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Walker excited about digital move

Canterbury breeder Susan Walker has been selling yearlings at New Zealand Bloodstock’s South Island Sale for several decades and she is enjoying the sale’s unique take this year. The sale has moved online to the gavelhouse.com plus platform as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and Walker hailed New Zealand Bloodstock for the move. “I just thought thank God New Zealand Bloodstock has come up with an idea where we can part with our horses,” Walker said. “I have been selling them at the S...

Extended terms for RITA directors

Minister for Racing Winston Peters has announced that the terms for the directors of the Racing Industry Transition Agency (RITA) have been extended to 30 June 2021. Due to the COVID-19 crisis the transition period has been extended to ensure that the Racing Industry Bill can complete its progress through the House at a time when the current focus on the Covid-19 response is reduced. “We knew from the beginning of the COVID-19 crisis that the racing industry was facing an unparalleled crisis i...

Breeder riding the wave

Milan Park principal Tony Rider has had a busy time of late. Rider and his team at Pak ‘N’ Save Clarence St, Hamilton, have been run off their feet supplying customers over the COVID-19 lockdown period. “It’s been full on, but it’s been good,” he said. “There have been some challenges that we have never come across before. “We had to change our business style to what we had to do. “But hopefully by this time next week we should be back to just about normal.” While Rider didn...

Ellis humbled by Queen’s Birthday Honour

Te Akau principal David Ellis, who received the Outstanding Contribution to Racing Award in 2017, has added further distinction to his lifetime of work within New Zealand’s thoroughbred racing industry with his appointment as a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit (CNZM) in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List. Ellis received letters of notification from the Prime Minister and Governor General that he had this honour confirmed by Her Majesty the Queen in recognition of his services to th...

Coveted stallion service on offer to support spinal cord research

A service to one of Australia’s most sought-after stallions will be on offer in the 2020 edition of the New Zealand Bloodstock Weanling Sale. The annual auction, this year operated online due to restrictions of the COVID-19 pandemic, will include a service to Darley stallion Microphone to be sold on behalf of the CatWalk Trust. A son of Exceed and Excel, Microphone was Champion two-year-old of his year and delivered an exceptional performance to win the Gr.1 Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) aft...

Equine exports near return

Ongoing Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) testing is providing optimism that the discovery of Theileria equi infection is a single, isolated case. The horse concerned was imported to New Zealand by Cambridge Stud for breeding purposes in February 2019 and returned a suspected positive test for Theileria equi as part of standard export certification prior to onward shipment to Australia. Further MPI blood tests confirmed the horse was positive, although it had displayed no signs of illness in...

Son of Snitzel takes up Hawke’s Bay stud duties

The Hawke’s Bay breeding industry has been bolstered by the announcement that Sneaking To Win, a well-bred son of Snitzel, will commence stud duties for local breeders Steve Brougham and Jenni Tomlins this season. The imposing chestnut raced on three occasions and showed good ability for Peter and Paul Snowden, including a second placing behind subsequent Gr.3 Up & Coming Stakes (1300m) winner Master Ash. A $450,000 yearling, Sneaking To Win’s career was curtailed by a cyst and subsequent co...

South Island Sale underway online

New Zealand thoroughbred auctions have moved into uncharted territory this week with the launch of New Zealand Bloodstock’s South Island Sale on Gavelhouse Plus. The southern yearling session was originally scheduled to be held in Christchurch in April, but was cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic. Instead it is taking place online on the enhanced Gavelhouse Plus platform, running for 11 days from May 28 to June 7 with a 65-lot catalogue. All unbroken yearlings offered through the 2020 So...

NZB Airfreight on track to resume flights

Following the temporary suspension of equine exports last week due to a positive case of equine piroplasmosis, NZB Airfreight is confident that travel will resume shortly with increased testing and pre-export protocols. The single case of the tick-borne protozoal disease was detected by the Ministry of Primary Industries and grounded flights just two weeks following the resumption of exports post COVID-19. NZB Airfreight has since worked closely with MPI, the Department of Agriculture Australia ...

