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Hutchings ends NZ stint on a high

Family tragedy may have instigated Rory Hutchings’ latest Kiwi stint, but his return home has been both a healing and rewarding experience for the Australian-based hoop.Hutchings unfortunately lost his mother late last year, and yearning the closeness of family during the trying time, he returned to New Zealand to spend time with them and he elected to continue to ride while he was home.“I wasn’t initially coming out for as long as I did,” Hutchings said. “I only came over because of f...

Trans-Tasman success for Rich Hill Stud

Rich Hill Stud celebrated Group One success on both sides of the Tasman on Saturday, highlighted by homebred and raced mare She’s A Dealer (Ace High)giving farm principal John Thompson his first elite-level win as an owner.The daughter of resident stallion Ace High achieved that feat in the Gr.1 New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1600m) at Trentham for trainers Roger James and Robert Wellwood, replicating her dam Say No More’s success in the race.The day got even better for th...

Like mother like daughter in New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes

Progressive mare She’s A Dealer (Ace High) followed in the footsteps of her mum Say No More as she captured the Gr.1 Listen Live on Sportnation.nz New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1600m) 14 years after her dam achieved the feat.The Roger James and Robert Wellwood-trained four-year-old benefitted from a change of tactics after earlier races on the day had fallen in favour of horses who were in or near the lead and stuck to an inside course in the home straight.Wellwood didn’t...

Hoskin scores first stakes win

Kylie Hoskin scored the biggest win of her career when Geneva (Time Test) took out the Gr.3 Higgins Concrete Manawatu Classic (2100m) at Trentham on Saturday.The South Auckland trainer is enjoying a golden run with the son of Time Test, who gave Hoskin her first taste of elite-level when third in the Gr.1 New Zealand Derby (2400m) at Ellerslie earlier this month, and he was able to go two better on Saturday to give her her first stakes victory.Geneva was only fair away from his ace barrier,...

Belle Cheval claims Group One prize in thrilling finish

Kiwi-bred filly Belle Cheval (NZ) (Savabeel) made a successful one-off raid across the Tasman on Saturday when she took out the Gr.1 Vinery Stud Stakes (2000m) at Rosehill by the barest of margins before surviving a protest from runner-up After Summer (The Autumn Sun) who claimed interference at the 200m mark had cost her the victory.The blue riband contest was the sole entry on Belle Cheval’s dance card in Australia and after enjoying a lovely trip behind pacemaker Stand My Ground during the ...

McDonald, Waller and Aeliana combine for thrilling Group One victory

Outstanding mare Aeliana (NZ) (Castelvecchio) provided the tried-and-true combination of trainer Chris Waller and jockey James McDonald with yet another Group One triumph as she lifted herself off the canvas to run down European raider Dubai Honour (Pride Of Dubai) in the Gr.1 Tancred Stakes (2400m) at Rosehill.Just seven days ago McDonald had equalled the 129-win record for individual Group One victories held by Australian jockey Damien Oliver, when he piloted Aeliana to win the Gr.1 Ranvet Sta...

He’s A Doozy recaptures his best form at Trentham

Veteran galloper He’s A Doozy (Zacinto) showed age has not wearied him as he returned to the top step of the podium at his favourite course when bolting away with the Gr.2 Intowin.co.nz City of Palmerston North Awapuni Gold Cup (2100m) at Trentham.The nine-year-old son of Zacinto experienced his biggest triumph when he took out the 2023 Gr.1 Thorndon Mile (1600m) at the venue and took his record on the track to seven wins and three placings from 20 starts there on Saturday.Although the Li...

Glowing reports for impressive Flemington winner

Juvenile filly Satono Glow (NZ) (Satono Aladdin) made it two wins from her first two starts with a powerful closing burst that took her to a comprehensive three-length victory in the Gr.3 TBV Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1200m) at Flemington on Saturday.The John O’Shea and Tom Charlton-prepared daughter of Rich Hill Stud based stallion Satono Aladdin had created a good impression when she triumphed over 1000m on debut at Warwick Farm earlier in the month.Her mentors decided to lift their s...

Under the Radar -Rhys Mildon

We recently caught up with Rhys Mildon, Insurance Assistant at New Zealand Bloodstock, who works alongside Jane McAlpine supporting clients across the thoroughbred industry. With a background spanning studs, racing and veterinary practice, Rhys brings valuable insight to the role — and a genuine passion for the people and horses involved.Explain your role and who you work for.I work as the Insurance Assistant to Jane McAlpine at NZB. My role involves supporting all aspects of insurance service...

