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Stud duties beckon for retired Savile Row

Valachi Downs stud manager Jonathan Scully took a phone call that no thoroughbred owner wants to receive this morning. Co-trainer Pam Gerard had the unenviable task of advising Scully that multiple Group One placegetter Savile Row had sustained a paddock injury overnight that would see him off the track for up to six months. Scully spoke with owner Kevin Hickman and after contemplating the required recuperation period the decision was made to retire the good-looking Makfi entire. “We were head...

Pure Champion debuts in Book 3

A 1400 kilometre trip has not deterred Willow Glen Stud owners Mike and Barbara Cooney who have travelled north from their Waimate farm to offer three colts by their resident stallion Pure Champion in New Zealand Bloodstock’s Book 3 catalogue. They are the first yearlings to be offered by the Group One winning son of Footstepsinthesand. “We are really excited to offer three nice colts up here at Karaka by Pure Champion,” Mike Cooney said. “They are all nice, correct colts. They have all...

Heart over head decision for South Island breeders

The last week in January 2018 is one that Southland breeders Karen and Willie Calder will remember forever. In the space of 24 hours they became the breeders of an international group one winner D B Pin (Darci Brahma –Pins’n’Needles) and the 2YO Karaka Million winner Avantage (Fastnet Rock[AUS]- Avasant). Two days later they bought back into the three-quarter sister to both Avantage and D B Pin at Karaka they co bred with Coolmore Stud for $550,000. It was a head over heart decision for K...

Breeder's relationship with Brighthill Farm and Dalghar reaps reward

Perth based Neven Botica was introduced to the Karaka thoroughbred sales by the legendary Bart Cummings, and has been a regular visitor ever since. However this year’s visit was by far the most exciting as he witnessed Scott Base a Dalghar(FR) gelding he bred win the first $1million race for three-year-old graduates of the New Zealand Bloodstock Sale, the Karaka Million 3YO Classic. “It was a fantastic night,” said Botica, “I was on course with the whole family and we were yelling and sc...

HAWTHORNE SECURES TOP PICK

The appeal of the stock of New Zealand’s leading sire Savabeel was never illustrated better than through the sale of Lot 487 at Karaka on Tuesday. From the powerful Waikato Stud draft, the filly out of No Excuse Needed mare Posy features an outstanding pedigree, littered with stakes performers including multiple Group One winner Daffodil.  A lengthy bidding war ensued with local bloodstock agent Dean Hawthorne outlasting a host of competition, including fellow agent and friend Michael Wal...

ELLIS HIGHLIGHTS EARLY DAY THREE ACTION

Te Akau Racing supremo David Ellis ignited the final stages of Day Two at the NZB National Yearling Sale and he was at it again early on Day Three. Ellis outlaid a combined $1.925 million for a pair of Savabeel yearlings on Monday evening, including the current sale-topper, Lot 301 the colt from class racemare Katie Lee colt that fetched $1.025 million. Lot 290, the filly out of Joys Choice went to Ellis for $900,000 and was confirmed as the first member of Te Akau’s new fillies syndicate oppo...

WINDSOR PARK STALLION TURNS ON THE CHARM

Buyers have sided with Windsor Park Stud’s freshman stallion Charm Spirit at Karaka. The demand for the first crop of the son of Invincible Spirit was expected to be keen and pre-sale hopes have been realised through the opening sessions of the Book 1 Sale. “He’s averaging around $130,000 and they’ve been a really strong line of horses,” studmaster Rodney Schick said. “We’re really happy with the way things have been going. We were pretty confident coming into the sale. “The othe...

More Than Ready colt equals Day One benchmark

A solid finish to the selling action on Day One of the annual Karaka Yearling Sale saw a More Than Ready colt match the day’s top price when he was knocked down to the $500,000 bid of local trainer, Allan Peard. The stunning bay colt was consigned through the Haunui Farm draft as Lot 84 and is out of Redoute’s Choice mare, Buckling. The mare is the dam of quality sprinter Ego, who numbered the Gr. 2 Concorde Handicap (1200m) amongst his six career victories. A visibly relieved Peard endured ...

Blueblood filly sets cracking pace at Karaka Day One.

Experienced bloodstock agent Dean Hawthorne played a superb game of brinkmanship to secure a royally-bred filly on the first evening on the annual NZB National Yearling Sale at Karaka. Hawthorne found himself on the backfoot during the closing stages of an intense bidding war for Lot 48, a Tavistock filly by outstanding broodmare Bagalollies. The upstanding bay filly is a full sister to 2015-16 Hong Kong Horse of the Year Werther as well as Gr. 3 New Zealand Cup (3200m) winner Gobstopper and Gr....

