Back to Blog

Goodson hoping Old Fashioned can help boost 2000 Guineas status

After being part of the group that kept the Group One status of the New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) on notice, Matthew Goodson may have a horse to help give that race the boost it needs.Goodson and his wife Dianna Perron are the owner-breeders of exciting three-year-old Old Fashioned (Proisir), who maintained his unbeaten record in style in Saturday’s Gr.2 The Foxes @ Novara Park Hawke’s Bay Guineas (1400m) at Hastings.Goodson is also the chair of the New Zealand Pattern Committee (NZP...

Jimmysstar back to brilliant best in Manikato

Cult hero Jimmysstar (Per Incanto) returned to his brilliant best with a breathtaking last-to-first performance in the Gr.1 Manikato Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield on Sunday.The son of Per Incanto produced his trademark finishing burst to claim the fourth Group One victory of his career and put himself firmly on a path towards the A$20 million Gr.1 The Everest (1200m) at Randwick.Sporting blinkers for the first time, the Ciaron Maher-trained seven-year-old was allowed to find his feet by Ethan...

Thurlow unleashes future star in Hawke’s Bay Guineas

Unheralded three-year-old Old Fashioned (Proisir) fired a shot across the bows of his age-group rivals as he produced a quality effort to take out the Gr.2 The Foxes @ Novara Park Hawke’s Bay Guineas (1400m) at Hastings on Saturday at just his second raceday start.The statuesque son of Rich Hill Stud stallion Proisir had created quite an impression with a comfortable win at Wanganui in his only start as a two-year-old before being put aside for a winter break.Fitted for the Hastings featu...

Black-type breakthrough for Hurry Curry

Previously a placegetter at Group One and Group Two level, Waikato Stud’s homebred mare Hurry Curry (Ocean Park) secured a valuable first black-type victory in the A$175,000 Listed RM Ansett Classic (2400m) at Mornington on Saturday.The daughter of Ocean Park ran third behind Treasurethe Moment in the Gr.1 VRC Oaks (2500m) at Flemington in November 2024, and she picked up another third placing in the Gr.2 Adelaide Cup (3200m) in March of this year.Spelled by trainer Danny O’Brien after ...

Waitak defends his crown in Howden Insurance Mile

The Gr.1 Howden Insurance Mile (1600m) got the contest and finish it deserved as 2025 winner Waitak (Proisir) defended his crown in a thrilling three-way finish to the Hastings feature.The versatile seven-year-old gelding is a proven stakes performer from 1200m through to 2000m, and the victory on Saturday earned him his fourth title at Group One level.Regular pilot Craig Grylls took the mount for trainers Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott and produced an absolute gem from barrier two, as...

One Eye On Dubai stamps staying promise with runaway Vaal win

New Zealand-bred colt One Eye On Dubai (Almanzor) ground his rivals into submission with a dominant front-running performance at the Vaal on Tuesday, leading throughout to score by eight and a half lengths over 2000m.Making his third start for trainers Mike and Mathew de Kock, the Hollywood Racing runner relished the step up in distance under Callan Murray, opening his winning account in emphatic fashion.While stronger opposition awaits, the manner of the performance suggested the progressi...

Budget breaker doing Ohukia proud

Jamie Beatson had to dig deeper than intended to secure a son of Ole Kirk last year, but topping up his budget proved to be a wise and lucrative move.Under his and wife Chanel’s Ohukia Lodge banner, he paid A$180,000 at the Magic Millions Adelaide Yearling Sale for the youngster offered by breeder Gerry Harvey’s Baramul Stud.Te Akau chief Sir David Ellis subsequently went to $480,000 for the colt at New Zealand Bloodstock’s Ready to Run Sale and as System Of Play is now a $4 favourite for ...

Waikato Stud farewells Atishu’s dam Posy at 17

The No Excuse Needed mare produced a triple Group 1 winner and several valuable daughters during an influential broodmare career at the Matamata farm.Waikato Stud has farewelled Posy, the dam of triple Group 1 winner Atishu, at 17 after a broodmare career that produced Group winners and strong sale results.The stud said Posy was farewelled last week. Posy raced 13 times for two wins in Waikato Stud’s colours before joining its broodmare band.Her third foal, Atishu, was bought by Go Racing for ...