South Island Yearling Sale Live on Gavelhouse Plus

New Zealand Bloodstock’s annual South Island Sale of yearlings is now live and available to view on NZB’s new online subsidiary platform, Gavelhouse Plus.Bidding on the first-ever sale of its kind launched today and will run for an 11 day period, with the first lot closing on Sunday 7 June at 5pm (NZT).It is no secret that Southern-born and raised thoroughbreds continuously bring their immense staying power to the table and the quality 65-lot catalogue packs a punch with close...

Super result for Auckland breeder

When Auckland NZTBA Branch member Liz Allen purchased My Marguerite (Spectacular Love[USA]-Caress Success) as a broodmare she didn’t really have a lot going for her. She didn’t make it as a racehorse but she had been the Champion led Thoroughbred at the Auckland Easter Show in 2004, however some 16 years after she won her good looks title at the Auckland Easter Show, she left her first stakes winner when Supergiant (by Red Giant[USA]) won the Gr.3 Gunsynd Classic (1800m) at Eagle Farm. “Sh...

Popular NZB Insurance Pearl Series Set to Continue

The NZB Insurance Pearl Series bonus scheme has seen millions of dollars paid out to Southern Hemisphere-bred filly and mare owners, breeders, trainers and nominators. The Pearl Series has become an important part of the New Zealand racing calendar and 2020 will mark the seventh year NZB Insurance has sponsored the series.   Pearl Series administrators, the New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders Association, look forward to its continuation and NZTBA CEO Justine Sclater stated that the...

Another stakes winner for Charm Spirit

Windsor Park Stud’s shuttle stallion Charm Spirit was credited with this seventh stakes winner over the weekend when the Jean-Claude Rouget-trained Fantastic Spirit was successful in the Listed Derby Du Midi (1900m) in France. The three-year-old colt stayed on strongly in the final stages to beat Again Music by a short-neck with another length back to Frohsim in third. The son of Charm Spirit was purchased as a foal at the Arqana December Sale by Artemis Bloodstock Investments for €25,000...

Cutbacks across all areas at TAB

The Racing Industry Transition Agency (RITA) confirmed on Tuesday changes it was taking in response to the impact of COVID-19, including a reduction of 230 roles, including 150 permanent staff, across all areas of the TAB. The decision follows consultation with staff on a range of proposed changes aimed at ensuring the business was sustainable for the future and best placed to meet the needs of New Zealand racing and sport. The changes, which impact 30 percent of all roles, are expected to deli...

Imported mare confirmed positive for Theileria equi

Further testing of a breeding mare previously imported from the United Kingdom has confirmed the horse is carrying the exotic organism Theileria equi. The mare in question was imported under New Zealand protocols last year from France as a maiden and has been resident at Cambridge Stud since her arrival in February 2019.  Cambridge Stud CEO Henry Plumptre has reported she was purchased at the Arqana sale in December 2018, was negative in a pre-sale test, negative prior to going into quaran...

Blog Post: Laura McNab

Keith & Faith Taylor Equine Scholarship recipient Laura McNab gives an update on her time at the Irish National Stud.It seems bizarre that the new normal is masks, gloves and loads of hand sanitizer. COVID-19 has certainly changed our way of living, but I reckon our ‘bubble’ on the Irish National Stud is one of the lucky ones- we could still work with the horses, still learn (even if it is off a computer screen). As I write this, our foaling yard, Sun Chariot, has officially closed for ...

First Crop Sire Focus: Savile Row

Multiple stakes performer Savile Row is Valachi Downs' foundation stallion. He is the first son of Makfi to stand at stud in New Zealand and was well-received covering a strong book of mares in his debut season.Savile Row won three races over 1200m, including the Listed Hallmark Stud Handicap, and was a three-time Group 1 runner-up.Savile Row's first crop are developing into lovely types and are maturing into strong, quality weanlings....

