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Shanwah cruises to Autumn Classic success

Well-bred three-year-old Shanwah (Too Darn Hot) is fulfilling his potential as a gelding for trainer Ciaron Maher with a dominant display in the Gr.2 Autumn Classic (1800m) at Caulfield.The New Zealand-bred son of Too Darn Hot has recorded three victories in succession with Saturday’s win coming under a heady ride by Blake Shinn, who found the trail behind a solid tempo set by Emphasize.Shanwah came off the leader’s back rounding the home turn and was a soft length and a half winner ove...

Meet the Breeder - Max and Joe Smithies

This week in Dunstan Horse Feeds Meet the Breeder, we caught up with Max Smithies of Monovale Farm. Max and his brother Joe have had plenty of success together since taking over the farm from their late-father Paul and mother Cushla. With a real hands on approach, Max and Joe's latest success story is 4yo Almanzor-gelding, Rise At Dawn who won the Listed Elms Handicap at Flemington.Tell us the story of Rise At Dawn.Rise At Dawn is out of a very handy race mare our father bought some years ago. K...

Group One-winning mare retired

It was an emotional day at Te Akau Racing’s Matamata stables on Sunday when co-trainer Sam Bergerson farewelled Skew Wiff (Savabeel) for the final time following her retirement from racing.Bred and raced by Waikato Stud, the daughter of Savabeel recorded Bergerson’s first Group One victory as a trainer when taking out the 2023 edition of the Tarzino Trophy (1400m), a day that will live long in the memory of the Matamata horseman.“She holds a really special place in my heart being my f...

Kiwi Chronicles - Obvious

Those interested in pedigrees and bloodlines had only to look at the catalogue page of La Dorada (Super Seth) to find the winner of this year’s Matamata Breeders’ Stakes (Gr 2, 1200m). It was obvious, although, to be fair, her last-start win in the Karaka Million 2YO (Listed, 1200m) was also a major factor.La Dorada’s dam, Gold Fever (Savabeel) won the Matamata Breeders’ Stakes in 2017. The previous year, Gold Fever’s half-sister, Gold Rush (So You Think), took out the same race.All th...

Valachi legacy living on in star filly

Kevin Hickman has left a lasting mark on New Zealand’s breeding industry, with the recent success of sensational filly Pivotal Ten (Ten Sovereigns) an embodiment of his vision at Valachi Downs.A daughter of Ten Sovereigns, Pivotal Ten has been unbeaten in her last five starts for trainer-jockey Samantha Wynne, including victories in the Listed NZB Insurance Stakes (1400m), Listed Gore Guineas (1335m) and Listed Southland Guineas (1400m). At Gore, her nearest rival was six lengths away, wh...

Embellish 4YO headlines memorable day for stud

Cambridge Stud was in the thick of the action at Matamata with a hat-trick of winners and also made an impression further afield.The premier nursery’s graduates were led by stakes victor What You Wish For, while Balance Of Power and Moschino starred on the undercard.In Australia, resident stallion Almanzor was represented by stakes winner Rise At Dawn and the farm also enjoyed success in Hong Kong, with veteran Gallant Crown adding to his tally at Sha Tin.What You Wish For is a son of Embellis...

Pivotal Ten completes black type treble

Sensational three-year-old Pivotal Ten (Ten Sovereigns) made it five wins in a row and importantly, three black type contests in succession, when she bolted clear to take out the Listed ILT Ascot Park Hotel Southland Guineas (1400m).The flashy daughter of Ten Sovereigns went into the Invercargill feature event off the back of comprehensive victories in the Listed NZB Insurance Stakes (1400m) and Listed Gore Guineas (1335m) and was confidently expected to prove too tough for her age-group ri...

What You Wish For completes big treble for Te Akau

Matamata’s biggest day of the year was completely dominated by Te Akau Racing, who won three of the four black-type features on Saturday afternoon.What You Wish For’s (Embellish) hard-fought victory in the Listed Matamata Veterinary Services Kaimai Stakes (2000m) completed a big treble for the tangerine army and trainers Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson. They had previously filled the trifecta in the Gr.3 Fairview Matamata Slipper (1200m) with Return To Conquer, He Who Dares and To Bravery...

