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Group Three success continues Rich Hill’s strong run

Leading thoroughbred nursery Rich Hill Stud has enjoyed a strong run of success this season, which was further enhanced at Ellerslie on Saturday when Lupo Solitario (Satono Aladdin) took out the Gr.3 Easter Handicap (1600m).Bred by John Thompson and Alan Galbraith’s Rich Hill Thoroughbreds Ltd, Lupo Solitario is by the farm’s shuttle stallion Satono Aladdin and out of Pentire mare She’s Aloof, who Rich Hill bred in a foal sharing deal with White Robe Lodge’s Wayne and Karen Stewart....

Group One winner Mercurial retired

Group One winner Mercurial (NZ) (Burgundy) has been retired from racing and will now embark on a new career as an eventer.The seven-year-old son of Burgundy won six of his 46 starts for trainer Stephen Marsh, highlighted by his victory in the 2024 edition of the Gr.1 Telegraph (1200m) where he fought out a tight finish with Express Yourself (NZ) (Shamexpress).He also placed in the Gr.1 Railway (1200m), Gr.3 J Swap Sprint (1400m), Gr.3 Spring Sprint (1400m) and Gr.3 King’s Plate (1200...

Champion European Miler to bolster Cambridge Stud’s stallion roster

Cambridge Stud have bolstered their stallion roster for the upcoming breeding season with the addition of World Champion Miler Charyn (Dark Angel).Charyn’s talent was evident from an early age, highlighted by victory in the Gr.2 Critérium de Maisons-Laffitte (1200m) at two.His championship season as a four-year-old featured victories in three of Europe’s premier mile contests - the Gr.1 Queen Anne Stakes, Gr.1 Prix Jacques le Marois and Gr.1 Queen Elizabeth II Stakes to become the first hor...

Lupo Solitario takes traditional Ellerslie feature

Talented performer Lupo Solitario (Satono Aladdin) is making every post a winner since his return from a stint in Hong Kong and captured the traditional Ellerslie feature, the Gr.3 Manco Easter Handicap (1600m), in a nail-biting finish on Saturday.The five-year-old son of Satono Aladdin had seven starts in the competitive Hong Kong racing jurisdiction, but a race fall knocked his confidence and the decision was taken to send him back to his former mentor, Danica Guy.Before his overseas vent...

Gold medal for James and Wellwood Filly at Ellerslie

Promising three-year-old filly Solid Gold (Savabeel) stepped from a maiden victory at Ellerslie over 1600m at her last start to Group Three glory at the venue on Saturday when she claimed the Gr.3 Trelawney Stud Championship Stakes (2100m).The Roger James and Robert Wellwood-prepared daughter of Waikato Stud super sire Savabeel dominated the betting markets to start a $2.60 Fixed Odds favourite, such was the strength of her maiden performance.Given a perfect trip in midfield by rider George...

Asterix lands JRA Plate

Smart stayer Asterix (Tavistock) resumed as a strong winner of the Gr.3 JRA Plate (2000m) for trainer Chris Waller at Randwick on Saturday.The seven-year-old son of Tavistock enjoyed a good preparation last campaign and had been trialling well in the lead-up to Saturday’s victory.Punters backed the former Kiwi from $31 into $15 and the gelding showed a ready turn of foot when finding clear air under Collett, tracking runner-up You Wahng throughout, with well-fancied stablemate Travolta fi...

To Bravery Born Hong Kong bound

To Bravery Born (Snitzel) will continue his racing career in Hong Kong following his recent sale.Bred by Nearco Stud, the son of Snitzel was purchased by Te Akau Racing principal David Ellis out of Curraghmore’s 2024 New Zealand Bloodstock Book 1 Yearling Sale draft for $200,000.Trained by Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson, he went on to win two of his five starts as a juvenile and placed in the Gr.3 Matamata Slipper (1200m).He made a winning start to his three-year-old term before adding a f...

Sale to cap exciting time for Windsor Park Stud

Windsor Park Stud are looking forward to a strong turnout for their annual Rugby, Racing and Beer Sale set for next Thursday 23rd April at Riccarton Park in Christchurch.The niche yearling sale, with 12 Lots, doubles as a charitable event and sportsman’s function, with guest speakers including former All Black Andy Ellis and Group One winning trainer Bjorn Baker.For Super Rugby enthusiasts, this year’s Super Round will take place at Christchurch’s brand-new One New Zealand Stadium, with fi...