The continuing story of High Chaparral

Not for the first time has Kiwi Chronicles highlighted the quality sire-line exploits of High Chaparral (Sadler’s Wells). In February 2023, while discussing whether he might establish his own Australasian sire line, we remembered that during the Sydney 2022 Championships So You Think (High Chaparral) sired three Group 1 winners in successive races. Knights Order landed the Sydney Cup (Gr 1, 3200m), Nimalee the Queen of the Turf Stakes (Gr 1, 1600) and who could forget the brilliant tactical ri...

Karaka graduate Nonu impresses at Sydney trials

Exciting Karaka graduate Nonu (NZ) (Anamoe) made an immediate impression in his first public appearance, leading throughout to score a dominant three-and-a-half-length victory in Monday’s official two-year-old trials on the Kensington track at Randwick.The Bjorn Baker-trained colt was purchased for NZ$600,000 from Wentwood Grange’s draft at the 2026 New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale at Karaka. He is the first foal out of stakes-winning Pride Of Dubai mare Easifar, who won three r...

Star mare Seachange still making her mark

Rising age group star Blind Raise (Ace High) continues to add further honours to his already decorated family.The Oaks Stud-bred and sold three-year-old landed top honours in Saturday’s Gr.3 Caulfield Guineas Prelude (1400m) to now share favouritism for the upcoming Gr.1 Caulfield Guineas (1600m).Prepared by expatriate New Zealanders Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young, he is a grandson of the Cambridge nursery’s former two-time New Zealand Horse of the Year Seachange.The daughter of Cape ...

Blind Raise makes statement in Caulfield Guineas Prelude

The New Zealand-bred Blind Raise (NZ) (Ace High) stamped himself as one of the horses to beat in next month’s Gr.1 Caulfield Guineas (1600m) with a dominant performance in the A$300,000 Gr.3 Sportsbet Caulfield Guineas Prelude (1400m) on Saturday.Now a four-time winner from only five career starts, and a perfect two-from-two this season, Blind Raise has risen to $4 equal favouritism alongside Tron Bolt in the TAB’s fixed-odds market for the Caulfield Guineas on October 10.The Trent Busuttin ...

Wanganui gelding Knocks Off stakes win at Trentham

Rejuvenated galloper Knock Off (Fabulous) proved too tough for his rivals in the Trentham mud as he dominated proceedings from the front to capture the Gr.3 Hunterville Vet Club Metric Mile (1600m) on Saturday.Trainer Gerard Cvitanovich has played the patient game with the seven-year-old and is now reaping the rewards, with the son of Fabulous finally living up to the promise he showed earlier in his career.Rider Leah Hemi took the bull by the horns from barrier rise and set up a steady pace in ...

Cambridge Stud Backing Karaka 2027 100%

Leading thoroughbred nursery Cambridge Stud has again committed its full support to NZB’s 2027 National Yearling Sale, with the announcement they will be selling 100% of their yearling stock at Karaka.Karaka 2027, which marks the next century of yearling sales in New Zealand as the 101st National Yearling Sale, will be selling from 24 – 28 January at Karaka.Cambridge Stud has a long and rich history of selling yearlings, dating back to their debut at Trentham during the 1978 National Yearlin...

NZ Oaks heroine retired

Taranaki couple Peter and Heather Crofskey have enjoyed a fairytale ride with their Group One winner Leica Lucy (Derryn), but that journey has now come to an end following her recent retirement from racing.Bred by the Crofskeys, Leica Lucy is by Grangewilliam Stud stallion Derryn and out of winning Sir Percy mare Dynamite Lucy, a half-sister to Group Two performer Endowment and stakes performer Airlie House.She was entrusted to the care of New Plymouth trainer Robbie Patterson, for whom she won ...

Perfumist makes her mark in NZB Tibbie Stakes

New Zealand Bloodstock Ready to Run Sale graduate Perfumist (NZ) (El Roca) made an emphatic return to racing at Newcastle on Friday, powering clear to claim the Gr.3 NZB Tibbie Stakes (1400m).The Bjorn Baker-trained daughter of El Roca had shown she was ready to fire with a series of strong gallops leading into her resumption and delivered on that promise with a dominant 2.6-length victory under Rachel King.King gave Perfumist an economical run in fifth before angling into the clear approaching ...

South African interests purchase showpiece property Fayette Park

Another chapter is set to be written in the history of one of New Zealand’s most admired thoroughbred properties, Fayette Park, following its purchase by South African interests.The change in ownership of the South Waikato farm has been confirmed by South African expatriate and now New Zealand-based Craig Ramsay. Acting on behalf of the principal of South Africa’s leading wagering operator Hollywoodbets, Ramsay has completed negotiations to secure the property established in the late 1980s b...

