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Sakura Girl hands Foote a winning double

Sakura Girl hands Foote a winning doubleExciting galloper Sakura Girl presented her trainer Ben Foote and rider Kozzi Asano with the second leg of a winning stakes double at Te Rapa on Saturday when she cruised to victory in the Gr.3 McKee Family Sunline Vase (2100m).The three-year-old daughter of Iffraaj couldn’t have been more impressive as she went straight to the front and never gave her age-group rivals a look in throughout the Group Three contest.Asano had her in a beautiful rhythm in fr...

Romancing The Moon shines at Wingatui

A confidence-boosting first stakes victory in Saturday’s Listed NZB Insurance Stakes (1400m) at Wingatui has laid the platform for proven black-type performer Romancing The Moon to embark on a Group One mission later this month.Saturday’s three-year-old fillies’ feature was the sixth time in the El Roca filly’s 10-start career that she has taken on black-type company, having previously run second in the Listed O’Learys Fillies’ Stakes (1200m), second in the Group Three Soliloquy Stak...

Favourite wins New Zealand Derby

Raging hot favourite Sharp ‘N’ Smart made good on the promise of co-trainer Graeme Rogerson as he showed all the star qualities he possesses with a superlative performance to take out the Gr.1 Auckland Thoroughbred Racing New Zealand Derby (2400m).Raced at Te Rapa this year due to the current track renovations at traditional home Ellerslie, the Derby looked to be at the mercy of the Gr.1 Victoria Derby (2500m) runner-up after the son of Redwood stunned many with a victory in the Gr.1 Herbie ...

Cross Talk leads all the way in Newcastle Stakes

Usually more at home on a wetter track, the firmer going at Newcastle proved to be no obstacle to Cross Talk (NZ) (Keano) winning the Gr.3 Newcastle Stakes (1400m) on Friday.Formerly run as the Newcastle Newmarket, the five-year-old led all the way to register a fifth win in the race for co-trainer Gai Waterhouse.With his record now at six wins and five placings in 12 career outings, Cross Talk will aim to become the third horse to complete the Newcastle Stakes/Doncaster Mile...

Meet the Breeder - David Wallace

Last week in the Dunstan Horsefeeds Meet The Breeder segment, we caught up with David Wallace following Little Brose's success in the Gr.1 Blue Diamond Stakes.What made you interested in breeding horses and how did you get into it?My family-owned Ardsley Stud so I was brought up with horses, brought up in the game. My Grandfather started Ardsley Stud in 1970 (I think!).How many mares do you breed from:About nine, across both New Zealand and Australia.How did Mohegan Sky end up in your broodmare ...

Six broodmare packages first up in Cambridge Stud’s annual reduction

Cambridge Stud’s annual reduction process has started with a quality line up in the latest 74 Lot gavelhouse.com auction.“Every year we reduce our broodmare numbers to make way for the fillies coming in from our racing team,” said the farm’s Sales and Nominations Manager Scott Calder.“This year we are offering several mares with foals at foot including two with colts by our headline sire Almanzor.”“The mare and foal packages are a great opportunity to not only buy a well credential...

gavelhouse.com auction to support cyclone relief

The catalogue is now online for the gavelhouse.com Thoroughbred 6 March auction with a special component to the sale aimed at supporting the cyclone relief fund.Instigated by champion trainer Roger James, along with Tony Rider of Milan Park, who also operates PAK'nSAVE Clarence Street, a host of stallion services have been put up for auction with funds to go towards providing supermarket essentials for flood-ravaged East Coast communities.Stallion services include Ancient Spirit, Ardrossan, Derr...

Oaks hope stars on top day for Pike

Val Di Zoldo headlined a stellar day for Tony Pike at Awapuni where she added serious momentum to her preparation for the country’s premier staying feature for fillies.A first stakes winner for her Inglewood Stud-based stallion War Decree, she was one of three success stories at the Central Districts fixture for the Cambridge trainer when she claimed top honours in the Gr.2 Little Avondale Lowland Stakes (2100m).Val Di Zoldo, who followed the earlier winning leads of stablemates Field Of Gold ...

