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Tom Burn accepts Life Membership at AGM

Every time Tom Burn watches a young horse handler make an impact in New Zealand after winning a scholarship to the English and Irish National Studs he feels immensely proud. Latest NZTBA Life Member, Tom Burn Burn was this week made a life member of the New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders' Association, a fitting reward after nearly 30 years of service to the organisation. He achieved a great deal for the NZTBA, both as president of the Wellington branch and as a mem...

His Royal Highness comes up trumps again

Horowhenua breeder Peter McKenzie bought his mare Betelgeuse because he thought she would go well with the sire Tom's Shu. But as so often happens, it was another sire, His Royal Highness, to whom she produced her best progeny. Betelgeuse's best son Sculptor added to his own very good record with victory in Saturday's Ipswich Cup (Listed-2150m), less than a week after a botched start cost him his chance in the Brisbane Cup (Gr 2-2400m). The four-year-old's win followed a group two victory in th...

Empire Rose's daughter leaves Derby winner

Rosie's Star may have just become a group one-producing mare, but Tim Bodle still thinks he might sell her. New Zealand breeding's 7th Derby winner for the season EMPIRES CHOICE takes out the Queensland Derby G1. PHOTO : Graham Potter/NZTM The daughter of Melbourne Cup-winning mare Empire Rose became a group one producer when Empires Choice outstayed his opponents in the Queensland Derby (Gr 1-2400m), establishing himself as a possible contender to emulate his grandda...

'New Kid In Town' makes his mark in Melbourne

Westbury Stud only owned Yuleda for two years, but it was long enough to breed a black type winner from her. Yuleda's son New Kid In Town became the latest stakeswinner bred by the Karaka-based stud of multimillionaire Eric Watson when he won the $A200,000 Andrew Ramsden Stakes (3200m) at Sandown in Melbourne on Saturday. He also became another stakeswinner for Westbury's most reliable stallion Faltaat, who like Volksraad emerged as a quality sire after starting at a modest service fee. West...

'Anna's Choice' grows beyond expectations

Jen Campin's first broodmare Anna's Choice was an unwanted twin when she began life. Now she's a producer of multiple black type performers. Best-known as the dam of New Zealand Derby winning international performer Hades, Anna's Choice added further prestige to her record when Everbright took out the Queen Mother Memorial Cup (HK Gr 3-2400m) at Sha Tin in Hong Kong on Saturday. "I was at a party when the race was run and I didn't see him win," Campin says. "But a friend called me to tell me abo...

NZ Gr1 winners summary 2006-07

The season of 2006-07 had 20 individual winners of 24 Group One races. Multiple winners were Sir Slick (3), Seachange (2) and Darci Brahma (2). Cape Cross leads the list of most successful sires – not only leaving Seachange, but also Mikki Street and Gaze. Pins (Legs, Porotene Gem) and Volksraad (Sir Slick, Willy Smith) were the other sires to leave more than a single Gr1 winner this season. And talking of sires – stallions of all siring abilities left Gr1 winners this season. At the to...

Group 2 win a fine result for the breeder of Coalesce

Evelyn Hipwood despaired about her mare Essylt ever producing another live racing foal after losing three full siblings to Australian group one winner Bezeal Bay within a year. But she was determined to get that full relation, and with the assistance of several Waikato horsemen Essylt was able to produce Coalesce, whose win in Saturday's group two Hollindale Stakes (1800m) showed just how valuable that effort was. Hipwood, a jeweller, and her bookmaker husband Ray retired to New Zealand in the...

Bomac Lecture Series offers valuable information on laminitis

The combined expertise of veterinarian Professor Chris Pollitt and farrier Richard Hansen will shed valuable light on the serious topic of laminitis in horses when they head this month's 2007 Bomac Lecture series on behalf of the New Zealand Equine Research Foundation. The impact of laminitis, an inflammatory condition of the hoof, was brought home graphically by the dire predicament of last year's Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro. The hugely talented colt made an initially encouraging recovery ...