Vale Jo Wilding

A stalwart of the thoroughbred industry and a much-admired personality, Jo (Josephine) Wilding passed away recently in Christchurch.Jo was the breeder of four Derby winners including the Champion Three-Year-Old Zonda(Zabeel- Gone With The Wind) and his half-brother Man of Honour (by Noble Bijou), So Casual and Analie. As well she bred three other group one winners the Champion Two-Year-Old Joker’s Wild(Black Minnaloushe -Miss Rory), Wall Street (Montjeu- Villa Wanda), and Surprize Surprize (Pr...

Perfect timing, for the auctioneers.....

As Saturdays go, last Saturday proved highly successful for thoroughbreds foaled on the eastern side of the Tasman. Results mean stallion bookings and hopefully fuller books and both Cambridge Stud and Rich Hill Stud enjoyed a very good day.However, there was another establishment, namely New Zealand Bloodstock, which might literally be rubbing their hands together, such were the results of stakes successes, not only in Sydney and Melbourne but also locally.Flemington saw three NZ-breds salute. ...

New Zealand bred and sourced horses dominate at Hong Kong meeting

Zac Purton’s quest for a 10th Hong Kong jockeys’ championship – and a sixth title in succession continues to gather early momentum after the Australian snared a double at Sha Tin on Sunday (13 September).Purton continued metronomic progress towards a 10th jockeys’ crown with a third double from the first three meetings of the 2026/27 season.Successful on New Zealand Bloodstock Ready to Run graduate Ruby Thrive (Anders) in the Class 4 Hing Wah Handicap (1000m), Purton closed the...

Group One Australian aspirations for Kiwi-breds

Top-flight hopes are held for a trio of New Zealand-bred representatives who posted stakes victories across the Tasman at the weekend.Shockletz (Hello Youmzain) and Satono Glow (Satono Aladdin) were successful at Flemington, while Persian Wonder scored at Rosehill to press their claims for higher honours.Last season’s champion New Zealand juvenile Lara Antipova also rebounded from an unplaced resuming effort to land the Listed Michael Moroney (1400m) for Cranbourne-based trainer Mark Walk...

Wentwood Grange fillies shining this spring

Last year’s Karaka yearling sale draft is proving to be a vintage crop for Cambridge farm Wentwood Grange, with several of their fillies shining this spring, including Sweetest Thing (Hello Youmzain), who recorded her maiden stakes success in Saturday’s Listed Canterbury Belle Stakes (1200m) at Riccarton.It was Sweetest Thing’s first start for Te Akau trainers Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson, with the filly joining their barn after being purchased by Glentree Racing out of Roydon Bergersonâ€...

Shockletz books Melbourne Cup berth with Archer triumph

New Zealand-bred mare Shockletz (Shocking) secured her place in the Gr.1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) with a decisive victory in the Gr.3 Lexus Archer Stakes (2500m) at Flemington on Saturday.The Ciaron Maher-trained five-year-old relished the return to Flemington and the addition of blinkers, defeating Think Giant by two and a quarter lengths, with stablemate Jennivamoose another length away in third.The Archer Stakes carried a ballot exemption into the Melbourne Cup, giving Shockletz and her con...

Persian Wonder steps up in Ming Dynasty

Persian Wonder (Hello Youmzain) continued his progression towards the Sydney spring middle distance features with a strong victory in the Gr.3 Ming Dynasty Quality (1400m) at Rosehill on Saturday.Trained by David Payne and ridden by Ash Morgan, the New Zealand-bred son of Hello Youmzain relished a strongly-run race to defeat Stormy Marco by half a length, with Tenebaum close up in third.Sent out a $19 chance, Persian Wonder was squeezed shortly after the start before settling back in the fi...

Sweet taste of success for Te Akau filly in Canterbury Belle

Promising filly Sweetest Thing (Hello Youmzain) displayed all her fighting qualities when she held out a determined challenge from Platinum La Danse and stablemate Sword of Stars to win the Listed NZB Canterbury Belle Stakes (1200m) at Riccarton on Saturday.The daughter of Cambridge Stud-based shuttle stallion Hello Youmzain was having her first start for trainers Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson after being prepared for her two-year-old campaign by Bergerson’s father, Roydon.The filly finis...