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Deserved Dunedin Gold Cup win for Kilowatt

After more than three years as a star of the South Island’s country cups, under-rated stayer Kilowatt stepped up to stakes class for a career-best victory in Saturday’s Listed Alleviate Administration Dunedin Gold Cup (2400m) at Wingatui. Originally trained by Jacob McKay at Matamata, the son of Shocking relocated to the Riverton stable of Kelvin and Aimee Tyler in 2017. His 10 victories since then include the Summer Cup (1600m), Gore Cup (1800m), Tapanui Cup (2000m) and two editions of the ...

Palmetto strides to Dunedin Guineas victory

Underrated three-year-old Palmetto defied a betting drift to claim the Listed Positive Signs Dunedin Guineas (1500m) at Wingatui with a swooping late run that carried him to a comfortable two length victory. The Sally McKay-trained runner had looked to have real potential when winning impressively at Riccarton back in June at his only two-year-old start, but in five subsequent runs had failed to return at the head of the field. Not that his form had been too discouraging as he had run fourth in ...

Wigley excited by 2022 Karaka yearling sale draft

Sitting in their kitchen on a damp Sunday afternoon, putting together promotional videos for the eleven members of their 2022 New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling sale draft at Karaka in March, Inglewood Stud owners Gus and Bianca Wigley are hard at work. The pair are excited about the prospects for this year’s sale and the draft they have assembled from the property that first came into existence when founded by Wigley’s great-grandfather Ken Austin back in 1938. Austin was one of the k...

Dunlop excited by Karaka 2022 line-up

Despite getting drenched during an early morning yearling parade on Waitangi Day Monday, Phoenix Park principal Janine Dunlop is struggling to take the smile off her face as she prepares for the 2022 edition of the New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling sale at Karaka next month. Dunlop is one of the most recognisable faces at Karaka each year and having prepared and sold some of the leading individuals from the sale on numerous occasions, knows when she has a line-up that will attract interes...

Leanach Lodge hoping to raise the bar again

Leanach Lodge graduates have enjoyed widespread racing success, particularly the Karaka class of 2020 and this year’s New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale Book 1 draft compares most favourably, according to principal Ross Mackay.The Ohaupo operation will present a 10-strong consignment with an even mix of colts and fillies and spirits have been buoyed by more recent racetrack results.“I think this draft is stronger and the biggest I have had and there are some lovely horses there,�...

Novashow shines in Pearl Series race

Novashow (Showcasing x Bonaichi) picked up a valuable bonus when successful in the NZB Pearl Series Race (1400m) at Te Rapa on Wednesday. The three-year-old daughter of Showcasing was coming off a last-start fifth at Rotorua where she had jumped swiftly to lead before being heading in the straight. This time around she again quick from the gates with jockey Craig Grylls settling her just off the initial leader Mini Miner. Grylls launched his challenge coming out of the turn with the pair battli...

La Crique gives impetus to Cassin’s retirement plan

Retirement has taken on special meaning for John Cassin through the emergence of his exciting three-year-old filly La Crique (Vadamos - Destiny Cove). The former medical supplies company executive had dabbled in thoroughbreds for more than a decade, breeding, racing, buying and pinhooking. Since selling his company shareholding last year to pursue a life of leisure, he and his wife Jan have had more than enough to capture their imagination. Central to that has been their broodmare Destiny Cove, ...

Hedwood Thoroughbreds celebrate Timaru Stakes win

Self-confessed pedigree enthusiast Kay Hood was delighted after homebred mare Monza Circuito (Showcasing – Monzahra) delivered a surprise victory in last Saturday’s Listed Timaru Stakes (1400m) at Riccarton. The South Island breeder, who bred the seven-year-old mare under the Hedwood Thoroughbreds banner in partnership with her daughter Marie, said the Stephen Marsh-trained Monza Circuito had suffered some issues leading into the race and was full of praise for jockey Corey Campbell. “She ...

