Group I-winning Kiwis trialling on Friday

AAP - Thursday August 17

Some of New Zealand's best horses will be on show before racing gets underway at Taupo on Friday.

Advertisement
Australian Oaks winner Bonneval. Photo: Steve Hart

Bonneval, Gingernuts and Jon Snow, all Group I winners during the Sydney autumn carnival, will be among those contesting Friday's two 1100m-heats ahead of spring assignments on both sides of the Tasman.

Trainer Stephen Marsh will be there with two of the stable's elite winners, Thee Auld Floozie and Sofia Rosa along with Brisbane Cup winner Chocante.

"My three are all coming up great and they will just be enjoying a trip away and a nice day out," Marsh told NZ Racing Desk.

"They won't be put under pressure.

"Thee Auld Floozie looks great and she's having a faultless preparation.

"She'll definitely run in the first two (triple crown) legs at Hawke's Bay and then we'll make a decision where we go.

"Sofia Rosa will go for all three legs and we'll also be putting in a nomination for the Caulfield Cup."

Sofia Rosa won the 2016 Australian Oaks but her Caulfield Cup campaign was aborted after three below-par runs in Melbourne last spring.

Melbourne Cup hopeful Chocante will be heading straight to Australia to open his campaign next month.

"He'll run in the Chelmsford Stakes on September 2," Marsh said. "We know Winx will be there, but he couldn't win over a mile anyway and it's a nice race to kick off in."

Chocante will then run in the Group III Kingston Town Stakes (2000m) a fortnight later before ending his Sydney sojourn with a start in the Group I Metropolitan (2400m) at Randwick on September 30.

Advertisment
More Reading...
Sires With Winners - Tuesday September 9
Here is the full list of 28 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
MRC Committee Returned Unopposed
The Melbourne Racing Club (MRC) has confirmed the results of the 2025 nominations for the MRC Executive Committee and the Mornington Advisory Group (MAG), which will be formally ratified at the Club’s Annual General Meeting on 25 September.
$3.3million Gun Runner Colt Tops Keeneland September Day 1
Keeneland’s 2025 September Yearling Sale began Monday with double-digit gains while posting a record average price of $653,208 and selling 15 horses for $1 million or more led by a colt by Gun Runner for $3.3 million to M.V. Magnier and Peter Brant’s White Birch Farm. The average topped the previous record $611,038 for a single session set during Day 2 in 2024, and the number of seven-
Cogburn Sire Not This Time on Fire at Keeneland September
If you have been considering sending a mare to Widden Stud’s exciting new shuttle sire Cogburn (USA) or have already booked one in you are going to be pretty interested in what is going on at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale this week where his sire Not This Time is in hot demand.
Tragic News from Milburn Creek – Vale, Secret Admirer
Spring brings so many foaling stories from our studs each year and while the majority have a happy ending, sometimes things sadly don’t go as planned.
Kiwi Cup Hopeful Headed to Melbourne
Gr.1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) hopeful Wolfgang will fly to Melbourne on Wednesday to commence his path towards the A$10 million feature.
Mulberry Racing Purchase $550,000 Colt at Keeneland September
Australian based Mulberry Racing featured on the buyers list during the first session of the Keenland September Yearling Sale purchasing a colt by Quality Road for $550,000.
Vale, Ryan Smith
Victorian breeding farm Kulani Park are mourning the loss of partner and family member Ryan Smith.
Another Impressive New Winner St Mark’s Basilica
A colt that holds entries for several upcoming Group races, Piazza San Marco became the 12th winner for Coolmore shuttler St Mark’s Basilica (FR) when bolting in at Galway overnight.
Waller Army Leads Cox Plate First Acceptances
Defending champion Via Sistina is among 21 horses champion trainer Chris Waller still has in contention for the $6 million 2025 Ladbrokes Cox Plate, following the closure of first acceptances on Tuesday.