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Foster Foal Service - A Yearly Review

Have you ever experienced the heart-breaking loss of a mare or foal? The New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association Foster Foal Service is a valuable tool that endeavours to link orphaned foals with foster mares. The service provides support for the horses, ensuring a seamless transition in what can be a distressing time, and for breeders and owners who have concerns about their equine's physical and mental well-being.  The smooth running of this service can be contributed to the supp...

NZ Thoroughbred Welfare Guidelines Go Global

Following the lead of New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing (NZTR), the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities (IFHA) has this week released its horse welfare standards. The Welfare Committee of the IFHA created the minimum guidelines drawing from work undertaken in New Zealand which resulted in the release of the New Zealand Welfare Assessment Guidelines in October 2019. Welfare Committee chairman Jamie Stier, who led the IFHA work, emphasized that the IFHA Standards, created for a globa...

Ocean Billy puts Pomare’s retirement on hold

A career highlight at Te Rapa on Saturday might have put a further delay on retirement plans for owner-breeder-trainer Bill Pomare. After more than three decades in the industry, the Rotorua horseman celebrated his biggest win when Ocean Billy triumphed in the Gr.3 Skycity Hamilton Waikato Cup (2400m). “We’re pretty much on the cusp of retirement, but I’ve been saying that for a few years now,” Pomare said. “You know how it is in racing – you keep saying you’re going to call it a ...

Staying Future for Eulogy Winner

Lightly raced Cambridge visitor Whimsical by Savabeel- Chanel’s Choice (Redoute's Choice) showed she will be a force to be reckoned with in the upcoming age-group staying features when she produced a gritty performance to take out the Gr.3 Lawnmaster Eulogy Stakes (1600m) at just her third start. The Stephen Marsh-trained Savabeel filly had hinted she had plenty of ability when she easily accounted for her maiden rivals over 1400m at Te Rapa last month. Marsh had no hesitation in stepping...

Tab New Zealand Board of Directors – Candidate Information

Background The TAB New Zealand Board of Directors (the Directors) is the governing body of TAB New Zealand (TAB NZ), as provided for by section 55 of the Racing Industry Act 2020 (the Act). TAB NZ is established as the sole betting provider for racing and sports in New Zealand. TAB NZ is a Statutory Entity, and its focus is maximising profits for the benefit of the New Zealand racing industry and contributing to sports funding while minimising gambling harm. Directors, including one Chair, are...

Showoroses Upsets in Te Rapa Feature

Underrated mare Showoroses by Showcasing- Rodrigo Rose (Rodrigo De Triano) made full use of an electric beginning from a wide barrier to lead her rivals a merry dance as she took out the feature race at Te Rapa on Saturday, the Gr.2 Cal Isuzu Stakes (1600m). The Showcasing four-year-old had put the writing on the wall that she was ready to take out a stakes race when finishing second to Media Sensation in the Gr.2 Auckland Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1400m) at Pukekohe last month....

New Show Highlights The People Behind The Racing Industry

The New Zealand thoroughbred racing industry has more than 34,000 participants, employs over 9,500 people and contributes around $1.1 billion dollars to the New Zealand economy annually. It’s an industry that doesn’t stop with the horses requiring constant care, resulting in early mornings, late nights, busy weekends and few holidays for the hard working and passionate people behind the scenes.   Beyond The Winning Post is a magazine docuseries that explores the varied partici...

Westbury Celebrate Bumper Weekend

If Westbury Stud needs a highlight reel for its stallions ahead of the 2021 yearling sales, it won’t need to look far beyond Saturday’s racing. The day began well when Stormy, the first runner for Westbury stallion Telperion, became his sire’s first Group winner when taking out the Gr.2 Wakefield Challenge Stakes (1100m) at Trentham. A couple of hours later, Rock On Wood became the first elite level winner for another Westbury stallion, Redwood, when he took out the Gr.1 Captain Cook Stake...

Favourite Delivers in Trentham Two-Year-Old Feature

Flashy chestnut colt Stormy repaid the faith of punters who installed him as a $1.50 favourite as he powered to victory in the Gr.2 Pete’s Joinery, Precise Design & Build Wakefield Challenge Stakes (1100m) at Trentham. The Tony Pike-trained Telperion colt was the only race winner in the nine-horse field after impressing on debut at Awapuni last month. Expected to race handy from an inside draw, rider Lisa Allpress followed the script to perfection as she bounced her charge out well before cont...

