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Melbourne Cup victory caps a terrific Tuesday for Goodwin

Don Goodwin can now add Gr.1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) breeder and owner to his resume after Verry Elleegant was a resounding winner of the staying feature at Flemington on Tuesday. The winner of nine prior Group One races, Goodwin was confident of a bold showing from his classy mare and he was jubilant she was able to pull the historic win off. “I am immensely proud,” Goodwin said from his Auckland home. “I was pretty confident but I was even more confident at the end of the big straight at ...

Bishara buzzing after Melbourne Cup victory

When a spindly legged filly walked into South Auckland trainer Nick Bishara’s stable a few years ago, a future Gr.1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) winner was the furthest thing from his mind. But that filly turned into one of the greatest mares to grace the Australasian turf, and on Tuesday she made a dream a reality for Bishara and her group of owners when she demolished her opposition in the Melbourne Cup to record her tenth Group One success. “That just blew me away,” said an astonished Bishara....

Mighty Kiwi mare triumphs in Melbourne Cup

New Zealand-bred star Verry Elleegant has again confirmed her champion status, cruising to victory in the Gr.1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington on Tuesday by a stunning four lengths. The Chris Waller-trained mare landed her tenth Group One victory under a gun James McDonald ride, with the pair a match made in heaven. The class horse of the field, Verry Elleegant lumped 57kgs in the famed handicap and overcame a wide barrier in 19, relishing racing three-wide and tracking key hope Spanish Mis...

Preferment lands first Australian winner with Smirk

PREFERMENT was given plenty to smile about when his daughter SMIRK became his first winner in Australia on Saturday. Prepared by Chris Waller, the smart 3yo filly was having her second career start and stamped the landmark win impressively with a barnstorming late finish at Newcastle. View Video HERE: Preferment lands first Australian winner with Smirk - YouTube  Fittingly not only is she trained by Preferment's former trainer, but she is raced by the same owners who raced him also. ...

Shocking’s I’m Thunderstruck lands rich Eagle

2021 has been the year of Kiwi-bred gelding I’m Thunderstruck, who showed his class and trademark fight when winning the A$7.5 million Golden Eagle (1500m) at Rosehill on Saturday. The son of Shocking stepped out on raceday for the first time when winning a maiden at Caulfield in January and under the tutelage of Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr has gone about plundering riches in his nine starts this year, with prizemoney earnings now surpassing A$5 million. With six wins and two placings to ...

Cream rises to the top in Feilding Cup

Quality mare House Of Cartier proved a class above her rivals when she took out the Listed Ricoh Feilding Gold Cup (2100m) at Awapuni. The Peter Didham-trained mare was having her first start since finishing fifth at Group One level in the Livamol Classic (2040m) at Hastings and was installed a warm $2.50 favourite for Saturday’s contest. On a day that was favouring those handy to the pace, rider Sarah Macnab had House Of Cartier off the fence from an inside draw quickly after the start and sh...

Justacanta bags Linlithgow for Kiwi connections

Veteran galloper Justacanta continues to thrive in Australia this spring and landed his second stakes race of the campaign when winning the Gr.2 Linlithgow Stakes (1200m) at Flemington on Saturday. A Group Three performer in New Zealand, Justacanta was transferred by trainers Shaun and Emma Clotworthy to Patrick Payne in Victoria earlier in the spring, after trialling well on two occasions. The eight-year-old has run well in all bar his first-up assignment at Moonee Valley and came from last on ...

Frontman back on top at Tauranga

Promising galloper Frontman cast aside a disappointing run at his last start when he showed his true class with an outstanding victory at Tauranga in the Listed PRH Transport Trophy (1600m). The four-year-old entire had disappointed when he could only finish third in the Listed Matamata Cup (1600m) earlier in the month when sent out a warm $2.70 favourite. Trainers Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman allowed the son of Makfi time to get over that run and he paraded in excellent order for Saturday’...

