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Feeding Weanlings to Yearlings

Management after weaning The nutritional management of a weanling will depend a lot on the commercial end point of the horse.  Horses being prepared for sales as yearlings will require more intensive management than those that are to be left in the paddock until breaking-in. Both sets of horses will require a good balanced diet and steady growth but maintaining good growth rates are of key importance for sales horses.  It will be necessary for sales horses to have a well developed top ...

Feeding Fibre in the Summer – making the best plan for health and performance with Fiber Fresh

Now that many areas are experiencing long hot summer days, this means pastures will be drying out and becoming depleted in volume, quality digestible protein and many essential nutrients that the horse needs in its diet on a daily basis.  The dry matter (or in many cases dead matter), increases significantly in summer compared to all other seasons (Hirst RL 2012), resulting in a higher level of indigestible fibre being consumed. The energy value of the pasture also significantly reduces in...

First ITBF Webinar a Resounding Success!

No less than 410 people from 34 countries on 6 continents registered to attend the webinar Thoroughbred Breeding in Today’s World– Challenges, Threats and Opportunities.   Video and Slides now available to view on our Conferences & Webinars page www.international-tbf.com   ...

South Islander Goes Close to Massive Cup Upset

Over the 147-year history of the Wellington Cup, the famous Trentham two-miler has witnessed any number of upset victories, but none would have been as great as the one that South Island stayer Bluey’s Chance nearly pulled off on Saturday. The Kenny Moore-trained seven-year-old went within a few strides of a remarkable win at odds in excess of $150, succumbing to the late charge of race favourite Waisake in the final few strides and denying Moore and apprentice rider Mereana Hudson a fairytale...

Orphan Foal's Super Sized New Mum

It’s a love born out of heartbreak between a fleet-footed young thoroughbred colt and a 10-year-old clompy. Clydesdale horse, Donnybrook Lucinda, is an unexpected sight in the paddock of Waikato thoroughbred horse stud Windsor Park. But she’s there for a much-needed purpose. To be a new mum to throughbred colt Rory, whose own mum died after giving birth to him.The clydesdale, originally from Scotland, and are a breed of draught horse which were used to work on farms, hauling carts of logs, c...

Sharrock Gets Prized Trophy with Waisake

Race favourite Waisake completed a plan that was eight months in the making when he stormed home to take out the Gr.3 NZ Campus of Innovation & Sport Wellington Cup (3200m) at Trentham on Saturday. Trainer Allan Sharrock had told plenty of people over the past two years he felt the son of Zed was a true two miler in the making and was keen to formulate a plan that had the famous Trentham staying contest as the ultimate prize. That plan began to take shape when Waisake was successful over 2000m d...

Melody Belle Equals the Mighty Sunline with Trentham Victory

Dual New Zealand Horse of the Year Melody Belle has equaled the record of the mighty mare Sunline after completing her 13th career Group One win when taking out the Gr.1 Harcourts Thorndon Mile (1600m) at Trentham. The Jamie Richards-trained mare was having her first start since finishing a game third in the Gr.1 McKinnon Stakes (2000m) during the Melbourne spring carnival in November but was confidently expected to dispose of her seven rivals after a sparkling run at the Matamata trials earlier...

Force Of Will Too Strong in Desert Gold Stakes

Matamata visitor Force Of Will carried on her winning way when she proved too strong for her rivals in the Gr.3 New Zealand Bloodstock Desert Gold Stakes (1600m) on Saturday. The Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott-trained filly travelled south to Trentham off the back of consecutive wins at Tauranga, including an eye-catching performance against the older horses over 1400m at her last start. Stepped up to the mile against her own age and sex this time, the Power filly travelled sweetly in midfi...

Ardsley Stud Play Key Role in Bumper Day at Karaka

Wairarapa’s Ardsley Stud enjoyed a red-letter day at Karaka on Thursday as they produced two memorable pieces of magic in the auction ring. Principal Jim Wallace had been expecting good things from their thirteen-strong draft over the Book 1 & 2 sessions of the National Yearling sale but was staggered by the results on the second day of Book 2 as they produced the equal best price of $150,000 for the Thursday session as well as the fourth best for good measure. Wallace started day two with a b...

