Ashburton   20 Feb 2026
 
GOING: S(7)

GALLAGHER INSURANCE 1200m

Track: Soft 7     True  

Good pace headed by The Fed Express, Cool Aza Rene and Moon Goddess, with Champagne Diblu and Steezy close by. ALOTTAGO (1) is a classy gelding who was beaten but far from disgraced when finishing seventh on a heavy track in the G1 2000 Guineas at Riccarton in the spring. He trialled here in the middle of last month, and will be ready to run a big race fresh up. On top. COOL AZA RENE (4) showed a lot of courage when finishing less than a length from the winner in the NZB Airfreight Stakes at Wingatui 8 weeks ago. She is beautifully placed with a 2kg claim and has won her only start on this track. Stick with her. BELLE DU MONDE (6) tried hard when finishing fourth fresh up as an odds-on favourite at Riccarton nearly 4 weeks ago on a testing heavy track. She will be a quick improver second up and should be among the hardest to beat again. MAROKOPA FALLS (7) may not have been suited to a wet track in the NZB Airfreight Stakes on Boxing Day, and she has been given plenty of time to recover from that run. She is worth another chance. STEEZY (9) won her maiden easily at Kumara. Include in combos. SUGGESTED PLAY: Alottago can win this.
1 1127x ALOTTAGO
LANCE ROBINSON
3YO  BROWN  GELDING 58.0KG
MERV HALL, FIONA ANDERSEN, LANCE & CHRISTINE ROBINSON, NIGEL JOHNSTON & DUNCAN JOHNSTON
Gelding returning from a spell and has won previously when first up. Finished off last campaign seventh of 15 at Riccarton Park in the G1 Nz 2000 Gns November 15 over 1600m, in the wet; 6 len behind Romanoff with 57kg at $16.50. Previous preparation first-up won by long-neck Phar Lap Racecourse September 7 over 1200m defeating Quisiera with 57.5kg at $3.90. Anticipating him to hit the ground running this campaign.
6
L T HEMI
PURPLE, GOLD SEAMS, PURPLE SLEEVES WITH GOLD DIAMOND ARMBANDS, GOLD CAP WITH PURPLE SEAMS
2 x015x CHAMPAGNE DIBLU
ANNA FURLONG
3YO  CHESTNUT  GELDING 57.0KG
P J BLACKTOPP, J A COLLINGS, A M CORBOY, C CRAIG, A, A, D J & J C DALTON, A & M DONEHUE, A E, A M & G L DUNCAN, R W FERRIMAN, D GRANT, D HUGHES, K J HUNTER, N JOHNS, S J KENNEDY, N S KINGSTON, J R LAST-HARRIS, C A LEISHMAN, C J & C R LINDEN, MRS L A & MISS L M MARSHALL, G E & MRS J MORRIS, B & R N PRESTON, J RABBETTE, RED AND BLUE SYNDICATE (MGR: PETER WINCHESTER), P ROBERTS & MRS H M SUTHERLAND
Resuming today after a break of three-and-a-half months. Finished off last preparation fifth of 10 at Riccarton Park 3yo SWP November 12 over 1400m, 4 len behind Kiwi Magic with 57kg at $16.10. First up last campaign ran last of 14 at Phar Lap Racecourse September 7 over 1200m, 10 len behind Saxon Legend with 56kg at $3.20. Keep in mind.
4
BILLY JACOBSON
NAVY, WHITE KNIGHT,CAP
3 13x0 THE FED EXPRESS
ANDREW CARSTON
3YO  BAY  GELDING 57.0KG
MRS J M BANKS, A J CARSTON, MRS C G CLOTHIER, M I & W K CULLEN, K M & MRS V D DOWLING, G D GILLANDERS, C E & M HUGHES, R MCCLEAN, J E MCDOUGALL, B J & M SHEPPARD, C C & MRS J M TAURI, A & B TREVATHAN & T WILLIAMSON
Second-up. Comes off a 37-day let-up. First-up after three months ran last of 14 at Riccarton Park on January 14 over 1200m, on a slow track; 20 len behind Pizarro with 57.5kg at $12.30. Previously second-up 3rd in a small field at this track on October 19 over 1300m, 2 len behind Champagne Diblu with 57kg at $2.80. Fitter and is one of the chances.
8
K MUDHOO
BLACK, RED EPAULETTES, CAP
4 28183 COOL AZA RENE
MARK WALKER & SAM BERGERSON
3YO  BAY  FILLY 56.0KG
TE AKAU ONE COOL BEEL RACING PARTNERSHIP (MGR: KARYN FENTON-ELLIS MNZM)
