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New Zealand Racing Calendar confirmed

More than 1,000 race meetings at 51 venues throughout New Zealand were confirmed today by the Dates Committee of the Racing Industry Transition Agency (RITA) for the forthcoming racing year. The racing calendar, which covers the period from 1 August 2020 to 31 July 2021, follows consultation with the three racing codes, clubs and other recognised racing organisations of a revised draft racing calendar that reflected the impact of Covid-19 on the industry and the critical need for racing industry...

RACEFORM back for new racing season

The wait for a weekly racing news and form publication will soon be over with confirmation that RaceForm is set to return in time for the new racing season. RaceForm, incorporating the TAB’s Best Bets, quickly established its place in the form guide market when it was introduced late last year. Covid-19 lockdown forced it out of production, however ongoing work with fields and form data has been completed and RaceForm is scheduled to be back on sale Thursday July 30. As well as full fields an...

Satono Aladdin unable to shuttle

Breeders will be denied access to Deep Impact’s Group One winning son Satono Aladdin, who will be unable to shuttle to Rich Hill Stud in New Zealand this season. Strenuous efforts to secure passage for shuttling Japanese stallions to travel together to Australasia have been foiled due to the worldwide disruption to flights since the outbreak of the COVID-19 virus. Rich Hill Stud’s John Thompson was keen to see Satono Aladdin, the winner of the Gr.1 Yasuda Kinen (1600m), return to the Waikato...

Latest NZB Update

We are currently calling for entries for the National Yearling Sales in what is a far from usual season so it is timely that Justine has given me the opportunity to include a piece in your Bulletin. As a company, we have had to adapt quickly to the challenges which the pandemic presented. We have been fortunate to have the technology and experience to move the South Island and National Weanling Sales seamlessly to our online platform Gavelhouse Plus. Online sales may sound automated but I can as...

Fasttrack Breeder Profile - new member Vicki Wilson

There is no denying Vicki Wilson is a world-class horsewoman and now the 32-year-old is turning her hand to developing a successful career with thoroughbreds. Wilson, who has recently joined the New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association, is one of New Zealand’s best performed showjump riders and has travelled the world competing, educating and entertaining. Wilson, along with her sisters Kelly and Amanda, first hit mainstream media in 2015 with the popular tv show “Keeping up with the...

NZ Breeder of the Year Award

In 2020 the prestigious Breeder of the Year Award will be renamed honouring New Zealand’s most influential breeders over the last 30 years, Sir Patrick and Justine Lady Hogan. Previously both the Breeder of the Year Award and the Eight Carat Broodmare of the Year Award have been presented at the NZTR Horse of the Year Awards, but this year they will be among the awards presented at the NZTBA’s own National Breeding Awards hosted by the Waikato Branch at the Don Rowlands Centre, Lake Karapiro...

Border Security and introduction of a levy

The recent discovery of a positive Piroplasmosis infected horse in NZ justifies the New Zealand health Association’s (NZEHA) work to have an import/export levy, as required by Government, introduced to provide funding to strengthen our borders and enable nimble and effective responses to any future  incursions. NZEHA Chair Dr Ivan Bridge said they would like more data collected on animal health history, and stronger importing protocols imposed to match those of Australia. Towards the end ...

Early Education with Foal NZ

The thoroughbred industry is made up of many different sectors in specialised fields. Foal NZ are dedicated to improving the performance of race horses through foal education, behavioural research and farm consultancy. The team provides foals the very best start to their racing careers by using gentle, scientifically-proven training methods that are recognised as world-leading techniques in thoroughbred foal behaviour. Horses are prey animals and to survive in moments of threat they are compelle...

NZTBA to host Educational afternoons

The New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association will host two pre-season educational afternoons in July.The sessions will upskill and provide useful information for Breeding Course students, farm staff and members.Session dates are:Wednesday 22nd July – Rich Hill Stud  1-3pm – Dry mare careDry mare managementReproduction and the transitional mareTeasing maresDentistryNutritionWednesday 29th July- Windsor Park 1-3pmpre and post foaling careFoaling presentationsProceduresIm...

Special Pearl owner incentive claimed

Our Girl Gilly (NZ) secured the first NZB Insurance Pearl Series bonus since the COVID-19 lockdown. Five NZB Insurance Pearl Series registered fillies and mares put on a solid performance in the NZB Insurance Handicap (1200m) at Riccarton last Saturday, with Our Girl Gilly (NZ) (Guillotine) securing the first NZB Insurance Pearl Series bonus since the COVID-19 lockdown. Storming down the home straight to place second in the race, the Michael  and Matthew Pitman-trained mare&n...