Yulong add another Kiwi star as Ohope Wins prepares for Vinery

The curtain has been drawn on the racing career of multiple Group One winner Grail Seeker (NZ) (Iffraaj), with the daughter of Iffraaj to join the broodmare band at Yulong following her private sale.The Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott-trained mare was crowned New Zealand’s Champion Sprinter/Miler in season 2024-25 following victories in the Gr.1 Telegraph (1200m) and Gr.1 Tarzino Trophy (1400m).The lightly raced five-year-old won four of her 16 starts and boasts a victory in the ...

Top WFA honours await Tuxedo

Shaune Ritchie is confident Tuxedo (Tivaci) can be a major weight-for-age player next season.With that in mind, the Cambridge-based horseman and training partner Colm Murray have resisted the temptation to try their luck across the Tasman and have sent the son of Tivaci for a break.“We did toy with taking him to Australia, but he had eight runs as a four-year-old and that’s enough,” Ritchie said.“He has gone out on a high and he’ll spend a good six to eight weeks in the paddock and wil...

Mega Maiden Bonus Caps Big Weekend for Rich Hill and Nearco Stud

The team that bred Saturday’s A$1m Group One Ranvet Stakes (2000m) heroine Aeliana (NZ) (Castelvecchio) capped their big weekend with a NZB Mega Maiden Series bonus at Matamata on Sunday.The $18,500 McFarlane Mile (NZB Mega Maiden Series) (1600m) was won by Frozen Fortune (NZ) (Proisir) for owner-breeders Nearco Stud Ltd and Rich Hill Thoroughbreds Ltd. That same partnership bred the dual Group One winner and A$3.5m earner Aeliana, who was a $180,000 purchase from Rich Hill...

Ranvet reward for Aeliana

After a season of near-misses against elite opposition, New Zealand-bred mare Aeliana (Castelvecchio) broke through for a richly deserved second Group One success in Saturday’s A$1 million Ranvet Stakes (2000m) at Rosehill.The Chris Waller-trained daughter of Castelvecchio was a stunning five-length winner of the Gr.1 Australian Derby (2400m) last autumn, but until Saturday, her four-year-old season had been a story of ‘so close, but so far’.She gave Horse of the Year Via Sistina an a...

Inflamed scorches to Breeders’ Stakes triumph

A last start victory on her home track at Wingatui less than a week ago provided the springboard for underrated mare Inflamed (Ghibellines) to capture an all-important black type victory in the Gr.3 Donaldson Brown South Island Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1600m) at Riccarton.Co-trainer Shane Anderton admitted he had had some doubts about the six-day back up for the daughter of former White Robe Lodge stallion Ghibellines, but advice from his legendary training partner, his father Brian...

Meet the Breeder -Ian Scott

This week on Dunstan Horse Feeds’ Meet the Breeder, we spoke with Ian Scott, who together with his brother Dave bred Omega Boy, the winner of last Saturday’s Gr.2 Ultimate Mazda Japan Trophy (1600m).Tell us the story of Omega BoyOmega Boy’s story really began when his dam, Bit of Crumpet, came up for sale. I bought her and initially tried her as a racehorse. She showed some promise and had placed, but unfortunately she damaged a knee after hitting a fence, and we never really got to see th...

Kiwi Chronicles -Nowhere else to go

A week after Ellerslie’s Champions Day, the New Zealand stakes races scene was pretty quiet. Tauranga’s Japan Trophy (Gr 2, 1600m), the sole black-type race of the week, went to Omega Boy (Time Test), the spoils headed for the Central Districts as the five-year-old is trained by Peter and Trent Didham at Awapuni.Connections had little choice but to take on stakes class with a race-fit galloper. It would have been much easier to travel 75 kilometres to Wanganui compared with 400 kilometres to...

Entries Open for 2026 National Weanling Sale

Entries for NZB’s 2026 National Weanling Sale are now open, with the Sale set to be held at the Karaka Sales Centre on Thursday 25 June.Continuing as a dedicated weanling only format, the Sale is a happy hunting ground for those searching for their next pinhook success story or racetrack star. The Sale also offers breeders an attractive platform to sell their young stock to a strong international and domestic audience, with the added bonus of Karaka Millions eligibility.The weanling session in...

