Oratorio - New Winner

Trapeze Artist has had plenty of success this spring with new Group winners Panova and Piggyback and his good form continued at the standalone meeting at Kembla on Saturday with a first up win for talented sprinter Spywire, who has a half-brother headed to Magic Millions 2026.

A professional display from speedy Otaki visitor De Armas paved the way for a decisive victory in the first stakes race on Saturday at Pukekohe, the Listed Counties Challenge Stakes (1100m) with Home Affairs gelding Harvey Wallbanger charging home from last to run second.

Comeback jockey Elen Nicholas took her career to its greatest heights yet with a masterful ride aboard Final Return to take out the Gr.3 MyRacehorse Counties Cup (2100m) at Pukekohe on Saturday.

Perennial black-type bridesmaid Qali Al Farrasha shed that unwanted tag in outstanding fashion when she downed a quality line-up of mares in Saturday’s Gr.2 Dunstan Horsefeeds Auckland Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1400m) at Pukekohe.

New Zealand-bred mare Grid Girl boasts a perfect two-from-two record so far as a five-year-old, having added Saturday’s A$150,000 Rosemont Stud Fillies & Mares Pendant (1400m) at Cranbourne to her first-up victory at Kyneton on November 5.

Arguably in career best form, the Cindy Alderson trained Jigsaw produced an all-the-way wining performance to capture the $1m Meteorite (1200m) at Cranbourne on Saturday, giving his sire Manhattan Rain both feature race winners at the meeting.

The Kembla standalone meeting on Saturday was run in relentless mist and light rain, but the gloomy conditions didn’t dampen the turn of foot possessed by talented Zousain mare Catch the Glory, who powered to the line to win the $300,000 The Warra (1000m).

Placing a horse to advantage in the modern world where there seems to be a million dollar race every second week is something an astute trainer can really work well for their owners and no trainer has done it better than Ciaron Maher with high class 6YO Gringotts (NZ), whose half-brother will be offered at Karaka Book 1 in 2026.

Highlighted by many as their best bet leading into Saturday’s racing despite drawing one of widest barriers in the $500,000 Listed Cranbourne Cup (1600m), the Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr trained Manhattan Rain 4yo Sabaj looks to have better things ahead of him after his stylish victory.

Kozzi Asano signed off his brief New Zealand homecoming with a winning treble at Pukekohe on Saturday, headed by black-type success aboard Ardalio in the Gr.3 Haunui Farm Counties Bowl (1100m).