Rise At Dawn resumes in style

Next month’s A$2.5 million Gr.1 All-Star Mile (1600m) is looming large on the horizon for Rise At Dawn (Almanzor), who scored his fourth win in succession with a smart first-up performance in the A$175,000 Listed The Elms Handicap (1400m) at Flemington on Saturday.The New Zealand-bred son of Almanzor rose impressively through the grades last winter, recording four wins and two second placings from a six-start campaign. That preparation ended with a winning treble on August 3, 17 and 31, c...

La Dorada claims local victory in Matamata feature

Local filly La Dorada (Super Seth) backed up from her stunning victory in the Karaka Million 2YO (1200m) last month with another gritty performance to take out her home track feature, the Gr.2 J Swap Contractors Ltd Matamata Breeders’ Stakes (1200m) on Saturday.The Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson-prepared daughter of Waikato Stud resident stallion Super Seth was expected to put in a strong showing and once she found the fence and the lead after 200m she was always going to be hard to beat.R...

Legarto all class in Lisa Chittick

After 322 days off the scene, triple Group One winner Legarto (Proisir) made a triumphant return to racing in Saturday’s Listed Lisa Chittick Champagne Stakes (1400m) at Matamata.The superstar daughter of Proisir was previously the winner of the Gr.1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m), Gr.1 Australian Guineas (1600m) and Gr.1 Herbie Dyke Stakes (2000m). She had been on the sidelines since finishing sixth in the Gr.1 Australian Cup (2000m) at Flemington in March of last year, having suffered...

Wrote To Arataki back on her game at Flemington

Multiple black-type winner Wrote To Arataki (Wrote) made a welcome return to top form in Saturday’s A$200,000 Gr.3 Frances Tressady Stakes (1400m) at Flemington.The New Zealand-bred mare had previously won the Gr.3 Geoffrey Bellmaine Stakes (1300m) in February of 2023 and the Gr.2 Tristarc Stakes (1400m) the following October, but had gone winless in seven starts through the 16 months since then.Wrote To Arataki showed a glimpse of her best form with a last-start third in the 2025 edition...

Group One performer Lady Telena for sale on gavelhouse.com

Four years after being sold for just $2,750 on gavelhouse.com, Lady Telena (NZ) (Vespa) is back for sale again on the online platform – this time as a Group One performer and valuable broodmare prospect.Lady Telena raced between the ages of two and seven. Her 58-start career produced six wins, 10 placings and $212,500 in stakes.But she really found her groove after her sale on Gavelhouse.com in March of 2021, which saw her relocate into the Rangiora stable of her part-owner Kenny Moore. She co...

Kiwi Chronicles - Overlooked

New Year began with a bang for Rich Hill Stud when four of their stallions sired five stakes winners within the first 11 days.A treble on New Year’s Day featured Satono Aladdin (Deep Impact) siring Too Sweet in the Eclipse Stakes (Gr 2, 1200m). Vadamos (Monsun) sired Real Class and Island Life to run first and third in the Sir Patrick Hogan Stakes (Gr 2, 1600m) and Proisir (Choisir) sired Bourbon Empress, winner of the Rich Hill Mile (Gr 2, 1600m). Third in the Mile was Uderzo (Vadamos). ...

Classic winner continuing top family trend

Progressive four-year-old Risque Ruler (Mongolian Khan) is the latest success story for a Windsor Park Stud family that for decades has been a constant source of stakes winners.The lightly raced daughter of Mongolian Khan won for the third time in her eight-start career when she powered home from last to claim the $350,000 Sir Patrick Hogan Karapiro Classic (1600m) at Te Rapa last Saturday.Risque Ruler is also furthering the strong partnership the nursery has with New Plymouth trainer Janel...

Shocking sires rare Group One double

Rich Hill Stud’s senior statesman Shocking again emphasised his potency and versatility when proving the dominant figure in Te Rapa’s flagship events on Saturday.His sons El Vencedor and Here To Shock produced commanding performances in the Gr.1 Herbie Dyke Stakes (2000m) and Gr.1 BCD Group Sprint (1400m) respectively for a memorable weight-for-age double.“You don’t take these things for granted, but for one stallion to win two Group Ones on the same card with one over 2000m and one over...

Guineas focus for Public Attention

Smart three-year-old Public Attention (Written Tycoon) is on a path to the Gr.1 Randwick Guineas (1600m) after an impressive first-up victory in the Gr.3 Eskimo Prince Stakes (1200m) at Randwick on Saturday.Ridden by Chad Schofield, the Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr-prepared son of Written Tycoon sat just off surprise leader Linebacker and forged clear of his fellow Kiwi-bred over the concluding stages to score by just over a length.The well-related grey colt has now on two of his five st...

