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Top-Level Stallion Talent in NZB National Weanling Sale Catalogue

For pinhookers and end users alike, this month’s NZB National Weanling Sale at Karaka is an affordable opportunity to secure progeny of some of New Zealand’s best and brightest stallions.More than 40 sires are represented among the 143-lot catalogue, including established superstars and some of this country’s most exciting emerging talents.ACE HIGHAlready the sire of Group One winner Molly Bloom (NZ) from his first crop, Rich Hill Stud’s Ace High has taken h...

Novara filly makes perfect start to career

An invitation from Novara Park has translated into immediate racing success for Shaune Ritchie and his clients.The Cambridge trainer, who operates in partnership with Colm Murray, produced Dubawi Diva for a stylish debut victory at Matamata on Sunday.The two-year-old made all the running in the Entain/NZB Insurance Pearl Series Race (1050m) and held a strong gallop under apprentice Jack Taplin to make a dream start for all concerned.“We were approached by Luigi Muollo, who’s got Novara Park,...

Western Front anything but Quiet

A lengthy campaign for talented stayer The Western Front (NZ) (War Decree) is set to continue, with the Lindsay Park team of Ben, Will and JD Hayes eyeing further opportunities for the in-form galloper through the winter.The five-year-old resumed from a Pakenham jumpout in December and has enjoyed a fruitful preparation, recording four victories from eight starts and banking A$262,350 in prizemoney.His latest success came in the Listed Sandown Cup (3200m) on May 31, where he produced a...

Western Empire completes feature treble in Strickland Stakes

Almost five years after rising to the top of Perth racing with a five-win sequence that culminated in the 2021 edition of the Gr.1 Railway Stakes (1600m), remarkable veteran Western Empire (Iffraaj) is once again winning black-type races in a row.Saturday’s A$200,000 Gr.3 Swan Draught Strickland Stakes (2000m) at Belmont was the eight-year-old’s third start in his latest campaign and his third consecutive Group Three win. He had previously captured the Belmont Sprint (1400m) on May 16 a...

Three in a row for War Eternal

Saturday’s A$160,000 Listed Wayne Wilson (1600m) at Eagle Farm completed a feature Queensland Winter Carnival treble for War Eternal (Pierro), who is racing in the form of his life as a rising eight-year-old.Previously a multiple Group placegetter and fourth in the Gr.1 Randwick Guineas (1600m) as a three-year-old, the New Zealand-bred son of Pierro broke through for his first stakes success in the Listed Bernborough Handicap (1600m) at Doomben on May 16. He followed that up with the Listed Sp...

Thebudgiesmugla adds Queen Elizabeth II Cup to perfect 2400m record

Emerging stayer Thebudgiesmugla (Redwood) has never been beaten over 2400m, and he added a fourth win to that unblemished record when he stepped up to stakes level in Saturday’s A$200,000 Listed Queen Elizabeth II Cup at Rosehill.The New Zealand-bred son of Redwood has wasted little time in making an impression since crossing the Tasman less than a year ago to join Bjorn Baker’s Warwick Farm stable. He put together back-to-back wins over 2400m at Rosehill in October and November, then r...

Chaldean filly catches Group One eye

A unique individual went under the hammer at the Great Southern Weanling Sale and was warmly embraced by the buying bench.The first Southern Hemisphere youngster to be offered at auction by exciting young stallion Chaldean was purchased out of Burnewang North Pastoral’s draft by former Group One-winning jockey Scott Seamer.Now operating a breeding enterprise in New South Wales, Seamer had the final say on the filly (Lot 218) by Frankel’s multiple elite level-winning son at A$180,000.The youn...

Last Chance to Enter National Breeding Stock Sale

Entries for the 2026 National Online Breeding Stock Sale are due online on Gavelhouse Plus by 10pm this Tuesday 16 June. In addition to quality off-the-track fillies and mares, the stand-alone breeding stock sale will give breeders the opportunity to offer proven mares as well as stallion shares and nominations at a key time ahead of the breeding season. Over the past three years the Sale-toppers have included Yearn, Asama Blue, Chanel’s Choice and Dee and Gee who ...

