All the latest racing news from New Zealand.
Habibi Ready For US Debut
Star Kiwi mare Habibi is set to make her American debut in this weekend's Group 2 US$200,000 Royal Heroine Stakes (1600m) at Santa Anita.
The former Donna and Dean Logan-trained Group 1 New Zealand Derby winner was entered to race at Santa Anita earlier this month but a cough forced her withdrawal.
Now with Californian trainer Dan Blacker, Ekraar mare Habibi could have contested the Gr. 1 US$500,000 Santa Anita Gold Cup (2000m) at the meeting on Sunday (NZ time) had she not missed that run earlier this month.
Habibi hasn't raced since finishing fourth in the Gr. 1 Australian Oaks at Randwick in April last year.
She was sold to American owner George Strawbridge in the days leading up to the Oaks but suffered a fractured hind pastern when in that race and had a long rehabilitation period in Sydney before she was sent to the United States.
Breeders Peter and Heather Crofskey have retained an ownership interest in Habibi.
Perfect Start For Record Filly
Al Naamah, who was a record European-price yearling at five millions guineas, had made a dream start to her racing career.
The Andre Fabre-trained Galileo filly was successful on debut at Chantilly in France this week.
Al Naamah set a record price last year when she was sold to Sheikh Joaan Al Thani, who outbid Coolmore's John Magnier, at the Tattersall's October Yearling Sale.
"She did it very easily, she wouldn't blow a candle out,” Sheikh Joaan's racing advisor Harry Herbert said. "Andre likes her a lot and she has shown today that she could be very special.
"She is a beautiful specimen with a fantastic pedigree and she has her whole racing career ahead of her.”
McDonald Looking Good For Title
James McDonald has returned from suspension and will continue his chase for the Sydney jockeys’ premiership at Canterbury on Wednesday.
The New Zealand jockey is in pole position to win the George Moore Medal as Nash Rawiller, who has a four-win advantage, departs next week for two months in Japan.
McDonald is sitting on 66 wins and has won a total of 116 races around Australia this season, including 107 in New South Wales and his mounts have earned more than $A13.8 million prize money, the highest of any jockey in the country.
His Group One wins have been the chief contributors and includes success in the $A4 million Queen Elizabeth Stakes on It’s A Dundeel, the $A3.5 million Golden Slipper aboard Mossfun and the $A1 million Australian Oaks on Rising Romance.
