Back to Blog

David Walsh to join NZTR Staff

Former champion jockey David Walsh is to take up a full time role with New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing. Walsh, who has ridden more winners in New Zealand than any other jockey, will next month begin working as the NZTR training and welfare officer for the South Island. Walsh will be based in Christchurch and will also have responsibility for health and safety and licensing. Part of his role will be to mentor and support apprentice jockeys and the promotion of careers in thoroughbred racing....

Puccini boosts Mapperley roster

Former champion New Zealand three-year-old Puccini brings another healthy dose of Group One quality to the Mapperley Stud stallion roster. The New Zealand Derby winner will stand his first season in 2017 at Simms Davison's Matamata nursery, already home to the top-flight performers Complacent, Contributer and He's Remarkable. Puccini was the star performer in New Zealand in his classic season when, under the guidance of Peter and Jacob McKay, he triumphed in the Gr.1 New Zealand Derby off th...

Winx’s New Zealand story

Aussies have been laying claim to Kiwi greats since day dot, if you need proof then just ask them who invented the pavlova? In the racing world the battle still rages over Phar Lap. What better time then, as the latest superstar of the Australian turf, Winx, is inducted into the Australian Racing Hall of Fame, have a little dig about the part New Zealand played in her creation. And we aren't talking about the indisputable Kiwi origins of her trainer Chris Waller, no this is purely a breeding...

Lance Forbes 2nd Blog – Scotland and Back!

Welcome to my second blog from the 2017 Sunline Trust International Scholarship. Its fair to say in the last month I have been all over the UK, from Scotland to Liverpool, from Doncaster to Ascot you name it, I have been there or driven past it! It all started with getting picked up on a Friday by Tony Williams also better known as "Tubba" who is the Managing Director at Goffs UK. Tubba was nice enough to let me shadow with him for a couple weeks and also let me work for Goffs UK for the Aintre...

A Volatile Mix has Linda and Graham Huddy smiling

When you find a breeding cross that works then, traditional belief dictates it should be replicated - however you can. Queenslander Linda Huddy, who bred and, along with her husband Graham, races Saturday's New Zealand-bred Group One South Australian Derby winner Volatile Mix, is a strong advocate. The mating which resulted in Volatile Mix was born out of the magic which occurred when Linda paid $15,000 for a High Chaparral yearling out of a Pentire mare at the 2008 Magic Million sales. Five ...

The Board of New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing announce new CEO

The Board of New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing announced today, after a global search, the appointment of Bernard Saundry as the next NZTR Chief Executive. Dr Alan Jackson, Chairman of NZTR said "Bernard's vast knowledge and experience from the creation of Racing.com and negotiating media rights, will be advantageous to New Zealand racing. His proven career in racing administration, club funding, building relationships with the jockey association and trainers and his experience with Country Rac...

Mission accomplished for well bred filly

Awapuni trainer Tony Bambry achieved the proverbial "two birds with one stone" when royally bred filly Allure claimed the opening event at New Plymouth today. Bambry had designs on scoring both a two-year-old victory and capturing a lucrative NZB Insurance Pearl Series bonus from the event and his charge made it mission accomplished when she prevailed in a desperate finish to the contest. The benefit of raceday experience played in Allure's favour as she began well in the hands of apprentice...

Windsor Park confirm 2017 stallion roster

Three exciting new stallion prospects further strengthen Windsor Park's stallion roster for 2017. Triple Group One winner Turn Me Loose (Iffraaj), one of Australasia's foremost miler's will stand for $15,000 and will be joined by Australian Group One winning 3YO Vanbrugh (Encosta De Lago) and fellow Group One 2YO Rageese (Street Cry) with their service fees to be confirmed at the completion of their current racing campaigns. European triple Group One winning miler Charm Spirit, the highest e...

Inglewood Stud launches new breeding incentive

Inglewood Stud is offering a unique incentive for North Island breeders to send their mares to Inglewood's resident stallion Zacinto next season. The North Canterbury farm have negotiated with New Zealand Bloodstock Airfreight to fly mares down from Auckland for the stud season. "The deal we are offering is the breeder pays the first $1,000 of the airfare and we pay the rest, regardless of whether the mare gets in-foal or not," Inglewood Stud General Manager Gus Wigley said. "To be able to...

