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Mystic Park heads local quinella in TAB Mile

Riccarton galloper Mystic Park (Ocean Park) prevailed in a thrilling tussle between the locals in the Gr.3 TAB Mile (1600m) on his home track on Wednesday.The Michael and Matthew Pitman-trained gelding had been on an upward trajectory this preparation without winning and had the services of Victorian-based Kiwi-expat jockey Daniel Stackhouse, closing a $6.10 hope behind northern visitors Cannon Hill and Archaic Smile.Jumping from barrier six, Mystic Park was a stride slow from the gates and...

Top two lots follow proven ‘Ka Ying’ path

Colts by proven New Zealand stallions Per Incanto and Satono Aladdin provided the highlights on Day One of the New Zealand Bloodstock Ready To Run Sale with the top two lots set to join the Lindsay Park operation of the Hayes family.The father and son combination of David and JD Hayes oversaw proceedings at Karaka as Mainland Chinese owner Mr Sanxiong Gao signed the docket for Lot 105, a Satono Aladdin colt out of Shezdelicious for $675,000 from the draft of Riversley Park....

Homebred Harry brings big result

Manawatu dairy farmers Mark and Tania Stratford had a result to savour on the opening day of the New Zealand Bloodstock Ready To Run Sale when their homebred colt by Harry Angel out of Ocean Spray fetched $425,000 to the bid of Hong Kong trainer Mark Newnham and Sweetbriar Equine.The attractive bay was sold from the draft of Curraghmore and after breezing in an easy 10.75, drew plenty of interest.The Stratfords purchased Fastnet Rock mare Ocean Spray for just $4,250 and after seeking the advice ...

Matamata stud on a roll heading into RTR Sale

Waikato Stud was a dominant force at Pukekohe with a hat-trick of winners, and the premier nursery is hoping their celebrations continue this week during New Zealand Bloodstock’s Ready to Run Sale.The Matamata farm’s colours were carried to victory on Saturday by the exciting Smart Love and Magice (Savabeel) while graduate Princess Elly showcased trainer Craig Ivil’s skills with a first-up middle-distance victory.Waikato will offer seven youngsters at the RTR Sale at Karaka on Wednesday an...

Force Of Nature collects stakes success at Pukekohe

Progressive galloper Force Of Nature (Savabeel) returned to racing with a vengeance as he took out the feature event at Pukekohe, the Listed Legacy Lodge Sprint (1200m), courtesy of a rails-hugging ride from Triston Moodley.The Tony Rider-bred and owned son of Savabeel swept through the grades during the autumn and winter months, winning three of his four starts before finishing sixth of eight runners at Te Rapa in early August where he was found to be lame in a hind leg following the run.T...

Bates lands black-type feature in Riccarton homecoming

A perfectly judged front-running victory on Just Charlie (Zed) in the Listed Nautical Boat Insurance Metropolitan Trophy (2600m) capped a memorable New Zealand riding debut at Riccarton on Saturday for apprentice jockey Logan Bates.Born and raised in Canterbury and a son of leading southern rider Kylie Williams, Bates is forging a successful career as an apprentice in Victoria. The 24-year-old has ridden over 110 winners, headed by a first black-type success with Jigsaw in the Gr.2 McEwen S...

Ceolwulf wins war of attrition in Champions Mile

The Joe Pride-trained Ceolwulf (Tavistock) landed the Gr.1 Champions Mile (1600m) at Flemington after a stirring 400m battle with runner-up Pericles with a nose margin in his favour.The five-year-old son of Tavistock was well and truly headed by Pericles inside the final furlong but relished the fight when galvanised under rider Chad Schofield on a testing Heavy 9 track.The last start winner of the Gr.1 King Charles III Stakes (1609m) is now a four-time Group One winner at a mile and proved he h...

Gerry Harvey

This week in Dunstan Horse Feeds’ Meet the Breeder, we spoke with Russell Warwick on behalf of Gerry Harvey, who, bred Swiss Prince, the impressive winner of last Saturday’s Gr.2 James And Annie Sarten Memoria at Tauranga.How did you get into thoroughbred breeding?Gerry Harvey purchased Westbury Stud in the later part of 2008, and in 2010, a mare named Sahayb (by Zabeel) was purchased on his behalf at Karaka for $90,000. Sahayb was 12 years old at the time and produced six further foals...