Vaccine Certificate Requirements Implemented for Future NZB Auctions

New Zealand Bloodstock would like to inform all industry participants that, as per the proposed government induced vaccination certificate mandate, people wishing to attend all future NZB auctions hosted at the Karaka Sales Centre will be required to provide proof that they have received both COVID-19 vaccinations. Given the nature and scale of its bloodstock sale events, coupled with the strong and necessary attendance of both international and domestic clients, NZB plan to fully support and ad...

NZTR - Directions Paper

New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing (NZTR) is seeking stakeholder feedback on a variety of new initiatives designed to improve the racing product and boost returns to participants.The features of the Directions paper include plans to introduce an Aotearoa Champions Day race meeting, a Breeders Championship, and a Celebration Day meeting, along with a twilight series and a national synthetic racing series and annual finals day. An updated venue plan, recommended changes to the group racing patte...

Luce the Bella of the Ball

You could hear the cheers at Haunui Farm a mile away on Thursday afternoon. Not only did their shuttle stallion Belardo post a winning double at Te Aroha, but his three-year-old daughter Bella Luce (x Luce in the City) credited the farm’s Administration Manager Diane Rushworth with her first win as a breeder. It was the third start for the Shaun and Emma Clotworthy-trained Bella Luce and she left her rivals in her wake racing away to win her 1000m contest by three and a quarter lengths. Rushwo...

Red-letter weekend for Trelawney

It was a memorable weekend for Trelawney Stud principals Brent and Cherry Taylor, with three of their racing team carrying their green, red, and gold silks to victory, including two at stakes level. Cheaperthandivorce was the first to secure a stakes scalp for the Waikato nursery over the weekend when she recorded a 1-3/4 length victory over Justaskme in the Gr.3 Thompson Handicap (1600m) at Trentham on Sunday. It was the second run for the Savabeel mare this preparation after winning first-up a...

Southern breeder celebrating stakes win

Blenheim-based breeder Jonny Orr is feeling pretty excited about his potential New Zealand Cup candidate Southern Ocean (Ocean Park-Viana) after his win in the Listed Spring Classic (2000m). However, Orr is the first to admit that he hasn’t always been a fan of the five-year-old chestnut. “It’s been a pretty cool ride so far from a horse that we didn’t think that much of,” he said. “I never really warmed to him as a foal, I’ve breed a few and he wouldn’t be the best looking I’v...

Dream result for Hallmark Stud

Dream Queen’s (Super Easy - Hampton’s Gold) win in Saturday’s Listed William Crockett Stakes (1200m) was celebrated by Hallmark Stud who had been nurturing her family for three generations. “That’s what we strive for, winning a stakes race on a big day like Cox Plate day,” enthused a very humble Denny Baker of Hallmark Stud. “We are very proud. It’s a great family with a long history on our farm going way back three generations to Estella Dawn, the mother of Miss Distinction who ...

Te Aroha double for Belardo

Haunui Farm stallion Belardo secured a winning double at Te Aroha on Thursday courtesy of Bella Luce in the Donaghys Epripor X 1000 and Verona in the NZB Insurance Pearl Series Race (1400m). “It’s just great to see Belardo get that result today,” Haunui Farm’s Mark Chitty said.  “It’s fair to say he has had a quieter start to the season than we had hoped off the back of his Champion 2YO and First Season Sire titles, but the way in which those two fillies won today suggests they...

Mascot flies to Group victory at The Valley

Kiwi bred mare Flying Mascot turned in one of the performances of the day when winning the Gr.3 Tesio Stakes (1600m) at The Valley, the final event of the card on a dramatic afternoon of racing. The race was run only minutes after a 50-50 Cox Plate protest hearing, which landed in favour of first-past-the-post State Of Rest. Ridden by Blaike McDougall, Flying Mascot was travelling like the winner a long way from home and sprouted wings when a gap presented at the top of the straight to win by a ...

Forgot You heads Kiwi bred trifecta in Vase

Top class three-year-old colt Forgot You may have given favourite backers heart palpitations, but his quality shone through late as he overhauled stablemate Commander Harry in the shadows of the post to win the Gr. 2 Drummond Golf Vase (2040m) at The Valley. Cranbourne trainers Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young celebrated a notable quinella, with Savabeel colt Forgot You likely to start a warm favourite in next week’s Gr.1 VRC Derby (2500m). When even-money chance Forgot You went through his c...