Raising racehorses with cows a winning formula

On a 180-hectare farm in the Whangaehu Valley, in the Wanganui/Manawatu region, Humphrey and Fiona O’Leary mix milking cows, growing maize and breeding racehorses.While some may shy away from the idea of three different types of farming Fiona says the relaxed on-farm systems in place for the racehorses make it work.The O’Leary’s emigrated from Ireland approximately 140 years ago, with the following generation of sons settling mainly in the Whangaehu Valley to dairy farm. Today, you will fi...

Per Incanto colt wins Blue Diamond

The Ben and JD Hayes-trained Little Brose (Per Incanto x Mohegan Sky) ran out a ready winner of the Gr.1 Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m) at Sandown on Saturday, the tenth time the Hayes surname has claimed Victoria’s premier two-year-old race.Ridden by Michael Dee, the son of popular New Zealand sire Per Incanto settled just forward of midfield one off the fence and enjoyed an unimpeded run in the home straight, striding clear for a comfortable length win over Don Corleone and Arkansaw Kid.Th...

Walker tops 2YO podium at Matamata

Local mentor Mark Walker was on top of the podium at Matamata on Saturday when he claimed the two juvenile feature races on the day.Walker and Te Akau Racing produced the quinella in the Gr.3 Fairview Matamata Slipper (1200m) with the unbeaten Tokyo Tycoon (Satono Aladdin x All About The Coin) making it four straight wins as he romped home from stablemate Trobriand, while just three races later it was blue-blood filly Zourion (Zoustar x Irion), who showed she could have untapped potential, ...

Colorado Star too tough in Kaimai Stakes

Another daring ride by Jonathan Riddell provided the impetus for rejuvenated galloper Colorado Star (Alamosa x Elegant Emerald) to claim his second consecutive stakes victory when he cruised home to win the Listed Matamata Veterinary Services Kaimai Stakes (2000m) on Saturday.The Mike Breslin-trained seven-year-old had started his career as an outstanding sprinter-miler, winning five of his first 14 starts at distances from 1200m up to 1600m.A winning drought that started in September 2021 ...

Fourth Group One for Levante

Matamata-trained mare Levante (Proisir x Island Doy) added a fourth Group One victory to her résumé when she defeated another class performer in La Crique to take out the Gr.1 El Cheapo Cars WFA Classic (1600m) at Otaki.The two quality mares had been expected to fight out the finish of the feature, with punters unable to separate then in betting as they each started at a $2.80 quote.The Ken and Bev Kelso-trained Levante, who had been finishing resolutely in her runs over shorter distances, had...

2023 NZB national online yearling sale entries open

Entries for New Zealand Bloodstock’s 2023 National Online Yearling Sale are now open, with the Sale set to be held on NZB’s online subsidiary Gavelhouse Plus for the third year.The catalogue will be available to view online from Wednesday 5 April, with bidding set to close on Wednesday 19 April.Rich Hill Stud Principal John Thompson views the Sale as a viable option for breeders who are willing to offer their horses online.“I believe this sale on Gavelhouse Plus offers a great alternative ...

Meet the Breeder - Ben Kwok

This week in Dunstan Meet The Breeder we chat to Singapore-based Ben Kwok who is particularly fond of the New Zealand thoroughbred breeding industry and has had great success on both sides of the Tasman.What made you interested in breeding horses?In the very beginning I was a very small-time breeder and then I met the team at Windsor Park, Rodney and Steve and everyone there; they taught me more and more and so I became more and more interested.How many mares do you breed from:Around 15 in New Z...

First Southern Hemisphere winner for US Navy Flag

The Chrissy Bambry-trained Chantilly Lace (U S Navy Flag x On The Move) ran out an impressive winner of the Palamountains Animal Nutrition 2YO 1200 at Wanganui on Thursday and in the process provided her sire, US Navy Flag, with his first southern hemisphere winner.Sent out an $11 chance, Chantilly Lace settled midfield under Kelsey Hannan and was sent forward to tackle the leaders coming around the home bend, dashing away for an easy two-and-a-half length victory at her fourth raceday start.The...

Good advice gets Guineas win

Listen to the right people and be good at taking advice – that’s the philosophy that Wessel Van der Scheer attributes to his success.He has applied this theory to his thoroughbred breeding interests and now under the banner of Mahoenui Partnerhsip, is the proud breeder of New Zealand Derby aspirant and Gr.2 ATR Avondale Guineas winner Desert Lightning (Pride of Dubai [AUS] – Isstoora [AUS]).Now a resident in his native Germany, Van der Scheer is successful in the banking and brokerage indu...

