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Kiwi Chronicles - Weather Gods strike again

The fact that weather is out of our control does not disguise our sheer disappointment when it ruins a popular event and the latest victim is the Matamata Racing Club’s Breeders’ Stakes Day, last Saturday.Last spring, a number of New Zealand race meetings were either abandoned or postponed due to weather. Last month Matamata pushed their January 21 meeting back two days due to rains which caused a landslide and subsequent deaths at Mt Maunganui. So much for stable summer weather.New Zealand�...

Partnership still going strong after nearly three decades

A long and successful Waikato breeding partnership was to the fore again at Matamata on Saturday where My Lips Are Sealed (Ace High) doubled her stakes tally.The Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson-trained mare made all the running in the hands of Rory Hutchings for a comfortable resuming victory in the Listed Lisa Chittick Champagne Stakes (1400m).My Lips Are Sealed was bred by Rich Hill Stud, who stand her sire Ace High, and Scott Williams’ Bloodstock Resources, and was sold through the forme...

Yulong add another Guineas heroine to Kiwi portfolio

Impressive Gr.2 Waikato Guineas (2000m) winner Autumn Glory (Ocean Park) has had an ownership change ahead of her tilt at the Gr.1 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai New Zealand Oaks (2400m) at Ellerslie on Saturday, with the daughter of Ocean Park to sport the colours of Yulong Investments.The late bloomer has been patiently handled by Roger James and Robert Wellwood and the filly dominated her male rivals at Te Rapa last week to advance her record to two wins from three starts, having broken maiden...

Vale Martin Dennis

One of New Zealand racing’s most famous families has lost another member, with the recent passing of Martin Dennis, aged 82.Martin was the youngest member of the Dennis Brothers quartet, with the family facing a particularly tough last six months, with the passing of brother Tony in September.The brothers have been a pillar of South Island thoroughbred racing for more than 60 years, with a plethora of elite equine athletes coming off their Woodlands property.Dennis’ nephew, respected Southla...

First stakes winner for Banquo

Waikato Stud stallion Banquo recorded his first stakes win as a sire on Saturday and fittingly achieved it with a son carrying the farm’s colours, on their home track for their private trainer Kris Shailer.Bred by the Matamata farm, Justin Case (Banquo) is out of Group Two-winning mare Do Ra Mi, and is a half-brother to Group Three performer Hanger.The two-year-old gelding was being prepared for last year’s New Zealand Bloodstock Ready To Run Sale by Ohukia Lodge, but was withdrawn, and...

Daring tactics secure second stakes win for My Lips Are Sealed

A heady front-running ride from Rory Hutchings helped underrated mare My Lips Are Sealed (Ace High) bounce back to winning form in the Listed Lisa Chittick Champagne Stakes (1400m) on her home track at Matamata on Saturday.Heavy rain in the previous 24 hours had a major effect on proceedings as runners on the day were faced with a testing Heavy9 surface that had many struggling to make ground in the final stages of their races.Hutchings took the bull by the horns to put the Mark Walker and ...

Double duty pays winning dividend for Price

Trainer Sophie Price put aside her regular Clerk of the Course duties at Invercargill on Saturday to watch her promising three-year-old filly Hello Hayley (Hello Youmzain) take out the Listed ILT Ascot Park Hotel Southland Guineas (1400m) at Ascot Park on Saturday.Price, who prepares a small team from her Winton stable, has had the daughter of Hello Youmzain in her team since late last year after she had one run for Karaka-based trainer Lance Noble.Successful second up at Ascot Park, Hello ...

Diamond Jak shines brightly in Matamata gloom

With the weather closing in again towards the tail end of a memorable Matamata Breeders’ Stakes day, it was left to durable stayer Diamond Jak (Jakkalberry) to add some further sparkle to proceedings as he bolted away with the Listed Matamata Veterinary Services Kaimai Stakes (2000m).The enigmatic seven-year-old has proven a head scratcher at times for trainer Mark Brosnan, often ruining his chances with a tardy getaway from the starting gates.On his day however he is a force to be reckon...

Unbeaten Sistema winner Return To Conquer to stand at Waikato Stud

Te Akau’s unbeaten Group 1 winner Return To Conquer (Snitzel) will be an exciting new addition to the Chittick family’s Waikato Stud roster for 2026.The son of Snitzel (Redoute’s Choice) will begin his career in the breeding shed at a fee of NZ$15,000 (plus GST).The three-year-old colt was recently retired by Te Akau principal David Ellis after sustaining an injury.“We thought he was the best Snitzel colt in the Magic Millions' sale when we bought him and could not fault him in any way,�...