2021 Ready to Run Sale to be hosted digitally at Te Rapa

New Zealand Bloodstock have made the decision to host their 2021 Ready To Run Sale of 2YOs online. It was decided that domestic travel restrictions due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic made it impossible to host the auction at their Karaka Complex, and the sale will now take place virtually at Te Rapa Racecourse on 17 and 18 November, commencing at 1PM (NZT) each day.  Although New Zealand agents, trainers, consignors and other domestic clients will be physically present at Te Rapa for the...

First stakes winner for Ribchester

Flaming Rib became the first stakes winner for his first-season sire Ribchester when registering a one-length win in Saturday's Listed Doncaster Stakes (1200m). Prepared by Ton Dascombe, Flaming Rib landed a trio of nursery handicaps–at Thirsk, York and Chester–in his three most recent outings and continued on an upward trajectory with a first black-type triumph. “He's been great and has won four on the bounce now,” said assistant trainer Colin Gorman. “He's been straightforward and h...

Thoroughbred breeding industry rally to support Kaye Sanders

Kaye Sanders has dedicated her life to horses and now the thoroughbred breeding industry she has poured her heart and soul into is rallying to support her in her time of need. On September 13 Kaye suffered a brain aneurysm and, due to complications during surgery, a stroke the following day requiring further surgery to alleviate swelling on the brain. Kaye required a three week stay in ICU and was then transferred to the Neurology ward at the Christchurch Hospital. This week she was moved to Bur...

Cup start guaranteed following Geelong victory

Tralee Rose has guaranteed her place in the Gr.1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) after a game victory in Wednesday’s Gr.3 Geelong Cup (2400m). The daughter of Tavistock was on the cusp of a start in the great race, sitting 24th on the order of entry, and Warrnambool trainer Symon Wilde elected to take the Geelong opportunity while it presented. Sent out a 2.60 favourite, Tralee Rose settled third on the fence and didn't go around another rival under jockey Dean Holland. The five-year-old mare outstayed...

Tutukaka triumphant in Geelong Classic

The Tony Pike-trained Tutukaka confirmed his staying prowess when powering home to land the Listed Geelong Classic (2200m) on Wednesday under a patient Damian Lane ride. The Tavistock gelding raced too fiercely when fifth in the Listed Super Impose Stakes (1800m) earlier in the month, and the decision by Pike to remove the blinkers and replace them with winkers and to ride the horse conservatively proved a masterstroke. Tutukaka, who is named after the picturesque coastal town located east of W...

Trans-Tasman celebrations following Group Three win

There were whoops of delight on both sides of the Tasman when There You Go (Niagara – Not A Dancer) won the Gr.3 Barneswood Farm Stakes (1400m) at Ashburton last weekend. The three-year-old filly is raced by her Melbourne-based breeder Steve Bruhn while Kaitaia breeder Adrienne Gemmell is now the proud owner of her dam Not A Dancer. It was the Tony Pike-trained filly’s second win from just four starts. She finished third on debut in the Listed Futurity Stakes (1400m) in May and did not start...

Life is sweet for Clementine at Rotorua

Underrated mare Sweet Clementine backed up a gritty win on a heavy track over 2000m at Matamata at her last start with her first stakes victory when she produced a powerful late finish to take the major honours in Sunday’s Listed Staphanos Classic (1950m) at Rotorua. The Richard Collett-trained five-year-old showed she could be as effective on the Dead5 surface as she is on the deeper winter tracks, with an impressive turn of foot once she found clear air in the final 200m of the contest. Give...

Punters’ pal back to winning form at Rotorua

Quality performer Tavi Mac bounced back from his worst career performance in the best possible fashion with a stylish victory in the Gr.3 Sweynesse Stakes (1215m) at Rotorua on Sunday. The Allan Sharrock-trained six-year-old, affectionately known as Frodo by his many admirers, had inexplicably failed to fire a shot in the Gr.2 Foxbridge Plate (1200m) at Te Rapa last month when confidently expected to be one of the leading lights in the race. It was the first time the son of Tavistock hadn’t sh...