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Don and Wendy Pye's homebred wins the Matamata Cup

Winter racing can be a dull affair but this past winter a tough little winter galloper has appeared on the scene that has been a pleasure to watch - Atom Cat (Traditionally- Gatestopper). And probably no one has got more pleasure out of seeing him win five races in eight starts this winter than Don and Wendy Pye who bred him and now race him. Both were on hand at Matamata last Saturday, when he won the listed Matamata Cup, and what made it even more exciting was that they were enjoying the hos...

Stallion Services still available through Te Aroha Racing Club Stallion Tender Scheme

Racing Te Aroha are once again promoting their Stallion Service Placement Scheme for 2010, and although the season is now well underway, there are still nominations available to Thoroughbred Breeders. With over 60 stallion services on offer, NZ Studmasters have once again given their support. Racing Te Aroha organise the Scheme to fund and promote the richest and most prestigious fillies and mares race in NZ, which has a minimum stake of $200,000. Breeders' Stakes Day held every year at Te ...

A huge thrill for the breeder of Caulfield Cup winner Descarado

The breeder of the Caulfield Cup winner Descarado (High Chaparral-Karamea Lady) Wayne McQuoid is overjoyed with breeding a group one winner, but wishes it had come a little earlier. "It was a great thrill watching him win the Cup and it's been great watching his progress since he went to Gai's, but it's a little bit late for us. Wayne is no longer a broodmare owner. When Karamea Lady died foaling in 2007 he decided enough was enough and didn't replace her. "It was quite tough losing her and w...

Canterbury, Marlborough, Westland Breeders' Bulletin - July edition

The Canterbury, Marlborough, Westland Branch of the Thoroughbred Breeders Association are very proud of their South Island Breeders' Bulletin and so they should be, as the publication has developed into a great read. Branch President and South Island Councillor, Myles Gordon said "It has come along way since the first issue but it has been well worth the branch gaining the services of Annie Studholme to edit and manage the production as she does a great job. It is also a great way to keep branch...

Wairarapa-bred mare wins at Royal Randwick

They breed them tough in the Wairarapa and Little Avondale Stud's recent stakes winner Marquardt (Sharmardal – Centrefold Angel) is testament to that. The four-year-old mare recently won the AJC The Nivison (Listed) for four-year-old and older mares at Randwick over 1200metres in only her second start following a 10 month lay off. That she is even racing at all is a miracle in itself as she was skittled in the 2009 Golden Slipper and received a broken pelvis and a fractured cannon bone which...

Jack Glengarry's Influence helps to create 'Herculian Prince'

When NZTBA member Shirley Leitch established Amber Thorougbreds in 2003 she decided to adopt the mantra of the late Jack Glengarry "Breed Champions" as the philosophy for her new enterprise and Herculian Prince (Yanamin Vital –Sea Island) the winner of the group three Kingston Town Stakes at Rosehill is the result of that new approach. "I went looking for the perfect match for Sea Island (Woodman – Kailey Princess) to breed my "Melbourne Cup" horse and found it in Yamanin Vital (Sir Tristram...

Kiwi Equine Artist earns International Award

KIWI ARTIST EARNS INTERNATIONAL AWARDS For the second year in a row Waikato-based equine artist Barbara E Lewis has triumphed over international competition in the prestigious American Academy of Equine Art's 2010 Fall Open Juried Exhibition, held this year in Georgetown, Kentucky. Following on from her success in the 2009 exhibition, where the artist was awarded the Leonard J Meiselman Memorial award for Painting for her work "Beau Zam, a Posthumous Portrait", Lewis has again scooped the Meis...

'FIrebolt' - The Result of a Family Passion for Thoroughbreds

With a little bit of faith and loads of loyalty to a family breed, the spell was cast and the magical gelding Firebolt (Stravinsky – Woodsong) the stunning winner of the group two Shannon Stakes at Rosehill was the result. According to Hawkes Bay Poverty Bay NZTBA member Gerard Moughan who bred and races Firebolt along with the Ski Syndicate, the gelding was named after the fastest broomstick in the world that with its magical powers is used for playing quidditch in the first Harry Potter book...

NZTBA members celebrate top results at Wanganui

On a weekend where the Horse of the Year awards were being celebrated on both sides of the Tasman and multi million dollar earners were receiving all the accolades, the first two black type three-year-old races of the New Zealand season the listed Wanganui Guineas, and the listed Fordell O'Leary's Fillies Stakes, were held at Wanganui. The winners of these races Fiddler (Keeninsky-Adonia) and Rememba Howe (Handsome Ransom – Yachting Magic) not only gave their young stallions their first black...

Breeders turn out for Waikato Stud Tour

There was a strong turnout of breeders at the Waikato Branch's annual two-day stallion parade last weekend and according to branch president Mark Devcich, overall it was a very successful weekend. "It was a pretty good weekend all round, the weather played its part on the Saturday, we had a great turn out at our monthly awards dinner on Saturday evening and even though it was showery on Sunday, the numbers attending on that day were strong as well. "I believe that the influx of new stallions o...

Waikato Branch 'Bloodline' September Newsletter

Click here to read the September issue of the Waikato Branch 'Bloodline' newsletter - Waikato Branch...

A great weekend for Sir Patrick and Lady Hogan

Able One (NZ) and Jessicabeel (NZ) provide Group 1 Quinella for breeders Sir Patrick and Lady Justine Hogan ...

