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Mana Nui impressive in Hawke’s Bay Guineas

Despite providing trainer Chad Ormsby with some mid-race jitters, promising three-year-old colt Mana Nui delivered when it counted as he claimed victory in the Gr.2 Dundeel At Arrowfield Hawke’s Bay Guineas (1400m). The son of No Nay Never had cleared maiden ranks at his last start at Te Rapa but went into Saturday’s Hastings feature off a four week break since that effort in early September. Ormsby had asked rider Vinnie Colgan to try and ride the colt up on the pace, however an early speed...

Plan comes to fruition for Justacanta

A thrilling victory by Justacanta in Saturday’s Listed Paris Lane Stakes (1410m) at Flemington saw the successful culmination of a plan hatched by trainers Shaun and Emma Clotworthy after the now eight-year-old had completed his summer campaign in March this year. A model of consistency over his 47 New Zealand starts, where he won six races and was placed a further 20 times, including at Group Three level, the son of Per Incanto had reached an awkward place in the handicaps with his owners of ...

Elusive Express claims Edward Manifold

Kiwi import Elusive Express justified favourite punters confidence when winning the Gr.2 Edward Manifold Stakes (1610m) at Flemington on Saturday for trainers Anthony and Sam Freedman. The daughter of Jakkalberry caught the eye when closing for third in her previous start in the Gr.2 Thousand Guineas Prelude (1400m) and was perfectly ridden by Jye McNeil on Saturday. Sitting just behind the speed before angling clear in the straight, the lightly-tried filly was strong through the line and could ...

Cox Plate calling Mav after Windsor Park victory

Hometown hero Callsign Mav booked his ticket for a shot at the Gr.1 Cox Plate (2040m) at Moonee Valley later this month when he took out the second leg of the Hawke’s Bay triple crown on Saturday, the Gr.1 Windsor Park Plate (1600m) at Hastings. The John Bary-trained son of Atlante had scored in the Gr.1 Tarzino Trophy (1400m) a fortnight ago and went into Saturday’s contest as the warm $1.80 favourite to make it two Group One wins in succession. Ridden positively by regular pilot Jonathan R...

Group One win for Tivaci’s Never Been Kissed

Waikato Stud-bred and raced filly Never Been Kissed proved too strong in Saturday’s Gr.1 Flight Stakes (1600m) at Randwick for Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, with the elite-level success coming at just her fourth start. The victory by Never Been Kissed was a breakthrough for young High Chaparral stallion Tivaci, who stands at Waikato Stud and is making every post a winner now his eldest crop have turned three. Ridden by Regan Bayliss, Never Been Kissed tracked the leaders throughout and show...

DUNSTAN BREEDER OF THE MONTH | Bill Gleeson

The 2021/22 racing season has started on a high for Wellfield Lodge Director Bill Gleeson who has two stakes winners to his credit just a month into the term. Gleeson bred Wakari (Vespa x Denlee) who scored an upset victory earlier this month in the Listed Sir Colin Meads Trophy (1200m) and is the co-breeder of House of Cartier (Alamosa x Shez Sinsational) who was at her winning best last weekend in the Gr.3 Metric Mile (1600m) at Awapuni. For good measure Colorado Star (Alamosa x Elegant Emera...

Elephant’s fan club growing

Quirkily named racehorse Elephant (Shocking [AUS]-Ticklish) is developing a bit of a cult following. It could be down to being named after a pachyderm or his ability on the racetrack with his record of six wins from seven starts, but whatever it is his breeder and part-owner Andrew Fowler is extremely proud of him. “It’s just the craziest thing, I can’t believe it,” he said. “Everyone seems to love him and be following him. “He’s becoming a bit of a cult figure I have had people co...

Climate Change - Adapt or Die

Read the latest installment in Sally Linton's series about how horses owners can manage climate change effects on their property....

