Local Victory in New Plymouth G3 Feature

Breednet - Saturday February 1

Local runner Herbert claimed the biggest win of his career to date when he raced clear in the final stages of the feature event at New Plymouth on Saturday, the Gr.3 Denis Wheeler Earthmoving Taranaki Cup (1800m).

Herbert scores a home-town triumph in the Denis Wheeler Earthmoving Taranaki Cup. Photo: Megan Liefting (Race Images)

Trainer John Wheeler has never lost faith in the four-year-old gelding, who he part-owns with a pair of fellow New Plymouth locals including former Taranaki Racing Incorporated Chief Executive Carey Hobbs, even when the son of Sweet Orange recorded five runner-up finishes before breaking his maiden status at his eleventh trip to the races.

Herbert has now gone on to win four of his next ten starts, with Saturday’s three-quarter-length victory unlikely to be his last.

Rider Harry Grace had his mount travelling sweetly in the trail behind pacemakers Opawa Jack and Solidify before angling two off the fence rounding the home bend.

Grace asked for an effort and Herbert bounded clear to down the late-closing Matamata visitor Midnight Blue, while another local Loch In Ora finished close up in third.

Hobbs was finding it hard to conceal his delight as he described the feeling of winning his local Cup.

“That takes a lot to beat as to win your hometown Cup is unbelievable,” Hobbs said.

“Wheels has had massive faith in this horse, but he hasn’t always delivered. He’s just a big kid and what a huge thrill.”

Advertisement

Grace was delighted with how his mount performed after behaving perfectly on his way to the start.

“The team have obviously done a great job with him as when he was going around to the gates, he was half asleep,” he said.

“He had a good win last start and that obviously brought him on for today.

“It felt like there was plenty of tempo on, which was perfect, as it didn’t give him the chance to think too much until he straightened up and he already had the job done by then.”

Bred by the Inner Mongolia Rider Horse Industry (NZ) Ltd, Herbert is a son of the All American mare Ze One and hails from an extended family that includes Gr.1 Tarzino Trophy (1400m) winner Dark Destroyer and Gr.1 Telegraph Handicap (1200m) winner Festal.

He has now won five of his 21 starts and over $211,000 in prizemoney. - LOVERACING.NZ News Desk

Advertisment

Race Result - Denis Wheeler Earthmoving Taranaki Cup Gr3 1800m

New Plymouth Raceway Track: Good(4) Time: 1:48.24
1
Herbert
- 4g Sweet Orange (USA) x Ze One (AUS) (All American (AUS))
Tnr: J R Wheeler Rdr: Harry Grace 55
2
0.8
Midnight Blue
- 8g So You Think (NZ) x Midnight Special (AUS) (Zabeel (NZ))
Tnr: Mark Walker & Sam Bergerson Rdr: R T Elliot 55.5
So You Think
3
1
Loch In Ora
- 5m Pierro (AUS) x Irish Dream (NZ) (Savabeel (AUS))
Tnr: S A Sharrock Rdr: L Sutherland 53
Pierro
4
1.2
Skyman
- 9g Mukhadram (GB) x Skyrider (IRE) (Dalakhani (IRE))
Tnr: S B Marsh Rdr: K Chowdhoory 55
5
3
Pearl of Alsace
- 6m Tavistock (NZ) x Irion (NZ) (Danroad (AUS))
Tnr: S Ritchie & C Murray Rdr: M J Mc Nab 53
6
4
Opawa Jack
- 5g War Decree (USA) x Serve De Aunt (NZ) (Nom Du Jeu (NZ))
Tnr: C A Bambry Rdr: K R Hercock 55
7
4.1
Mali Ston
- 7g El Roca (AUS) x Loviste (NZ) (Black Minnaloushe (USA))
Tnr: Darryn & Briar Weatherley Rdr: A Lawson-Carroll 55
8
4.9
Solidify
- 4h Redwood (GB) x The Warrior Woman (AUS) (Redoute's Choice (AUS))
Tnr: Team Rogerson Rdr: B D Rogerson 55
9
5
Blue Sky At Night
- 7m Shamexpress (NZ) x After Midnight (NZ) (Viking Ruler (AUS))
Tnr: Ms S Hale Rdr: Tayla Mitchell 54
10
5.2
Outback Opal
- 7m El Roca (AUS) x Kashika (NZ) (Bachelor Duke (USA))
Tnr: M H Brosnan Rdr: M K Hudson 53
11
6.7
Bella Waters
- 5m Sacred Falls (NZ) x But Beautiful (IRE) (Pivotal (GB))
Tnr: M & K Murdoch Rdr: C J Grylls 55
12
7.2
Enright
- 7g Power (GB) x Katy O'beel (NZ) (Zabeel (NZ))
Tnr: R S Manning Rdr: U A Holmquist 55
More Reading...
Melody Belle Daughter Set for Long Awaited Debut
It will be a full-circle moment for Te Akau Racing at The Valley on Friday night when Lyrics ‘N’ Song, a daughter of their former multiple Group One winner Melody Belle, makes her debut.
Juvenile Trial Watch – Caulfield
Three barrier trials at Caulfield on Thursday morning produced heat winners for first season sires Wild Ruler and Profiteer with the quickest winner being Free Flying, the half-sister by Snitzel to brilliant Group winning mare Learning to Fly.
Generation Foals Built for Speed
Victorian farm Lovatsville offer a diverse stallion roster for this spring geared to satisfy a wide spectrum of breeder ambitions and if explosive Aussie speed is your thing then Snitzel stallion Generation will fit the bill.
Sires With Winners - Wednesday October 1
Here is the full list of 49 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Hellbent Winner Impresses at Sha Tin
Astute trainer Mark Newnham paid $425,000 at the 2023 NZB Ready to Run Sale to secure a promising two year-old by Hellbent and Invincible Ibis delivered on that promise when scoring a last to first win at Sha Tin on Wednesday.
New SW Wrote - Fast Network Wins G3 National Day Cup
Trainer Dennis Yip claimed a timely first win of the 2025/26 season, taking out the feature HK$4.2 million Gr.3 National Day Cup Handicap (1000m) at Sha Tin’s National Day fixture on Wednesday when his stable star Fast Network, a New Zealand bred son of Wrote, blitzed a strong field under Alexis Badel.
Sires With Winners - Thursday October 2
Here is the full list of 29 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
NZ Derby Hero Willydoit Primed for Epsom
Last season’s New Zealand Derby hero Willydoit will step back into the spotlight on Saturday when he contests the Gr.1 Epsom Handicap (1600m) at Randwick for trainer Ciaron Maher, with jockey Tommy Berry bullish the horse is ready to make his mark over the famous mile.
Milan Park Experience Highs and Lows
Tony Rider experienced the extreme highs and lows of breeding thoroughbreds within a matter of hours on Wednesday.
Blueblood Fillies From $3million Mares
Tom Magnier has been notable for his purchase of elite race fillies and broodmares in recent years to enhance the stellar Coolmore broodmare band and two of his $3million plus mare purchases have produced stunning fillies this spring.