by Baker in partnership with Clarke Bloodstock for $170,000 out of Elsdon Park’s inaugural 2023 New Zealand Bloodstock Book 1 draft.
Stanley had most onlookers stunned when he deliberately steered the son of Too Darn Hot to the inside throughout and was more than ten lengths clear rounding the home bend.
The four-year-old gelding never looked like shirking his task and despite a rally from the runners charging home out wide he held on to complete his third career victory from just 13 starts.
Baker stable representative Jack Chard was quick to place the credit for the unusual tactics squarely on the shoulders of Stanley.
“Bjorn told me this morning that we’ll try and get a bit of cover, but they have been coming wide and when Jett said he was going to hug the rail I didn’t think it was the worst idea,” Chard said.
“Look at him now, it’s paid off and was a great ride.
“We’ve always had an opinion of the horse and I’ve tipped him to everyone, but he just hasn’t shown up at the races, so to get the chocolates today is beautiful.
“Last start he didn’t get a run when he needed it and before that he was getting beaten by good horses by a length or so.
“We actually brought him here for a dry track and got a Heavy 8, but thankfully it hasn’t rained that much so it (the track) has held up well.
“I’m just stoked for the team and the owners, so well done to everyone.”
Stanley admitted he had done his homework during the day to come up with the riding plan in the race.
“I’ve been watching and riding in races all day and I just couldn’t wrap my head around how the outside was so much better than the inside when they haven’t run on it for ten weeks,” he said.
“I thought they would be losing five to seven lengths going out so wide, so I went back out after the second last race and walked it again to make sure I was confident in the plan.
“Bjorn said go out there and do what you have to, to get the job done. To the horse’s credit he was lost for much of the race with no-one around him but he just kept pushing and found the line.
“I was either going to be a genius or an idiot and turned out to be a genius.”
The son of Too Darn Hot is the third winner from as many to race for the stakes-placed Savabeel mare Rosa Carolina who raced in Petagna’s familiar blue, yellow and apple green racing colours.
Story: NZ Racing Desk, Racing News
Elsdon Park has purchased the two exciting broodmares Marble Arch and Tszyaya at the recent Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale.
Trained by Lindsay Park, Marble Arch won the Gr.2 Blamey Stakes.
Bred by Goodwood Stud. Marble Arch is by the proven Gr.1 damsire Per Incanto and is from the well-related Sakhee’s Secret mare, Jonquil. This is the Gr.1 family of Daffodil, Atishu, Orchestral, Savaglee, Good Faith, Sepals and Aegon
The second mare purchased via Kerrie Cox and Bruce Perry was Tszyaya, a lovely 4YO by Zoustar out of the Fastnet Rock mare Dynastic Lady.
Dynastic Lady is a sister to the Gr.1 winner Age of Fire and is the dam of the multiple black-type winner Amazonian Lass.
This is also the international Gr.1 family of Fly To The Stars and Fallen For You.
The Caspar Fownes-trained Ardrossan gelding Audacious Pursuit registered his second win in Hong Kong with a gun rails ride from Joao Moreira.
Since selling at the 2023 NZB Book One Yearling Sale to Waikato Bloodstock, Audious Pursuit has had the 12 starts for two wins and four placings, returning HK$2,363,400 to his owner Leung Sze Tien.
Audacious Pursuit is out of the Sebring mare Dolce Amore and was bred by the Dewar Partnership.
The Stephen Marsh-trained and Jack Taplin-ridden Hakusha brought up a winning double for Elsdon Park’s racing team at Ellerslie today, following directly in the footsteps of Yaldi earlier.
Bred by Ridgemont Farm/ Boutique Thoroughbreds, Hakushu is a talented two-time winner who is co-owned with Hawridge Developments, Jamieson Park, Little Avondale Trust and Stephen Marsh.
