Riodini Ready for Kiwi Return

Media Release - Friday October 13

Million-dollar earner Riodini will make his first New Zealand appearance in almost four years when he lines up in the Gr.3 Sweynesse Stakes (1215m) at Rotorua on Sunday.

Riodini is back in NZ - image Steve Hart

The Proisir gelding began his career in the Pukekohe stable of Nigel Tiley, making a winning debut as a winter two-year-old in June of 2019. Riodini went on to have another five starts on home soil as a three-year-old, recording three wins including the Gr.3 Bonecrusher Stakes (1400m). He also ran second to Dragon Leap in the Gr.2 Auckland Guineas (1600m) and third behind Travelling Light and Harlech in the Gr.1 Levin Classic (1600m).

Riodini relocated across the Tasman in early 2020 to join the stable of Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott. Still racing in the colours of his breeder and part-owner Alan Galbraith, he had a total of 22 starts in Australia, winning last year’s A$1 million The Gong (1600m) and placing in the Gr.1 Epsom Handicap (1600m), Gr.1 George Main Stakes (1600m), Gr.2 Chelmsford Stakes (1600m) and Gr.2 Shannon Stakes (1500m).

Riodini has now returned to his old home at Tiley’s stable, and he has had two trials including a win in a 1150m heat at Waipa last Friday.

The seven-year-old will resume in Sunday’s $100,000 Sweynesse Stakes, where he will be ridden by Sam Spratt and is rated a $5.50 third favourite by the TAB.

“He did such a good job in Australia and we definitely followed his career over there with plenty of interest,” Tiley said. “We watched every race.

Advertisement

“It’s great to have him back in the stable again now, and he seems to be a very happy horse. He’s not like some others who come back after long careers overseas – he seems to still have plenty of life in his legs.

“I’ve been really happy with how he’s come up in this preparation. I’m expecting him to need the run on Sunday. He’s a seven-year-old now and will probably take a run or two to build his fitness. But I’ve been pleased with his progress.”

Riodini’s rating of 98 limits his options over the next few weeks, but Tiley is working backwards from the Gr.1 TAB Classic (1600m) at Trentham on December 9 – a race formerly known as the Captain Cook Stakes.

“The Captain Cook is the main race that we’ll be targeting with him at this point,” Tiley said. “What we do with him apart from that hasn’t been decided yet, but his position in the ratings means we’ll have to focus on weight-for-age and set weight and penalty races. He’s going to be weighted out of the handicaps.” – LOVERACING.NZ News Desk

Advertisment
More Reading...
Ole Kirk Share Added to MM National Broodmare Sale
A share in first season sire sensation Ole Kirk will be offered on Day One of the Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale on Tuesday.
Better than Ready 2YO Isti Star Wins $1million MM National
Better than Ready is on track to be crowned Champion Queensland Sire for the third year in a row and put the icing on the cake when his brilliant two year-old filly Isti Star scored a dazzling win in the $1million Magic Millions National 2YO Classic (1000m) at the Gold Coast on Friday evening.
Stakes Potential for Miss Ole
Vinery Stud’s Ole Kirk added an 11th winner to his tally when the Clinton McDonald trained filly Miss Ole scored a stylish win in quick time at Sandown on Saturday.
Lovatsville Announce 2025 Fees
Following the announcement of exciting Group 1-winning 2-year-old, Move To Strike, Lovatsville have released their fees for the entire roster with each of Royal Meeting (Ire), Fierce Impact (Jpn), Generation and Gold Trip (Fr) remaining at their 2024 quote.
Exciting Wootton Bassett Filly Goes Two for Two
Racing started early at Randwick on Saturday with a competitive juvenile event run at 11 am featuring three youngsters by Wootton Bassett (GB), who duly produced three of the first four home including the brilliant winner Agarwood.
Rich Reward for Proisir's Riodini in the $1million The Gong
Second in the Group 1 George Main Stakes and third in the Group 1 Epsom Hcp, Riodini has been kept in the best company in seventeen starts without winning for Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott. The 6yo Proisir gelding claimed the $1,000,000 The Gong at Kembla Grange on Saturday, one of the few times he has not chased black-type.
Sires With Winners - Friday May 23
Here is the full list of 52 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Alabama Express share headlines May (Late) Online Sale
A share in dynamic young stallion Alabama Express, a Stakes-winning Too Darn Hot 3YO colt and mares on desirable covers headline the Inglis Digital May (Late) Online Sale, which is now open for bidding.
New Wootton Bassett G3 Winner
The Group III Gallinule Stakes (1m2f) for three year-olds at The Curragh overnight produced an epic battle to the line between three very competitive colts that ended in the steward’s room with victory given to Wootton Bassett colt Thrice.
Bowness Stud Announce D’Argento’s 2025 Fee
With his current crop of three-year-olds exceeding expectations on what they achieved last season at two, Group 1 winner D’Argento (So You Think) will remain at a fee of $16,500 (inc. GST), with live foal payments terms applying for the upcoming breeding season.