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Meet the Breeder - Mark Baker

This week in Dunstan Meet the Breeder we chat with Hallmark Stud's Mark Baker to gain an insight into the Te Kauwhata operation that has produced horses such as recent Karaka Million 3yo winner Prowess and Champion filly Katie LeeHow many mares do you breed from?About a dozen at present but need more. What else do you have in your bloodstock portfolio (youngstock, racehorses etc)A few two- & three-year-olds either owned in partnership or our own - mainly in training to target the tried ...

Meet the Breeder - Gavin O'Dea

We caught up with Taranaki-based breeder, Gavin O’Dea who bred Marton Cup winner, Soldier Boy.Gavin is pictured here (second from left) after Cooga Doon’s win in the Listed Wanganui Guineas. Gavin has since added Cooga Doon’s half-sister, Sister Monica, to his broodmare band.How many mares do you breed from: I have three of my own and about four that I have shares in. Forty Love who is the dam of Soldier Boy, also produced his full-sister and NZ Oaks placegetter Van Cooga, who is now ...

Under The Radar - Kim Humphrey

In this feature we speak to people who work tirelessly behind the scene in our industry.What is your role and how did you get to it?I’m the Customer Services Manager here at Dunstan Horsefeeds, I moved back from Sydney during Covid.There was a Maternity position advertised on Seek.co.nz and I thought “ok let's give this a go, it’s ok if I don’t like it it’s only for a year…”, so I applied for it and met the team and they were all amazing. That’s the first job interview I’d had ...

Level 4 Qualification gains first graduate

Brooke Bennett has become the first student to graduate from the Level 4 Certification Breeding Qualification.Supported by Windsor Park Stud, Brooke enrolled in the apprenticeship immediately on leaving school. The NZQA recognised course covers all aspects of the breeding industry over its 22-month time frame.“It is definitely a relief to get it finished, especially as we are in such a busy time of year on the farm,” Bennett said.“The course gave me an appreciation for just how much goes o...

Equine farm nutrient management research to date and future direction

Chris Rogers 1,2, Penny Back 1, Erica Gee2, David Horne1, Yin Chin2, Natalia Martin1, Hannah Airey3 1 School of Agriculture and Environment, Massey University2 School of Veterinary Science, Massey University3 Sunline Scholar, NZTBA Background The Waikato Regional Council’s Healthy Rivers Plan Change 1 (PC1) required large-scale farming operations located within the catchment area of Waikato regional council to calculate a nitrogen loss baseline and comply to the regional council...

Talented two-year-old puts Staphanos on the board

With a dominant performance at Trentham on Saturday, promising two-year-old filly Pignan (Staphanos x Horindelle) became a fitting first winner for Novara Park stallion Staphanos. A placegetter in both of her two previous appearances, the Lisa Latta-trained filly was a class above her four rivals in Saturday’s Kernow Construction 2YO (1100m). She produced an impressive turn of foot in the hands of jockey Joe Doyle, kicking clear to score by three and a half lengths. Pignan is the first runner ...

No doubting Darci at Trentham

Pocket rocket Darci La Bella (Darci Brahma x Bellaroof) added another present under the Christmas tree for her connections when she proved too strong in the closing stages when taking out the Gr.2 Bramco Granite and Marble Manawatu Challenge Stakes (1400m) at Trentham. The Allan Sharrock-trained mare made it four wins in a row, three of them at stakes level, as she downed Group One winner Coventina Bay in a driving finish to the Group Two feature. Rider Jonathan Riddell had a few anxious moments...

No catching Sagunto in Manawatu Cup

A day that started in perfect fashion for trainer Peter McKay when Purrfect Puss (Sacred Falls x Miss Purrfection) saluted in the second race got even better for the Matamata mentor as Sagunto (O'Reilly x Queen Sabeel) landed his biggest victory with an all-the-way win in the Gr.3 Humphries Construction Manawatu Cup (2300m). Rated to perfection by Lisa Allpress, the seven-year-old son of O’Reilly never looked like flinching in the run home after setting up a solid speed throughout the 2300m of...

