A tough week for Ballymore Stables ended on a positive note after New Zealand-bred three-year-old War Machine ran away with the Listed Bendigo Guineas (1400m) on Saturday under the guidance of Jordan Childs.
“He’d come such a long way in this preparation and now looks like a racehorse - has the right attitude to want to be out there and try, and I thought he could be thereabouts if everything went his way."
Trans-Tasman trainer Mike Moroney went to $170,000 to secure the day’s top-lot on Day 2 of Book 2 of New Zealand Bloodstock’s National Yearling Sale, a Proisir filly out of the Northern Meteor mare Polson.
Underrated three-year-old Pendragon upset the Te Akau Racing party when he downed favourites Tokyo Tycoon and the previously unbeaten Quintessa over 1200m at Te Rapa on Saturday.
Michael Moroney hopes another of his former New Zealand-based gallopers can triumph when Swords Drawn contests the Listed Ballarat Cup (2000m) on Saturday.
A victory on New Zealand racing’s biggest stage is set to give talented mare Tevere a much needed boost of confidence after a luckless run at Group level this season.
A life spent around horses has laid the groundwork for success in the thoroughbred world for Aimee Peterken, who is set to offer her first Book 1 yearling at Karaka later this month.