Stable plotting Derby coup with maiden

23 February 2016

Splendido’s connections have designs on making the three-year-old O’Reilly gelding’s first victory a memorable one.

He has yet to break his duck in seven starts this season, but he is a stakes performer and will be making his second appearance at the elite level when he takes his place in the BMW New Zealand Derby on Saturday week.

“He’s perfect, right on target,” said trainer Bruce Wallace’s foreman Allan Peard.

Runner-up in the Listed BMW Salver, Splendido was then sixth when beaten four lengths by Kawi in the Zabeel Classic and he has finished runner-up at his last two outings.

“He was three wide the whole trip without cover last Saturday and only just got run down and his worst performance was in the Group One,” Peard said.

Currently a $31 hope in the Derby market, Splendido is raced by Wallace with Mark Wyborn, who is also a part-owner of the $8 chance Provocative.

– NZ Racing Desk.

Ready to Run wrap up for 2025

Buyers decended on Karaka for the 2025 NZB Karaka Yearling Sale last Wednesday, 12 and Thursday, 13 November in search of their next Feroce (Super Seth), Force Of Nature (Savabeel), etc., where the progeny of Savabeel, Super Seth, Ardrossan, Ocean Park and Noverre were well sought-after – we took a deep dive into the results.

21 November 2025

The Corner with Garry Chittick

Mary and I attended the races at Pukekohe ten days ago. I enjoy Pukekohe; I like being able to sit where you view the track on a slight angle as the horses approach the winning post. Of course, I enjoyed it even more when both Smart Love and Magice won their respective events.