The Listed Armacup 3YO Stakes (1500m) is becoming a reliable springboard to bigger and better things for Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott, and that trend looks likely to continue after a smart win by Checkmate at Ellerslie on Saturday.
From a select group of only four broodmares based at Curraghmore, Sir Owen Glenn has now bred two Group One winners on opposite sides of the Tasman and over wildly different distances.
Kiwi three-year-old Bitcoin made a good impression at his Australian debut when winning the Brandt Maiden Plate (2000m) at Ballarat on Wednesday for new trainer Lindsey Smith.
The Gr.1 Australian Derby (2400m) is firmly in the crosshairs of Australian syndicator OTI Racing with their kiwi pair Full Of Sincerity and Mark Twain.
It’s hard to dismiss the similarities between Sharp ‘N’ Smart and Savabeel.
Both horses were victorious in the Gr.1 Spring Champion Stakes (2000m) before placing in the Gr.1 VRC Derby (2500m) as spring three-year-olds for trainer Graeme Rogerson.
Cognito announced his arrival among New Zealand’s three-year-old ranks in Saturday’s Wellington Guineas at Trentham – aided by an extraordinary ride from Opie Bosson.
