20/07/2026
The 2025/26 season has come to a close for our team - and what a season it has been.
We kicked off the season with the speedy little mare, Alberton Angel winning fresh up on the Riccarton Synthetic. Ridden by apprentice, Donovan Cooper she led from start to finish and proved too quick for her rivals. She had an interrupted season, and spent a lot more time in the paddock than we’d hoped. She is back in work and is looking a much stronger horse ahead of the new season for her owners, the Green & Gold Syndicate and Jonny Orr.
Next up for us in October, was the gorgeous Tivaci filly Chilli Margs bred by Jonny Orr who raced her with me. Winning impressively at start two with Terry Moseley aboard. She didn’t have much luck on debut, but she sure lived up to her work at home winning strongly on our home track at Riccarton Park at which was her second start and last start for our team. She then sold to Darby Racing, and joined the team of Bjorn Baker where she won second up in Australia.
Aurora Storm was the surprise package fresh up for our stable. A very laidback filly who only ever did what she had to in her work, she was hard to get a line on. With Corey Campbell on top she roared home to win first up at Riccarton Park. I think Luke Whittaker was the loudest man in the crowd. She was then sold to Australia where she has joined the stable of Danny O’Brien.
Probably the highlight of the season for me was the trip to Wellington with Hivari. He is not a very straight forward horse and at times has beaten himself, but he repaid all involved for their patience, taking the win in the Rating 65 1400 on Wellington Cup Day with Corey Campbell in the saddle. He has come back into work, bigger and stronger and looks fantastic ahead of what should be another great season for him and his owners, Richard and Grant Woolford.
The old faithful, Mis Speaks recorded two wins for the season. The first coming in March at Ashburton with Terry Moseley aboard. A nervous watch, as she was held in a pocket for a long way up the straight but flashed late to get the win on the line. Her second win came in June at Oamaru, she was given a lovely economical trip by Terry and proved too strong in the race to the line. Mis Speaks and Terry have now won five races together from the start of her career as a two year old up until now where she is rising six. She is now in the paddock having a well deserved break before we prepare her for summer racing.
Our synthetic specialist, Holdem struck second up on the Riccarton Synthetic. She led from barrier to post with a brilliant front running ride by Amber Riddell. She raced consistently all season, and is now in fantastic order as she heads to the Polytrack Championship on the middle day of national week. She’s matured into a beautiful mare and the best is yet to come for her and her breeder/owner, Paul Cunneen.
From 35 runners to have 7 winners and many placings it has been a wonderful season for the team. Our strike rate of 5 is a huge credit to Katie Readings, Paige Wakelin-Noble, Terry Moseley, Brett Murray, Bianca Reynolds and Paul Cunneen who put the hard yards in behind the scenes and on race day. I’m very thankful for all the work and care they put into our little team.
Thank you to our Hamish Ranken, Andy Didham, Luke Whittaker and Tommy Behrns. Who provide vet, farrier and body work to our team to have each horse feeling and performing to the best of their ability.
The biggest thanks must go to our awesome group of owners who support our team. I’m very lucky to have an amazing group of people behind each horse which makes my job easy and racing fun!
Looking forward to seeing what 2026/27 season holds for us, we have some really exciting racehorses and beautiful younger stock coming through!