Strong Trade Continues During 2026 Online Yearling Sale

The strong demand from the 100th National Yearling Sale continued onto NZB’s 2026 National Online Yearling Sale on Gavelhouse Plus, which saw 104 lots catalogued and over $800,000 in receipts in a quick-fire digital session on Wednesday evening.The highlight of the Sale came early, with Lot 18 being sold to Japanese buyer Golden Orchid Brothers Inc. for $70,000. The daughter of Sword of State from Savabeel mare, Sade was offered by Curraghmore, who shortly after offered Lot 29, ...

Last Chance to Enter 2026 National Weanling Sale

Entries for NZB’s 2026 National Weanling Sale close today, Thursday 16 April via NZB's portal.Set to be held at Karaka on Thursday 25 June, the Sale offers an attractive platform to sell young stock to an international and domestic audience, with the added bonus of Karaka Millions eligibility.A proven source of success on the track, star NZB weanling graduates include recent stakes-performers Jedibeel (NZ) (Staphanos), Pivotal Ten (NZ) (Ten Sovereigns), Sir Albert ...

Meet the Breeder -Patricia Buckingham

This week on Dunstan Horsefeeds Meet the Breeder, we caught up with Patricia Buckingham, who bred Enchantment, the winner of the Listed Property Brokers Welcome Stakes (1000m) last weekend at Riccarton Park.Tell us the story of EnchantmentClyde and I purchased Belle Fascino through Gavelhouse while she was still in work with Stephen Marsh. After buying her, we decided to continue racing her, and she went on to win the South Island Breeders’ Stakes, which was a fantastic result for us.Following...

Kiwi Chronicles - Ohope won

Since the New Zealand Oaks (Gr 1, 2400m) transferred to Trentham (from Riccarton) during the 1970s, it took until 1990 before the winner also scored at Randwick, in the Australian Oaks (Gr 1, 2400m). That year it was Domino (Grosvenor). Bonneval (Makfi) completed the double in 2017 and Pennyweka (Satono Aladdin) repeated the feat in 2023,  so while not impossible, it is still rare and significant.Unlike Domino, Bonneval and Pennyweka, Ohope Wins (Ocean Park) took her New Zealand Oaks f...

Online Yearling Sale Postponed to Wednesday

Due to an unforeseen cyber attack on the website, the National Online Yearling Sale held on Gavelhouse Plus that got underway on Tuesday night, will be postponed and will restart tomorrow, Wednesday 15 April from 6pm (NZT).The website received ongoing interference which affected several lots causing major disruption to bidders.New Zealand Bloodstock apologise for the significant inconvenience caused and are working to ensure the issue is resolved quickly for a smoother bidding service tomorrow n...

Bidding Closes Tonight for 2026 National Online Yearling Sale

Bidding closes tonight from 6pm (NZT) for NZB's 2026 National Online Yearling Sale on Gavelhouse Plus, with the quality 104-lot catalogue available to bid on here. Buyers must register on Gavelhouse Plus in advance in order to gain bidding approval. For new users, register for Gavelhouse Plus here. For existing Gavelhouse Plus users, login here. There is no benefit in letting the clock run down to the final seconds before bidding. The auction will keep auto-extendin...

Enchantment adds to success of broodmare purchase

The astute purchase of a broodmare prospect five years ago has been further underlined by the weekend win of Enchantment  (Hello Youmzain) in the Listed Welcome Stakes (1000m) at Riccarton Park.The Hello Youmzain filly is the first foal to race from the former quality racemare Belle Fascino, who was purchased online by Karaka couple Clyde and Pat Buckingham towards the end of her racing career.In the autumn of 2021 the Stephen Marsh-trained seven-year-old was already the winner of eight rac...

LA Stud savours Group One result

Idle Flyer’s (Dundeel) maiden Group One success in the Queen of the Turf Stakes (1600m) at Randwick prompted celebrations at Little Avondale Stud.The Matthew Smith-trained daughter of Dundeel is out of the Street Cry mare Progressive whose half-sister Winter Sky (Invincible Spirit) is a member of the Wairarapa nursery’s broodmare band.“Idle Flyer had previously won a Group Two (Emancipation Stakes, 1500m) and a Group Three (Angst Stakes, 1600m),” Little Avondale’s Sam Williams sai...

Ocean Park back in the frame as miracle filly Ohope Wins completes Oaks double

Waikato Stud believe their ultra consistent stallion Ocean Park (Thorn Park) has again emphatically proved himself a sire under the radar after the trans-Tasman Oaks double of a filly who’s incredibly lucky to merely be alive, Ohope Wins.Cox Plate (Gr 1, 2040m) winner Ocean Park is a rising 18-year-old whose books of mares have gradually diminished in recent years in the wait for another top-liner after his second-crop stars Tofane and Kolding, who won four and three top-tier events respective...