Hezashocka returns home

Group One performer Hezashocka (Shocking) has gone full-circle, returning to where his racing career began, with part-owners Shaun and Emma Clotworthy at Byerley Park.The now eight-year-old was purchased by Shaun Clotworthy out of Grangewilliam Stud’s 2019 New Zealand Bloodstock Book 3 Yearling Sale draft for $18,000 and went on to have three starts as a three-year-old for the Clotworthys, culminating in his victory in the Gr.2 Trelawney Stud Championship Stakes (2100m).Trans-Tasman syndi...

Tragic Loss of Group One Winner Wyndspelle

Group 1 winner Wyndspelle (Iffraaj) has died suddenly following a freak accident at Victoria’s Wyndholm Park Stud.His breeder and long-time syndicate manager Jen Campin confirmed the news, while stud owner Kim McKellar explained the stallion succumbed to injuries sustained after taking fright from a kangaroo.The son of Iffraaj (Zafonic) had begun to build momentum at stud after launching his stallion career at Cornwall Park Stud.He was among the standout performers of his generation in New Zea...

Meet the Breeder - The Gartshore Brothers

This week on Dunstan Horse Feeds’ Meet the Breeder, we caught up with Bill Gartshore, proud breeder of Ohope Wins, who claimed the Group 2 David & Karyn Ellis Fillies Classic at Te Rapa last Saturday.Tell us the story of Ohope WinsOhope Wins is a three year old filly by Ocean Park out of Choux ManiaHow did you get into thoroughbred breeding?It was about 15 years ago when Jim (my brother) and I had been in business most of our working life. Our businesses were construction and joinery manuf...

Ghaiyyath colt fetches $625,000 as Inglis Classic ends on a high

Tony and Calvin McEvoy lodged a ringing vote of confidence in Ghaiyyath (Dubawi) as the Darley shuttler took another great leap in his burgeoning career by emerging with the auction topper as the third most successful Inglis Classic Yearling Sale in history wrapped on Tuesday.Team McEvoy paired with regular partner Damon Gabbedy’s Belmont Bloodstock to pay $625,000 for the imposing colt, offered as Lot 668 by New Zealand’s Wentwood Grange stud, making him Classic’s highest-priced lot ...

Kiwi Chronicles - Following up

While the Almanzor (Wootton Bassett) story continues to grow, courtesy of First Five’s stunning BCD Sprint (Gr 1, 1400m) win, Te Papa’s “Legends Day” belonged to Waikato Stud’s Ocean Park (Thorn Park). Two of his daughters, Ohope Wins and Autumn Glory, not only nabbed the two 3YO features, they also became the top two favourites for the New Zealand Oaks (Gr 1, 2400m), set for February 21. Ohope Wins heads the market for the New Zealand Derby (Gr 1, 2400m).Meanwhile, down at Wingatui, W...

One more race for Legarto before going to auction

After returning to her best form with a fourth Group One win in Saturday’s Herbie Dyke Stakes (2000m) at Te Rapa, Legarto (Proisir) is likely to have just one more start before going to auction as a broodmare.The six-year-old daughter of Proisir had gone winless for almost a year when she repeated her 2024 Herbie Dyke Stakes win with a dogged victory over Victorian raider Kingswood, crediting her jockey Opie Bosson with his 100th elite win and trainers Ken and Bev Kelso with their 15th.Th...

Oaks hopeful rewarding patient approach

Late bloomer Autumn Glory (Ocean Park) has shown the benefit of careful handling with her emergence as a serious Classic contender.Bred and raced by the Smithies family under their Monovale Holdings banner, the Roger James and Robert Wellwood-trained daughter of Ocean Park rounded off powerfully at Te Rapa on Saturday to claim the Gr.2 Waikato Guineas (2000m).Autumn Glory started at nearly 50 to one and her upset victory has resulted in her promoted to a $4 second favourite for the Gr.1 Al ...

Tasmanian Double for Dad And Dave (NZ)

Karaka graduate Dad And Dave (NZ) (Time Test) added Friday’s A$150,000 Listed Tasmanian Derby (2200m) at Hobart to his victory in last month’s A$125,000 Listed Launceston Guineas (2000m), becoming only the seventh horse to complete that Tasmanian feature double.Dad And Dave was bred by Windsor Park Stud and offered by Ohukia Lodge at the 2024 Ready to Run Sale, where Ciaron Maher Bloodstock bought him for $55,000. He has now had five starts for three wins and A$190,935 in stakes.Th...

