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One of the great New Zealand jockeys, Bob Skelton MBE, has passed away in Melbourne at the age of 81.

Renowned for his uncanny ability to judge pace, Skelton was regarded as the most successful rider of two-mile stayers in Australasia. A Wellington Cup hat-trick in the early 1960s on the mighty stayer Great Sensation, two Auckland Cups and two Perth Cups underlined that skill, but his ultimate victory came in the 1976 Melbourne Cup on tough Kiwi stayer Van Der Hum. Greymouth-born Skelton was one of five jockey brothers, the eldest of whom, Bill, established a premiership-winning pattern that h...

Waikato Stallion Parades 20 & 21 August 2016

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Two stallions for sale or lease

The NZTBA have been informed that CHIANTI (IRE) and OCTASONG (AUS) are available to be relocated for the forthcoming breeding season. They are both registered for the new season. Both stallions have a kind temperament and are very easy to handle. Chianti, by Danehill, from a Nureyev mare - Sabah, (USA) a half sister to Maroof who has produced 11 to race with 9 winners. He is a full brother to Desert King - top of the 1997 international 3 yr old classification (winner of Irish Derby G1, Irish 2...

Upper Cut delivers National success For White Robe Lodge and friends

The 142nd running of The Grand National Steeplechase at Riccarton Park on Saturday saw another name written onto its illustrious role of honour. That of Upper Cut (NZ) (Yamanin Vital(NZ)- Volucidate(NZ)) who provided trainer Mark Oulaghan with a record 5th win in the South Island's Blue Ribbon event. Paul Hamblin gave the 10 year old gelding an astute ride staying on strongly through the soft ground to beat the Australian Mr Mor by ¾ of a length. This success follows victory doubles from both D...

First foals for Proisir

The first two foals sired by the brilliant Australian Group One performer Proisir have been born at Rich Hill Stud. A son of the champion international racehorse and sire Choisir, he was New Zealand's most popular first season sire last year serving 145 mares and his first crop foals are now eagerly anticipated by breeders. "Proisir is one of the best looking stallions in Australasia and if his first two foals are any indication then we are in for a very exciting season" Rich Hill principal...

2015/16 New Zealand Free Handicaps

Two Thousand Guineas winner Xtravagant is the highest rated three-year-old on the 2015-16 New Zealand Free Handicaps. Xtravagant headed an outstanding crop of three-year-olds and was rated at 61.5kg in the 1200m to 1600m category. Sacred Elixir, a Group I winner at the Brisbane winter carnival, was the top-rated two-year-old. Xtravagant won two Group I races by wide margins and was rated on the same level as the 2015 dual Derby winner Mongolian Khan, who was given 61.5kg in the over 1600m c...

Miss Three Stars - Triumpant in Gp.3 Winter Cup

Although beginning from barrier stall 13 in a sixteen horse field MISS THREE STARS was able to work over to be three back on the inside running early in the race for Samantha Wynne. This tactic saved valuable ground rounding the home turn, and was very instrumental in her win. Although challenged strongly by Platinum Command in the closing stages MISS THREE STARS lifted short of the line for a short head victory. Dublin born 27 year old woman jockey Samantha Wynne has been riding in New Zeala...

BAGALOLLIES [AUS] CROWNED 2015/16 NEW ZEALAND BROODMARE OF THE YEAR

A group of mates who got together to race a few horses around ten years ago are now the proud owners of the 2015/16 New Zealand Broodmare of the Year Bagalollies (Zabeel-Lady's Knight). Led by Tommy Hepinstall, Chris and John Barnao, Andrew Campbell, Dave Ellison, Tom Pivac and Dave Platt purchased four yearlings for Andrew Campbell to train and to have some fun with. Among the quartet was the multiple Group One winner and now exciting young sire Tavistock - and what a journey the group of fri...

SIR PATRICK & JUSTINE, LADY HOGAN – 2015/16 NEW ZEALAND BREEDERS OF THE YEAR

After what can only be described as a stellar year for Cambridge Stud, Sir Patrick and Justine, Lady Hogan were last night named the 2015/16 New Zealand Breeders of the Year at the annual New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing Awards in Auckland. In an exceptional year for Kiwi-bred horses and breeders worldwide, the Hogans were represented by three individual winners of six Australian Group One contests, and a further 13 stakes performers. They have now won the prestigious title on five occasions, f...

Bliss glad he took a punt on Keano

A chance sighting of a for sale advertisement on an auction web site convinced New Plymouth horseman Jeff Bliss to go back into the stallion business. He didn't have any intention of replacing Eighth Wonder, a son of Zabeel who died pre-maturely last year, at Sentry Hill Farm until he spotted the availability of the well-related Keano. "I wasn't going to bother about another stallion and then I saw him on this site in Australia and we bought him," Bliss said. "He's beautifully-bred and he ...

Super Savabeel scoops the pool

Waikato Stud have made another clean sweep of the stallion titles. The Matamata farm has dominated the awards in recent times and it was more of the same in a highly satisfying 2015-2016. Savabeel was the star of the show by claiming the Grosvenor Award for the New Zealand sires' premiership and the Dewar Award (champion NZ-based sire by Australasian progeny earnings) and the Centaine Award (champion NZ-based sire by global progeny earnings). "Savabeel has done a wonderful job world-wide,...

Top honour to Preferment

Triple Group One winner Preferment was crowned the Waikato branch of the NZ Thoroughbred Breeders' Association Horse of the Year at a function in Hamilton on Friday night. A host of other Group One winners from the region were also acknowledged while Curraghmore principal Gordon Cunningham was the Personality of the Year and the Young Achiever award went to Scotty Buchanan. Waikato-bred Group One winners during the 2015-16 season were: Kermadec (Llanhennock Trust), Preferment (Sir Patrick Ho...

