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New Zealand-bred Definitive delivers for War Decree in Hong Kong

New Zealand-bred gelding Definitive (NZ) (War Decree) stepped up with an emphatic first Class 2 victory at Sha Tin on Sunday, winning the HK$3.12 million Muk Min Ha Handicap (1650m) on the dirt for trainer David Eustace.The five-year-old son of War Decree made the most of a light weight and a well-judged ride from Karis Teetan to score by two and a quarter lengths over Talents Ambition (Into Mischief), with Sky Vino (Vino Rosso) third.Bred by Ysberg Bloodstock, Definitive is out of the Rip Van W...

Breeding group toasts Flemington stakes success

An international partnership savoured a top result at Flemington on Saturday when Miss Waititi broke her maiden in style in the Listed Super Impose Stakes (1800m).The Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr-trained daughter of Circus Maximus was bred by Windsor Park Stud with the Singapore-based Ben Kwok and Australian’s Katom, an entity of Coolmore.“She’s always been very highly regarded by the stable and earlier in the year they spruiked her to us as one that would really go places,” Windsor P...

Saintly Dancer has Hawkins dreaming of Guineas glory

The Hawkins family are hoping Saintly Dancer (St Mark's Basilica) can go a couple of places better than former star graduate Lickety Split in the Gr.1 Thousand Guineas (1600m) at Caulfield on Saturday week.The Wentwood Grange-bred filly emerged as a leading contender with a dominant six-length win in the Gr.2 Edward Manifold Stakes (1600m) at Flemington.It was a familiar result for the Cambridge nursery, which won the same race four years ago with Lickety Split, who subsequently finished th...

Miss Waititi showcases Oaks credentials

Windsor Park Stud stallion Circus Maximus is an emerging sire of classic three-year-olds, and another one may have been unveiled at Flemington on Saturday when Miss Waititi (NZ) (Circus Maximus) took out the A$175,000 Listed Howden Super Impose Stakes (1800m).Circus Maximus finished a close second behind Hello Youmzain on New Zealand’s second-season sire standings in 2026-27. His first crop of three-year-olds produced two stakes winners in New Zealand including Gr.1 New Zealand Derby (2400m) w...

Melbourne Group One glory for Cosmic Crusader

Already proven at the elite level in Perth, Cosmic Crusader (Maurice) made his Group One mark in Melbourne on Saturday with a triumph in the A$750,000 TAB Turnbull Stakes (2000m) at Flemington.The New Zealand-bred gelding soared through the Western Australian ranks with eight wins, culminating in the Gr.1 Northerly Stakes (1800m) last December.Owner-breeder Bob Peters decided to see how his latest star measured up in the east this spring, and he transferred him into the Pakenham stable of A...

Astoria Brooke claims first stakes success at Matamata

Progressive mare Astoria Brooke (American Pharoah) claimed her first victory at black-type level when she burst through the middle of a vrowded pack with 100m to run to score in the Listed Fairview Matamata Kaimai Stakes (1600m) at Matamata.New Zealand’s current leading rider Michael McNab took a path where angels fear to tread as he come from last on the home bend to collar local favourite What You Wish For who looked to set for the win when he swooped to the front halfway down the home ...

Saintly Dancer spectacular in Edward Manifold

A six-length blitz by Saintly Dancer (St. Mark's Basilica) in the A$300,000 Gr.2 TAB One Pool Edward Manifold Stakes (1600m) at Flemington on Saturday continued an outstanding start to the Australasian three-year-old filly season for the Hawkins family’s Llanhennock Trust and Wentwood Grange.Saintly Dancer was bred by Llanhennock Trust and offered under their Wentwood Grange banner at the 2025 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, where First Light Racing and Ciaron Maher Bloodstock bo...

St Lawrence back on top in Murray Bridge Gold Cup

Well-travelled eight-year-old St Lawrence (NZ) (Redwood) has turned back the clock this spring and returned to top form, including his very first black-type success in Saturday’s A$150,000 Listed Carlton Draught Murray Bridge Gold Cup (1600m).The Redwood gelding was bred in New Zealand and began his career there with a debut victory for Cambridge trainers Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman in 2022. He was then sold to Australian interests and joined the stable of Ciaron Maher, for whom he won fiv...

Qali Al Farrasha all class at Hawera

Top class mare Qali Al Farrasha (Almazor) added a second stakes victory to her impressive career record when she burst clear in the concluding stages to win the Gr.3 Grangewilliam Stud Taranaki Breeders Stakes (1400m) with consummate ease.The Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson-prepared daughter of Almanzor hadn’t been seen at the races since finishing just a neck behind Khanshe in the Gr.2 Travis Stakes (2000m) at Te Rapa back in April this year.Traditionally a strong performer in her fresh-up...

Meet the Breeder - Matthew Goodson

This week on Dunstan Horsefeeds’ ‘Meet the Breeder’, we caught up with Matthew Goodson, who, alongside his partner Di, bred Old Fashioned, winner of last week’s Gr.2 Hawke’s Bay Guineas (1400m).Tell us the story of Old FashionedHe’s the grandson of the first ever filly we bought, Mary Agnes (Zabeel ex Tearrunner). She was a talented mare but had injury issues. We sent her to a range of stallions and she did best with the Sadlers Well line, leaving Time Lord to Guillotine and Contrary...

Golden Rose breakthrough lifts Sword Of State

Sword Of State’s promising start at stud received a major boost last Saturday when Warwoven (Sword Of State) became his first Group One winner with victory in the Gr.1 Golden Rose (1400m).The Cambridge Stud stallion has made an encouraging start with his first crop, which has already produced four stakes performers, headed by Warwoven and Listed Debutant Stakes (1000m) winner Torture.Warwoven has led the charge, winning five races and more than A$1.16 million, including the Golden Rose, Gr.2 R...

New chapter beckons for Carlaw Park

Carlaw Park will begin a new chapter next month, with Nick Fairweather and Nicole Brown relocating their thoroughbred operation to Parkvale Farm on the outskirts of Matamata.Fairweather and Brown established Carlaw Park in 2016 alongside Brown’s parents, Peter and Roslyn, and will continue to operate under the Carlaw Park banner from the 41-hectare property.The move will provide the couple with increased capacity while maintaining their core focus on spelling and preparing yearlings for major ...

Kiwi Chronicles – Worth the wait

Weather affects most things and often features in Kiwi Chronicles’ weekly rundown. The equinox came and went but spring had to wait beyond a brief cold snap which swept north from the South Pole, midweek.Once acceptances were published it was reported that the Hastings track was rated a Soft 6 and the forecast looked highly promising. Could it be? Could we finally get conditions befitting a top-class race day? Saturday dawned glorious and the turnout at Hastings matched the day. The club put o...

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...

Hot mare boosts value with deserved stakes success

Hurry Curry (Ocean Park) is in the twilight of her racing career and took full advantage of an opportunity at Mornington to post a well-deserved black-type victory.Bred and part-owned by Waikato Stud, she credited resident sire Ocean Park with his 27th individual stakes winner when the five-year-old emphasised her staying prowess to claim top honours in the Listed Ansett Classic (2400m).Farm principal Mark Chittick races Hurry Curry with good friend Craig Duncan, and she will remain with Fl...

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...

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...

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 ...

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 ...