Long-term plan decides next mission for Omega Boy

With a view to what the long-term future holds for Saturday’s feature Tauranga winner Omega Boy (Time Test), the Gr.2 Awapuni Gold Cup (2100m) will be next on his schedule to assess his middle-distance potential.Off the back of a Rating 75 1400m win a fortnight before at Hawera, trainers Peter and Trent Didham made a well calculated move to step their rapidly improving five-year-old up to Group Two northern company in the Ultimate Mazda Japan Trophy (1600m).Ridden by Cambridge apprentice Sam M...

Hong Kong stars Ka Ying Rising and Romantic Warrior dominate LONGINES World’s Best Racehorse Rankings

Hong Kong-trained horses dominate the March edition of the LONGINES World’s Best Racehorse Rankings, which were released on Thursday, 12 March, occupying the top two spots. David Hayes-trained Ka Ying Rising (NZ) (Shamexpress) maintained his position as the top-rated horse in training with an international rating of 128, while Danny Shum’s Romantic Warrior (Acclamation) was ranked second with a rating of 124. Japan’s dirt giant Forever Young (Real Steel), trained by Yos...

Omega Boy takes out Tauranga feature

Awapuni visitors enjoyed back-to-back success at Tauranga when Omega Boy (Time Test) claimed the feature race on the card, the Gr.2 Ultimate Mazda Japan Trophy (1600m), just one race after Platinum Pantheon defeated a handy field of three-year-olds over 1200m.Omega Boy has always appealed as a galloper with plenty of quality and has come of age in his current campaign where he had won two of his last four starts while also running a strong fifth in the Gr.3 Phar Lap Trophy (1600m) followed ...

Feminino steps up to claim Group Three

Tulloch Lodge has unearthed a potential Gr.1 ATC Australian Oaks (2400m) filly after lightly raced Feminino (NZ) (Tivaci) graduated to stakes company in winning the Gr.3 Kembla Grange Classic (1600m).Feminino, having her first start since breaking maiden ranks at Warwick Farm in early February, covered extra ground before prevailing in a four-way finish over 1600m.She had a nose to spare from the $101 chance Burn The Sky (Zoustar) with Profoundly (Farnan) close-up in the minor placing ...

Service fee set for Champion 3YO SAVAGLEE

Group One Classic winner SAVAGLEE, the best credentialed stallion prospect of exceptional sire SAVABEEL has been confirmed to stand at Mapperley Stud. Purchased by a syndicate headed by Windsor Park Stud, Mapperley Stud and Lion Rock Bloodstock, SAVAGLEE was trained by Pam Gerard to win 7 races and over A$1.1 million in prizemoney. A debut winning two-year-old, and Group One performed at that age - just like his illustrious sire Savabeel - SAVAGLEE was subsequently crowned Champion Thr...

Kiwi Chronicles -No walkover

Five, ten or 20 years from now a glance at the result of the 2026 NZB Kiwi (Listed, 1500m), will read that the favourite, Well Written (Written Tycoon), duly won from Belle Cheval (Savabeel) by a very small margin.That is the cold fact but on site the race was electric, especially over the final few metres when Belle Cheval rushed hard late. Did Well Written hold on?Seconds later the crowd gasped when the head-on camera showed Well Written veering toward the outside rail. Did she contact Belle C...

Curtain comes down on Legarto’s career

The retirement of five-time Group One winner Legarto (Poisir) has been confirmed by her principal owners Philip and Catherine Brown.When the six-year-old won Saturday’s Gr.1 Bonecrusher New Zealand Stakes (2000m) it was accepted that was her final race in this country, but the possibility remained that she would have one further start in the Gr.1 Australian Cup at Flemington on March 28.However, following discussions between Legarto’s ownership group, which includes trainers Ken and Bev...

Breeders Reap $70,000 Pearl Series Prize with Elle Sourit

When Elle Sourit (NZ) (Ocean Park) took out the Entain/NZB Insurance Pearl Series Final (1400m) at Ellerslie on Saturday, the $120,000 stake money was not the only winning claims for co-breeder and owner Carey Pearce. Unbeaten in four starts, Elle Sourit scored her share of a $100,000 bonus attached to the race on top of the base stake – $70,000 to the winner, $20,000 for second and $10,000 for third. Bred and raced by Anne Barr, Janine Bell, W...