3 minute read
All the latest racing news from New Zealand.
Spalato Picture Perfect In Singapore
Leading New Zealand racing photographer Trish Dunell has put herself in the Group One frame in Singapore.
Dunell was at Kranji on Sunday to see Spalato, raced by her husband Graham Mackie, triumph in the Patron’s Bowl.
“I wouldn’t say we knew he had ability from the day he was born, but he sure showed he had some when he won his trial,” she said.
“For some reason, we could not sell him as a yearling, probably because he was too small. We kept him and it’s worked out very well for us.”
Bred by Dunell, Spalato is trained by John O’Hara and the son of Elusive City and the Express Duke mare Ellington is now unbeaten in three appearances.
Popular Character Of New Zealand Racing Passes Away
Racing has lost one of its legends with the death of Brian “Baggy” Hillis.
Hillis, who was 77, passed away in Waikato Hospital in the early hours of Sunday morning after being admitted there during the week reported www.theinformant.co.nz.
As well as being known as a renowned character among his wide circle of family and friends, he will always be remembered for his feats as a jumps jockey. He won virtually every major event on the New Zealand calendar including the Great Northern Steeplechase of 1972, in which he partnered the Colin Jillings-trained Brockton despite having a broken arm.
Having grown up in Southland – his uncle was legendary jumps rider and trainer Bill Hillis – he enjoyed success as a flat jockey, with the 1957 New Zealand Cup on Great Scot among his wins.
Hillis simultaneously held dual code licences and in the space of a week completed an amazing sequence of wins as a jockey and driver as well as a trainer in both codes.
His sons Paul and Wayne went on to become top-notch jockeys as well with Wayne going on to become a very successful trainer as well.
“There was only one Bags, he was a character alright, we all knew him as one,” Wayne said.
“It’s definitely sad that he has died and it being on my birthday and all, but in another way it’s an honour to me personally that he held on for that long.”
The funeral service will take place on Friday at Matamata Racecourse at 1.30pm.
Williams Acknowledges Fellow Trainer
Peter Williams deflected much of the praise for Niki Piki Milo’s debut win at Te Awamutu to fellow trainer Annabelle Johnson.
“She does a lot of the early work with Westbury Stud’s horses and we then get them to train so I can’t take a lot of the credit,” said Williams, who prepares the Librettist filly with his wife Dawn.
“When she put herself in the race I knew she was going to be hard to pick up. She’s quite a strong filly and we might look at something else, or otherwise we can put her away and bring her back for the spring.”
A trial winner at Ellerslie, Niki Piki Milo was ridden by Johnson’s daughter Danielle and they coasted clear in the straight to beat Maia’s Angel by four and a-half lengths.
Kingdoms Continues Good Form
Kingdoms has continued a good run of success for his New Zealand breeder and part-owner John Bromley.
The High Chaparral gelding won the Listed Mercedes Benz Mile at Eagle Farm on Saturday to open a campaign focussed on the Gr.1 Metropolitan Handicap in Sydney.
Bromley is also a strong supporter of Fraser Auret’s Marton stable and they have enjoyed recent black type success with Julinsky Prince while Thorn Prince and Wow Whata Princess have also been multiple winners.
Kingdoms is now trained by expatriate Kiwi horseman Brian Smith after beginning his career with John O’Shea.
Injury Forces Historian's Retirement
Two-time Group One winner Historian has been retired after suffering a career-ending injury.
The Cambridge gelding was unplaced in two appearances during the Queensland winter carnival and a scan following his Group 2 Brisbane Cup failure revealed major tendon damage.
Historian began his career with Tony Pike and finished runner-up in the Gr.1 New Zealand Derby before he was transferred to Hong Kong where soundness issues prevented him from racing.
He returned to Gary Alton’s stable and a treadmill-based training regime resulted in top-flight successes in the Thorndon Mile and the Zabeel Classic.
Indikator Back In Australia
Keith and Gavin Opie have changed tack with Indikator, who has crossed the Tasman again.
The Te Aroha trainers originally signalled the Hawke’s Bay Hurdles as their rising jumping star’s next aim, but have instead sent him to Melbourne for a crack at the $A200,000 Australian Hurdles at Sandown on July 13.
Placed in Sydney and Melbourne on past flat campaigns, Indikator is unbeaten in three appearances over the smaller fences and last time out he was a narrow winner of the Awapuni Hurdles.
Regular jockey Craig Thornton will continue his association with Indikator in Australia and will ride him in a trial at Cranbourne on Wednesday. Fellow Kiwi jumper Sea King will also be in action there.