Australians triumph in sprint showdown

Australia took the spoils in Saturday’s eagerly anticipated trans-Tasman sprint clash at Te Rapa as Here To Shock (Shocking) and Bosustow filled the quinella in the Gr.1 BCD Group Sprint (1400m).The presence of 11-race winner Here To Shock and last-start Magic Millions Guineas (1400m) hero Bosustow added international spice to an elite field of sprinters, which also featured top-flight Kiwi talent such as Grail Seeker, Savaglee, Luberon, Waitak and Babylon Berlin. But in the end, the local con...

Northern visitor too strong in Hazlett Stakes

Matamata visitor Harlech (Darci Brahma) made the trip down to Wingatui on Saturday a profitable one as he blitzed his rivals by four lengths in the Listed Nellies Restaurant & Bar Hazlett Stakes (1400m).Trainer Pam Gerard sent the eight-year-old south fresh up, having last raced when fourth of nine at Otaki back in November.Placed three times at Group One level as a younger horse, the Oaks Stud-bred son of Darci Brahma hadn’t visited the winners’ enclosure since May 2024 but didn’...

Tuxedo stakes Derby claim

A dominant performance in the Gr.2 Legacy Lodge Waikato Guineas (2000m) at Te Rapa on Saturday has thrust Tuxedo (Tivaci) into the top echelon of contenders for next month’s Gr.1 New Zealand Derby (2400m).Tuxedo had already shown plenty of promise in his four-race career, winning twice including the Gr.3 Wellington Stakes (1600m) and finishing second in both of the other two. He chased home Derby favourite Willydoit at Ellerslie on New Year’s Day, then returned to the same venue for a r...

El Vencedor dominates Herbie Dyke Stakes

Saturday’s Gr.1 Herbie Dyke Stakes (2000m) at Te Rapa marked another new high point in the career of the ever-improving El Vencedor (Shocking), who took his career earnings past $1 million with a stunning three-length runaway.The son of Shocking initially showed promise as a sprinter, winning over 1200m in both New Zealand and Australia as a three-year-old and placing in the Gr.3 Concorde Handicap (1200m) and Listed Newmarket Handicap (1200m) at four.But El Vencedor has come into his own ...

Leica Lucy survives scare in Fillies’ Classic

Rising star Leica Lucy (Derryn) had to live right up to her fast-growing reputation at Te Rapa on Saturday, getting herself out of deep trouble in the straight and winning the Gr.2 David & Karyn Ellis Fillies’ Classic (2000m).The classy daughter of Derryn went into the $275,000 feature as the hottest favourite of the day at $1.30, having won three of her four starts including dominant recent victories in the Gr.3 Eulogy Stakes (1600m) and Gr.3 Desert Gold Stakes (1600m).Soon after rou...

Meet the Breeder - Leon and Elaine Mountfort

In this week's Dunstan Horsefeeds Meet the Breeder, we catch up with Leon and Elaine Mountfort who have been heavily involved in both breeding and racing in New Zealand for many years. Karaka 2025 proved one of the many highlights of their breeding career when producing Lot 855 the Satono Aladdin x Sparkling Rose filly who was sold to Te Akau Racing for $260,000 and topped the Book 2 sale.Tell us the story of Lot 855 – the Satono Aladdin x Sparkling Rose filly.A couple of years ago Beneficial,...

History backs Haunui’s landmark Karaka sale

The undoubted feelgood story of last week’s New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sales Series was Haunui Farm’s first leading vendor title headed by their $2.4 million sister to Orchestral.Going into the annual auction Haunui principal Mark Chitty knew he had a quality draft to offer, but any calculations as to where that might position the Karaka nursery on the vendors’ table was hardly front and centre of mind.However when all was done and dusted at the end of three days of Book 1 se...

Matamata mare’s Reputation enhanced with stakes victory

Trainer Pam Gerard took plenty of convincing to head south to Tauherenikau with Reputation (Iffraaj) on Thursday, but the long trip paid off with victory in the Listed Clubs NZ Wairarapa Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1600m).Leading apprentice jockey Lily Sutherland was positive aboard Reputation from the jump, pushing forward to sit outside pacemaker Ruby Rocks. Sutherland began to apply pressure from the 600m, which told on Ruby Rocks, and Reputation quickly had the lead. She had a two-lengt...