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Matt's Blog - April 2011

Cheveley Broodmares, the Gallops and History How time really does fly by, already over the half way point at this magnificent stud farm and historical town. I am having a brilliant and eventful time here at Cheveley Park Stud. Everyone from the vets, managers and the staff members have been more than happy to answer my never ending questions to learn more how the top studs in the Northern Hemisphere successfully breed their champion thoroughbreds. Since the year 1975 David and Patricia Thomps...

Trelawney puts the 'Icing on the Cake' for NZTBA member Judi Wanless

Expat New Zealander Judi Wanless may live in Queensland but she still thinks New Zealand is the best place to breed horses, and why wouldn't she, as Judi is the breeder of the group one South Australian Oaks winner Lights of Heaven (Zabeel-I'm In Heaven). Lights of Heaven is the 11th individual New Zealand bred group one winner in Australia this season and is the 41stgroup one winner for her stallion Zabeel.The Peter Moody trained filly strode to success in the South Australian Oaks at Morphetvi...

Auckland and Waikato branch members enjoy Gavelhouse presentation

The Waikato and Auckland branches held their first 2011 social event after a busy yearling sale series in January. Gavelhouse's Director Gary Moore flew in from Australia to give an interesting presentation on the processes of selling thoroughbreds online. Gavelhouse is a website dedicated to assisting thoroughbred breeders and owners to sell their horses globally. Following on from a successful evening in the Auckland region, over twenty five branch members - all owners, breeders and trainers...

Andrew and Dave breed the NZ Oaks winner!

A couple of dairy farmers Andrew Bryant and Dave Armstrong, were milking cows on a dairy farm back in the 1970's which just happened to be next door to Cambridge Stud. They struck up a friendship with the 'horse boys' over the fence and developed a keen interest in racing and breeding, so it was rather fitting that their first group one winner, Midnight Oil (Keeper- Gilded Light), was by a Cambridge Stud stallion. "We were thrilled when Midnight Oil won the Oaks - excited for the Nineteenth sy...

Margaret Trotter joins "The Party Stand"

The final day of the Auckland Racing Club's 2011 Cup Carnival will be one that Margaret Trotter will not forget, as not only did she breed the group one Nicolas Feuillatte New Zealand Stakes winner The Party Stand (Thorn Park – Cremisi), but another winner on the card Better Together (Volksraad-Morangie) from her former good race mare Morangie. "Normally I can't watch when they are racing because I get so nervous, but last Saturday I had a good feeling about both of them so I really enjoyed w...

Diners Club announces successful launch of NZTBA Credit Card

Diners Club New Zealand has announced a successful launch to the NZTBA Credit Card, as increasing numbers of New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeder's Association members are converting their Membership Card into the related Credit Card. Last November, Diners Club and the NZTBA joined together in an exciting new partnership, which provides all members with the opportunity to own exclusive NZTBA Credit Cards. "It's an offer only available to NZTBA members," says David O'Brien, General Manager of Diner...

Matt's Blog - March 2011

The Sunline International Management Scholarship Begins 19 February 2011 – 10 March 2011 My journey all began in Auckland International airport at 9pm on the 19th of February. I boarded my Air New Zealand flight on the way to London Heathrow via Hong Kong with utter excitement. I had a fantastic first half of the long journey with delicious food and good quality entertainment. I had two hours in transit at Hong Kong airport which I had a much needed walk and stretch before the second half of ...

Neurological disease in horses in Australia

The New South Wales Chief Veterinary Officer has issued a bulletin to veterinarians describing cases of unexplained neurological disease found in horses in New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia. The Victorian Department of Primary Industries has also issued an alert. As horses are regularly imported from Australia to New Zealand, New Zealand veterinarians should also be aware of this information. The first cases were seen about two weeks ago, and it is possible that they are due to an ...