Banquo a valuable addition to Waikato Stud stallion roster

Champions of the colonial bred, Waikato Stud have added another beautifully bred Southern Hemisphere stallion Banquo (AUS) (Written Tycoon[AUS]-Noondie[AUS]) to their ranks. By Written Tycoon, out of the winning Flying Spur (AUS) mare Noondie, Banquo was the winner of two races and had five placings from 16 starts. From the stable of Danny O’Brien, he started twice as a two-year-old, and at three ran second first-up in a maiden race at Sale. He followed that placing up with his maiden win and ...

Online world record set as Avantage commands $4.1 million

Nine-time Group One winner Avantage has fetched a whopping $4.1 million when sold to Tom Magnier of global breeding giant Coolmore via New Zealand Bloodstock’s online platform Gavelhouse Plus. The stunning figure establishes a new world record for any horse sold online, a growing trend in the bloodstock industry. The daughter of Fastnet Rock is the third highest-priced mare ever sold via auction in the Southern Hemisphere behind Milanova, who fetched A$5 million in 2008, and the A$4.2 million...

Mav magic claiming second Group One

The first Group One race of the season has been run and won with Callsign Mav (Atlante x Raadisi) once again taking out the Tarzino Trophy (1400m) at Hastings on Saturday. For breeders Windsor Park Stud it’s a welcome feeling of groundhog day with the five-year-old son of Atlante recording his sixth win. “We are pretty chuffed really,” said Windsor Park Stud stud master Rodney Schick. “To do that again this year was great, it was a gutsy run to get out there and win like that.” Callsig...

Avantage to sell through Gavelhouse Plus

Nine-time Group One winner Avantage, whose racing career was brought to a sudden halt on Friday after suffering a tendon injury, will be sold through New Zealand Bloodstock’s Gavelhouse Plus in an online auction that starts on Sunday 19 September and finishes at 7pm New Zealand time on Wednesday 22 September. Te Akau Racing’s David Ellis confirmed that the NZ$210,000 NZB Karaka Yearling Sale graduate, who won 16 of her 28 starts and $2.16 million in prizemoney, would be traded through the on...

Art De Triomphe caps magical hour for Go Racing syndicates

Albert Bosma’s Go Racing syndicates enjoyed one of their finest hours on Saturday when they celebrated three separate victories including two at stakes level in the space of sixty minutes. Talented galloper Hasabro kicked off proceedings at Riccarton when he produced a fresh-up victory over 1200m for the Go Racing Hasabro syndicate, before exciting four-year-old Atishu made it two wins from three starts out of the Chris Waller stable in Sydney for members of the Go Racing Ring A Ring syndicate...

Wakari upsets favourites at Hastings

Awapuni galloper Wakari upset all predictions when he held out hot favourite I Wish I Win to take out the Listed El Roca-Sir Colin Meads Trophy (1200m) at Hastings. Punters had disregarded the chances of the three-year-old son of Vespa after he could only manage second in rating 65 company first-up at Hawera when expected to win comfortably. Trainer Royden Bergerson didn’t buy into that sentiment and was expecting a forward showing from his charge with the benefit of that race under his belt. ...

Callsign Mav defends Group One title

Gritty local galloper Callsign Mav had to call on all his undoubted talent as he took out his second Gr.1 Tarzino Trophy (1400m) in succession, in a desperate finish to the feature event at Hastings on Saturday. The John Bary-trained son of Atlante had upset in the race in 2020 at odds of more than $80, but with the scratching of the pre-post favourite in Avantage on Friday, this time the punters were happy to install the strapping five-year-old as the top fancy at $3.30. Rider Jonathan Riddell ...

Rails run aids Bellacontte to land Gold Trail

Rider Sarah Macnab produced a gem of a ride as she guided under-rated filly Bellacontte to a thrilling victory in the Gr.3 Hawke’s Bay Breeders’ Gold Trail Stakes (1200m) at Hastings. The Chrissy Bambry-trained daughter of Burgundy went into the Group Three feature off the back of a gritty win in the Listed The O’Learys Fillies Stakes (1200m) at Wanganui at the start of the month and paid a generous $21.70 for the win, despite being a last-start stakes winner. Macnab had pierced through an...

