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Jungle Rocket epitomises the influence of Overseas Investment

Overseas investment in New Zealand Thoroughbreds is an essential part of the thoroughbred industry and it's not just about overseas buyers purchasing our weanlings, yearlings or racehorses, it spreads further into investment in breeding stock, racehorses, and in some cases stud farms, agistment properties and training facilities. Jungle Rocket (Jungle Pocket – Gu Li) the winner of the Group One New Zealand Bloodstock Insurance Oaks is a filly that epitomises some of that investment. Even tho...

Windsor Park Juggernaut

The Windsor Park winning juggernaut swathed its way through the Autumn Carnival in Sydney and is continuing its dominance at the Queensland Winter Carnival. Hot on the heels of a trifecta of Windsor Park stallions in the Group Two Hollindale Stakes at the Gold Coast on the opening weekend of the carnival, came a first and third in the Group Three Chairman's Handicap when Ballack (Montjeu – Trephina), beat Rabbuka and Sir Slick (Volksraad-Miss Opera) at Eagle Farm last week. This season alo...

Second Group One Win for Wairarapa Breeders - Jim & Mary Wallace

Last month when MacO'Reilly (O'Reilly- Double Babu) won his first Group One event the Whakanui Stud Stakes, it was a big day for Masterton's Wallace family, and the thrill and excitement seemed to get caught up in the day. However that wasn't the case last Saturday when MacO'Reilly notched up Group One win number two in the Sky City New Zealand Stakes at Ellerslie. "The day we won the first one was my 62nd birthday, and Michael and Nikki's wedding day. We rushed back from the wedding to see ...

NZTBA Calls Key Industry Providers Together

During this time of economic crisis, if it's good enough for the government, major businesses, industry power brokers and the unions to sit down at a summit to ensure the sustainability of jobs and the stimulation of the economy, then surely it's fitting that the thoroughbred industry should do the same. The NZTBA has called an industry forum of key industry providers in Auckland on Wednesday 11th March, to discuss the decline in the foal crop and the loss of owners and breeders to the thoroug...

Big week for Cambridge Breeders

The result of the Group II Hollandale Stakes at the Gold Coast last weekend was a tremendous achievement for Cambridge based Windsor Park Stud with the first three horses home, Fulmonti (Montjeu), Izonit (Volksraad) and Sir Slick (Volksraad) all being by their sires. But more importantly is was just a catalyst to kick off a big week for Monovale Farm and Cambridge breeders Paul and Cushla Smithies, who bred both Fulmonti (Montjeu-Grosvenor's Pride) and Sir Slick (Volksraad-Miss Opera), that in ...

Kentucky Derby Opportunity

The NZTBA has been advised by Zilling NZ of an opportunity to attend the Corporate area at the Kentucky Derby as part of the 'New Zealand Way' promotion at this years Derby. Click here for futher information or email Ron Collins at Zilling NZ [Ronald@zilling.co.nz] -...

Accardo's Breeders achieve a Group 3 win despite the odds.....

The Group Three Darley Plate winner Accardo is one of those horses that you know has heaps of ability and gives all on a race day, but is almost a day to day proposition as a racehorse. "He's a tough horse and runs through the pain barrier, but he is fragile with only three good legs, and we can't put him under pressure, every win is a bonus," according to Russell Warwick the spokesman for Watson Bloodstock Limited who bred and own the horse. As a six year old this season Accardo has had fo...

Special Family Achievment for NZTBA Members

Te Akau Rose winning the Group Two Duke of Bedford Matamata Breeders' Stakes 22 Feb 2009 Photo courtesy of NZ Thoroughbred Marketing Te Akau Rose's win in the Group Two Robin, Duke of Bedford Matamata Breeders Stakes, last Saturday was tinged with a little sadness for her breeder Anne Storey. Anne bred Te Akau Rose (Thorn Park – Straussbridge) with her father Evan Kerr-Taylor, a long term member of the Auckland branch of the NZTBA, who sadly passed away last Octob...