Five members of quality Southern family on gavelhouse.com

The unreserved dispersal of highly respected horseman Hec Anderton’s estate has led to five members of an enormously successful South Island family being up for sale on gavelhouse.com.All five descend from the mainland marvel Princess Mellay (Mellay), whose 18 wins included the New Zealand Oaks (2400m) and two editions of the New Zealand Cup (3200m).Princess Mellay went on to be a significant influence at stud, with five winning foals headed by the 19-race winner and triple Group One winner Pr...

Unorthodox approach opens dream doors

An unconventional path to the bloodstock world enabled Dylan Johnson to turn his passion into a career.A forthright approach led to his first professional role in the breeding industry, and he subsequently landed a trusted position with one of country’s leading stables.Johnson gained a start when he secured a role at Gerry Harvey’s Westbury Stud and that led to his current association with multiple Group 1-winning Cambridge trainer Stephen Marsh.“I was born and bred and grew up in Wellingt...

Big EV back on track with Balmerino victory

Cambridge trainer Stephen Marsh was a relieved man following El Vencedor’s (Shocking) return to winning form in the Gr.3 Elsdon Park Balmerino Stakes (2000m) at Ellerslie on Tuesday.The reigning New Zealand Horse of the Year was a standout in autumn, winning four consecutive Group One races before heading to Hong Kong where he was unplaced in the Gr.1 FWD QEII Cup (2000m).He returned this season to finish fifth and seventh in the Gr.1 Proisir Plate (1400m) and Gr.1 Howden Insurance Mile (...

Breeders’ Cup glory for Almanzor filly

Almanzor made another memorable impact at the highest international level over the weekend when his daughter Gezora (Almanzor) doubled her Group One tally with victory in the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Turf (2200m) at Del Mar.She was bred in France where Cambridge Stud’s stallion son of the ill-fated Wootton Bassett stood at Haras d’Etreham before full breeding rights were secured by Brendan and Jo Lindsay’s farm in 2024 following six seasons of shuttle duty.The Gr.1 French Oaks (210...

Another Pride Of Jenni masterpiece in Empire Rose

With those same tearaway tactics that have made her one of Australian racing’s fan favourites in recent years, Trelawney Stud-bred mare Pride Of Jenni (Pride of Dubai) ran her rivals off their feet again at Flemington on Saturday and became the first two-time winner of the Gr.1 Empire Rose Stakes (1600m).The daughter of Pride Of Dubai produced a similarly spectacular front-running performance to win the fillies and mares’ feature in 2023. That was a first win at Group One level for Pride Of ...

Swiss Prince heads Sarten quinella for Marsh

A sensational few weeks for Stephen Marsh’s three-year-olds kept rolling on at Tauranga on Saturday when Swiss Prince (El Roca) led home a quinella for the Cambridge trainer in the Gr.2 James and Annie Sarten Memorial (1400m).Marsh had previously won the Gr.2 Hawke’s Bay Guineas (1400m) with Magic Carpet on September 27 and the Gr.2 Soliloquy Stakes (1400m) by almost seven lengths with Well Written on October 18.Well Written is unbeaten in two starts and is a $2.50 favourite for the Gr....

Greg Tomlinson

This week in Dunstan Horse Feeds’ Meet the Breeder, we spoke with Greg Tomlinson, who, together with John Thompson, bred She's a Hustler, the impressive winner of last Saturday’s Gr.3 Tesio Stakes (2040m) at The Valley.Tell us the story of She’s A Hustler?For several years I went into partnership with John Thompson of Rich Hill Stud and Alan Galbraith, securing a handful broodmares from Australia to support the stallions on their roster. That included Temolie, the dam of Aeliana, but also ...

From rough times to multiple Group 1 successes

The Bloodstock Agents’ Federation of New Zealand (BAFNZ) is the leading professional body representing accredited bloodstock agents across the country.This series takes an in-depth look at the varying backgrounds of BAFNZ members and their work within the thoroughbred industry.Phill Cataldo survived a tough apprenticeship before establishing himself as a successful bloodstock agent.The first decade was a financial struggle, but hard graft and perseverance have subsequently been rewarded with m...

First winner for King of Comedy

Novara Park Stud stallion King Of Comedy (Kingman) is on the board as a sire, with his son Sir Ruby becoming his first winner when victorious over 1300m at Selangor Turf Club in Malaysia on Sunday.The three-year-old gelding was having his third start for trainer Joseph Leck, having placed on debut in September over 1200m before running fifth last month over 1150m.In the hands of jockey Harmeet Singh Gill, Sir Ruby was able to secure the coveted one-one position early and enjoyed an economic...