NZB Insurance Pearl Series Bonus race target for Indecision the right decision

There was definitely no indecision with the way Indecision won the NZB Insurance Pearl Series Bonus race at Avondale recently.The four-year-old daughter of Per Incanto(USA) streaked away to a four length win in the rating 65 1200 metre event, franking the form that had seen her run second in Pearl Series races at Matamata and Rotorua over the past month.According to part-owner Cherry Taylor, the decrease in distance made all the difference.“It’s fantastic to win a Pearl Bonus it’s a big bo...

New territory for Mana Park at Karaka 2018

Well known racing commentator George Simon admits that he and wife Maryanne have been thrown in at the deep end a little as they prepare to submit their first draft to the annual NZB National Yearling Sale at Karaka.The popular Cambridge couple have prepared eight yearlings under their Mana Park banner which is more commonly associated with excellence at the annual NZ Ready To Run Sale for two-year-olds. Mana Park presented their first Ready To Run draft in 2005 with triple Group One winner...

Young vendors set to make impact at Karaka

A snap decision taken just over 20 months ago could pay off in spades if exciting two-year-old filly She’s A Thief can land the major spoils in next Saturday’s Karaka Million (1200m) at Ellerslie.Young Cambridge-based couple, Adrian Stanley and Hannah Kettlety, have made a name for themselves through their pin-hooking endeavours in recent years after establishing their Woburn Farm brand in 2012. The pair have quietly built their reputation on a good eye for a young horse, having success...

Cambridge Stud

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Waikato Stud

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The Oaks Stud

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Brighthill Farm

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Pencarrow Stud

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Trelawney Stud

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Hallmark Stud

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Sniff of Group One glory for Bradbury Park

Bradbury Park came close to experiencing Group One success last Saturday, but has still had plenty to celebrate recently in the countdown to the National Yearling Sales. The Matamata-based establishment prepared Belle du Nord for the 2016 National Yearling Sales at Karaka and last weekend the daughter of Reliable Man finished a close second to Age Of Fire in the Gr.1 Levin Classic (1600m). It is the second time the Cambridge-trained filly has been Group One runner-up. Last season she chased home...

Valachi Downs add international flavour to Karaka

Kevin Hickman’s international search for quality bloodstock will add considerable interest to the upcoming New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sales, which starts on January 28. The owner of Valachi Downs, a boutique thoroughbred stud located near Matamata, has a broodmare band that features pedigrees from around the world. Hickman passionately sources mares in Europe, Australia and New Zealand. Each season the mares visit some of the best stallions New Zealand and Australi...

Charm Spirit off to a flyer

Windsor Park Stud shuttle stallion Charm Spirit will be represented by his first crop of yearlings at Karaka later this month and confidence levels are high in the stud’s camp. This comes off the back of a strong Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale where the farm sold four Charm Spirit yearlings for an average of A$216,000. “It’s a great start,” Windsor Park Stud principal Rodney Schick said. “To be the second leading first season sire in one of the biggest Australian sales is huge...

Strong line-up of fillies to boost Blandford’s proud record

Blandford Lodge has a proud roll of honour with Group One winning graduates including the likes of Lucia Valentina, Criterion, Pasadena Girl and Singapore star Better Than Ever. The Matamata farm heads to this month’s New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sales, which starts on January 28, with a string of yearlings likely to add to the list. Blandford Lodge is owned by Graham and Helen-Gaye Bax with Wellington businessman Lib Petagna, all parties having a long and successful involvement w...

Avantage takes her second NZB Insurance Pearl Bonus home

Unbeaten filly Avantage (Fastnet Rock[AUS]) gave her rivals a start and a beating in an impressive performance at Ellerslie on Sunday and in doing so picked up her second NZB Insurance Pearl Series Bonus.Having her first start since winning a NZB Insurance Pearl Series 2YO race at Riccarton in November, the royally bred Fastnet Rock filly was slow away in the race, with rider Opie Bosson having no option but to ride for luck as the combination settled last in the seven-horse field. Bosson h...

New blood secured by iconic NZ farm

Cambridge Stud’s new owners have already made a significant move into the stallion market. Brendan and Jo Lindsay, who take over the iconic nursery in April, have purchased a 50 per cent interest in the Group One winner Embellish. The Stephen Autridge and Jamie Richards-trained Savabeel colt’s stallion profile was given a major boost in November when he triumphed in the New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) at Riccarton. Te Akau principal David Ellis confirmed Embellish will be raced by current o...