Entries Open for Karaka 2027

Entries are now open for NZB’s Karaka 2027, with the action-packed week of selling set to take place at the Karaka Sales Centre from Sunday 24 January. The 100th National Yearling Sale marked by Karaka 2026 set a new benchmark for the industry with turnover rising by almost $10 million, validating the strength of the refreshed sales format and depth of demand for New Zealand thoroughbreds. Across a week that celebrated a century of New Zealand’s rich thoroughbred history, Kara...

Duchess threads a new path for Savile Row

Henrietta, Duchess of Bedford has thrown her support behind emerging stallion Savile Row with the Group One performed son of Makfi to relocate to Brighthill Farm this season.The now 12-year-old entire was bred by the late Kevin Hickman and originally retired to stud at his Valachi Downs in Matamata.However, upon Hickman’s passing and subsequent sale of the Matamata property, Savile Row has resided at Mapperley Stud for the past four seasons.Trained by the late Michael Moroney and Pam Gerard, S...

Hailstones hits the ground running for Noverre

Waikato Stud stallion Noverre was represented by his first winner when two-year-old gelding Hailstones ran out a strong winner of a maiden handicap (1300m) at Scone on Tuesday for Annabel and Rob Archibald.Ridden by Braith Nock, Hailstones sat outside the leader before hitting the front soon after straightening and proved too good for his older rivals as he withstood the late challenge of race favourite Leovanni.“He has always shown something from day one, but it was nice to see him put it tog...

War Eternal adds to stud’s carnival success

Cambridge Stud’s winter success in Queensland has continued with the durable War Eternal (NZ) (Pierro) adding to his black-type record.The homebred son of Pierro claimed Saturday’s Listed Spear Chief Handicap (1500m) at Eagle Farm for expatriate New Zealand trainer Bjorn Baker off the back of a previous Doomben win in the Listed Bernborough Handicap (1600m).The Cambridge farm’s colours have also been carried to victory in recent times in Brisbane by the Ciaron Maher-prepared Zous...

Curraghmore Set to Present Another Quality Karaka Weanling Draft

The tradition of presenting a quality selection is set to continue at Karaka on June 25 when Curraghmore offers its annual draft at the NZB Weanling Sale.Farm principal Gordon Cunningham takes genuine pride in the process of preparing Curraghmore’s weanling draft, with this year’s six-strong offering again bound to attract the attention of a discerning buyers’ bench.Colts by Sword of State, Ocean Park and Hilal, along with fillies by Super Seth, Satono Aladdin and Chaldean c...

War Eternal scores gritty stakes win at Eagle Farm

Evergreen galloper War Eternal (NZ) (Pierro) took his career stakes earnings over the A$1million threshold with a fighting performance to down the well-favoured Sun God (Fastnet Rock) in a tooth and nail battle to the finish of the Listed Spear Chief Handicap (1500m) at Eagle Farm on Saturday.The Cambridge Stud graduate made it back-to-back Queensland black type victories after winning the Listed Bernborough Handicap (1600m) at Doomben last month, however on this occasion he looked certain to su...

Half to Lion’s Roar Headlines Supplementary Catalogue

Three quality weanlings will further boost NZB’s 2026 National Weanling Sale, with the bonus lots set to be offered immediately following the 140 lots originally catalogued for sale at Karaka on Thursday 25 June.Headlining the three supplementary entries is Lot 141, a son of first season sire Paddington from Minnaleo (Black Minnaloushe). Making this colt a half-brother to Group One ATC Randwick Guineas winner and A$2.3 million earner Lion’s Roar (NZ) (Contributer).A colt by exciting young si...

Ka Ying Rising puts his Kiwi breeders on the map

The phenomenal Ka Ying Rising (Shamexpress) has been the horse of a lifetime for everyone associated with him, including his New Zealand breeders, Fraser and Erin Auret.Under their Grandmoral Lodge banner, the Aurets bred Ka Ying Rising as the first foal out of their Per Incanto mare Missy Moo.Missy Moo was bought for just $500 as a yearling at Karaka in 2014, and Fraser Auret trained her to win five races and finish fourth in the Gr.3 Manawatu Breeders’ Stakes (2000m). She also contested...

Which sires produce the best wet-track performers?

