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A real Star says farewell

Star Way, Windsor Park Stud's champion sire died peacefully at age 31 last Friday afternoon at the stud where he had resided for the past 27 years. Star Way was the 1990-91 winner of the Dewar Stallion Trophy Star Way was purchased by Nelson Schick as a 4YO and commenced his stud career at Windsor Park in 1981 at the completion of a successful racing career. "Star Way was a very special character and his accomplishments at stud have been a life-changing event for those ...

Stradbroke tickets available from NZTR

NZTR are conducting an Ownership Survey and also have on offer free stand tickets to the Stradbroke. Click here to read the letter - NZTR ...

Small filly gives breeders, owners and trainers a big thrill

Twinkthaat in the hands of jockey, Lisa Cropp, winning the South Island Breeders' Stakes Photo: Annie Studholme The year that South Island Thoroughbred Breeders' Stakes winner, Twinkthaat was born was a bad year for breeders, Sue and Geoff Broughton. Twinkthaat's dam, Jamia, became very ill with a respiratory infection and had to be put down, so early on the foal had to be hand reared. At the same time, another of their mares, Felicity Fair had her first foal by Haayill. ...

Terry McDermott elated with prize

Terry McDermott didn't believe he'd won a free service to top stallion Keeper when he was told at NZ Thoroughbred Breeders' Stakes day at Te Aroha. The Matamata breeder put his name on the entry form and the NZ Thoroughbred Breeders' Association tent and then went away because he had a horse contesting the race after the Breeders' Stakes. He was shocked when a friend told him he'd won the prize. "He'd been going backwards and forwards to the tent saying he was going to win it," McDermott sai...

Horse imports from Australia resume

MAF Biosecurity New Zealand (MAFBNZ) has today issued an Import Health Standard for horses from Australia, lifting the suspension on imports that has been in place since August last year. Horse imports from Australia were halted after MAFBNZ received confirmation from the Australian Government of equine influenza outbreaks in New South Wales and Queensland. The new import requirements are designed to protect New Zealand from this highly contagious virus. Import Standards Group Manager, Clive...

SOLILOQUY LODGE - Thinking outside the square

Thinking outside the square is how Soliloquy Lodge's Angenita Holzke describes their sponsorship this year of apprentice jockey, Samantha Spratt. "We were trying to think of something that hadn't been done before," Angenita says. Angenita Holzke and David Moore at Soliloquy Lodge in Karaka Photo: Trish Dunell A native of Germany, Angenita is partner to David Moore. Along with David's father, Richard, the couple now run Soliloquy Lodge at Karaka. Angenita, busin...

Bruce's Blog – April (wk 1) 2008

Talking & forking at Cheveley Park Cheveley Park Stud, 17 March-4 April 2008 I have reached the half-way point of my placement here at Cheveley Park Stud, and to be honest, time has flown all too fast. Five weeks completed, with much accomplished and a reputation still intact, I march into the following five weeks determined to build on the knowledge, relationships, and insights I have gained thus far from the Cheveley Park team. There is a hint of nervousness as I 'turn the corner"(as St...

Autumn '08 edition of Breeders' Bulletin

Our Autumn '08 edition incorporates the latest industry news, views and interviews. This month's feature article details Hallmark Stud's notable milestone at the Karaka 08 yearling sales. Click here to enjoy reading out latest edition - NZTBA...

Free Service to Sandtrap brings success for 'Boutique Breeders'

The Waikato Branch of the New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeder's Association has bred a winner. Classy two-year-old colt Sanjura is the product of a free stallion service that they give away each April at their showcase event, Breeder's Stakes Day at Te Aroha. Members are invited to a luncheon under the marquee on the home straight to enjoy a premier day's racing and free giveaways that include a stallion service. The feature of the day is the free service as well as the Group 1 Te Aroha Breeder'...

Bruce's Blog – March (wk 2) 2008

Foaling at Cheveley & visiting Shadwell Cheveley Park Stud WEEK 2: 9-16 March 2008 Into week two and I really am finding my groove. I feel as though I am getting on well with all of the staff, but it is the 'honeymoon period' so I am not taking much for granted, however everybody seems very genuine. I suppose they are very used to seasonal staff coming and going, and thus they are very good at making people feel welcome, and carrying on as they usually would... I enjoy their genuineness.My...

Bruce's Blog – March 2008

At the gates of Cheveley Park Cheveley Park Stud, Newmarket WEEK 1: 26 February - 8 March 2008 I have finally arrived. Arrived at the beginning of my Sunline Education Trust: International Management Scholarship; 30 weeks of international experience, and an experience of a lifetime. The past few months leading up to the beginning of the scholarship was plenty of time for me to let the excitement build up to sometimes unmanageable levels, and now finally I stand at the towering steel front gate...

Derby winner first black type success for Cambridge hobby breeders

Cecile and Alex Smith were in tears for some time after their first broodmare La Magnifique died soon after foaling a Shinko King colt. Today the Cambridge couple is thankful the mare was able to foal that Shinko King colt after he became their first black type winner – in no less a race than the New Zealand Derby. And the experiences the Smiths have had in the past few years have encouraged them to keep re-investing and they are hoping C'est La Guerre will not be their first black type winner...

Latest edition of Waikato Branch Bloodline Magazine

Click here to view. Note the Waikato Branches invitation to Breeders Stakes Day at Te Aroha on the 5th April. - Waikato Branch...

