Consistent Hawke’s Bay-owned gelding Uderzo showed he was thriving on a steady diet of weekly racing when he scored a decisive win in a $45,000 open sprint over 1400m at Ellerslie last Saturday.
The seven-year-old son of Vadamos was having his third consecutive run on a Saturday for Matamata trainers Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott and performed to expectations as he came from just off the pace to dash past race favourite Sweet Smile in the final 200m to register career win number six.
Uderzo is owned by a group that includes Havelock North couples Sam and Belinda Kelt and Andrew and Lauren Scott.
The horse’s co-trainer, Andrew Scott, was thrilled to see the gelding back in the winner’s stall after he had finished runner-up in two of his last three starts.
“We’re genuinely pleased for the ownership group and the team at home as we’ve tried a few different things with him this week, including sleeping in a few different boxes,” he said.
“He had been thinking a bit (in his races) so we were just trying to keep him up on his toes and put that variety into his routine.
“He has always been a lovely, consistent galloper and Warren (Kennedy) gave him a lovely ride.
“He pulled up so well out of his run last weekend and once he finds form, he usually holds it.
“We thought that we would put him in this race as the nominations were light, while there is a nice race next Saturday for him at Te Rapa, so provided he has a good week, we’ll keep cracking on.”
Warren Kennedy was happy to keep his options open during the race with just five rivals to contend with.
“With small fields it is normally quite tactical and things can change on a dime,” he said.
“I didn’t expect to see Sweet Smile in front, so I thought I would just bide my time. He’s not a horse with a great turn of foot but he winds into it, so we attacked quite late and he just pulled through the line and we had it won at the 200m.
“He felt brilliant, he’s fit and relaxed, has matured and is a pleasure to ride.”
Uderzo was a $125,000 purchase from the 2020 Karaka yearling sales and has now won six of his 40 starts, with a further 10 placings, and more than $281,000 in prizemoney.
Out of the Pentire mare Etosha Lass, his extended family includes brilliant Australian sprinter and successful stallion Canny Lad, who took out the 1990 Group 1 Golden Slipper (1200m), along with a host of notable Australian Group 1 winners including Camarena, Canny Lass, Guelph and Sepoy.
The latter has gone on to be a successful sire in Australia.
Brent Wall presented with a special award
Few people in New Zealand racing have worked more consistently behind the scenes or earned the respect of so many across the industry, than Hawke’s Bay-born Brent Wall.
At last week’s 2026 New Zealand Racecourse Managers Association Conference, Brent was recognised with the NZRMA Contribution to Racing Award, an honour that reflected not only his professional contribution, but also the relationships, loyalty and support he has provided to racecourse managers and the wider industry over many years.
The presentation, delivered by NZRMA Chair Jason Fulford, mixed humour with genuine appreciation, capturing the regard in which Brent is held throughout racing.
“He has always been a supporter of track managers, stuck up for us, spoken for us, worked for us,” Jason told the conference.
Brent’s connection to racing began early, attending races with his mother at Hawke’s Bay as a 10-year-old before taking on a stable hand role, while at Massey University as a teenager, with Peter and Nikki Hurdle. He then progressed as an Assistant Racing Manager and then on to Racing Manager at Awapuni.
Over time, Brent became deeply involved in supporting racecourse managers across the country, eventually taking on the role of secretary to the NZRMA in 2012.
The award presentation highlighted not only Brent’s contribution to the industry, but also the personality and camaraderie he has brought to the racing community over the years.
“Conferences wouldn’t be the same without him,” Jason said. “At some point he’s sorted a room, opened a bar earlier than planned, or helped steer plenty of chairmen through a conference.”
Accepting the award, Brent said he was genuinely surprised by the recognition after being “led down the garden path” into believing no presentation was taking place.
Reflecting on his time working alongside racecourse managers, Brent said the support and connection within the group had meant a great deal to him, particularly during difficult periods personally and professionally.
“It’s tough out there,” Brent said. “You’ve got to talk to others and encourage each other to talk to each other. At the end of the day, you’ve got to back each other up because you all do a great job.”
Hawke’s Bay weanling tour on July 5
This year’s annual Hawke’s Bay/Poverty Bay weanling tour will be held on Sunday, July 5.
The tour will start with a breakfast at Game Lodge Racing Stables in Southland Road, Hastings, before going on to several other locations where a number of well bred weanlings and yearlings will be paraded.
At the conclusion of the tour there will be a luncheon and silent auction at Valley d’Vine Restaurant at Eskdale.
The tour is free to members and the general public while the luncheon is restricted to 100 people at a cost of $40/head for members of the Hawke’s Bay Poverty Bay Thoroughbred Breeders Association and $50/head for non-members.
RSVP to tracy@hawkesbayracing.co.nz or text to 020 4162-5175
Gohugo has run his last race
Gohugo, one of the most consistent gallopers produced from the Hastings stable of Guy Lowry and Leah Zydenbos, has been retired.
The Per Incanto seven-year-old had his last race when unplaced over 1400m on the Awapuni synthetic track on May 31 and his last success was in a Rating 75 race over 1300m at Tauherenikau on February 6.
Gohugo raced 42 times for three wins, 10 seconds and eight thirds and won more than $117,000 in stakemoney for his Feilding owners, Neil and Yvonne Managh and their son Andrew.
They bred him out of the Perfectly Ready mare Mint, who won four races when trained by Guy Lowry in partnership with Grant Cullen.
The fact that Gohugo was able to perform so well on the racetrack was testament to his great will to win as he had to overcome breathing issues for most of his career, meaning that his races had to be spaced and kept to short distances.
Galloping and harness codes join forces
New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing (NZTR) and Harness Racing New Zealand (HRNZ) advise that a joint Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was provided to TAB NZ and the TAB NZ Advisory Committee on Friday of last week.
The MOU outlines a shared commitment to working collaboratively on potential industry reform and provides a framework for further engagement between the parties.
The MOU does not commit any party to implementing specific reforms, funding arrangements, asset transfers or structural changes. Any such matters would be subject to consultation and consideration by the relevant boards and any separate agreements that may be required.
NZTR and HRNZ look forward to continuing constructive engagement with TAB NZ and the Advisory Committee.
More Queensland targets for Kiwi sprinter
Further Queensland targets are instore for Palmerston North sprinter Platinum Pantheon following his runner-up effort in the Listed Queensland Day Stakes (1200m) at Eagle Farm on Saturday.
The three-year-old son of Hanseatic produced sixth placings in his first two runs in Australia, in the Group 3 Gold Coast Guineas (1200m) and Group 3 Fred Best Classic (1400m).
Trainer Lisa Latta then took aim at the Queensland Day Stakes with her exciting gelding and he impressed her when storming home late to come within three-quarters of a length of winner Earn To Burn.
“He ended up going back, which is where we thought he would be,” Latta said. “He had to weave his way through them and didn’t quite get to the outside when he needed to, but he finished off fantastic.
“Mark (Du Plessis, jockey) thinks he is a pretty smart horse.”
Buoyed by Platinum Pantheon’s performance, Latta is electing to press on further into his Queensland winter campaign.
“We would be flat getting into the first Group 1 sprint of the season (in New Zealand) at the moment, so we are probably better to push forward a little bit on this side and give him a nice spell over here and then bring him back,” Latta said.
“There is a nice 1350 race at Ipswich in a fortnight and we will look to head there next.”
Latta said Platinum Pantheon has enjoyed the warmer climes of Brisbane and is planning on bringing him back to Queensland next year.
“He is thriving over here, and the trip will be the making of him,” she said. “Hopefully we can come back here next year and aim for some really nice races.”