Finishing School's daughter Prom Queen notches another win for Windsor Park Stud

Flying two-year-old Prom Queen's racing career is still in its infancy but her breeders can't help but get excited about what the future might hold. A two-time listed winner, the daughter of Super Easy and the Royal Academy mare, Finishing School, Prom Queen has racked up five wins from her six starts to date. That one blip on what would be an otherwise perfect scorecard was a third placing which came at Wingatui where she was restrained to trail rather than leading. "She will be a very welc...

Group One bound duo confirmed for Windsor Park

Windsor Park Stud will add further Group One quality to their stallion line-up in 2017 with both Vanbrugh and Rageese to retire to the Cambridge farm later this year. They will join the outstanding sprinter-miler Turn Me Loose as newcomers to the roster. "The important thing with Vanbrugh, Rageese and Turn Me Loose is they all possessed huge talent from day one and they've all competed successfully at the highest level in Australia," stud principal Rodney Schick said. "They are outstanding...

Sweet Leader's owners and breeders have a dream

Sweet Leader's owners and breeders have a dream and the O'Reilly colt might just be the one to help them achieve it. Silas Yang, Alan Ho, Alvin Wong and Y T Cheung bred and race the winner of Saturday's Group Three Cambridge Breeders' Stakes and have their sights set firmly on international glory. The Hong Kong based quartet are all partners or former partners at PriceWaterhouseCoopers in Hong Kong and their goal is to breed and race an international topliner of their own. Sweet Leader, who...

NZ-owned colt chasing historic Guineas win

New Zealander Sir Peter Vela is great student of racing history so he well knows the significance of what his colt is on the cusp of achieving this weekend. Sir Peter races the Frankel colt Eminent, a $5 fourth favourite for the Gr.1 2000 Guineas at Newmarket on Sunday morning (NZ time). Trained by Martyn Meade, Eminent followed an easy 2 ¾-length debut win at Newmarket in maiden company with a 1 ¾-length win in the Gr.3 Craven Stakes at the same track last start over the 2000 Guineas dist...

Kiwi plays role with leading Kentucky Derby contender

New Zealander Steven Nicholson is about to live the dream of many a horseman - to watch a three-year-old he bred step out in this weekend's Gr.1 Kentucky Derby. Nicholson and his wife Brandi, who hails from the neighbouring state of Indiana, are the breeders of Classic Empire, last season's North American champion two-year-old male and who is likely to contest favoritism in the Derby. The Nicholsons operate Silver Fern Farm, near Versailles, in the heartland of the Kentucky breeding region. ...

White Robe Lodge’s stellar weekend

It has been a fairly good couple of weeks for Otago's White Robe Lodge, even by their own stellar standards. Last Friday the stud was the leading vendor by aggregate at the South Island sale selling 12 yearlings for $234,000. At the same time their son of champion sire Sadler's Wells, Raise the Flag topped the sires' list, selling six at an average of $19,833. "It was a pretty good result for us, we did take three fillies to Karaka this year, whereas last year we took our whole draft to the ...

Outstanding galloper Turn Me Loose to stand in New Zealand

Triple Group One winner Turn Me Loose, one of Australasia's fastest and toughest milers, has been secured by Windsor Park Stud to stand at their Cambridge-based nursery this spring. Windsor Park studmaster Rodney Schick is understandably excited to have Turn Me Loose join their stallion roster for 2017. "I loved his outstanding looks and physicality when I first saw him and coupled with his cracking race performance, it just heightened my desire to have him in our stallion lineup". "To have...

High-tech training goggles turning heads

While former New Zealand-trained galloper Werther is the punters elect to take out Sunday's HK$20 million Gr.1 Audemars Piguet Queen Elizabeth II Cup (2000m), it is the Japanese raider Neorealism that has been turning heads at trackwork at Sha Tin. The last start winner of the Gr.2 Nakayama Kinen, has looked well in cantering work and attracted more than the usual attention as track rider Shinjiro Kaneko's goggles were adorned with what appeared to be a camera like device. In fact, it was m...

