Veteran Tavis Court Keeps Winning Streak Alive

Media Release - Tuesday July 15

Evergreen galloper Tavis Court had won a race in every season of his career since he debuted as a three-year-old, and at the tail end of his nine-year-old year, he kept that remarkable streak alive at Hawera on Tuesday.

Lining up in a compact field of just four runners, Tavis Court was the $13.50 outsider, with the lightly tried Lazio backed as though nearly unbeatable, closing at $1.20.

Tavis Court winning the Property Management @ Metcalfe Real Estate (1200m) at Hawera on Tuesday.  Photo: Peter Rubery (Race Images Palmerston North)

In the hands of Kate Hercock, Tavis Court was the quickest out of the barriers and full of running early, taking a clear lead and travelled comfortably through the mid-stages.

Lazio came up to draw level with Tavis Court turning for home and looked to have the upper hand in the straight, but the son of Tavistock fought back on the inside, powering through late to score by a length.

The victory took Tavis Court’s tally up to 11, and over the $315,000 mark in earnings for his breeder-owners, Graham and Annette Hill.

Right from the start, he has been trained locally by Anna Clement, and she was delighted to see him back in the winner’s circle.

“He fought really hard, I thought Allan Sharrock’s horse (Lazio) was going to beat us but he put his head down and fought even harder,” she said. “It’s always nice to see the older horses have a win, so we’re very happy.

Advertisement

“He doesn’t think he’s rising ten, he thinks he’s a two-year-old. He’s always honest, whenever you put a saddle on him he grows an extra hand and he knows he’s here to do a job.

“He’s had four starts here now for two wins and two placings, so being his home track, he seems to go well.”

The Hawera meeting was initially set to be run on Saturday, but severe weather in the region caused for the rescheduled running on Tuesday. Chajaba and Old Town Road, who were third and fourth in the race, both hold nominations for Saturday’s Listed Sinclair Electrical and Refrigeration Opunake Cup (1400m), but Clement won’t be putting in a late entry for her charge.

“I think he’s more of a 1200m horse, so we opted to go for this race instead,” she said.

“Plus, his owners live locally and they don’t travel anywhere now, so it was nice to have a decent Saturday meeting at their home track, where they can come and watch all of their horses racing.

“He’s a good old campaigner and he’s done us proud, as with the owners too.” – LOVERACING.NZ News Desk

Advertisment

Race Result - Property Management Specialist @ Metcalfe Real Estate Hcp 1200m

Hawera Track: Heavy(10) Time: 1:17.23
1
Tavis Court
- 9g Tavistock (NZ) x Keep Her Free (NZ) (Keeper (AUS))
Tnr: A M Clement Rdr: K R Hercock 54
2
1
Lazio
- 5g Per Incanto (USA) x Madonna Mia (NZ) (Red Clubs (IRE))
Tnr: S A Sharrock Rdr: K A Myers 55.5
3
3.8
Chajaba
- 8g Keano (NZ) x Hostage (NZ) (Handsome Ransom (AUS))
Tnr: Ms T Egan Rdr: Frankie Barrett 57
4
4.6
Old Town Road
- 7g El Roca (AUS) x Malaya (NZ) (Towkay (AUS))
Tnr: Ms L Latta Rdr: A K Riddell 57
More Reading...
Sires With Winners - Wednesday August 27
Here is the full list of 42 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Tara Talks Racing – Stallion Parades, Old Legends and a Weekend Tip
We’re back in podcast land as the spring unfolds with plenty to talk about following our recent run of visits to the stallion parades, so what stallions did we like?
Spring Trial Watch – Everest Contenders on Show
The Rosehill trials on Thursday morning featured a couple of key Everest contenders with Private Harry winning easily over speedy 3YO North England, while Lady Shenandoah was under a tight grip to finish third in a later heat.
Melbourne Cup Dreaming for Kiwi Stayer
Peter and Shaun McKay are dreaming of a Gr.1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) tilt with their quality stayer Wolfgang, and he will start his journey towards the iconic feature at Wanganui on Saturday.
G1 Plan for Kiwi Sprinter Niance
Six-year-old mare Niance will kick off a new campaign when she lines up in the Gr.1 Moir Stakes (1000m) at The Valley on Saturday week.
Up and Coming Well Named - So Who Are These Guys?
The $250,000 Group III ATC Up and Coming Stakes (1300m) at Rosehill on Saturday is a race well named with a field of eight colts and geldings set to line up and while none are stakes-winners yet, one of them will be after the weekend.
Sires With Winners - Thursday August 28
Here is the full list of 33 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Sire Power Highlights Quality MM Horses in Training Catalogue
An incredible selection of the country's best proven and hottest young sires will feature at the 2025 Magic Millions Gold Coast Horses in Training Sale in October.
Promising Winner and a Star on the Rise
One of the bargain priced sires on the Newgate Farm roster, Cosmic Force has never lacked for company covering 100 plus books of mares in each of his five seasons at stud so far totalling nearly 700 mares.
Sir Stanley Goosman’s Impact on the National Yearling Sale
Karaka 2026 will mark the 100th National Yearling Sale in New Zealand, and a prominent buyer during the history of the Sale was Stanley Goosman (later Sir Stanley).  He was a key player at the Sale during the World War II era, and headed the list of winning owners in New Zealand on 10 occasions.