MARE RETURNS ONLINE - A PAPERLESS FUTURE FOR BREEDERS

New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing (NZTR) has launched its onlineBreeders Service Centre. This follows the launch of NZTR's Trainers Service Centre last year for online processing of racing transactions including race nominations, withdrawals, scratchings, etc. The first phase of the extensive Breeders Service Centre project allows broodmare owners to click on www.nzracing.co.nz and, via a Members login, process all their returns. Previously these could be completed through paper forms only. A...

Breeders' of the Derby Runners

New Zealand breeders will be hoping one of their products can put aside one of the derby anomalies from last season at Ellerslie on March 1. The NZ breeding industry was justifiably proud after horses born on this side of the Tasman won four of the five Australian group one derbies – the Australian Derby (Fiumacino), Victoria (Efficient), Queensland (Empire's Choice), and West Australia (Guyno). Only the South Australian Derby, won by Lazer Sharp, avoided them. For good measure, New Zealand-br...

Equine Influenza - Consultation On Draft Import Health Standard

Equine Influenza - Consultation On Draft Import Health Standard The import health standard for horses from Australia was revoked due to the Equine Influenza outbreak in August 2007. New conditions have been drafted which are similar to requirements when importing from other countries that have Equine Influenza. Conditions include vaccination, 21 days pre export quarantine, 14 days post arrival quarantine and pre and post arrival PCR testing. To date, Australia has had no new cases of Equine In...

2008 Karaka Yearling Sales bring smiles to breeders' faces

It's pretty hard to find a year when so many breeders have gone home happier from a Karaka yearling sales series than 2008. As most who offered horses for sale know, the market was in better shape than for some years. Averages were up, as were the medians, which indicated that a larger number of breeders were getting good prices for their horses. The medians across the three sales bear repeating: Premier, $110,000, up $40,000; Select, $48,000, up $6000; Festival, $12,000, up $2000. However...

Limited editon sculpture of Phar Lap

Derek Mayne, Chairman of the Phar Lap Trust visited the NZTBA offices on Friday with one of the magnificent bronze Phar Lap miniatures, created by sculptor, Joanne Sullivan Gessler. Joanne was commissioned by the Phar Lap Trust to create a powerful life size sculpture of the champion race horse in full gallop ridden by his regular jockey, Jim Pike. Limited editions of 'Phar Lap Maquettes are are now available. Information about the project and sculptor Joanne Gessler can be viewed online at http...

The NZTBA is delighted to announce the winners of its 2008 Scholarships

NZTBA International Management Scholarship BRUCE SLADE (White Robe Lodge) The International Management Scholarship is funded by the Sunline Education Trust, established in 2002 with the support of studs and the NZTBA Auckland branch. K.I.A Taylor Charitable Trust LISA RICHARDS (Curraghmore Stud) MARK FORBES (Cambridge Stud) These Overseas Training Scholarships were established in 1991 by the NZTBA Wellington branch and are currently funded by the K.I.A. Taylor Charitable Trust. Trust. ...

Needuask the first stakeswinner for Bruce Vickers

Bruce Vickers could be forgiven for thinking the thoroughbred game is easy. Vickers and his racing partner John Gilbert had instant success when their first buy proved to be a group three-winning racemare who has produced three multiple winners her first three foals. The latest of them, Needuask, became the first stakeswinner they bred themselves when he won the Concorde (Gr 2-1200m) at Avondale on December 5. Vickers, a marine engineer, moved to Levin about 10 years ago from Wellington, pa...

Read the latest issue of the Waikato Branch Bloodline Magazine

Click here to read the Waikato Branch news - ...

Scott Williams has vintage week in Melbourne

Scott Williams' faith in Defensive Play as a broodmare sire helped produce a double success at the Flemington Cup carnival that few small breeders could ever dream of. Williams, an accountant from Cambridge who works with a number of people in the racing industry, was the co-breeder of Melbourne Cup winner Efficient with his Wellington friend Graeme Hunt, and for good measure he also bred Zarita, winner of the Wakeful Stakes (G2-2000m). Zarita later finished unplaced when favourite for the Vi...

Serological (blood) testing as thoroughbreds are on the move in Queensland

Queensland Racing Limited (QRL) has taken approximately 700 serological (blood) tests from thoroughbred racehorses in the Hendra and Deagon racing precincts to confirm their immunity to Equine Influenza (EI), as approved move­ments of thoroughbred racehorses commenced today. QRL's Chief Operations Manager Mr Malcolm Tuttle today confirmed approxi­mately 700 serological (blood) tests had been taken from horses in the Hendra and Deagon racing precincts this week. "The purpose of the blood te...

Laurence Redshaw Breeds VRC Derby Winner

Laurence Redshaw's search for a mare with form and, more importantly, size in 1993 bore fruit when the grandson of the mare he found that fit his criteria won last Saturday's Victoria Derby. Redshaw had his biggest moment as a racehorse breeder when Kibbutz strode away in the rich 2500m group one classic, becoming the first group one winner for his sire Golan and stamping himself as a strong staying prospect down the line. That Kibbutz would be a stayer is no real surprise given that the mar...

NSW Winning the War against Horse Flu - Macdonald 2/11/07

NSW Minister for Primary Industries The NSW Government's campaign to eradicate Horse Flu turned a corner with the equine influenza (EI) status of a large part of NSW moving from high risk to lower risk, Minister for Primary Industries Ian Macdonald, said on Friday. Minister Macdonald said the second phase of the NSW Government's plan to defeat the exotic disease which escaped from Federal quarantine was now underway. "The Government has spent about $19 million so far on its effort to eradi...