Hawke’s Bay Racing doing its part with cyclone recovery

In the midst of recovery from Cyclone Gabrielle, Hawke’s Bay Racing is showing that they are much more than an organisation for racing horses.Since the cyclone devastated the Hawke’s Bay region a week ago, Hastings racecourse has become an important centre for the community, helping people and animals recover, and providing a base to help clean-up efforts.Hastings was due to hold a race meeting on Sunday February 19 but decided once the decision was made to abandon that day that the focus sh...

Aquacade issues powerful Cup statement at Pukekohe

In-form staying mare Aquacade (Dundeel x Forest Of The Seas) declared she is the horse to beat in the Gr.2 Barfoot & Thompson Auckland Cup (3200m) with an emphatic statement as she powered home to take out the Gr.2 ATR Avondale Cup (2400m) at Pukekohe.The Lance Noble-trained four-year-old started a warm favourite ($2.90) in the race off the back of victories in three of her last four starts and fully justified that support with an authoritative performance.Regular pilot Warren Kennedy slotte...

Press Charges upsets in Southland Guineas

An aggressive display of front running riding by Lisa Allpress paved the way for lightly raced three-year-old Press Charges (Press Statement x Max It Out) to upset the applecart when taking the Listed ILT Ascot Park Hotel Southland Guineas (1600m) at odds of better than $21.Betting in the race was dominated by last start Listed Dunedin Guineas (1500m) winner Specialty ($1.90) and he looked the goods when he was hustled to the early lead by rider Brandon May.Allpress found herself shunted out thr...

Lightning strikes in Avondale Guineas

Classy three-year-old Desert Lightning (Pride of Dubai x Isstoora) thrust himself to the forefront of discussions surrounding the Gr.1 Auckland Thoroughbred Racing New Zealand Derby (2400m) when he narrowly defeated Waitak to claim victory in the Gr.2 AJC Avondale Guineas (2100m) at Pukekohe.The Peter and Dawn Williams-trained runner has been highly competitive throughout his Classic season with a half head runner-up finish to Pier in the Gr.1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) in the spring prece...

Osipenko stakes Guineas claim

Smart three-year-old Osipenko (Pierro x Raskova) put his hand up as an autumn force when he scooted through along the inside to win the Gr.2 Hobartville Stakes (1400m) by a short half-head over Zou Tiger ($7) with Matcha Latte ($21) another short neck away third.Odds-on favourite Aft Cabin endured a torrid run, dwelling slightly at the start then having to work his way around the field to sit outside the leader and the effort told with the colt tiring to finish fifth.While Aft Cabin had excuses,...

Group One in sight for Annavisto

Quality mare Annavisto (Reliable Man x Avisto) trialled in ominous fashion earlier in the month and converted that to an explosive raceday resumption when comfortably winning the Gr.3 Tony Bourke Memorial (1400m) at Flemington on Saturday.The five-year-old daughter of Reliable Man won the Group Three feature last year and produced a dominant on-speed performance on Saturday under Jamie Kah to go back-to-back.Pressured for much of the contest by Wrote To Arataki, the pair of in-form mares got awa...

Meet the Breeder - Noelene Bishop

We caught up with Noelene Bishop who bred stakes-winner Wrote To Arataki from her sole broodmare, Galloping Gerte.How did you get into breeding horses?Well, I love animals and have always had animals, but I have never had a thoroughbred. Both my grandfather and father were into it. I have six sons and no daughters, so I say it took me to get a filly to get a daughter! I also wanted a filly that I could later breed from.Tell us about Galloping Gerte?I bought her dam at the yearling sales for $250...

Floods wreak havoc for Hawke’s Bay trainer

Amid the devastation and destruction to her property which has decimated her business, Hawke's Bay trainer Vicki Wilson is counting herself lucky.Wilson's Kahuranaki farm, south of Hastings, suffered extensive damage from flooding resulting from Cyclone Gabrielle but despite the heartbreak she is still looking on the bright side and prioritising the care of 180 horses on the property."We're incredibly lucky. All the people are safe, all the horses are safe," Wilson said."I know there are people ...