Prince Oz Honours Ridley in Stewards Triumph

Media Release - Wednesday November 11

Emotions were running high after venerable galloper Prince Oz landed a knock-out blow in the Gr.3 Lindauer Stewards Stakes Handicap (1200m) at Riccarton on Wednesday.

Prince Oz scored an emotional victory in the G3 Lindauer Stewards Stakes Handicap. Photo: Race Images CHCH

Sent out a $31 chance, the nine-year-old gelding wound back the clock to win the Stewards Stakes for the second time in his career, having saluted for trainer Neill Ridley in 2018, who prepared the son of O’Reilly to win on eight occasions, including seven in succession.

Ridley, 67, who had cancer, died peacefully at his home last month, 13 days after he had his last two starters, including Prince Oz, who ran sixth on that occasion.

Now in the care of local trainer Terri Rae, Prince Oz became Rae’s sixth winner of New Zealand Cup week in a fitting tribute to the late Ridley, with several of his family and friends on track.

Ridden by regular jockey Terry Moseley, Prince Oz came from second last to win comfortably at his second start for Rae, recording the tenth victory of his career.

“It’s a pretty emotional win,” Moseley said.

“Full credit to Terri and the team. She has produced this horse in great order but as you can appreciate we’re a man down this year and we’re really missing a good mate in Neill.

Advertisement

“He was a great man in racing and a good supporter of mine.

“It panned out exactly how I thought. The pace was on, there was good tempo and I knew he could get over the top of them.

“His form had been a little bit lackluster over the past twelve months and he had only won one race, but in his defense, he had never really gone a bad race and he is always super competitive.”

Bred and raced by the Connors family of Wanganui, the veteran galloper had 11 starts for Raymond Connors for one win before transferring south and proving a revelation in Ridley and now Rae’s care.

Just 35 minutes after Prince Oz’ triumph, Queen Jetsun also returned to scale to emotional scenes after winning the RFL Premier (1800m), the first winner for trainer Lyn Prendergast since her husband and training partner Tony died in August. – NZ Racing Desk

Advertisment

Race Result - Stewards Stakes Gr3 1200m

Riccarton Park Track: Slow(7) Time: 1:10.02
1
Prince Oz
- 9g O'Reilly (NZ) x Royal Princess (NZ) (Seasoned Star (AUS))
Tnr: Ms T Rae Rdr: T R Moseley 55
2
1.3
Rocanto
- 8g Per Incanto (USA) x Romantic Liaisons (NZ) (Danasinga (AUS))
Tnr: S B Marsh Rdr: K Asano 54
3
1.4
Puysegur
- 4m Fastnet Rock (AUS) x Pins 'n' Needles (NZ) (Pins (AUS))
Tnr: A W Pike Rdr: C J Grylls 53
Fastnet Rock
4
1.7
Turncoat
- 8g Swiss Ace (AUS) x Miz Monroe (NZ) (Shinko King (IRE))
Tnr: M & M Pitman Rdr: S L Wynne 53.5
5
3.5
Wekaforce
- 5m Showcasing (GB) x Spera (NZ) (Country Reel (USA))
Tnr: Ms T Rae Rdr: L J Allpress 53.5
6
3.6
Miss Federer
- 4m Swiss Ace (AUS) x Halobelle (NZ) (My Halo (ARG))
Tnr: Andrew Carston Rdr: S T Collett 53
7
3.7
Johnny Jones
- 8g Pins (AUS) x Raining (NZ) (Centaine (AUS))
Tnr: J & K Parsons Rdr: A Comignaghi 55.5
8
5.6
Enzo's Lad
- 8g Testa Rossa (AUS) x Sheerama (AUS) (Catbird (AUS))
Tnr: M & M Pitman Rdr: S R Weatherley 60
9
6.1
Sensei
- 6h Dream Ahead (USA) x Schiaparelli (AUS) (Woodman (USA))
Tnr: M & M Pitman Rdr: M J Mc Nab 58
10
8.3
Fibonacci
- 7g Per Incanto (USA) x Da Vinci Code (NZ) (Danasinga (AUS))
Tnr: S R Mercer Rdr: S J Macnab 53
11
11.2
Morweka
- 7m Showcasing (GB) x Spera (NZ) (Country Reel (USA))
Tnr: Ms T Rae Rdr: M Cameron 53.5
12
11.9
Princess Amelie
- 5m Snitzel (AUS) x Just Dancing (AUS) (Fusaichi Pegasus (USA))
Tnr: Ms L Latta Rdr: D S Johnson 53
More Reading...
Doomben Debut Winner for Anders
Widden Stud’s young gun Anders added a seventh first crop winner to his tally on Wednesday with a debut victory at Doomben for handsome chestnut gelding Anders’ Style.
Juvenile Trial Watch – Rosehill
This will be the last Juvenile Trial Watch story for this season with all these youngsters to turn three on Friday and there was plenty of action with eight heats won by 2YOs and two more of this season’s G3 2YO’s North England and Memo stepping out against the older G1 stars.
Sires With Winners - Wednesday July 30
Here is the full list of 48 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Wakefield Gears Up for Another Busy Season
Wakefield Stud is preparing for another busy breeding season in 2025, as the business continues its re-emergence in the industry after coming under new ownership in 2024.
Steve Davis Awarded NZTBA Personality of the Year
Bloodstock auctioneer and media personality Steve Davis has been honoured as the 2025 NZTBA Personality of the Year, in recognition of a lifetime of contribution to the New Zealand thoroughbred breeding industry.
Promising Tagaloa Winner
Wyong trainer Kristen Buchanan went to Warwick Farm on Wednesday hoping she had a horse with a bright future and now she knows she has after two year-old colt Tambeloa relished a step up in trip to break his maiden.
Sires With Winners - Tuesday July 29
Here is the full list of 22 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Velocious sells for staggering $1.625m on Inglis Digital to Yulong
The G1-winning 2YO Velocious (Written Tycoon) tonight became the second most expensive filly ever sold on Inglis Digital, realising $1.625m to the bid of Yulong.
Stewart honoured with Young Achiever at NZ National Breeding Awards
White Robe Lodge’s Jack Stewart was recognised with the Mary Lynne Ryan Young Achiever Award at Saturday’s National Breeding Awards in Karapiro, highlighting his growing impact on New Zealand’s breeding and racing landscape.
Glorious Goodwood Day 2 – Field of Gold is No Frankel
The second day of the Glorious Goodwood meeting was supposed to be the one where charismatic grey three year-old Field of Gold smashed his elders to win the Group I Sussex Stakes (1m), but that didn’t happen and instead we saw the longest priced G1 winner in British history.