First Crop Sire Focus: Almanzor

European Champion three-year-old Almanzor  will stand his third season at Cambridge Stud in 2020.Almanzor covered full books in his first two seasons at stud and will again stand for a fee of $30,000+GST in 2020.“Almanzor could not have enjoyed a better start to his stud career,” Cambridge Stud chief executive Henry Plumptre said.“He was well received in both hemispheres covering full books of 140 and 160 mares in New Zealand in his first two seasons.“In his third season in France, ...

Equine exports suspended due to suspected piroplasmosis positive

The New Zealand Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) has informed all equine exporters that exports to, or via, Australia are suspended with immediate effect. MPI have advised that a suspected positive test result for the disease Theileria equi was returned as part of standard export certification testing of a mare prior to shipment from New Zealand. Further blood tests have been taken from the mare and MPI expect confirmation of whether the horse is negative or positive for the disease by the...

Entries Open for Inaugural Weanling Sale

The first dedicated weanling only sale is now open for entries with New Zealand Bloodstock’s National Weanling Sale to be held on the Gavelhouse Plus digital platform from Thursday 11 to Sunday 21 June.The 2020 edition will be the first of its kind, with quality weanlings offered online due to the recent COVID-19 lockdown and restrictions.While the Sale may be new, weanling graduates are no strangers to success having recorded an impressive score of nine Group One wins and ...

Contributer heads Mapperley Stud roster

With an eye to the future, Mapperley Stud has elected to reduce their service fees across the board in order to assist breeders ahead of the upcoming breeding season. “We feel reducing our service fees in this climate is the right thing to do,” Mapperley Stud principal Simms Davison said. “We firmly believe it is a time for the breeding industry to be resilient and work together to carry our industry forward. “Although we are working through a challenging time at present, it is importan...

White Robe Lodge release fees

White Robe Lodge have announced the 2020 service fees for their three resident stallions. Raise The Flag, who is having a standout season, heads the roster at $6,000+GST. The regally bred son of Sadler’s Wells has made an impact on the staying and jumping features in Australia as the sire of Gr.1 Sydney Cup (3200m) winner Etah James and Warrnambool Grand Annual Steeplechase (5500m) winner Ablaze. “We acknowledge that given the current climate times certainly aren’t easy for breeders and f...

Rich Hill Stud release 2020 fees

Despite the ongoing racetrack and sale ring success achieved by their stallions prgoeny over the last 12 months, Rich Hill Stud have elected to keep their fees largely unchanged for the 2020 breeding season. “Rich Hill stallions have always offered breeders the opportunity to not only breed a good racehorse but also achieve a profitable return in the sale ring,” Managing Director John Thompson said. Karaka’s leading freshman sire of 2020 Vadamos will remain at $15,000+GST and was a revelat...

Blog Post- Hannah Airey

Keith & Faith Taylor Equine Scholarship recipient Hannah Airey updates us on her time at the Irish National Stud.Mother Nature has well and truly issued the reminder that she is unstoppable, as while COVID-19 ploughs ahead so does the labour and cycle of the broodmare. I write this blog post from the sit-up room, waiting on the last three mares to pop out a baby. It is my last opportunity to gain some more foaling experience, so I have my fingers crossed for a foal tonight. The covering she...

Venues reduced under draft racing calendar proposal

The proposed calendar for 2020-21 has been released today by RITA for consultation, as required under the Racing Act, with 10 thoroughbred racing venues proposed not to host racing in the new season.The venues not to host racing under the proposal is headed by Auckland venue Avondale, in addition to Te Teko, Waipa (Te Awamutu), Gisborne, Wairoa, Waipukurau, Blenheim (Waterlea), Motukarara, Waikouaiti and Omakau“Every thoroughbred racing club in New Zealand has a history and a part to play,” ...