Polygon heads straight to podium top step at Te Rapa

Lightly raced three-year-old Polygon (NZ) (Highly Recommended) took the step up to stakes company in her stride as she dashed home to take out the feature race at Te Rapa on Saturday, the Gr.3 Lawnmaster Eulogy Stakes (1600m). The Group Three contest was transferred to the Waikato venue after racing at Awapuni was abandoned last Saturday and that played into the hands of the Lance Noble-trained runner who was originally being aimed at the Gr.2 Eight Carat Classic (1600m) at Pukekohe on Boxing Da...

Kovalica demolishes Grand Prix rivals

Smart staying three-year-old Kovalica (Ocean Park x Vitesse) gave favourite punters few concerns when he cruised to victory in Saturday’s Gr.3 Grand Prix Stakes (2100m) at Eagle Farm. Sent out $1.45 favourite, the Chris Waller-trained son of Ocean Park was allowed to find his feet by jockey James Orman, getting back to last in the eight-horse field before looping his rivals and proving a class above. Raced by Neville Morgan and David Devine, Kovalica has now won four of his five starts and t...

Ucalledit thriving in Queensland

Like many Kiwis, five-year-old gelding Ucalledit (Zacinto x Special Bay) is relishing life in Queensland. The former New Zealand-trained galloper has proved a handy addition to the Kris Lees stable and broke through for his maiden stakes success when comfortably accounting for his rivals in the Listed Lough Neagh Stakes (1400m) at Eagle Farm on Saturday. Originally prepared by Kevin Myers, for whom he won four of his 14 starts, Ucalledit was purchased by Australian Bloodstock after two Riccarto...

Meet the Breeder - Warwick Jeffries

This week we speak to Warwick Jeffries who bred Dark Destroyer (Proisir x All Can Party), winner of the Gr.1 Tarzino Trophy (1400m) at Hastings last Saturday. How many mares do you breed from? I have six mares here in New Zealand – with another in Australia. One is at Grange William Stud and the others are foaling down at Highline Thoroughbreds with Cam and Eva Heron. What else do you have in your bloodstock portfolio (youngstock, racehorses etc)? I have a couple of two-year-olds with Stephen...

Meet the Breeder - David Archer

We chatted to David Archer who lives in Karaka Auckland, he is the breeder and owner of Queen Sarabi (Rip Van Winkle/Keepa Cheval) who won the Colin Thompson NZB Insurance Pearl Series race at Matamata on Wednesday.  He is also the breeder of Mufhasa – pictured. Queen Sarabi just won the Pearl Bonus, how important do you think this series is for breeders of fillies/mares to be able compete for? Very valuable, Amy Durant chose the race because of Pearl Bonus and targeted it. I wa...

Friends celebrate Group Three success

The well-performed Per Incanto (USA) mare Faithful Feat (x On Yer Feet) is providing two old friends with loads of fun and enjoyment. The five-year-old was bred by Peter Hart and Ian McDonald and is raced in partnership with Peter’s wife Lynn and Melbourne-based son Blair. The recent winner of the Gr.3 J Swap Sprint (1400m), Faithful Feat has now won seven races from just 15 starts and also has a Group Two placing for good measure. “It’s very exciting, she gives us plenty to talk about aro...

Veteran raises the roof with Cup victory

Hardy veteran Viktor Vegas (NZ) (Tavistock x Purnima) struck a blow for the older generation when he plowed through the wet underfoot conditions at Te Rapa to blitz his rivals in the Gr.3 SKYCITY Hamilton Waikato Cup (2400m). The nine-year-old son of Tavistock has been reinvigorated under the guidance of trainer Casey Lock and belied his advanced age as he backed up the form that saw him run close up in third in the Gr.3 Counties Cup (2100m) at his most recent start. Rider Kozzi Asano ...

Kirwan’s Lane heads Kiwi trifecta in Ingham

New Zealand-breds dominated the inaugural running of the revamped A$2 million Gr.2 The Ingham (1600m) at Randwick on Saturday, with an all-Kiwi trifecta headed by a pair of John O’Shea-trained stablemates. Kirwan’s Lane (NZ) (Charm Spirit x Galway) was presented at just the right time by jockey Brenton Avdulla, bursting to the front with less than 200m remaining. His biggest challenge came from his own stablemate, with a resurgent former Group One winner Lion’s Roar (NZ) (Contributer ...

