http://www.nightofchampions.nz/blog/ The latest Blog feeds from www.nightofchampions.nz en-us Fri, 17 Apr 2026 15:19:38 +1200 Rocketspark http://www.nightofchampions.nz/blog/post/163256/which-kingman-will-turn-up-at-cambridge/ ANYONE who watched Kingman win the iconic NZ Cup just five months ago won’t believe he is an outsider in tomorrow’s $1 million The Race by Sport Nation at Cambridge.Kingman’s NZ Cup win was one of the best performances of the modern era and certainly one of the greatest in the history of the great race.Simply, if he reproduced that, he would make light work of a horror outside draw at Cambridge.But the conundrum facing punters is what Kingman will we see at Cambridge?That’s because his f... Thu, 09 Apr 2026 16:09:19 +1200 http://www.nightofchampions.nz/blog/#post163256 http://www.nightofchampions.nz/blog/post/163255/leap-to-fame-vs-swayzee/ IT has been one of the great sibling rivalries.Since Swayzee first met and upset his younger half-brother Leap To Fame in the 2023 Blacks A Fake, they have clashed another eight times.The scoreline is firmly in Leap To Fame’s favour at 6-3.But you could argue they are three-all across the six “majors” they have clashed in when one of them has won.Swayzee’s wins over Leap To Fame been in two Hunter Cups (2025 and ’26) and that 2023 Blacks A Fake.Leap To Fame’s “major” wins ov... Thu, 09 Apr 2026 16:05:38 +1200 http://www.nightofchampions.nz/blog/#post163255 http://www.nightofchampions.nz/blog/post/163161/rating-the-aussie-raiders-at-cambridge/ CHAMPION Aussie trotting mare Keayang Zahara is a key part of Australia’s record eight raiders chasing the two marquee races at Cambridge’s Night of Champions on Friday night.Keayang Zahara and her star stablemate, Jilliby Ballerini, are well poised to continue the Aussie dominance in The $NZ530,000 TAB Trot, which has been won by the Victorian-trained Just Believe (2024) and Arcee Phoenix (last year) since its inception.Beyond that, Victorians filled the first four placings in 2024 wit... Mon, 06 Apr 2026 16:51:26 +1200 http://www.nightofchampions.nz/blog/#post163161 http://www.nightofchampions.nz/blog/post/163160/keayang-zahara-even-better-since-last-nz-trip/ NEW Zealanders will see a different Keayang Zahara to when she crossed the ditch 18 months ago.Driver Jason Lee said the now five-year-old had matured a lot from when she home in three feature races at Addington in late 2024.“As far as ability goes, she’s always been super since day one, but it’s more her manners and ringcraft which has improved. She’s a complete package now and that stretches to how she travels to and from the races now,” he said.“She’s a very smart animal now, sh... Mon, 06 Apr 2026 16:46:57 +1200 http://www.nightofchampions.nz/blog/#post163160 http://www.nightofchampions.nz/blog/post/163087/smiles-after-kingman--swayzee-trial/ THERE were no fireworks, but still plenty of smiles after NZ Cup winners Kingman and Swayzee trialled together at Menangle this morning.The superstar pair, who have won the past three NZ Cup between them, were there to sharpen-up before crossing the ditch again for Friday week’s $1 million The Race by Sport Nation at Cambridge.The trial was important given Swayzee and Kingman have not raced since the Miracle Mile on March 14.It was especially important for Kingman, who ran so far below his bes... Wed, 01 Apr 2026 20:40:54 +1300 http://www.nightofchampions.nz/blog/#post163087 http://www.nightofchampions.nz/blog/post/163074/keayang-zahara-primed-for-nz-after-sparkling-trial-win-last-night/ BRING on Cambridge.Champion Australian trotting mare Keayang Zahara has ticked her final box before heading to NZ with a scorching Terang trial win last night (Tuesday).Co-trainers Paddy and Marg Lee opted for the trial instead of racing her from a standing-start at the same track last Saturday night.“The team were really happy with that trial, she’s right where we want her,” Paddy Lee said.Keayang Zahara is booked on a flight from Melbourne to Auckland on Saturday with her star stablemate... Wed, 01 Apr 2026 13:54:16 +1300 http://www.nightofchampions.nz/blog/#post163074 http://www.nightofchampions.nz/blog/post/162947/confidence-builds-around-kingman/ ... Tue, 31 Mar 2026 15:56:59 +1300 http://www.nightofchampions.nz/blog/#post162947 http://www.nightofchampions.nz/blog/post/162946/first-of-the-aussies-to-step-out-at-cambridge/ THE Aussie raid starts at Cambridge on Thursday night.Star stablemates The Janitor and Gus are the “advance party” ahead of Cambridge’s huge Night of Champions on Friday week.A record eight Aussie horses – five pacers and three trotters – will tackle the two features, the $1 million The Race by Sport Nation and the $530,000 TAB Trot.That’s one more than when Australia won both features last year with Leap To Fame and Arcee Phoenix.Gus, who won the huge Group 1 double at Addingto... Tue, 31 Mar 2026 15:53:53 +1300 http://www.nightofchampions.nz/blog/#post162946 http://www.nightofchampions.nz/blog/post/162633/leap-to-fame-wins-again-and-primed-for-cambridge/ LEAP To Fame is primed for his title defence at Cambridge.The champion Queenslander cruised to his 67th win from 86 starts when he scorched a 53.3sec last half over 2138m at Albion Park last night.It was Leap To Fame’s 44th win from just 50 starts at Albion Park, taking him to outright fifth on list for most wins at “The Creek” behind Destreos (73), Our Overanova (51), Nickys Falcon (47) and Colt Thirty One (44).Racing Queensland and Albion Park used the night to recognise Leap To Fam... Sun, 29 Mar 2026 11:06:53 +1300 http://www.nightofchampions.nz/blog/#post162633 http://www.nightofchampions.nz/blog/post/162526/leap-to-fame-change-of-plans/ LEAP To Fame has pleased connections so much since winning the Miracle Mile he will have an unexpected race at Albion Park on Saturday night.It's just over a week since the Queensland champion scored one of the biggest and most significant wins of his stellar career with a second Miracle Mile victory at Menangle.Trainer-driver Grant Dixon was thrilled with how he came through the race and the theme has continued since getting back to his Tambourine base, just outside Brisbane."Grant's ... Wed, 25 Mar 2026 17:52:38 +1300 http://www.nightofchampions.nz/blog/#post162526