Family Affair as Rock On Wood Claims Group One

Quality galloper Rock On Wood shed the tag of a Group One winner in waiting in emphatic fashion when he dashed home to take out the Gr.1 Rydges Wellington Captain Cook Stakes (1600m) at Trentham. The Leanne Elliot-trained six-year-old had promised plenty at the highest level without being able to convert that into a Group One victory having finished third and fourth, twice, in four prior attempts. The patiently-handled son of Redwood has made good improvement in his last two campaigns and finall...

Opalescence Upsets in Ellerslie Feature

Underrated filly Opalescence dented several reputations when she swept to victory in Saturday’s Gr.3 Mitchell Family Bonecrusher Stakes (1400m) at Ellerslie. The Jenna Mahoney-trained three-year-old started at odds of nearly $13 despite being a last-start winner as punters set their sights on Gr.2 Hawke’s Bay Guineas (1400m) placegetter Moana and two-race winner Jason Belltree as their preferred candidates for the Group Three feature. Ridden by Jasmine Fawcett, Opalescence took a sit behind ...

Almanzor Set to Make Impact in Karaka Debut

As one of the highest-profile new recruits among New Zealand’s stallion ranks, Cambridge Stud shuttler Almanzor is set to make waves with his first yearlings at Karaka next month. The French, Irish and English Group One winner served 140 mares in his debut season at Cambridge in 2018. The catalogue for Book 1 of Karaka 2021 features 48 of those first progeny, with another two in Book 2. Almanzor’s first yearlings have sold strongly in the northern hemisphere this year, reaching the equivalen...

Smith adds another name to honour board

In 2018 Australian historian and philanthropist Bill Gibbins approached the Warrnambool Racing Club about hosting a race to commemorate and honour the heroic servicemen and their horses who fought in the Middle East during 1915-1919. Thus, the modern day Jericho Cup (4600m), restricted to horses bred in Australia and New Zealand to keep with the ANZAC spirit, was born. The original Jericho Cup was held towards the end of the World War I. As the Australian Light Horse were planning a major offen...

Taddy takes home Judge’s Choice Award

Megan Liefting’s comeback to competitive riding can be chalked up as a success after the accomplished horsewoman and her homebred gelding Just Got Home (Storming Home – Justa Tad) were awarded the NZTBA Judge’s Choice Award at the Beyond the Barriers Ex Factor competition held at Equifest on the weekend. Run by Gina Schick and Nicky Wallace, the competition showcases the versatility of thoroughbreds over a variety of events and is open to horses new to their sport horse career, having emba...

Karaka 2021 Yearling Inspection Tours

New Zealand Bloodstock have organised a couple of parade schedules, to be conducted pre-Christmas for the Central Districts and South Island areas, inspecting yearlings destined for Karaka 2021.Below are the schedules. For anyone wishing to attend, please contact Regan Donnison on 021 512 466 or email Regan.Donnison@nzb.co.nz...

Chittick Savouring Further Racetrack Success from Graduates

Amidst the hustle and bustle of another busy morning at Waikato Stud, principal Mark Chittick was pleased to be able to sit down and catch his breath as he reflected on another stellar 48 hours for the iconic Matamata nursery. Three-year-old filly Zee Falls (Sacred Falls- Zelitist) started the ball rolling when she became the third individual stakes winner for ill-fated stallion Sacred Falls when taking out the Gr.3 Wellington Stakes (1600m) at Otaki on Thursday while leading sire Ocean Park (Th...

Hardy Kiwi Bred Wins Prestigious Jericho

Grangewilliam Stud stallion Zed (Zabeel- Emerald Dream) is having a spring to remember and as we venture into summer the juggernaut continued as his six-year-old son Count Zero (Zed- My Duchess)  raced away with the A$300,000 Haymes Paint Jericho Cup (4600m) at Warrnambool for local trainer Symon Wilde. The unheralded stallion is the sire of six-time Group One winner Verry Elleegant, in addition to Ballarat Cup hero Irish Flame, while the stallion’s versatility extends to champion jumpers...

