Mackintosh makes it look easy

25 November 2015

Mackintosh produced a sweet performance to post an upset win on debut at Te Aroha this afternoon. Despite a lead-up trial placing, the WS graduate was unwanted in the betting but scored like a short-priced favourite.

The Pins three-year-old showed good gate speed to cross from a wide draw and coasted clear under Vinnie Colgan. He had two and a half lengths to spare on his closest rival with an effort that suggested the Gr 1 New Zealand Derby nominee can shape up in much stronger company.

Mackintosh is trained at Byerley Park by his part-owner James Bridge, who bought the gelding for $11,000 out of WS’s weanling draft to Karaka in 2011. He is out of the Generous mare Lolly Scramble who is a half-sister to the Gr 2 Auckland Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes winner Viennetta.

The Corner with Garry Chittick

It would appear I now have to continue my weekly Corner with the amount of rumblings at the start of our new racing season. I have been around long enough to know we can never please all; my tenure as Chairman of the Racing Board was subjected to as much vitriol as subsequent Boards have had to bear, so what’s different this time, or is it different.

5 August 2026

First foal for Waikato’s Group 1 winner Skew Wiff

Group 1-winning Savabeel mare Skew Wiff (ex Starvoia), known affectionately as ‘Wiffy’, foaled a filly by Super Seth in the early hours of Wednesday, 5 August.