Comes here off a 56-day let-up. At the latest run 3rd of 13 at Wingatui in the LR ORC Breeders Stakes on December 26 over 1400m, slow going 0.7 len behind Bobby Mcgee with 56.5kg at $4.30. Before that struggled in the run home; 8th of 12 at Riccarton Park in the G1 Nz 1000 Gns on November 8 over 1600m, 7 len behind Well Written carrying 56.5kg at $24.50. Will take plenty of beating.
7
HAYLEY HASSMAN
ORANGE , BLUE STARS, STRIPES SLEEVES
5 00 DOSTEE
MICHAEL & MATTHEW PITMAN
3YO  BROWN  GELDING 56.0KG
SCHOLES FAMILY TRUST
Raced two times to date. At debut, 10th of 13 at Riccarton Park on November 8 over 1200m, 6 len behind Wyworry with 55kg at $21.20. Last start ran last of 12 at Phar Lap Racecourse on December 28 over 1200m, slow going 15 len behind Luna Capella carrying 56kg at $7.40. Needs to show significant improvement.
2
BRETT MURRAY
RED,SILVER FERN,WHITE STRIPES SLEEVES,CAP
6 40x42 BELLE DU MONDE
MARK WALKER & SAM BERGERSON
3YO  BAY  FILLY 55.0KG
TE AKAU LOVE DE CARTIER RACING PARTNERSHIP (MGR: KW FENTON-ELLIS MNZM)
Second-up. First-up after three months 4th of 13 at Riccarton Park on January 24 over 1200m, on a wet track; 1.2 len behind Moon Money carrying 56.5kg at $1.90. Previously second-up 7th of 12 at Riccarton Park in the LR Canterbury Belle Stakes on September 13 over 1200m, on a slow track; 5 len behind Miss Starlight with 56.5kg at $2.60. Will come on from that run and should be right in the mix.
9
COURTNEY BARNES
ORANGE , BLUE STARS, STRIPED SLEEVES, ORANGE CAP, BLUE SEAMS
7 x4537 MAROKOPA FALLS
MARK WALKER & SAM BERGERSON
3YO  BAY  FILLY 55.0KG
FORTUNA MAROKOPA FALLS SYNDICATE (MGR: JOHN GALVIN)
Returns from a 56-day let-up. Most recently 7th of 13 at Wingatui in the LR ORC Breeders Stakes on December 26 over 1400m, on a slow track; 5.5 len behind Bobby Mcgee carrying 56.5kg at $11.50. The race before that held ground to the line 3rd of 9 at Wanganui in the LR O'Learys Fillies Stakes (Trudy Thomson Memorial) on November 29 over 1340m, on a slow track; 1.3 len behind Circus Dancer carrying 56.5kg at $14.80. Strong contender on best form.
5
BRUNO QUEIROZ
ORANGE, FORTUNA LOGO, ORANGE SLEEVES, NAVY, WHITE DIAGONAL STRIPES, ORANGE CAP, WHITE QUARTERS, NAVY PEAK, NAVY POM POM
8 3x122 MOON GODDESS
MICHAEL & MATTHEW PITMAN
3YO  BAY  FILLY 55.0KG
S.I.R.E SYNDICATE
Form hard to fault. Last start 2nd in a small field at Trentham on January 31 over 1200m, on a slow track; 2 len behind Miss Jones carrying 55kg at $4.70. Before that 2nd of 10 at Wingatui on January 17 over 1200m, on a slow track; 2 len behind Luna Capella carrying 56kg at $1.40. Racing well and is nicely placed.
10
TINA COMIGNAGHI
DARK GREEN, ORANGE SLEEVES, DARK GREEN CAP, ORANGE HOOPS
9 9x621 STEEZY
ANDREW CARSTON
3YO  BAY  FILLY 55.0KG
BRENT TAYLOR, CHERRY TAYLOR, ELLA TAYLOR & FAITH TAYLOR
Form hard to fault. Comes here off a 41-day let-up. Most recently favourite; won by 2.25 len at Kumara January 10 over 1150m in soft going defeating Last Hello with 56kg at $2. Before that 2nd of 12 at Kurow on December 30 over 1200m, on a slow track; 0.8 len behind Dracarys carrying 55kg at $2.40. One of the better chances.
1
SAMANTHA COLLETT
EMERALD GREEN, GOLD TRELAWNEY STUD LOGO, RED SLEEVES, CAP, GOLD TRELAWNEY STUD LOGO
10 5x150 MODETTE
MICHAEL & MATTHEW PITMAN
3YO  BAY  FILLY 55.0KG
PAT BAKER, ROD CARR, KELVIN COOK, PAUL HARRISON, BRUCE MCFARLANE, DON MCFARLANE, JOHN MCFARLANE, TIM RANGIHUNA, B J & G K PICKERING, LEIGH VIBERT & M PITMAN
At the latest run ran last of 13 at Riccarton Park on January 24 over 1200m, on heavy track; 22 len behind Moon Money carrying 54.5kg at $28.70. The race before that 5th of 9 at Kumara on January 10 over 1150m, slow going 3 len behind Good Craic carrying 57kg at $4.60. Good enough to turn things around.
3
A NAJIB
RED,SILVER FERN,WHITE STRIPES SLEEVES,CAP