First Group 1 Winner for Breeders'

Auckland Branch members Margaret and Vern Trillo were understandably very excited to see Shamrocker (O'Reilly – Bohemian Blues) win the Group One Australasian Guineas recently. "It was a great thrill," according to Margaret, "we were yelling and screaming at the TV and very excited, she's our first group one winner!" The Manukau based couple are hobby breeders and until this season were breeding from only one mare. Vern is a renowned equine dentist and Margaret admits that until she married...

Auckland and Waikato Branch host Gavelhouse event.

NZTBA branch events commence this month with the Waikato and Auckland branch committees extending an invitation to all members to attend a social gathering and presentation by Gavelhouse's Gary Moore. Gary's presentation will provide an overview of selling horses via the online Auction house medium. Gary said "The more we are open to realise the potential, and look to embracing the web as a serious marketing tool, the more opportunities will abound", he said. "Online trading is breaking new gro...

Hong Kong success for the Lowry family

The champagne corks were popping at Waikato Stud last weekend when their evergreen stallion Pins (Snippets-No Finer) sired a group one, two and three winner in the space of forty-eight hours. His group one victory and his 37th stakes winner came about when the Hong Kong galloper Ambitious Dragon (Golden Gamble) won the Mercedes-Benz Hong Kong Classic, the traditional lead up race to the group one Hong Kong Derby. Closer to home Icepin (ex Ice Maiden) impressively won the group two Avondale Gui...

Informant resumes publication Feb 25th

Thoroughbred Publications Ltd was very pleased to announce that in response to the immense demand from the New Zealand horse racing industry, The Informant resumed publication with its first issue available in the shops on Friday, February 25. The Informant offers punters and racing followers a comprehensive source of racing form covering both New Zealand and Australia, along with a full 32 page tabloid featuring racing and breeding news. TPL came to an arrangement with the New Zealand Racing B...

Karaka 2011 Sales Series - the Ups and Downs

Karaka 2011 Sales Series - the ups and downs The New Zealand Bloodstock sales series concluded recently highlighted the reliance of offshore buyers at the premier end of the sale, and the declining state of the domestic thoroughbred racing industry at the festival end. While the top end held up well, the middle to bottom end haemorrhaged badly leaving a number of breeders quite bewildered. According to a statement released by New Zealand Bloodstock, across the seven days of selling, 1050 yearlin...

First Stakes Winner for Coat's Choice

First Stakes Winner for Coat's Choice A month ago Milo made his first appearance on the racetrack, and in the space of four weeks the talented three-year-old has gone from maiden winner to stakes winner in just four starts. A gelding by Coats Choice (Redoute's Choice – Coat) out of the Woodman mare Milk and Honey (ex Miss Turkoman) Milo also became the first stakes winner for his young Canterbury based sire. "It's a fabulous result for Coats Choice especially right on the eve of the sales," sa...

Planet Rock Flies the Flag for Wellfield Lodge

"Never in my wildest dreams did I think Planet Rock would be a two-year-old," said Bill Gleeson the proprietor of Wellfield Lodge, the breeders of the Fastnet Rock filly who is now favourite for the Karaka Million. "In fact if you had asked me to describe her I would have said she was a lovely big scopey three-year-old type, so anything she is doing at two is a bonus and she will be much better at three. She was a fantastic yearling and deserved to get $290,000." This is a sentiment backed up by...

David and Masey Benjamin Still Enjoying The Yearling Sales

It's coming up to six years since Fayette Park last had a draft of yearlings at the New Zealand Bloodstock Yearling Sales at Karaka and this January as David Benjamin relaxes in Hahei celebrating his birthday he ponders on the things he misses since he and Masey sold up Fayette Park and preparing yearling for the sales is definitely one of them. However this year he will be back for at least a couple of days as he sells lot 710 in the Westbury Stud draft, a Postponed filly out of Beautiful Sea, ...