New look Website for NZTBA goes live

New Look Website for the NZ Thoroughbred Breeders' Association launched August 2010 For the past few months, head office staff, Michael, Sally and Janine, have been working alongside Web Element's Julia Orlova, to co-ordinate the launch of the new look NZTBA website, which officially went live on Wed 11thAugust. They are delighted with the results. The site looks bright and fresh and new initiatives include easier navigation tools and a useful search system, which will make access to specific in...

Dear Diary marks a first for Sir Percy

First Southern Hemisphere Foal for Sir Percy Champion English Racehorse Sir Percy had his first southern hemisphere foal born at Rich Hill Stud, NZ on Saturday morning. Sir Percy was an undefeated champion 2YO in England, winning four from four including the Dewhurst Stakes Gr1 and he trained on at three to win the English Derby.The well related colt is from Dear Diary, a daughter of Desert Prince and he is a half brother to the Graeme Rogerson trained stakes winner Pocket Diary. Sir P...

Fantastic finalists for the Mercedes New Zealand Broodmare of the Year Award

There are four finalists in this year's Mercedes Broodmare of the YearAward. They are Gin Player (Defensive Play – Gin Rhythm), Miss Jessie Jay (Spectacularphantom-Miss Dinstinction), Pentamerous(Pentire – Johnny Loves Jazz) and Triassic (Tights- Astral Row). Of the four, Miss Jessie Jay (Katie Lee) and Pentamerous(Shoot Out) actually foaled two of their group one winning progeny in Australia but under a criteria change determined by the NZTBA Council before the start of the 2009-2010 seaso...

Waikato Branch 'Bloodline' Magazine July 2010 Edition

Click here to read the latest 'Bloodline' news - Waikato Branch...

The 'Dating' Connection provides a great moment for breeders

Two-year-old filly Dating (O'Reilly – Darzam) became the 12th stakes winner bred by Waikato Stud this season, marking another wonderful year for the Matamata farm, but that stakes win meant a lot more to one young breeder in Gus Wigley. Earlier this year Gus had decided it was time he purchased a broodmare of his own, and selected Mandate from the catalogue of the National Bloodstock sale in May. "I liked her for lots of reasons, even though she was older, and to be fair I didn't have a big bu...

Good News for Fillies and Mares

At last there is good news for the owners of fillies and mares. After intensive consistent lobbying by the NZTBA, NZTR have approved an additional $150,000 of funding for a fillies and mares races and pledged that there will be additional races included in the programming schedule due out in late November especially for fillies and mares. The NZTBA President and NZTR board representative Peter Francis is pleased to announce that the NZTR board has approved these two incentives. "Firstly NZTR h...

Auckland Branch Hoofprint June 2010 Edition

Click here to read the latest Hoofprint - Winter Edition - Auckland branch...

Racing Minister addresses NZTBA Annual General Meeting in Auckland

The President of the NZTBA Peter Francis addressed approximately 50 members of the NZTBA at the Annual General Meeting in Auckland on 22nd June. Francis spoke to his report published in the Annual Report circulated last month, stressing that his major concern is for continuation of member participation within the breeding industry. "Our own membership is down, the foal crop is down and the NZRB wastage report reports that of 900+ horses wich are not registered with a trainer each year, 65 perc...

Our Lukas becomes the 82nd New Zealand-bred stakes winner in Australia this season

With the Queensland winter carnival winding down and with it the opportunity to win black type this season it was great to see Our Lukas (Generous-Parfore) become the 82nd New Zealand bred stakes winner in Australia this season, our best result this decade. The Westbury Stud bred gelding also became the first horse since the Second World War to win the listed Ispwich Cup two years in a row. In the scale of things winning at Ipswich may not seem that important, but Ipswich Cup Day is one of only ...

Drought Relief Information

For more information about Government assistance available to farmers check out this brochure - MAF...

Dick Karreman Wins his Local Cup

Crossthestart(Cape Cross- Startling Lady) became the 81st New Zealand bred stakes winner in Australia this season, when winning the 2010 Brisbane Cup (Group 2).. That result is three better than last season and is equal with the decade-best result achieved during the 2000-2001 season and with more black type still up for grabs as the Queensland Carnival winds down. Crossthestart is raced by Queenslander Dick Karreman and is trained for him by his good friend ex-pat kiwi Bevan Laming and his so...

Oaks win will be savoured as a 'Keepsake' by breeders

"My Keepsake" a star in Queensland Photo by Trish Dunnel Having a passion for breeding is a good start when you are a newcomer to the thoroughbred industry but like any industry it pays to get good advice and follow some basic ground rules. Kylie Fawcett and her partner Eddie Wright of Oxford Thoroughbreds in Tirau have the passion and did just that when they ventured into the game some four or five years ago and recently they were rewarded with Group One glory when My (M...

Dominic Corban reports from Ireland

10 weeks in Cheveley Park Stud went so quickly, the time just flew. I really enjoyed my time at there – I have very fond memories and I will follow their future successes as a stud farm. Special thanks to Andrew Snell and Dale Clements for making me feel so welcome and getting me involved in everything on the farm. Highlights of my time would have to be sitting up and foaling mares like Nanina, a Group 1 winning daughter of Medicean who had a nice strong Pivitol colt. I also foaled a half sist...