Crouch dominant in Hawke’s Bay Cup

Rugged stayer Crouch (Tarzino) may well have earned the right to put an Australian stamp in his passport with a typically dogged effort to claim the headline event on the Otaki card on Saturday, the Listed NZ Punter Of The Year @ HB Spring Carnival Hawke’s Bay Cup (2200m).The Mike Breslin prepared six-year-old gelding went into Saturday’s contest as one of the favoured candidates following his late-closing effort for third in the Gr.2 Awapuni Gold Cup (2100m) at Trentham when last produced o...

Te Akau filly enchanting in Welcome Stakes

Te Akau Racing continued their dominance of New Zealand’s juvenile ranks when taking out the quinella in the Listed Property Brokers Welcome Stakes (1000m).Trainers Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson, who won both of New Zealand’s two-year-old elite-level races this season, were represented in the Riccarton feature by Enchantment (Hello Youmzain) and Never Too Much.Both have shown plenty of promise on the track, with Never Too Much running third in his two previous starts, while Enchantment ...

Ohope Wins completes Oaks double

An exclusive club has a new member after Ohope Wins (Ocean Park) powered to victory in the A$1 million Gr.1 Asahi Super Dry Australian Oaks (2400m) at Randwick on Saturday.The daughter of Ocean Park became only the fourth filly to complete the New Zealand Oaks-Australian Oaks double, following on from Domino (1990), Bonneval (2017) and Pennyweka (2023).Ohope Wins stamped herself as a standout talent among New Zealand’s staying three-year-olds during the summer, stringing together successi...

Dual Oaks connection in NZB National Online Yearling Sale

Saturday’s Gr.1 Australian Oaks (2400m) at Randwick carries some well-timed significance for the NZB National Online Yearling Sale, which concludes on Tuesday from 6 pm.The 104-lot online catalogue features a three-quarter-sister to the Oaks favourite Ohope Wins (NZ) (Ocean Park), while that filly’s stablemate and Oaks rival Soverato (NZ) (Vadamos) is among an impressive list of graduates that has been built up through the sale’s five-year history.Soverato was a $10,000 purchase by Simon a...

Waikato Stud reveals stallion fees for 2026

From proven producers to exciting young sires on the rise, Waikato Stud’s 2026 roster offers breeders proven performance, emerging momentum and genuine depth across the board through Savabeel, his sire son Noverre, Ardrossan, Ocean Park, Banquo and the exciting new recruit in the unbeaten Group 1-winning juvenile, Return To Conquer.“It’s a lineup we are incredibly proud of, and one we are proud to show clients. It also reflects the long-term thinking and ...

Girl Talk gets deserved black-type success

Rangiotu mare Girl Talk (Zed) was rewarded for her consistency when securing black-type at Wanganui on Easter Monday when winning the Gr.3 Windsor Park Stud Manawatu Breeders’ Stakes (2040m).The four-year-old daughter of Zed has come a long way in a short time, winning her maiden back in October before adding a further three wins to her tally, including at Wanganui last month over a mile.Trainer and part-owner Stephen Nickalls was confident heading into Monday and he was duly rewarded wit...

Ka Ying Rising posts 19th straight win

Zac Purton and David Hayes were left to scramble for adequate superlatives after Ka Ying Rising (NZ) (Shamexpress) continued an imperious reign with a phenomenal display of speed and power to win the HK$5.35 million Gr.2 Sprint Cup (1200m), notching a fourth Sha Tin track record with a record-extending 19th successive victory on Monday.Breaking the Sha Tin 1200m mark for the third time with a searing gallop of 1m 07.12s – despite running the first 300m of the race into the teeth of b...

Lucky Sweynesse returns to prominence with Chairman’s Trophy triumph

Rejuvenated miler Lucky Sweynesse (NZ) (Sweynesse) triumphed for the first time in 729 days on Monday by defying a brave My Wish (Flying Artie) in the HK$5.35 million Gr.2 Chairman’s Trophy (1600m) at Sha Tin for jockey Derek Leung and trainer Manfred Man.Lucky Sweynesse broke from barrier 10 as Chancheng Glory led with Storm Rider. Positioned behind the pacesetters, Lucky Sweynesse peeled three-wide turning for home, hitting the front at the 250m as My Wish surged late. Triple Crown...