Down The Road a dream result for the McClennans

Dreams can come true and the little guy, the hobby breeder just starting out, can with a little bit of luck and a little bit of judgement breed a group winner and become successful. Down The Road winning the Group 2 ARC Telecom Championship Stakes Photo: Thoroughbred News Take Lorraine and Michael McClennan who sent a $500 broodmare to a $6,000 stallion, produced a colt that sold for $36,000 at the Carnival Sale and went on to be Down The Road, (Danroad – Dixies Girl) ...

Generations of breeding reward the Fraser family

For many years the backbone of the New Zealand breeding and racing industry lay in the provinces with farmers who had a mare or two, and a racehorse or two, in the back paddock. Sir Patrick Hogan (2nd from left), sponsor of the Sir Tristram Fillies Classic, with representatives of Due Diligence's ownership group at the presentation ceremony Photo: Trish Dunell The local racing club was a social focal point and trips to the local race meetings were often family affair...

The Tale of the Select Sales Topper

It was really no surprise that Lot 1155 by Tale of the Cat from the Redoute's Choice mare Eye's Light Up topped the Select sale, as he was a magnificent individual, and was tipped by several good judges as the horse to buy. Select Sale toppper, Lot 1155 by Tale of the Cat Photo: NZB Website The fact that he was prepared by Hallmark Stud only added to the equation as they have consistently produced outstanding individuals over all three sales sessions over the past fe...

Obituary - Jack O'Brien

In life, the late Jack O'Brien came across as larger than life itself. With his passing aged 78, he will be remembered as a man of huge generosity, amiable disposition, a great raconteur and a person totally wedded to the world of the thoroughbred. Born in 1930 when the world was in a state of financial despair, it is a perhaps ironic that he left it when a changed world teetered on the brink of a matching disaster. In such times optimism is the ultimate consolation and in terms of optimism J...

Taranaki breeders celebrate Megapins' Wellington Cup win

A breeding and racing partnership that started over 30 years ago was rewarded with its best result last weekend when Megapins (Pins- Instant Divorce) triumphed in the Group Two Century City Developments Wellington Cup. Taranaki-based Kerrin and Teresa Brophy along with Kevin Landrigan are the breeders of Megapins and they had plenty to celebrate when the gutsy Pins mare scored her Group Two success. "It was a great thrill, we were all very excited, it was as good as winning it ourselves but ...

Mufhasa's win timely for Rich Hill Stud

Mufhasa's win in the $1million Group One Telegraph Handicap could not have come at a better time for Rich Hill Stud, according to stud proprietor John Thompson. Premier Sale Lot 225, the handsome Pentire-Sheila Cheval colt, a full brother to Mufhasa "It's a timely boost and great publicity for Rich Hill and Pentire, right on the eve of the yearling sales, and we have a full brother to Mufhasa in the Premier Sale," said the obviously delighted Treasurer of the New Zealand T...

New Import Health Standards

The new Import Health Standard (HIS) for horses from Australia to New Zealand was implemented on 6th January 2009, approximately 16 months after Equine Influenza arrived in Australia. The New Zealand borders were closed for Australian horses after the Equine Influenza outbreak on 25 August 2007 and it was not until May 2008 that our borders re-opened. From May to December 2008 all horses returning to New Zealand had to complete a 5-week quarantine period as well as a course of vaccinations, ma...

New Zealand Champions Racing Museum project not proceeding

It's been announced today that the project to build the New Zealand Champions Racing Museum at Ellerslie Racecourse, Auckland will not proceed. The Museum trustees have resolved that the $5 million project has not received sufficient support to continue. Wendy Pye, who initiated the project in 2005, says, "We're very sad that the New Zealand thoroughbred industry will not have a permanent home for the display and celebration of its extraordinary heritage, or a dynamic gateway to the sport f...