Able One takes Hong Kong Champions Mile 01 May 2007

If Cambridge Stud's latest Hong Kong group one producer Gardenia was human she'd probably have had a hip replacement. Gardenia joined the premier level of the elite Waikato farm's broodmare band when her son Able One, bred by Sir Patrick and Justine Hogan, defied a top field of Hong Kong milers – along with top Irish performer Lingari and the quality Aussie three-year-old Casino Prince – to win the Champions Mile (HK1-1600m) at Sha Tin on Sunday. Able One's all-the-way victory at huge od...

Allan Schaare's breed continues

Matamata horseman Terry McDermott couldn't have got himself a better mare to continue his uncle Allan Schaare's breeding heritage when he bought Dainty Eyes. The Alvaro mare, bought for $3200 in 2001, became a black type producer for McDermott and his breeding partner John Newton of Rotorua when Valley Chief won Saturday Hawke's Bay Cup (Gr 2-2200m). McDermott, 70, trained horses for many years, some for Schaare. When Schaare died in 2000 aged 93, McDermott was given the task of dispersing th...

Viking Ruler nomination up for auction

A service to Cambridge Stud stallion Viking Ruler was kindly donated to St Peters School in Cambridge by Sir Patrick and Justine, Lady Hogan. The school is holding a fundraising dinner On Saturday 28th April to raise funds for students to travel to Italy and France on a rugby tour. If you would like to lodge a proxy bid for this service then please download the Viking Ruler pdf and place your bid before 5pm Thursday 26th April at 5pm. - ...

Charlie Roberts and family breed Sydney Cup winner

Mary Kenny would love Gesine to breed a full brother or sister to Saturday's Sydney Cup winner Gallic. Trouble is, Zabeel doesn't seem to want to come to the party. Charlie Roberts Kenny, her husband Paul and Kenny's father Charlie Roberts were overjoyed on Saturday when Gallic, a seven-year-old son of Zabeel and their mare Gesine, added the Sydney Cup (Gr 1-3200m) to the Adelaide Cup (Gr 2-3200m) he had already won this season. Gesine has been a very reliable broodmare ...

Further Group 1 success for the "Gabardine" family

When you've got 15 mares from the same family on your farm, you've clearly got a strong belief in its ability to produce. But for Richard Moore of Karaka, south of Auckland, the family which traces back to his 1950s taproot mare Gabardine has given him no end of encouragement about its potency for many, many years. That family was in the limelight again at Te Aroha last weekend when Captivate won the country's most prestigious race for fillies and mares, the NZ Thoroughbred Breeders' Stakes (...

Wanted: NZTBA members views on Code of Practice

New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing (NZTR) is currently seeking industry comment and feedback to develop a Code of Practice for Bloodstock Sales in New Zealand. NZTR has distributed a copy of the Australian Racing Board's draft Code of Practice as a possible blue-print in the development of what is hoped will become an accepted code in both Australia and New Zealand. The Australian Code of Practice sets out principles that apply to sales of bloodstock and sales of stallion shares and nominations, ...

Wanted: NZTBA members' views on AI

New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing (NZTR) has asked the NZTBA for their response regarding the level of support among our members to raise the A.I. issue with the International Stud Book authorities and open up the debate for industry discussion. The Council has decided to canvas members to assess the level of interest and opinion on Artificial Insemination. The Council believes it is important to discuss the issues surrounding A.I. and consider whether the time has come to at least develop an ...

Auckland and Waikato Branch seminars a success

Attentive audiences attended the Auckland Branch's seminars on Fertiliser, Parasite Control and Pasture Management. The two hour presentations provided breeders with practical information on each topic and were well received. Arthur Payze from Fertco, talked about utilising good pasture maintenance in order for fertilisers to do their job efficiently. His presentation placed emphasis on the benefits of soil testing, weed and pest control. He presented comparisons of different re-grassing...