Numbers emerges for 4yo Series after Centenary Vase romp

Numbers (NZ) (Tivaci) firmly advanced his credentials for the remainder of the Hong Kong Four-Year-Old Classic Series with a commanding victory in Sunday’s Gr.3 Centenary Vase Handicap (1800m) at Sha Tin.The Frankie Lor-trained galloper dominated his six rivals, each with a Group-level winning profile, as he led from start-to-finish on his way to a two-length victory in the HK$4.2 million contest.The Tivaci gelding went off a strong $1.7 favourite on the strength of an eye-catching front-...

First black-type success for Oak Hill

New Zealand-bred gelding Oak Hill (Per Incanto) lifted his ever-improving career to another new level with his first black-type victory in the A$300,000 Gr.2 Here For The Horses Rubiton Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield on Saturday.The five-year-old son of Per Incanto has now had 19 starts for eight wins, four placings and A$717,140 in stakes.The Rubiton was the fifth start at stakes level for Oak Hill, who had resumed with a last-start second in the Listed W.J. Adams Stakes (1000m), and earlier in th...

First Five slots another Group One

Te Rapa trainer David Greene is riding the crest of a wave after he doubled his Group One tally when First Five (Almanzor) took out the BCD Group Sprint (1400m) at his home track on Saturday.Greene recorded his first elite-level success when the Almanzor five-year-old won last month’s Gr.1 Telegraph (1200m) at Trentham, and he was confident he would go close to keeping his undefeated record over 1400m intact on Saturday.Despite his last-start heroics, First Five jumped a $7.40 fourth favo...

Witz End claims Hazlett Stakes

Former northern galloper Witz End (Savabeel) made his presence felt for new trainer Terri Rae when he scored the second win from just four starts from Rae’s Canterbury base when taking out the Listed Property Brokers – Ray Kean Hazlett Stakes (1400m) at Wingatui on Saturday.The five-year-old gelding commenced his career for Tony Pike at his Cambridge stable before transferring to Rae late last year, finishing unplaced first-up in November before winning on the synthetic track at Riccarton th...

Ohope Wins cements Oaks favouritism with outstanding Te Rapa victory

Progressive filly Ohope Wins (Ocean Park) completed the perfect dress rehearsal for the Gr.1 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai New Zealand Oaks (2400m) in a fortnight when she stormed home out wide from last on the corner to take out the Gr.2 David & Karyn Ellis Fillies Classic (2100m) at Te Rapa.Carrying the colours of leviathan breeding and racing operation, Yulong Thoroughbreds, who purchased her in late January after she had won the Gr.2 Sir Patrick Hogan Stakes (2000m) on New Year’s Day, ...

Guineas glory for Monovale filly

Autumn Glory (Ocean Park) came off the bench to secure her future broodmare career when taking out the Gr.2 Legacy Lodge Waikato Guineas (2000m) at Te Rapa on Saturday.The daughter of Ocean Park was first on the ballot for the Guineas and was set to contest the Gr.3 David & Karyn Ellis Fillies Classic (2100m) later on the card, however, she gained a berth against the boys when Single Red was withdrawn from the Guineas in favour of the fillies feature, and trainers Roger James and Robert...

Bosson gets his Group One century

It was apt for Opie Bosson to bring up his 100th Group One win on Legends Day at Te Rapa.The 45-year-old became just the third Kiwi jockey, and first New Zealand-based hoop, to bring up the milestone when piloting the Ken and Bev Kelso-trained Legarto (Proisir) to victory in the Gr.1 Herbie Dyke Stakes (1400m) on Saturday.He joins Sydney-based Kiwi James McDonald (124) and former jockey Jim Cassidy (104), and Bosson was rapt to reach the mark after returning from retirement just over six mo...

Nigella Lane gets Wairarapa Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes revenge

Cambridge mare Nigella Lane (Niagara) was runner-up in last year’s Listed Clubs NZ Wairarapa Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1600m) and she was able to go one better in this year’s edition at Tauherenikau on Waitangi Day.The last-start winner settled three back on the fence in the hands of in-form hoop Bruno Queiroz, while the Sam Mynott-trained Electron set the tempo up front and race favourite Khanshe was ridden quietly at the back of the pack.Taranaki galloper Sindee began to serve ...