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All the latest racing news from New Zealand.
Injured Jockey Doing Well
Ashley Frye has a lengthy recovery road ahead of her, but the injured jockey is making excellent progress.
The 19-year-old suffered life-threatening injuries in a race fall at Ashburton in March when her mount Zuleika crashed to the ground after rupturing an artery.
Frye’s partner and fellow jockey Matt Cropp said she was doing “absolutely unreal” and had enjoyed a day out at the Rangiora trials this week.
“She’s coming along really well, although obviously it’s going to be a fair while before she gets back on a horse.
“I thought going to the trials might have been a bit hard for her, but she had a big smile on her face – it was great to see.”
Ruakaka Option For Smart Filly
Progressive filly Queen Of Navarre may be given another opportunity to add to her two-year-old record this season.
The daughter of Guillotine won her first two starts Ellerslie and Te Aroha before she finished a last-start fourth in the Listed Castletown Stakes at Wanganui.
“She went out for three weeks after that and she’ll be back after this weekend,” co-trainer Peter McKay said.
“She didn’t like the track much at Wanganui and by the time the race was run it was cutting out. She sat three and four wide and pulled a plate off behind on the first corner.
“She’s quite an exciting filly and she may go to the two-year-old race at Ruakaka at the end of the season.”
Enjay On Quick Sydney Raid
Jay Ford has been booked to ride the Cambridge stayer Enjay in a $A85,000 handicap at Randwick this weekend.
The High Chaparral mare capped off a run of six consecutive placings with a Rating 65 win at Ellerslie at her last appearance to earn a quick visit to Sydney.
“It will be a hit and run mission and she’ll be back home on Monday,” trainer Roger James said.
“It looks a nice race for her and I believe this mare is a cups’ horse in the making. She has taken a while to mature, but is now really starting to hit her straps.”
Lauren Tate Rolls On To Rockhampton
Group Two winner Lauren Tate will chase down an elusive win in Queensland when she tackles Saturday's Rockhampton Cup.
Taupiri breeder-owner-trainer John Morell gave the Travis Stakes-winning five-year-old a brief let-up following her sixth placing in the Gr.2 Eagle Farm Cup last month and has opted to drop back in distance to a mile for Saturday's feature.
"I've freshened her up and she's done really well. I don't think she's trained off at all," Morell said.
Lauren Tate finished fourth in the Gr.3 Chairman's Handicap at Doomben first-up in Queensland before her seventh in the Gr.3 Premier's Cup at Doomben and unplaced run in the weight-for-age Eagle Farm Cup.
Should Lauren Tate perform up to expectations on Saturday, Morell will consider backing her up in the Listed Caloundra Cup over 2400 metres a week later.
An alternative is the Listed Tattersall's Mile at Doomben on July 12 if she indicates that the extra distance won't suit.
High Spring Hopes For Matakana
Promising filly Matakana has broken her maiden in spectacular fashion and she is expected to make further progress in the spring.
The two-year-old won the Moller Johnson 1200m Maiden at Hawera in convincing fashion on Monday for Cambridge trainers Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman.
Although the track was heavy the filly managed to pull through to easily win by two and a-half lengths.
“We were very happy with her,” co-trainer Andrew Forsman said. “Obviously the track conditions were quite testing and not to her liking.”
Matakana has now been turned out with an eye to the three-year-old races next season and Forsman is looking forward to seeing her step up in distance.
“She’s bred to get better with time, and as she gets over a bit of ground too. She’s well related to some handy stayers so that’s our hope anyway,” he said.
Bred and raced by Chris Grace, she is a half-sister to the Wellington Cup winner Graphic, with Manawatu Cup winner Tullaroan also featured in her pedigree.