Entries Open for New National Online Yearling Sale

Off the back of a successful Ready to Run Sale with the addition of a new online bidding facility, New Zealand Bloodstock is pleased to announce their further expansion into the realm of online thoroughbred auctions.  NZB is adding a new addition to their sale calendar, which will be known as the National Online Yearling Sale set to take place on 3 February 2021.  The newcomer to NZB’s National Yearling Sale Series will take up a fully digital format, set to be conducted on...

Life Long Dream for Irish Flame's Breeder Realised

She may have lived on the Central Coast of New South Wales for 40 years, but Margaret Reid the part-owner and breeder of the Listed Ballarat Cup winner Irish Flame (Zed- Fleur De L’Orient) is still very much a Taranaki girl. So much so that the green and brown colours that Irish Flame races in feature a stylised logo of Mount Taranaki and the nearby Waiwhakaiho river. Those colours she shares with her husband Bill and fellow breeder and part-owner Inglewood farmer Gary Kemp. For good measure ...

Syndicate Taking Success in their Stride with Levante

Ancroft Stud owner Philip Brown is keeping his feet on the ground as excitement mounts all around him over the potential of four-year-old galloper Levante (Proisir (AUS)-Island Doy (GB) by Doyoun).  Brown and his wife Catherine share in the ownership of the Proisir mare with long-time friend Tony Enting and his wife Mary, former touring golf professional Mark Tapper and several other mates under their Sandringham Investments Ltd banner. Beaten only once in five starts as a three-year-old, L...

Kiwis claim Ballarat Cup with Irish Flame

Former Kiwi galloper Irish Flame (Zed (NZ)- Fleur De L'orient (NZ) by Thunder Gulch) overcame a torrid run and a frantic finish to score a narrow victory in Saturday's Listed A$500,000 Ballarat Cup (2000m) under jockey Michael Walker.   Prepared by Mornington trainer Brett Scott, Irish Flame has been in rich form, and defied a tough run from barrier 16 to win in a close finish from favourite Affair To Remember and Game Keeper. The son of Zed transferred from Scott’s old boss John Wh...

Media Sensation Dominates On-Speed in Group Two Feature

Talented mare Media Sensation (I Am Invincible (AUS)- Different To (NZ) by High Chaparral) backed up an eye-catching performance at the Ellerslie trials earlier this month with a comprehensive front-running effort to take out the feature event for the fillies and mares at Pukekohe on Saturday, the Gr.2 Dunstan Feeds Auckland Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1400m). Successful at the elite level as a three-year-old when winning the Gr.1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m), the now five-yea...

Reliable Man Mare Dominant in Railway

Five-year-old mare Inspirational Girl (by Reliable Man (GB)- Inspired (AUS) by Zabeel) produced a devastating turn of foot under popular jockey William Pike to race away with the Gr.1 Railway Stakes (1600m) at Ascot in Perth on Saturday. The Group One winning mare advanced her record to nine wins and two placings from eleven starts and stamped herself as one of the most exciting horses in Western Australia when putting away Too Close The Sun and Uni Time.       Pre...

Savabeel colt tops Ready To Run Sale

As the curtain came down on a successful New Zealand Bloodstock Ready To Run Sale, a colt by Savabeel out of the O’Reilly mare Miss Opulence, a half-sister to multiple Group One winners Sir Slick and Puccini, stole the limelight late in the piece, topping the sale at $700,000. Presented by Sam and Hana Beatson’s Riversley Park, who finished as leading vendor for the fourth year in succession, the athletic bay attracted the interest of multiple parties before eventually going the way of Te Ak...

Records Smashed During Outstanding Ready to Run Sale

With a brilliant closure to what has been an outstanding two days of trading, New Zealand Bloodstock’s Ready to Run Sale broke their own record in the final moments of Day Two. Sam and Hana Beatson’s Riversley Park offered the NZB record-breaking two-year-old, Lot 298 purchased for $700,000 in a bidding dual between Te Akau Racing’s Jamie Richards and Kingsclere Stables’ Roger James.The prolific cross between Savabeel and the O’Reilly mare Miss Opulence caught the a...