http://www.ballymoreracing.co.nz/blog/ The latest Blog feeds from www.ballymoreracing.co.nz en-us Thu, 16 Apr 2026 18:24:17 +1200 Rocketspark http://www.ballymoreracing.co.nz/blog/post/163221/van-damme-makes-it-300/ Van Damme (3 g Swiss Ace – Vedex, by Exceed and Excel) provided trainer Pam Gerard with her 300th win on 8 April at Avondale, when winning the $17,000 Westbrook Wines 2YO & 3YO 1200 metres.Having trained in her own right in Methven and Ashburton, Gerard began as assistant trainer in 2011 for Te Akau in Matamata, joined Mike Moroney in 2016, and took over the Ballymore Stables after Moroney passed away in 2025. Most recently she trained 2000 Guineas (Gr. 1, 1600m) winner Romanoff (Rubi... Wed, 08 Apr 2026 15:02:55 +1200 http://www.ballymoreracing.co.nz/blog/#post163221 http://www.ballymoreracing.co.nz/blog/post/163086/wolf-god-caps-off-good-form/ Capping good form, Wolf God (3 g Tivaci – Akaba, by Holy Roman Emperor) won the $25,000 Myracehorse Maiden 2YO & Up 1600 metres on 1 April at Pukekohe.Placed in two of four starts and back in class following a solid effort for fourth in the 3YO 1600 metres on 28 February at Matamata, Wolf God was rightfully supported in betting as second favourite and delivered for jockey George Rooke, who had a good association with the horse at trials and race day.Content to bide his time in ninth, six l... Wed, 01 Apr 2026 19:50:11 +1300 http://www.ballymoreracing.co.nz/blog/#post163086 http://www.ballymoreracing.co.nz/blog/post/161440/gerard-to-launch-two-pronged-attack-at-nzb-kiwi/ Pam Gerard started the week by farewelling her stable star Savaglee and she is hoping to end it on a high when she heads to Ellerslie on Saturday to line-up two runners in the second running of the $4 million NZB Kiwi (1500m).Romanoff and Affirmative Action have featured prominently among New Zealand’s three-year-old ranks this season, headed by their quinella in November’s Gr.1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) at Riccarton.Romanoff’s victory in that race secured the Canterbury Jockey Club... Thu, 05 Mar 2026 15:08:22 +1300 http://www.ballymoreracing.co.nz/blog/#post161440 http://www.ballymoreracing.co.nz/blog/post/161200/group-one-winner-savaglee-retired/ Group One winner Savaglee has been retired from racing and a new home is being sought for the four-year-old entire as he transitions to a career at stud.Bred by Waikato Stud, Savaglee is by their Champion Stallion Savabeel and out of Glee, a full-sister to Group Three performer Symphonic, the dam of dual Group One winner Orchestral.They offered him through their 2023 New Zealand Bloodstock Book 1 Yearling Sale draft where he attracted the eye of The Oaks Stud’s General Manager Rick Williams, w... Mon, 02 Mar 2026 23:58:46 +1300 http://www.ballymoreracing.co.nz/blog/#post161200 http://www.ballymoreracing.co.nz/blog/post/159895/new-recruit-wins-fresh-up/ Previous course winner New Recruit (4 g U S Navy Flag – Enigmatic, by High Chaparral) returned to form with a very good fresh-up victory in the $18,500 J. A. Russell Rating 60 1200 metres on 5 February at Tauranga.When winning last year over 1600 metres at Tauranga, New Recruit provided a sentimental moment for Ballymore Racing, posting the first victory following the passing of Mike Moroney, who at the time was training in partnership with current trainer Pam Gerard.Moroney, who recorded over... Thu, 05 Feb 2026 16:50:14 +1300 http://www.ballymoreracing.co.nz/blog/#post159895 http://www.ballymoreracing.co.nz/blog/post/159284/tonias-dragon-back-in-winning-form/ A previous winner on soft and heavy ground, Tonia’s Dragon (5 m Time Test – Camillino, by Per Incanto) was back in business winning the $25,000 Rating 60 1400 metres on 23 January at Matamata.Winning second-up as a three-year-old on Heavy9 footing at Te Aroha, Tonia’s Dragon was suited to Soft7 footing when winning last season at Riccarton, and once again found conditions to her liking.Ridden by apprentice Hayley Hassman (a3), who now has seven wins and six placed, from 22 rides, for train... Fri, 23 Jan 2026 17:29:19 +1300 http://www.ballymoreracing.co.nz/blog/#post159284 http://www.ballymoreracing.co.nz/blog/post/158747/savaglee-camp-contemplating-first-up-targets/ The connections of last season’s gun three-year-old Savaglee have some pondering to do over the next few days.The Group One-winning stallion pleased in his first public hit-out of the season when placing in his 1100m trial at Ellerslie on Sunday, and now trainer Pam Gerard is contemplating where to kick-off The Oaks Stud-raced four-year-old.“I was really happy with him yesterday,” Gerard said. “He went to the line under a hold, he was never asked for anything, and it was just a nice day ... Wed, 14 Jan 2026 15:04:24 +1300 http://www.ballymoreracing.co.nz/blog/#post158747 http://www.ballymoreracing.co.nz/blog/post/158405/now-not-never-on-potential-derby-path/ Sticking with the ship, jockey Rory Hutchings delivered a second-up victory on Now Not Never (3 g Shocking – Edmonton, by Pentire) in the $40,000 J Swap Golden Ticket Special Conditions Maiden 1400 metres on 28 December at Taupo.Showing Ballymore Racing trainer Pam Gerard that he was ready to race following two good trial performances, including one at Taupo, Now Not Never was given a soft trip by Hutchings on debut three weeks ago at Te Aroha, running home in the fastest last 600m (33.7) for ... Sun, 28 Dec 2025 18:23:40 +1300 http://www.ballymoreracing.co.nz/blog/#post158405 http://www.ballymoreracing.co.nz/blog/post/158404/clear-conscience-clears-maiden-in-style/ In a race that panned out perfectly, Clear Conscience (4 m Alabama Express – Inner Peace, by Zabeel) delivered in the $18,500 Entain/NZB Insurance Pearl Series Maiden Fillies & Mares 1400 metres on 27 December at Rotorua.In addition, having been purchased as a yearling at Karaka, Clear Conscience was eligible for $28,000 Pearl Series bonuses, allocated to the owners, trainer, and nominator.Displaying ability from the outset and winning twice at the trials before racing, Clear Conscience ha... Sun, 28 Dec 2025 18:10:08 +1300 http://www.ballymoreracing.co.nz/blog/#post158404 http://www.ballymoreracing.co.nz/blog/post/158321/pericles-wins-open-handicap-at-te-rapa/ In a beautiful spot throughout, Pericles (5 g Rubick – Empyrean, by O’Reilly) won the $50,000 Lodge Real Estate Open Handicap 1600 metres on Saturday at Te Rapa.Twelve months on from winning the Rating 75 1600 metres at the corresponding meeting last year, and having won the Uncle Remus Stakes (Listed, 1200m) among three wins as a three-year-old, Pericles has now won five times. Ridden by Niranjan Parmar, Pericles could not have wished for a better trip behind pacemaker Giacomo (Puccini... Mon, 22 Dec 2025 09:04:23 +1300 http://www.ballymoreracing.co.nz/blog/#post158321