Latest news with #ManawatūBreeders'Stakes
NZ Herald
10-05-2025
- Sport
- NZ Herald
Nigella Lane outruns Dark Destroyer for ‘deserved' Rotorua Cup victory
Rugged mare Nigella Lane got the big race win she has deserved all season when she ground down gallant pacemaker Dark Destroyer to take out the Listed Campbell Infrastructure Rotorua Cup (2200m) on Saturday. The Ralph Manning-prepared daughter of Niagara has been a model of consistency without tasting victory in her last five starts with placings in the Listed Wairarapa Thoroughbred Breeders' Stakes (1600m), Listed Kaimai Stakes (2000m) and an unlucky runner-up finish in the Manawatū Breeders' Stakes (2050m) after winning the Thames Cup (1600m) at Te Aroha in January. Adept on all surfaces, rider Kelly Myers was happy to sit the mare towards the rear of a compact field before weaving between runners approaching the home turn. Veteran galloper Dark Destroyer had adopted the unusual role of pacemaker and was making a great fist of things as he swung for home with a two-length margin on his nearest rival, including Nigella Lane, who was charging into the fray. Dark Destroyer showed plenty of fight but had to yield to Nigella Lane at the 100m and she went on to win by a long neck with New Plymouth visitor Our Jumala also finishing strongly to take third.
NZ Herald
05-05-2025
- Sport
- NZ Herald
Horse Racing: Gail Temperton has two-pronged attack in Foxton Cup
Race horse Royal Flower in action. Foxton trainer Gail Temperton will have two winning chances in the postponed Foxton New World Foxton Cup (2100m) at Hāwera today but each of her representatives have two very different paths ahead of them. Royal Flower is dropping back from stakes grade after placing in the Group 3 Manawatū Breeders' Stakes (2050m) at Whanganui last month and Temperton has been pleased with her this time, having placed in her last two outings following a five-month break from racing. 'She always does her best and she will do her best again [today],' said Temperton. 'She's pretty consistent. I'd like her to go up a notch but there's just nothing for her at the moment. She had a big holiday when the tracks were hard because she doesn't like them rock-hard and she hadn't had a holiday for a long time. 'It's unfortunate because by the time she is back in and ready, there really isn't a lot of good racing for her. She wasn't up to the Travis Stakes [Group 2, 2000m] but she is somewhere in the middle.'