Kiwi breeding partnership strikes again across the Tasman

John Thompson and Greg Tomlinson have combined for another major stakes success in Australia.The respective principals of Rich Hill Stud and Nearco Stud bred and sold She’s A Hustler (Ace High), who continued her excellent strike rate when she claimed the Gr.3 Tesio Stakes (2040m) at The Valley.The daughter of Rich Hill resident Ace High has won six of her nine starts, with one of her three runner-up finishes posted in last season’s Listed Centaurea Stakes (2017m) at Morphettville.Thompson a...

Leading nursery celebrates on four weekend fronts

A double strike at stakes level, a filly with a black-type future and a welcome family success handed Waikato Stud another rewarding weekend.Von Hauke and Sir Albert delivered home and away victories, while farm graduate Belle Cheval announced herself as a top age group prospect and Baywatch lifted spirits with her breakthrough success.The Cliff Brown-trained Von Hauke had little luck when fourth in last year’s Gr.2 Crystal Mile (1600m) and he made no mistake in the 2025 edition at The Valley ...

Armory off the mark with impressive 2YO winner

Mapperley Stud stallion Armory recorded his first winner on Sunday when his two-year-old daughter Silhouette raced to a dominant victory in the Fusion Electrical Two-Year-Old (900m) at Trentham.Prepared by Cody Cole and ridden by Sam Collett, Silhouette oozed professionalism, crossing to lead the small field of three and was barely asked for an effort as she extended to win by four and a quarter lengths.Silhouette had trialed well when third prior to her raceday outing and shapes as a classy pro...

Dell and Sass Bomb go back-to-back in Group Three

Kim Reid bypassed a Group One in favour of Sunday’s Gr.3 Gee and Hickton Funeral Directors Thompson Handicap (1600m) at Trentham with Hi Yo Sass Bomb (Complacent), a decision that paid dividends when the mare led from the outset to claim her third stakes success.After resuming in early September, Hi Yo Sass Bomb showed she was back in a big way when taking out the Gr.3 Grangewilliam Stud Breeders Stakes (1400m) at Hawera earlier this month, coming over the top of her rivals in the hands of Chr...

Deserved Crystal Mile for Von Hauke

The Cliff Brown-trained Von Hauke (Savabeel) swamped his rivals late under a patient rider from Ethan Brown to land the Gr.2 Crystal Mile (1600m) at The Valley on Saturday.The six-year-old son of Savabeel had been luckless when fourth in last year’s Crystal Mile and was back in the winner’s circle for the first time in 18 months despite racing well.Von Hauke got back in the run and closed well to get the better of fellow New Zealand-bred gallopers Golden Path and Rise At Dawn.“He has ...

First stakes win for She’s A Hustler

Talented five-year-old mare She’s A Hustler (Ace High) scored a game victory in the Gr.3 Tesio Stakes (2040m) at The Valley on Saturday.Under a positive ride from Jordan Childs, She’s A Hustler sat just behind the leader Sea What I See, and packed too many punches for that rival in a muddling run race.The daughter of Ace High has been a model of consistency for trainer Grahame Begg since crossing the Tasman. She placed on debut at Matamata for Roger James and Robert Wellwood.From nine c...

Sir Albert caps Rae’s big day in Spring Classic

Classy gelding Sir Albert (Savabeel) starred in the Listed Sothys Spring Classic (2000m) at Riccarton on Saturday in another winning double for Terri Rae, but the local trainer was only a nose and a neck away from an even more remarkable day.Rae recorded back-to-back wins at Ashburton two weeks ago when Spot On Time took out the GD Jones Salute (1200m) and Sir Albert followed suit in the McCrea Painters & Decorators Ashburton Cup (1600m).The same two horses provided a repeat performance at R...

World Cup trip a winner for Stapleton

The Bloodstock Agents’ Federation of New Zealand (BAFNZ) is the leading professional body representing accredited bloodstock agents across the country.This series takes an in-depth look at the varying backgrounds of BAFNZ members and their work within the thoroughbred industry.A social trip to New Zealand proved to be memorable on the personal front for Irishman Ed Stapleton and the forerunner for his career in the bloodstock world.He ventured Down Under for the 2011 Rugby World Cup and during...