Unique Virtual Karaka Experience for Moroney

Paul Moroney has had a unique experience purchasing horses at New Zealand Bloodstock’s National Yearling Sale this year. For the first time in nearly four decades the international bloodstock agent wasn’t able to be at Karaka as a result of COVID-19 travel restrictions, but he did not let that stop him from being active at the annual sale. While he wasn’t able to be physically present, he utilised technology to remotely inspect the entire Book 1 and Book 2 catalogue. “It’s a completely...

Marsh Keen On Stakes Success for Honest Mare

Trainer Stephen Marsh believes Belle Fascino is deserving of success at black type level and will look to achieve that with the seven-year-old mare at Riccarton this weekend. The daughter of Per Incanto heads into Saturday’s Listed Speight’s Timaru Stakes (1400m) off the back of a last start victory at her favourite Riccarton venue, a track where she has won three times since relocating from Marsh’s Cambridge base at the start of the 2019 racing season. A change of tactics and the applicat...

Solid Trade Continues into First Session of Book 2

The opening day of Book 2 at New Zealand Bloodstock’s 95th National Yearling Sales Series, saw a positive outcome for vendors off the back of a competitive Book 1 Sale.  The momentum from the last three days of selling has continued through into the first session of Book 2, with the average and median up on last year’s results, rising to $43,240 and $30,000 respectively. NZB’s Bloodstock Sales Manager Danny Rolston was encouraged by the strong day of trading. “Given the reducti...

Highline Celebrate Red Letter Day

Cam and Eva Heron of Highline Thoroughbreds were celebrating at Karaka on Wednesday after recording their best ever day at New Zealand Bloodstock’s annual sale. The Waikato couple sold lot 664, the Per Incanto colt out of stakes performer Special Draw, for $155,000 to Robin Tai on behalf of a Singapore client. While that was the farm’s biggest sale to date, that was blown out of the water later in the day when Cambridge trainer Alex Oliveira purchased lot 713, the Proisir colt, out of their ...

James comes Out On Top

Cambridge trainer Roger James has experienced a frustrating last few days at Karaka, so he was delighted to get the filly he wanted in the Book 2 session of New Zealand Bloodstock’s National Yearling Sale on Wednesday. He was underbidder on a number of the top lots in Book 1 and admitted it was a challenging experience. “I added it up this morning and we were underbidder on lots that brought $1.85 million, so I wasn’t a happy chappy last night,” he said. While despondent about missing ou...

Rutten Returns to Wairarapa Well

Chris Rutten purchased Karaka Million 2YO (1200m) runner Avonallo out of Little Avondale Stud’s draft at Karaka last year, and he is hoping he has bought another candidate for the rich juvenile feature from the Wairarapa nursery. The Horowhenua bloodstock agent secured lot 626, the Time Test colt out of Rorippa, a half-sister to Group One performer Gorky Park, with a final bid of $115,000 and Rutten said he was a standout yearling amongst his sire’s yearlings at the sale. “He is one of the...

Harding Follows Tested Path with Per Incanto Filly

Prominent owner Gary Harding is hoping that lightning can strike twice after he outlaid $170,000 for a Per Incanto filly on day one of the Book 2 session at the National Yearling sale. Harding took a fancy to the filly out of unraced Fusaichi Pegasus mare Bellerama that was consigned through the Little Avondale Stud draft and was keen to secure her. Harding was trading on past experience having purchased a Per Incanto filly in 2019 from Little Avondale for $160,000 that now races under the name ...

Positive Book 1 Sale Sets New Benchmark

A solid day of trading on Day Three of Book 1 has concluded New Zealand Bloodstock’s 95th National Yearling Sales Series with encouraging results for the New Zealand industry.  The turnover reached $50,998,000, representing an average of $123,184 for 414 horses sold. The median closed at $95,000, with the clearance rate climbing to an impressive 81%. The conclusion of Book 1 brought a feeling of optimism to the domestic thoroughbred industry moving forward. NZB’s Managing Director ...