Hinemoa lives up to her Potential

Hinemoa (Elusive City – Titania) the recent winner of the Waikato Racing Club's listed Ag and Turf Sprint (FC Johnstone Handicap) is the latest stakes winning member of a family that long term Central Districts NZTBA member Chris Grace has nurtured for fifty plus years. "It's great when you run a horse out of their grade in the hope that they will get some black type and it does. It was very exciting and not really that much of a surprise, as she has always shown potential. We had real problem...

Concord victory for Bluegables Farm

The Group Two victory of Ego (E Dubai-Buckling) in the Concorde Handicap has come at a great time for the Henderson's at Bluegables Farm who will be selling his half sister at the 2011 Karaka Select Sale. According to Monty Henderson, who owns Bluegables with his wife Judy, Ego's half sister by No Excuse Needed is a lovely tall athletic filly, and a bit lighter in bone than her siblings. "We are delighted that Ego is finally showing the potential he always threatened to show, and it's great fo...

Council and Branch Reps Meeting

The Bi-annual Council and Branch Reps meeting was held on Tuesday 30th November at Ellerslie. A full day of discussions on industry matters was attended by Councillors and branch representatives from throughout the country. Guest presentations were given by Alan Jackson, the recent thoroughbred appointment to the NZ Racing Board, and Guy Sargent, the Chairman of NZTR. An email from Central Districts member Huw Taylor, who was unable to attend in person, was tabled at the meeting as part of the ...

Salvatore brings great pride to his breeder

"He is a wonderful horse, trained by a wonderful trainer doing a wonderful job," stated Paul Pearce, the breeder and part-owner of Salvatore (Howbaddouwantit – Just Berceuse) the winner of the group three ARC Eagle Technology Stakes. "He is really on top of his game right now and it's a thrill to see him winning, Anne (Herbert) is doing a wonderful job with him." Even though Salvatore has won his last four races and 10 in total, Pearce has only ever been on course to see the gelding he races...

Tantrum Makes It a Century for Descendants of Soliloquy

It may have only been a $5000 maiden race at Cambridge J.C.'s Te Rapa meeting last Sunday, but it was also a much bigger milestone when Tantrum won the Wentwood Grange 1200 and became the 100th winner directly descended from the great Soliloquy. Ridden by regular stable jockey Patrick Holmes at only her second raceday start, the 4yo Savabeel mare travelled midfield along the rail before being taken wide around the turn and running home strongly to win by 3/4 length with a bit in hand. Tantrum i...

Another Cup Winner from Bill Stewart's Family

Wanganui veterinarian Bill Stewart the breeder of Tinseltown (Pentire – Tinsel) the winner of the group two DHL Counties Cup is very proud of that horse's achievements. "He's a good little horse and turning into a real cup specialist," he said of the seven-year-old gelding whose eight wins also include the group two Avondale Cup, group three Rotorua Cup, a Te Aroha Cup and the Virginia Turner Summer Cup. To that you can add a host of placings in cup races, such as the Brisbane Cup, and Calound...

Group 1 success for Hong Kong breeder

The owner of the group one New Zealand Bloodstock 1000 Guineas winner King's Rose (Redoute's Choice-Nureyev's Girl), Dr Gene Tsoi, has had a long and successful association with racing and breeding in the Southern Hemisphere. His latest group one winner is a testament to his faith and commitment to the industry in this part of the world and the astute management of Marcus Corban, who looks after the bloodstock interests of the Hong Kong based doctor. According to Marcus Corban, who is also the...

The Informant's 'Last Hurrah'

Click here to read the editorial from todays last edition of 'The Informant' - TPL...

Kiwi-breds show their class in Melbourne

Day one of the Victoria Racing Club's spring meeting in Melbourne, "Derby Day", is the pinnacle of racing and this year So You Think owned it with an unbelievable performance in the group one L K S Mackinnon Stakes. Commentators are running out of adjectives to describe this horse and comparisons are now even being made to the mighty Phar Lap! However, he wasn't the only star with an (NZ) suffix to shine at Flemington last Saturday - he was joined by three other Kiwi-breds, Lion Tamer, Brazilia...