Kiwis flying midweek in Australia

It was a red-letter day for New Zealand-breds in Australia on Wednesday. On the Kensington track at Randwick Kiwi-breds won three of the seven races, including a trifecta in the Benchmark 72 1800m, led home by former Gr.1 New Zealand Derby (2400m) contender Reggiewood. The son of Redwood beat home stakes winner Main Stage (by Reliable Man) by three-quarters of a length, with a further two lengths back to Savabeel gelding Savvy Legend in third. Other Kiwi-bred victors included Tavistock mare Bedf...

Rich Hill on a roll heading into Karaka 2022

Feature race wins by La Crique in the Gr.3 Desert Gold Stakes (1600m) and Lincoln King in the Gr.3 Wellington Cup (3200m) at Trentham on Saturday, continued a wonderful run for progeny of the resident stallions of Matamata-based Rich Hill Stud. La Crique is a three-year-old daughter from the first crop of European Group One winning miler, Vadamos while Lincoln King is by former Gr.1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) and Gr.1 Australian Cup (2000m) winner Shocking. They join Gr.1 Telegraph (1200m) winner Lev...

Monza Circuito claims deserved stakes success at Riccarton

It was mission accomplished for underrated galloper Monza Circuito when she led all the way to take out the Listed Speight’s Timaru Stakes (1400m) at Riccarton. The seven-year-old Showcasing mare did her early racing for local trainer Mike McCann but shifted into the care of Stephen Marsh’s Riccarton base back in June last year, with the aim of achieving a victory at stakes level. Placed three times in black type company earlier in her career, Monza Circuito achieved her mission courtesy of ...

Lincoln King heads Wellington Cup quinella for Marsh

Cambridge trainer Stephen Marsh registered a notable milestone when he saddled the quinella in the Gr.3 NZ Campus of Innovation & Sport Wellington Cup (3200m) with Lincoln King and Starrybeel. Marsh went into the race with a degree of confidence following the midweek scratching of pre-post favourite and last year’s winner Waisake and that confidence proved well-founded. Seven-year-old gelding Lincoln King, a proven two-mile performer having finished second in the 2020 Gr.3 New Zealand Cup (32...

The Chosen One sparkles in Thorndon Mile

A late nomination to contest the Group One feature at Trentham on Saturday paid dividends for the connections of quality performer The Chosen One as the Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman-trained runner scored a stunning victory in the Gr.1 Harcourts Thorndon Mile (1600m). Having his first start since running a gallant fifth in the Gr.1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) back in November, the six-year-old Savabeel entire looked well suited under the set weights and penalties conditions of the race, having to ca...

La Crique brilliant in Desert Gold Stakes

Talented filly La Crique lapped up the roomy surrounds at Trentham on Saturday as she spaced her rivals for a brilliant win in the Gr.3 New Zealand Bloodstock Desert Gold Stakes (1600m). Backed in to a warm $2.20 favourite, the daughter of Rich Hill Stud stallion Vadamos travelled sweetly throughout as she stalked the pacemakers for rider Craig Grylls before being unleashed shortly after turning for home. Grylls waited as long as he could before asking for a supreme effort and the Katrina and Si...

New Karaka 2022 Trainers Series commences

New Zealand Bloodstock is pleased to announce a new incentive for New Zealand-based trainers wishing to purchase at its National Yearling Sales Series at Karaka held from 7 to 12 March. Five race meetings throughout New Zealand have been selected for the Karaka 2022 Trainers Series. The trainer of each winning horse on the racecard of each meeting will go into a draw at the end of the day to win a special prize package, should they wish to purchase at NZB’s National Yearling Sales Series in M...

Kaapfever Rules the roost on Australia Day

Kaapfever (Sufficient x  Kaapdiva) produced one of the biggest moments in racing for breeder and co-owner Colin Rule at Warwick Farm on Wednesday when winning the Listed Australia Day Cup (2400m). The son of Sufficient ran third in the race last year and Rule was delighted that the Joe Pride-trained gelding was able to go two better this year. Rule didn’t give the New Zealand-bred seven-year-old much of a chance until he neared the 800m mark. “It was amazing, we didn’t give him a chan...