Perry Saves His Best Until Last

Masterton Bloodstock agent Bruce Perry has been a constant presence on the buyer’s sheets throughout the three days of the Book 1 sale at Karaka this year, but he left his biggest hit until the 11th hour. Lot 578, the Almanzor colt, who is a half-brother to Australian Group Two winner Subpoenaed, was the last horse through the auction ring on Tuesday and despite his position in the catalogue, had plenty of heavy hitters’ keen on him. The auction ring action boiled down to a slugfest bet...

Tavistock Colt Bound for English Home

A determination to buy a special son of the Group One racehorse and successful sire that she bred, came to fruition for Henrietta, the Dowager Duchess of Bedford, at Karaka on Tuesday. Montjeu colt Tavistock was bred at Bloomsbury Stud NZ back in 2005 and after being purchased out of the 2007 Select sale at Karaka by trainer Andrew Campbell, went on to win twice at Group One level in New Zealand before being sold to stand at Sir Patrick Hogan’s Cambridge Stud. Success followed as Tavistock pro...

Blast From the Past for Harvey

There was a bit of nostalgia at Karaka on Tuesday for Bruce Harvey. The Hong Kong Jockey Club representative topped day three of New Zealand Bloodstock’s National Yearling Sale when he purchased lot 520, the Savabeel colt out of Group Three performer Lovetessa, from Cambridge Stud’s draft for $720,000. His third dam is dual Group One winner and broodmare gem Tristalove, one of Harvey’s all-time favourite horses. “We broke in Tristalove way back when she was a yearling and she was one of ...

First Season Sire Provides Highlight for Rich Hill Stud

Rich Hill Stud principal John Thompson had a smile a mile wide, mid-way through day three at Karaka on Tuesday. He had just seen a tremendous bidding duel settled in favour of Paul Moroney Bloodstock and Ballymore stables, who purchased Lot 451, the Satono Aladdin colt out of O’Reilly mare Inthespotlight for $360,000. Satono Aladdin, a son of Japanese sire sensation Deep Impact, has his first crop of yearlings on offer at New Zealand Bloodstock’s National Yearling sale this year, a nerve-wra...

Pike Secures Well-Related Filly

The Bostonian has given Tony Pike plenty to smile about over the last few years and he is hoping his half-sibling will be able to bring him and her new connections half the pleasure. The Cambridge horseman secured lot 474, the Almanzor filly out of Keepa Cheval, the dam of The Bostonian and a half-sister to nine-time Group One winner Mufhasa, from the draft of Waikato Stud. Pike was commissioned by The Oaks Stud principal Dick Karreman to purchase his pick of the fillies at New Zealand Bloodstoc...

Almanzor Proving Popular at Karaka

The progeny of Almanzor, who shuttles to Cambridge Stud, have proven popular at Karaka this week and bloodstock agent Bruce Perry has been one of his biggest supporters. Perry has purchased a handful of yearlings by the multiple Group One winner and he believes his latest purchase by the sire is one of the picks of the sale. He went to $420,000 on day three of the sale to secure lot 416, the colt out of Savabeel mare Genius, from Waikato Stud’s draft. Perry first saw the colt at Waikato Stud l...

Clearance Rate Soars on Day Two of Karaka 2021

The clearance rate on Day Two of Book 1 at the New Zealand Bloodstock Yearling Sales rose to a healthy 80 percent at the end of selling. Bloodstock Sales Manager Danny Rolston was buoyed with the outcome at the end of Monday’s session. “Climbing from a 73% clearance rate (Day 1) to 80% is no mean feat in one day’s selling.” “This strong result is a testament to our vendors who were willing to meet the market, as well as buyers involvement both locally and internationally, who are keen ...

Nearco Stud Add Quality Filly

Prominent businessman Greg Tomlinson went to $450,000 under his Nearco Stud banner to secure a quality filly by Savabeel out of the stakes performed daughter of Fastnet Rock, Asama Blue, from the Pencarrow Stud draft on day two of the New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sales, continuing a good sale for Sir Peter Vela’s famed breeding operation. From a family that that traces to blue-hen mare Blush With Pride, Tomlinson said it was a combination of pedigree and type that caught his attent...