2020 First Season Sires- Ferrando

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2020 First Season Sires- Sneaking To Win

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2020 New Season Sires- Super Seth

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2020 New Season Sires- Ten Sovereigns

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2020 New Season Sires- Wyndspelle

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2020 New Sires- Ribchester

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Eighth stakes winner for Charm Spirit

Windsor Park Stud shuttle stallion Charm Spirit sired his eighth stakes winner when Time Scale proved a cut above her rivals to run out a ready winner of the Listed Betway Empress Fillies’ Stakes (1200m) at Newmarket in the UK on Sunday. The Ralph Beckett-trained two-year-old continued her climb through the ranks when backing up her comfortable success at Chepstow last time. A step up to Group race company is next on the agenda for Time Scale, who was installed as a 25-1 for next yea...

Scholarship recipients graduate from Irish National Stud

The class of 2020 has gradated from the Irish National Stud with their breeding course diploma. This year, due to the generosity of Trelawney Stud, the New Zealand Breeders’ Association were able to send to attendees on the world-renowned course under the Keith and Faith Taylor Equine Scholarship. Hannah Airey and Laura McNab were two of 27 students to graduate from the six-month diploma course. Though it was an unusual few month for the students, who despite not getting many opportunities to ...

Racing Code Funding Confirmed for 2020-21

The Racing Industry Transition Agency (RITA) today advised New Zealand racing codes of forecasted funding in 2020/21 of $139.6m which is the same level as was budgeted for the 2019/2020 season before the impacts of COVID-19. This is despite fewer thoroughbred and harness races planned for the upcoming season. RITA Executive Chair Dean McKenzie said the business and the Codes had responded swiftly to the impact of COVID-19 by taking decisive action to stabilise the industry and retain funding for...

First Crop Sire Focus: Derryn

Derryn retired to Grangewilliam Stud in 2018 as Group One performer and a high class Australian sprinter. By Hinchinbrook, Derryn won the Gr.2 Arrowfield Sprint and was Group One placed over 1200m to champion sprinter and dual The Everest winner Redzel. Derryn is from the champion sire making family of Not A Single Doubt and Snippets and also hails from the family of Golden Slipper winner Forensics. Derryn was an out and out sprinter and that is reflected in the the types he is leaving, his wean...

Double Pearl Bonus on Offer at Riccarton

A return to racing in the South Island isn’t the only thing filly and mare owners will be excited about this weekend.Canterbury Jockey Club’s NZB Insurance Pearl Series race (1200m) on 27 June will give Pearl Series registered fillies and mares their first opportunity since the COVID-19 lockdown to secure Pearl bonuses, as well as a one-off incentive for second-placegetters running until the end of this July.For the six remaining Pearl Series races of the 2019-20 racing season, NZB Insurance...

Racing Industry Bill passes third reading

Racing Minister Winston Peters has welcomed the Racing Industry Bill passing its third reading, creating the legislative framework for revitalising the racing industry while limiting the need for future government intervention. “For too long our domestic racing industry has been left to fade into obscurity at the expense of jobs and the passionate people and communities that support it,” Peters said.  “The Coalition Government has now delivered on its promise to create a framework tha...

Five for Belardo

Haunui Farm shuttler Belardo sired his fifth first-crop winner yesterday as Elysium took out the Irish EBF Auction Fillies Maiden (1100m ) at Navan. The Noel Meade-trained juvenile defeated Giselles Thunder by a length and three-quarters with Dense Star the same margin back in third. Purchased by her trainer for €15,000, Elysium is one of three winners out of Sonning Rose who herself is a half-sister to stakes placegetters Universo Star and Vienna’s Boy. Dual Group One winner Belardo is th...

Entries extended for Ready To Run sale

New Zealand Bloodstock have extended their entry cut-off date for the 2020 Ready To Run Sale of Two-Year-Olds till August 7. In the last six years, the Sale has produced an unrivalled 20 Group One wins and 132 Stakes wins with graduates excelling in New Zealand, Australia, Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia and Macau. The sale also continues to produce an outstanding record of Derby winners and classic types with graduates having won seven Derbys and 14 Guineas over the same period. Breeze Ups for ...

Southern Legacy continues as Dennis stable builds

Southland trainer Robert Dennis is bullish on the prospects of his growing team of horses despite the relocation of his best performer to Australia. The 28-year-old confirmed Out Of The Park, the winner of the Gr.3 South Island Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1600m) for good friends Mike Rennie and Jack Stewart in March, had transferred to Victorian trainer Henry Dwyer. The daughter of Ocean Park only joined Dennis late last year and won four races from her seven starts for the Woodlands horsem...