Zabeel’s son to stand at Long Acres

Verdi will begin his stallion career this year at Long Acres Stud, the Canterbury operation of Myles Gordon and Deborah Clark. The son of Zabeel will stand in association with Joe Smithies, of Monovale Farm who bred and raced the well-related four-year-old. Verdi won three of his eight starts before a tendon injury pre-maturely ended his career just as his trainers Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman were having thoughts of the Gr.1 Auckland Cup for the half-brother to the multiple Group One win...

Major Upgrade to Karaka Million 2018

As part of NZB's newly enhanced Sales Series in 2018, one of the best race days in the country is set to showcase a major upgrade, with two key changes to the Karaka Million Twilight Meeting at Ellerslie. New Zealand Bloodstock and the Auckland Racing Club are excited to announce that the 2018 Karaka Million Twilight Meeting will be run on Saturday 27 January*, rather than its traditional Sunday slot. It will continue as a six race twilight meeting, but in addition to two $1million feature ...

Revamped Sales Format for Karaka 2018

A major review of NZB's annual yearling showcase has resulted in a brand new sales format for Karaka 2018. The first session of the 2018 National Yearling Sales Series will now take place on the evening of Sunday 28 January, instead of Monday morning. With around 100 yearlings to be offered, this night session will also kick off the new-look catalogue structure, being the first of 700 horses catalogued together in the new 'Karaka Book I'. NZB managing director Andrew Seabrook says these ...

Five Year Sale Topper for South Island Sale

The 2017 edition of the National Yearling Sales Series: South Island Sale drew to a close at the RDA Building in Christchurch today after an action-packed day of inspections and bidding. A total of sixty-one horses sold for receipts totalling $1,070,000 to a strong domestic and international buying bench. Internationally renowned bloodstock agent John Foote led the buying, purchasing a total of four yearlings for $116,500, including Lot 1 a colt by Jakkalberry out of Ultra Explosive purchase...

The Oaks Stud enjoy a successful Easter weekend

The Oaks Stud general manager Rick Williams is hoping for a few more weekends like Easter weekend after a couple of smart Oaks bred winners and a new stakes winner for Darci Brahma. At Hastings over the weekend, Five To Midnight(AUS) (Domesday[AUS]-Fastnet Lady[AUS]), bred by The Oaks won the listed Hawkes Bay Gold Cup and Bonniegirl (Darci Brahma – Electricity), a daughter of resident stallion Darci Brahma, took out the listed NZB Sprint. In Melbourne Apache Cat lookalike Miss Vista(AUS) (S...

Racing stakes set for big financial boost

Racing stakes are set for a $12million annual boost with the promise of much more to come. The New Zealand Racing Board shocked the chiefs of all three racing codes tonight by informing them $24million more dollars will be returned to the industry over the next two years to be used exclusively for stakes. Starting August 1, thoroughbred racing will receive at extra $6.5million annually than it did for this season, harness racing $3.55million and the greyhound industry will have an extra ...

Cameron Ring Blog - Irish National Stud, March 2017

Another busy month rolls on by with plenty going on both in and out of the stud. Spring is here well and truly, only requiring one jacket now to venture outdoors. All the stock on the property are enjoying the lush growth of grass this quality land can provide due to its exceptional soil fertility. It makes our job easier having to feed less and let nature run its course. Like New Zealand, Ireland's climate can change at a blink of an eye. Sunny one day with snow the next. We were treated to o...

Mangaroa Flo Jo runs to victory for owner-breeder John Wood

Around thirty years ago Northland based breeder John Wood, a young farmer with a desire to own a broodmare was given a mare to try his luck with, and three generations on Mangaroa Flo Jo(High Chaparrall[IRE]-No Fibs) has become has become the latest stakes winner from the family. The six-year-old mare, who is trained at Cambridge by Graham Thomas and Nick Smith, for Wood, was recently successful in the Gr.3 Manawatu Breeders Stakes over 2000 metres, and is now being aimed for a tilt at the Gr...