News - ALMANZOR (FR)
Cambridge Stud’s Almanzor (Fr) added a new stakes-winner to his tally in France on Sunday when progressive three year-old filly Lameloise landed the Listed Prix Vulcain (2500m) at Saint Cloud.
Asturia (NZ) (Almanzor) has wasted little time in stamping herself as an early standout in the 2026-27 NZB Filly of the Year Series, and Saturday’s $600,000 Group One Barneswood Farm 54th New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) at Riccarton gives her the chance to confirm that superiority.
Palmerston North mare Manzor Blue will carry the hopes of a nation at Flemington on Saturday as the sole New Zealand-trained entry for next month’s Gr.1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) bids to secure one of the last two golden tickets into the coveted race.
Exciting age group prospect Asturia is on the trail of a Classic success, which brothers Joe and Max Smithies went frustratingly close to last term.
Te Akau Racing looks to have another strong hand in the upcoming Group One features for the three-year-olds at Riccarton next month with Asturia laying down a stern challenge to all Gr.1 Barneswood Farm New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) candidates with a stunning victory at Ellerslie.
Top class mare Qali Al Farrasha added a second stakes victory to her impressive career record when she burst clear in the concluding stages to win the Gr.3 Grangewilliam Stud Taranaki Breeders Stakes (1400m) with consummate ease.
New Zealand-bred colt One Eye On Dubai ground his rivals into submission with a dominant front-running performance at the Vaal on Tuesday, leading throughout to score by eight and a half lengths over 2000m.
High-profile Cambridge Stud resident Almanzor enjoyed a memorable weekend, both on and off the track.
Wexford Stables came out of their winter hibernation in the best possible fashion at Ellerslie on Saturday when Pounce posted their first win of the season in the Gr.3 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Sunline Vase (1200m).
Trainers Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson have been waiting for better tracks to step out their promising filly Asturia, and she rewarded their patience with an impressive debut win in the Rich Hill Stud 1400 at Ellerslie on Saturday.
With bigger and better things pencilled in for later in the spring, the lightly raced Mr Miller continued his impressive progress through the grades with another easy win in Saturday’s A$160,000 Bankstown Sports Handicap (1500m) at Rosehill.
Exciting four-year-old Mr Miller will take another step towards a potential Gr.1 Epsom Handicap (1600m) tilt when he lines up at Rosehill on Saturday.
Foire De Trone showed plenty of fortitude to win the Jersey Day Andrew Wisemantel Handicap (2400m) at Randwick on Saturday, rallying late to defeat favourite Le Troisir and lead home a New Zealand-bred trifecta with Golden Century filling third place in the muddlingly run staying contest.
On-course trainer David Greene’s optimism has grown as the week has progressed, with Te Rapa’s track improving into the Soft range ahead of Saturday’s Waikato Stud Foxbridge Plate meeting.
Quality stayer Manzor Blue will begin her path towards the Gr.1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) in November when she heads to Hastings on Saturday to tackle the Charlie Whyte Open Mile (1600m).
David Greene hopes to have his multiple Group One winner First Five at the Gr.2 Waikato Stud Foxbridge Plate (1200m) in three weeks’ time, but won’t hesitate to bypass the feature if conditions aren’t to suit.
Comeback jockey Blake Shinn has predicted a black-type future for New Zealand-bred galloper Touchdown, who lived up to his reputation and hot favouritism with a dominant victory in the A$130,000 2026 Melbourne Cup Carnival On Sale (1620m) at Flemington on Saturday.
Cambridge Stud based Almanzor (Fr) featured overnight in the UK with a new stakes-winner when Brielle captured the Listed Aphrodite Fillies Stakes (1m4f) at Newmarket.
Almanzor (FR) is a well proven Group I sire who is nothing if not versatile, but a debut juvenile winner in Australia over 1000m is probably not what we expect to see.
The Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman-trained Roadcone is best known for his on-speed exploits but after being a shade slow to begin on Saturday, the son of Almanzor found a new trick in his kit-bag as he triumphed narrowly at Flemington.