Shock passing of Group One breeder and owner

The New Zealand thoroughbred industry is mourning the recent sudden death of the popular Waikato identity Paul Smithies. "It's been a big shock to everyone," family friend and fellow breeder-owner Andrew Bryant said. "He had so much going for him." With his wife Cushla, they bred a number of Group One performers at Monovale Farm and also raced their top flight home-bred Puccini. The son of Encosta de Lago was prepared by Peter and Jacob McKay to win the Gr.1 New Zealand Derby and the Gr.1 ...

Breeders' Bulletin - Winter 2016

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NZTBA announces Breeder & Broodmare of the Year Finalists

As the 2015-16 racing season draws to a close it is time to reflect on a stellar season for the New Zealand breeding industry both at home and internationally with over 30 Group One winners beginning their lives on New Zealand farms. A Melbourne Cup winner, four Derby winners, three Oaks winners, 25% of all Group One winners in Australia, the list goes on, and the quality and calibre of the New Zealand bred is reflected in the list of finalists for the Breeder of the Year and Broodmare of the ...

Elusive Boxers wins a $20,000 NZB Insurance Pearl Bonus

On the eve of the end of her four-year-old racing season, Awapuni mare Elusive Boxers won the NZB Insurance Pearl Series 1200 metre event at Oamaru last Sunday. It was the final Pearl Series Bonus race of the season, and a $20,000 level A bonus to boot. "We set her for this race, it was a $25,000 race with a $20,000 bonus that's like winning a $65,000 race, and with her rising five it was her last chance to a win a bonus" according to Albert Bosma the racing manager for the Go Racing syndica...

Well Done fires for Falkirk in Singapore

He may not be in the NZTBA's Register of Thoroughbred Stallions in New Zealand but Falkirk (Tale of the Cat[USA]- Madam Valeta) is still very much alive and kicking at Windsor Park and preparing for the new stud season. "He's a box of birds" said Windsor Park Stud's General Manager Steve Till, "and looking forward to the new season, and deservedly so with a flag bearer like Well Done (Falkirk- Gold Cloud) in Singapore." Till was referring to the recent Group One victory in the Singapore Der...

Time Flies When You Are Having Fun - Bevan's Latest Blog

They say time flies when you are having fun and that old adage couldn't ring truer when applied to my time in Ireland on the Sunline Scholarship. It is hard for me to believe that my time at Coolmore Ireland has already come to an end even as I look forward to the next stop in Kentucky. I can say that I have experienced an Irish summer – all three weeks of it. My first month in the Emerald Isle was near perfect weather. Sadly, I haven't seen much of my old friend the sun since. I thought ...

Trainer’s bold words enough to seal stallion deal

A chat with New Plymouth trainer Allan Sharrock was enough for central districts studmaster Mark Corcoran to take on The Bold One. "I was approached by the syndicate - Eddie Bourke and the Dennis brothers – about standing him and then I had a talk to Allan and he convinced me, he rated him very highly and thought he was a Group One horse in the making," Corcoran said. As a result, the regally-bred The Bold One will begin his stallion career in 2016 at Grangewilliam Stud at Waitotara, south...

Kiwi mare’s colt lights up auction ring

New Zealand-bred mare Shamrocker was a headline-maker during her racing career and she's now playing a starring role as a broodmare. A dual Group One winner by O'Reilly, her yearling colt by champion sire Deep Impact sold for 170 million yen (about $NZ2.3 million) during Monday's JRHA Select Sale in Saporro, Japan. Shamrocker was raced by Raffles Racing, whose manager Bruce Sherwin was at the auction and he was impressed by her youngster. "He is a lovely colt with a lot of similarities t...

Breeders' Bulletin: Winter 2016

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Scintillating Win for Kiwi Bred in NZB Cup at Korchin

The New Zealand and Chinese racing industries broke new ground today with the inaugural running of the RMB500,000 New Zealand Bloodstock Cup (1800m) at Korchin in Inner Mongolia, a race that lived up to expectations and was won in scintillating style by Da Qian Shi Jie (NZ) (Keeper). The new three-year-old race is a joint venture between NZB and Mr Lang Lin of the Inner Mongolia Rider Horse Club. Da Qian Shi Jie was the highest rated runner in the field, having won one of his two previous s...

Hannah Mee's Final Blog

June blog Hello all from Ireland. Sadly all good things most come to an end. During the month of June, we visited a number of trainers to have a look around their properties and to get more of an insight into the way they train. One of the first places we visited was Jim Bolger's racing stable called Coolcullen and the spelling farm called Bechy Park, which I can honestly say was such an honour and pleasure to see. Both properties of were beautiful and amazingly set up for horses. We were ...

Bevan's Blog - June 2016

Bevan's first blog from Coolmore, Ireland June 2016 After a great time in Newmarket the Sunline Scholarship has brought me to the Emerald Isle and what a blast I have had so far. As the great New Zealand band Crowded House told us kiwis 'always take the weather with you' and I have delivered Ireland with a fantastic summer reminiscent of back home. For all the stereotypes you hear of Ireland being wet and miserable all year round we have enjoyed a stellar run of weather, making it all th...

United approach gets stable to memorable mark

Teamwork has been the key to Stephen Autridge and Jamie Richards sitting atop the national trainers' premiership with a century of winners. The Matamata partnership hit three figures for the season when Esprit De Corps was successful at Te Aroha on Sunday. "It's not just about Stephen and I," Richards said. "It's been a huge effort by all the staff with the vets, farriers and chiropractors getting in behind us to make sure that we get the horses to the races in the best possible condition. ...