Atishu books Epsom berth

Former New Zealander Atishu will attempt to follow the path blazed by Probabeel last year and claim the Bill Ritchie-Epsom Handicap double after taking out the first leg at Randwick. Now prepared by Chris Waller, the Go Racing-owned Atishu ($3.50 fav) showed fierce determination to wear down leader Prime Star (fifth) then get the better of Looks Like Elvis as the pair drew clear to fight the race out. She scored by a half-neck over Looks Like Elvis ($31) with the winner's stablemate Aramayo ($1...

Sierra Sue wins Sir Rupert Clarke

New Zealand bred mare Sierra Sue recorded a gritty Group One win when prevailing in the Gr.1 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on Saturday in the hands of Daniel Moor. Sierra Sue, who carries the colours of Ozzie Kheir and is raced by a host of prominent owners, narrowly prevailed from Dice Roll with the heavily-backed $4.20 favourite I'm Thunderstruck a half-length away third. Prepared by Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young, the Darci Brahma five-year-old has been in impeccable form th...

Nine of the best for Verry Elleegant

Death, taxes and Verry Elleegant. They’re the three things you can rely on in life and the New Zealand bred mare once again did her legion of supporters proud as she dug deep and overcame a sub-optimal run to get the better of game front-runner Riodini to land the Gr.1 George Main Stakes (1600m) at Randwick on Saturday. It was the ninth Group One win of Verry Elleegant’s career as she surpassed A$9 million in earnings. Sent out a $1.75 favourite, Verry Elleegant was slow into stride from b...

Changing Times

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NZTR Launches Acknowledged Retrainers network

As part of the ongoing increase in activity around Thoroughbred welfare initiatives, NZTR is pleased to announce the launch of the initial network of NZTR Acknowledged Retrainers. “Thoroughbred welfare is at the heart of what we do, and NZTR has been progressively rolling out initiatives to fulfil the industry’s collective obligation for the guardianship of our horses,” NZTR GM Welfare & Sustainability Martin Burns said. “The commencement of the NZTR Acknowledged Retrainers network is th...

Entriviere rewards breeder with Group Two win

Breeding a stakes winner is nothing new to octogenarian Kevin Gray, but he does admit to being particularly thrilled and proud of the ATC Gr.2 Sheraco Stakes winner Entriviere (Tavistock- Marcey’s Belt). In his long and colourful working life, which started at 16 when his only form of transport was a pushbike without a mudguard, Gray has been a drover, freezing worker, shepherd and stock agent.As a youngster he rode in shows, went hunting and rode as an amateur but the call to the racing indus...

Doing things “right” when you get a Herpes virus outbreak is still stressful but it works.

What is “right”?  The New Zealand equine industry has adopted a Code for the control of Equine Contagious Diseases. https://www.nzeha.org.nz/disease.  In essence it is isolate, separate, communicate, disinfect, investigate and test for freedom. Last month New Zealand had its second reported emergence of equine herpes myeloencephalopathy.  The property concerned followed the Code to the letter and have just updated the NZEHA that they have received negative 28 day PCR results o...

Entriviere returns in devastating fashion

Entriviere has staked her claim for selection in the A$2 million The Invitation (1400m) with a strong return in the Gr.2 Sheraco Stakes (1200m) at Kembla Grange on Saturday. It was a belated spring kick-off for the Jamie Richards-trained mare, who was scratched from the Gr.3 Toy Show Quality (1100m) last month due to a foot abscess. Entriviere ($2.60 fav) showed no signs of that issue on Saturday, unleashing down the outside to defeat Fituese ($6.50) by 1-1/4 lengths with Marboosha ($10) anothe...

Eventful week for Ben Kwok

Singapore-based industry enthusiast Ben Kwok has had a very eventful week. He was over the moon about his filly Bellacontte (Burgundy -Devon Doll) winning the Listed O’Leary Fillies Stakes on Saturday, about an hour after Pure Imagination (Darci Brahma – Granadilla) who he has a share in won on debut at Te Rapa. He was also delighted that another filly he has a share in, Flotus (Starspangledbanner[AUS]-Floriade[IRE]), won the Listed Ripon Champion 2YO Trophy in England. But the thing that mo...