Sinarahma superior in Te Rapa feature

Warm favourite Sinarahma (NZ) (Darci Brahma x Shez Sinsational) provided a further example of her undoubted class when she cruised to victory in one of the feature events at Te Rapa on Saturday, the Gr.2 Cal Isuzu Stakes (1600m). The Allan Sharrock-trained mare thrived on the Soft7 track conditions, which had been downgraded from earlier in the day due to several heavy showers, as rider Craig Grylls gave her an armchair trip throughout. Settled in behind a steady pace set up by Express...

Flying mare rewards the faithful

Flying mare Faithful Feat (NZ) (Per Incanto x On Yer Feet) showed all her fighting qualities when she overcame a wide barrier, a hefty 58.5kg impost and a heavy downpour that created vision problems for all horses and riders to claim her first black type victory when taking out the Gr.3 J Swap Sprint (1400m) at Te Rapa. The daughter of Per Incanto had won her previous start on the track last month carrying just 54kgs but jumped up a further 4.5kgs for Saturday’s contest against a qua...

Prise De Fer achieves Group One glory

It has been a long time in the making but grand galloper Prise De Fer (Savabeel x Foiled) finally claimed his first elite level title when he took out the Gr.1 Rydges Wellington Captain Cook Stakes (1600m) at Trentham. In a distinguished career that is littered with black type wins the seven-year-old son of Savabeel shed the bridesmaid tag he had been saddled with after five placings at Group One level, including a runner-up finish in the race last year, to put a tick in the win column for the f...

Impendabelle proves too tough at Trentham

Despite a few moments of concern when placed in tight quarters at the top of the Trentham home straight, rugged filly Impendabelle (Impending x Applegate) maintained her unbeaten record with a dogged performance to win the Gr.2 Mode Technology Wakefield Challenge Stakes (1100m). The Tony Pike-trained filly had been an impressive first up winner at the venue back in October and went in to her first black type challenge on Saturday as a warm $2 favourite. Her backers had plenty of reasons to worry...

Sacred Satono all class in Bonecrusher Stakes

Progressive three-year-old Sacred Satono (Satono Aladdin x Belle Joie) produced a winning effort that more than honoured the memory of the champion galloper that Saturday’s feature race at Pukekohe was named after when taking out the Gr.3 Mitchell Family Bonecrusher Stakes (1400m). The Bruce Wallace and Grant Cooksley-trained runner was all out at the 200m as he battled with eventual runner-up The Intimidator for the win but pulled out something extra to put his head in front where it mattered...

Kissinger impresses in Pakenham Cup victory

Progressive New Zealand-bred galloper Kissinger (Tavistock x Berlin Belle) provided further evidence of his staying prowess when he produced a sustained home straight burst to comfortably score his first stakes success in Saturday’s Listed Pakenham Cup (2500m) Under the guidance of Damien Oliver, the lightly raced seven-year-old sat back in the early running before looping into contention approaching the home bend. Unleashed by Oliver at the 300m the son of Tavistock quickly mastered the front...

NZTBA hosts Governor-General

The New Zealand thoroughbred breeding industry has gained a new fan following the visit by Her Excellency, The Rt Hon Dame Cindy Kiro GNZM, QSO, Governor-General of New Zealand to two of the country’s leading stud farms last week. The Governor-General is the representative of the Sovereign in New Zealand and an invitation was extended by the New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association (NZTBA) earlier this year as part of The late Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations. NZTBA CEO Justine ...

Dolan gets winning tune out of Bonny Ezra

Seven-year-old Road To Rock gelding Bonny Ezra (Road to Rock x Ascolini) provided his Kiwi connections with a good pay day when charging home to land the Listed ATC Cup (2000m) for trainer Chris Waller under a masterful Robbie Dolan ride. Sent out a $31 chance, Bonny Ezra upset the applecart after coming from last under Dolan, who picked a path through runners closer to the rail to score from Dr Drill. The victory reaffirmed the riding skills of Dolan, who these days juggles being a jockey wit...

Milford eclipses rivals at Caulfield

Improved underfoot conditions were the key to Milford (Savabeel x Etiquette) returning to winning ways in the Gr.3 Eclipse Stakes (1800m) at Caulfield on Saturday. The son of Savabeel was given an economical ride near the pace by Blake Shinn and the former New Zealand Derby runner-up pounced when presented. Successful in the Gr.3 Easter Cup (2000m) on the course earlier this year, Milford had been unplaced in his previous run in the A$2 million Five Diamonds (1800m) at Rosehill but trainer Micha...