Horses are back galloping on the course proper at the Hastings racecourse as plans continue for a return to racing there next month.
Several horses used the newly re-cambered and renovated course proper for fast work at Tuesday’s Hastings trackwork session, working either singly or in company. It was the first time horses have worked on that part of the racecourse since September 2024.
The trainers and riders that worked horses on the course proper gave it an overwhelming tick of approval.
Some horses galloped up against the newly erected inside running rail while others worked about five metres out and some even took a wider berth.
There was only a minimal amount of surface damage from the horses’ hooves and the general consensus was the ground provided an even surface across the track.
Hawke’s Bay Racing interim Chief Executive Darin Balcombe said this week the feedback from all concerned was very positive.
“We just need to keep the irrigation up in certain areas and hopefully we get some rain over the next few days, which would really help,” he said.
Jumpouts are now planned to be held on the track next Tuesday, April 7.
Liam O’Keeffe, the track manager at Melbourne’s Flemington racecourse and the person who has overseen the reconstruction work on the Hastings track, will attend the jumpouts along with Chief Stipendiary Steward John Oatham and Stipendiary Steward Neil Goodwin, representing the Racing Integrity Board.
There will also be several senior jockeys riding on the day, with Kate Hercock, Jonathan Riddell and Leah Hemi confirming they will be there.
The new moveable inside running rail will be in the true position for the jumpouts and at least 30 horses are expected to contest several heats, the first of which is timed for 9.30am.
A new permanent outside running rail was also erected this week.
A full set of official barrier trials are planned for April 28, where the inside rail will be moved out four metres.
“This will provide a good test of the area where we have had problems in the past,” Balcombe added.
Providing there are no issues, an official
six-race meeting is scheduled for Thursday, May 21, as a lead-up to a return to full race days in the new racing season.
There will be no racing on the track in June and July before another meeting is planned for late August, ahead of the three-day spring carnival in September and October.
Coolmore buys Golden Slipper winner
Following his spectacular win in the 2026 Golden Slipper a fortnight ago, two-year-old colt Guest House has been purchased by breeding giant Coolmore in a deal believed to be worth around A$30 million.
Trained by Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr, the son of Home Affairs will continue to race in his current ownership's colours before retiring to stud.
Havelock North’s Tony Clark, who owns a five per cent share in Guest House with his wife Michelle, said this week that nothing changes as far as their interest in the horse goes for his future racing career.
“Through the generosity of Coolmore principal Tom Magnier and Mick Price’s negotiating, the present owners will carry on paying 100 per cent of the training fees and receive 100 per cent of any stakemoney he wins,” Clark said.
“The full intention is to race him as a three-year-old.
“He has gone to the paddock for a few months now and then he will come back into work and Tom and Mick will set a three-year-old plan for him.”
Guest House has already won more than A$3.3million in stakemoney, with a record of two wins, a second and a third from only four starts.
The colt is a son of Coolmore’s super stallion Home Affairs and will be a welcome addition to their stallion roster when he ultimately retires.
It is believed that up to four studs were interested in the Golden Slipper winner.
Trainer Mick Price said: “We are delighted to do a deal with a breeding giant like Coolmore.”
“We look forward to racing the colt with them into the spring. Under the agreement, the horse will continue to race in the Roll The Dice colours for the rest of its career.”
It is understood there is an upfront component to the deal along with kickers for winning subsequent Group 1 races.
Guest House was arguably unlucky in the Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes in February but atoned with a breathtaking come-from-behind win in the Group 1 Golden Slipper.
Road To Paris tackles Australian Derby
New Zealand-trained three-year-old Road To Paris has a wide barrier draw to overcome as he attempts to complete a notable Group 1 double in this Saturday’s A$2million ATC Australian Derby in Sydney.
The three-year-old Circus Maximus gelding is coming off a last start win in the Group 1 New Zealand Derby (2400m) at Ellerslie on March 7 and has drawn barrier 10 in the 13-horse field entered for the 2400m Randwick feature.
Road To Paris is trained by Roger James and Robert Wellwood and the latter said the horse had arrived safely in Sydney.”
“Roger is over there with the horse and said he has settled in well,” Wellwood said.
Top Hong Kong-based jockey Zac Purton has been booked to ride Road To Paris and the horse is fourth favourite on the New Zealand TAB at $10, with the Bjorn Baker-trained Green Spaces installed as the favourite at $3.20 ahead of Observer ($3.30) and Storm Leopard ($5.00).
Road To Paris has had seven starts for two wins and two seconds but his record should read even better as he was in front and looking the likely winner of the Group 3 Wellington Stakes (1600m) at Otaki back in November when he suddenly shied 50 metres from the finish and dislodged jockey Masa Hashizume.
The Australian Derby is one of four Group 1 races to be run at this Saturday’s first day of the Champions series at Randwick, the others being the A$1million Inglis Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) for two-year-olds, the A$3million weight-for-age TJ Smith Stakes (1200m) for the open sprinters and the A$4million Doncaster Mile, one of the iconic races on the Australian racing calendar.
Te Akau Group 1 winners spelling
Initial discussions following Saturday’s Group 1 double by Seize The Day and Belle Cheval have confirmed that both Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson-trained stars will head to the spelling paddock ahead of new season campaigns.
That had already been established before Belle Cheval’s nail-biting win in the Group 1 Vinery Stud Stakes (2000m) at Rosehill, whereas immediate options for Seize The Day remained open after his runaway performance in the Group 1 Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) at Trentham.
“Belle Cheval has already been floated down to our Cranbourne stable and she’ll spend a couple of days there just trotting out to familiarise her before she comes back into work to prepare for the spring,” Walker said.
“Her owners David Archer and Diane Wright like the idea of staying in Australia instead of kicking off her season back in New Zealand, mainly because those spring tracks back home are often so wet.
“At this stage her main early target will be the Golden Eagle in Sydney, which will allow plenty of time for the spell she’s earned and then have a steady build-up.”
The Golden Eagle (1500m), which was won last year by unbeaten sensation Autumn Glow, is scheduled for Randwick on October 31.
Restricted to four-year-olds, with a stake of A$10 million, the Golden Eagle has also been earmarked for fellow New Zealand filly Well Written, who maintained her unbeaten record with a narrow NZB Kiwi (1500m) win over Belle Cheval, and star Victorian filly Sheza Alibi, the last-start winner of the Group 1 Randwick Guineas (1600m).
Discussions between Te Akau principals and an ownership group that includes Seize The Day’s Hunter Valley breeders Yarraman Park have led to the decision to spell him rather than opt for a possible late season target in Australia.
Walker’s first Australian Group 1 training success was the 2005 Group 1 TJ Smith Classic (1600m) in Brisbane with star colt Darci Brahma, while Belle Cheval’s weekend success was his first at elite level in Sydney.
“It’s a massive thrill for everyone involved to win Group 1 races on the same day at Trentham and Randwick,” Walker said. “I’ve been training for coming up 30 years and it’s a personal career highlight.
“Especially with Belle Cheval, who did her final serious work at Matamata before flying to Sydney. It was a Team New Zealand effort that together we made happen.”
Walker added that discussions will also be on-going around plans for older stable members Quintessa, Qali Al Farrasha and Captured By Love, who were unplaced in Saturday’s Group 1 New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1600m), and Damask Rose, who was unplaced in the Group 1 Australian Cup (2000m).
“Damask Rose is coming home and we’ll give her a thorough checking over before we decide what’s next for her,” Walker said.
“Captured By Love is also only a four-year-old, whereas the other two mares are rising six and we’ll need to decide whether they have another season or go to auction as broodmares instead."