Breeding can often provide a clue to help sway your opinion one way or another. Some sires are known to produce horses that handle wet ground while others seem to produce horses that struggle in the wet.I asked Daniel O'Sullivan from The Rating Bureau to dive into their TopRate database to help understand the best wet track sires.Below is a table that highlights which New Zealand sires see the biggest improvement in performance on heavy (wet) tracks compared to their overall strike rate. Th...

The Western Front digs in to win Sandown Cup

The Western Front (NZ) (War Decree) picked up his first stakes victory on Sunday, holding tough to win the Listed Sandown Cup (3200m) in a three-way thriller.A rapid improver this time in, the son of War Decree has now won four of eight starts in his elongated campaign and taken his rating from 69 to 84, a number that will rise again after Sunday’s success.Luke Currie gave The Western Front ($2.80) every chance in the one-out one-back spot, and he travelled superbly into the race, but Taj...

Western Empire too tough in home straight stoush

Classy galloper Western Empire (Iffraaj) had to call on all his fighting qualities to pick up his latest stakes victory as he thrust his head in front in the very last stride to claim the Gr.3 PKF Perth – Hyperion Stakes (1600m) at Belmont on Saturday.The rugged eight-year-old son of Iffraaj had returned to racing in style when he took out his second Gr.3 Drummond Golf Belmont Sprint (1400m) fresh up a fortnight ago.With superstar West Australian jockey Willie Pike in the saddle again, Western...

Electron upsets in Wanganui feature

Underrated mare Electron (Turn Me Loose) turned some indifferent form of late upside down when she clung on by the barest of margins to take out the Listed AGC Training Stakes WFA (1600m) at Wanganui on Saturday.The Sam Mynott-prepared daughter of Turn Me Loose had raced in stakes company at her last four starts and showed she was ready to strike her best form when a handy fifth in the Listed Rangitikei Gold Cup (1600m) at her most recent run.A noted pacemaker, the five-year-old was content...

Under the Radar - Rebecca Johnston

This week on Betavet Under the Radar, we caught up with Rebecca Johnston, Office Manager at Stable Books, who plays a key behind-the-scenes role supporting clients across the racing and breeding industry. From accounts and compliance to client liaison and office operations, Rebecca brings organisation, enthusiasm and a genuine passion for the industry to the Stable Books team.Explain your role and who you work for.I work at Stable Books as the Office Manager. Stable Books provides administrative...

Niamh Waters -Blog 2

This week we caught up with our 2026 Sunline Scholarship recipient, Niamh Waters, to hear about her experiences over the past month during her time in Ireland and Scotland.From working in the foaling units at Coolmore Stud and visiting iconic racecourses such as The Curragh, to touring Ballydoyle and gaining hands-on experience at the Goffs UK sales, Niamh has immersed herself in all aspects of the thoroughbred industry.'The past month has been incredibly busy, and it is hard to believe how quic...

Yulong secures Legarto for $2.8 million

Five-time Group One winner Legarto (NZ) (Proisir) has been purchased by Yulong Investments for A$2.8 million at the Magic Millions Gold Coast National Broodmare Sale.By Proisir, out of the Towkay mare Geordie Girl, Legarto was sold as a yearling by Highline Thoroughbreds at Karaka for $90,000 and raced under the care of Ken and Bev Kelso.Legarto has been one of New Zealand's best-performed gallopers in recent seasons, winning Group Ones on either side of the Tasman for trainers Ken and...

HK winners keep flowing for Highview sire

The hot run of form from Wrote’s progeny has continued in Hong Kong with the Highview stallion represented by a winning double at Sha Tin on Sunday.He sired the first two winners on the program with the David Hall-trained Flying Amani and Jimmy Ting’s Come Fast Fay Fay scoring respectively over 1600 and 1400m, with Zac Purton guiding both to victory.“Flying Amani is a new individual winner for Wrote and that brought his tally for the month of May to six individual winners from seven runner...

Vale Colin Thompson

The New Zealand thoroughbred industry is mourning the loss of highly respected Waikato identity Colin Thompson who passed away at the weekend aged 97.Thompson was a leading veterinarian for decades, breeder and owner and with late wife Irene, their son John and his wife Colleen and Alan Galbraith established premier nursery Rich Hill Stud in the early 1990s.“He didn’t suffer and passed away peacefully early on Sunday morning,” John Thompson said.“Back in his day, there were no vet school...