Group One Reward for Passionate All Rounder

As Waikato breeder/owner/trainer Kristine Stead, ponders whether to start her Group One performer Jacowils (Diamond Express-Patch My Eye) in the $1,000,000 Telegraph Handicap at Wellington, she reflects on the magic that was winning the Group One Waiwera Railway Handicap at Ellerslie on New Year's Day. A jubilant Kristine Stead leads Jacowils back to scale after winning the Group 1Waiwera Railway Handicap at Ellerslie on New Year's Day Photo: Trish Dunell "It was mag...

Breeders back their judgement

It's a situation familiar to all breeders - the lovely strong, well put together, young foal that is born in spring, which does well as a weanling and then grows too fast for their own good and come yearling sale selection time, and you guessed it, the legs now look like they belong to some other species altogether. Picturesque Trelawney Stud, the home of Ruud Van Slaats Photo: www.trelawneystud.co.nz However, sometimes Mother Nature is not as cruel as she seems, and ...

Bittar flags an industry decline in tough economic times

NZTR's CEO Paul Bittar The decrease in wagering and its impact, tough economic times and governance, were among the issues discussed when NZTR CEO Paul Bittar addressed the NZTBA Council and Branch representatives in Auckland last week. NZTR is forecasting a very difficult two to three years ahead, with short term reductions in returns to owners, a continuing decline in mares served and foal crops and in real terms around a 15 -20% reduction in the size...

Old Friends Share in Group Two Honours

It all started with a couple of mates in Paengaroa, a farming district just out of Te Puke on the way to Rotorua, who had a bit of syndicate going and an interest in racing. One was Brian Shannon a dairy farmer, and the other a kiwifruit orchardist Warner Bowyer and last week the pair bathed in group two glory when their gutsy Pins gelding Pinsoir won the Group Two Aussie Butcher Concorde Handicap at Avondale. According to Warner Bowyer the breeder of Pinsoir, he was lucky enough to fluke r...

Patience and perseverance finally pay off

A family that the Hawthorne family have persevered with for thirty years finally hit the big time last week when Altered Image easily won the Group One Levin Classic. Dean Hawthorne better known for his achievements as a horse breaker and preparer of Ready to Run horses officially bred Altered Image from Dented Image a mare he shares with his mother Yo. A mare that descends from a mare that Yo bought as a weanling at the Te Rapa Stud dispersal sale around 30 years ago. According to Yo she like...

Bold Moves Required for Racing and Breeding 27 November 2008

The financial rerating of world assets, and likely very low growth rates, if at all depending on individual countries, over the coming two to three years will have a significant impact on breeding and the number of horses available for racing. In the second article about the impact of the world financial rerating – click here for the first "Time to reassess to move with the market" - the focus turns to the impact of lower yearling returns on future foal crops and consequently horses availabl...

John O'Brien's Group Win

NZTBA Councillor John O'Brien could be excused for revelling in the glory of breeding the Group Two DHL Counties Cup winner Gallions Reach as he is in the Stud Book as the official breeder but in actual fact he can't take the credit for the mating. "I actually purchased the mare Dorinka in foal to Victory Dance at the Grangewilliam dispersal sale – so the credit for the mating should go to John Corcoran," according to the Central Region Councillor, Veterinarian and Proprietor of Newmarket Lo...

Time to reassess to move with the market

Click on this link to read the full article written by Rob Burnett from NZ Thoroughbred News - Rob Burnet ...

Kiwi's Dig Deep for Catwalk Trust

The world's finances may be in crisis, but in Christchurch this week Kiwis dug deep to raise $214,250, funding ground-breaking research towards a cure for spinal cord injuries. Thursday 13 November's auction celebrated the conclusion of the CatWalk Conquest Tour, a two-week tour of New Zealand by the Conquest motorcycle, the world's first motorcycle designed for wheelchair users. "Kiwis really are a generous lot - even in the midst of a financial crisis and global credit crunch it seems that...