Verry Elleegant on top of the world

Verry Elleegant has been rated the world’s best racemare according to the Longines World’s Best Racehorse Rankings (WBRR) released by the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities (IFHA) on Tuesday. The New Zealand-bred mare was given a rating of 123 for her win in the Gr.1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington in November, putting her 15th equal in the WBRR, and the highest-rated female equine athlete in the world. Trainer Chris Waller was over the moon upon hearing the news. "Proud...

Vale Ross Nickel

A man of the land with good stock sense is just one-way Stanley “Ross” Nickel, who passed away earlier this month, will be remembered by his good friend and neighbour Jock Wilson. Nickel, a member of the Waikato branch of the NZTBA and a stalwart of the Te Aroha Jockey Club, lived the most part of his life on the family farm in Waihou on the outskirts of Te Aroha and was a true Te Aroha local. “He was a man of the land who demonstrated true stock sense, his stock was always in prime condit...

Further stakes increases announced

The Board of New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing (NZTR) has announced further stakes increases. An increase of $2.4 million has been allocated for the period of 3 April until 26 August 2022 and includes stakes lifts across the board. As outlined in July when announcing the $7 million injection into stakes NZTR Chairman Cameron George reemphasised that the NZTR Board has created a rolling funding policy. “As opposed to announcing increases across a full racing season, this policy enables the Boar...

Auckland & Waikato Karaka 2022 Yearling Inspection Tour

Bloodstock agent Stuart Hale has announced the dates for his 2022 New Zealand Bloodstock Yearling Sale tour. The five day programme covers the Auckland and Waikato region, visiting 30 venues with refreshments and meals provided. To book a spot on the tour contact Stuart Hale on 0274920975....

Ribchester on the board with Randwick winner

A stylish debut performance by a two-year-old filly at Randwick on Saturday marked the first southern hemisphere success for Haunui Farm shuttle stallion Ribchester. Godolphin’s Plymstock began her career on the perfect note in the Heineken 3 Handicap (1000m), sprinting impressively from near the back of the nine-horse field to score by just under a length for jockey Tim Clark. The James Cummings-trained Plymstock is the first winner from three runners in the first southern hemisphere two-year...

Karaka all go, even in red

New Zealand Bloodstock’s National Yearling Sale in March is set to go ahead, even if the country enters the red alert level of the COVID-19 traffic light system. On Thursday, New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced that the entire country would enter the red traffic light alert level once the Omicron strain of COVID-19 entered the community. New Zealand Bloodstock were quick to quell fears that this would put their National Yearling Sale in jeopardy, with Managing Director Andrew S...

Third time lucky for Dragon Queen

The third time was the charm for Dragon Queen at Ellerslie’s Karaka Million twilight meeting on Saturday, landing a career-best victory in the Gr.2 Westbury Classic (1400m). Since her purchase for $50,000 by the New Zealand Chinese Jockey Club and Paul Moroney Bloodstock at Karaka in 2019, the daughter of Sweynesse has spent much of her 18-start career in stakes grade. That includes a close fifth in the Karaka Million 2YO (1200m) in 2020, followed by a sixth in last year’s Karaka Million 3YO...

Triumph to tragedy in Gore Guineas

The connections of highly talented three-year-old Mackenzie Lad went from a stakes-winning high to one of the worst feelings in racing within the space of a few seconds on Saturday afternoon. The Vespa gelding edged out the favourite Ruby’s Lad by a neck to claim his first black-type win in the Listed Liquorland Gore Guineas (1335m) but broke down badly soon after the finish line. “Sadly, he broke his leg past the line and had to be put down,” co-trainer Matthew Pitman said. “At least Di...

Sword Of State back with a vengeance at Ellerslie

Talented three-year-old colt Sword Of State shrugged off an indifferent Australian spring campaign to display his true class when he dominated his rivals in the Gr.3 Cambridge Stud Almanzor Trophy (1200m) at Ellerslie. Wearing the colours of Brendan and Jo Lindsay, who co-own the colt and sponsored the race, the son of Snitzel sat in the trail behind pacemaker Bonny Lass before rider Opie Bosson had him off the rail to challenge on the point of the home turn. Bosson said go at the 300m and Sword...