High Five for High Cee

Whangarei doctor John Sprague has made few sweeter broodmare investments than the $10,000 he spent on a Dahar mare in the mid-1990s. Sprague and his wife Karen have had their share of success over their times as owners and breeders but none has served them better than Sweet Vienna. Her value to Sprague was highlighted again on Saturday when High Cee took out the Ajax Stakes (Gr II – 1500m) at Rosehill in Sydney, racing into Doncaster Handicap contention while doing so. High Cee had a lot of...

Australian Racing Board highlights staying races

Perceptions of a decline in staying races as a feature of Australian Racing are topical at the moment and the Australian Racing Board believes it is important that this issue is given proper attention, the Chairman of the ARB, Bob Pearson, said today: "It is obvious that there is a significant level of interest in the subject of staying races. The Australian Racing Board welcomes this, and it is also a subject that has the attention of the Board, its Racing Committee, Principal Racing Authorit...

Hong Kong Derby winner bred by well-known Cambridge breeder, Ngaire Fraser

Memories from 1960s and 70s Trentham yearling sales were instrumental in leading Cambridge horsewoman Ngaire Fraser to the dam of Vital King, the latest big-race winner she has bred. Vital King (4g Almutawakel (GB)-Wauwinet by Bassenthwaite) on Sunday scored one of the most important wins by a New Zealand-bred horse in the last year when he nosed out favourite Floral Pegasus to win the Hong Kong Derby (HK-I, 2000m) Fraser bought Wauwinet when she was carrying Vital King at the 2002 Karaka b...

Minister announces extension to GST zero-rating

Peters welcomes GST decision Racing Minister Winston Peters is welcoming the Commissioner of Revenue's decision to permit racehorses sold for export to remain in New Zealand for up to 24 months without attracting GST. In general, goods sold for export are GST-exempt provided they are exported within 28 days, but the Commissioner has the discretion to extend the period if there are good reasons for keeping the goods in New Zealand. The Commissioner's decision doubles the racing industry's cu...

BNZ Special offer to NZTBA members

Special Offer Special Offer Special Offer At the Bank of New Zealand we are aware of the very successful 2007 Yearling Sales. Maybe you will have some surplus funds to invest? To celebrate this, we have an exclusive offer available to the Bloodstock Industry - a Term Investment - until you decide how to utilise your proceeds. The term investment offer is for a 60 day term and is available from 5th March 2007 and expires 19th March 2007. * Rate for 1...

River Century does it again for Waikato Stud

An Oaks winner one season, a Derby winner the next … a breeder could not ask any more of a broodmare. That's what River Century has done for Matamata-based Waikato Stud after Guyno wore down his opponents in Saturday's group one West Australian Derby (2400m). Just a year before foaling Guyno, River Century produced Legs, last year's New Zealand Oaks winner and winner this season of New Zealand's richest race, the Kelt Capital Stakes (2040m) at Hastings. Both Legs and Guyno are products of Waik...

Waikato Branch gearing up for 2007 Breeders' Stakes Day at Te Aroha

The Waikato Branch of the NZTBA is gearing up for this year's New Zealand Bloodstock Breeders' Stakes day at Te Aroha racecourse on Easter Saturday, 7th April 2007. A 2007 nomination to Danroad (AUS) Highview Stud's exciting young sire, will be won at Te Aroha on Easter Saturday, 7th April. This popular day, hosted by the Branch, offers a day of high class racing headed by the Group One New Zealand Bloodstock NZ Thoroughbred Breeders' Stakes, the country's premier WF...

Farewell to Geoff Turner

Wellington Branch Committeeman Geoff Turner passed away suddenly this morning at his home in Wellington. Geoff was the Vice President of the Branch for many years before resigning that position in 2005 due to ill health. For many years Geoff maintained a busy role in local body politics in the Wellington area. With his partner Tui Goodwin, he bred and raced many horses including Clear Cut, who was placed second in the NZ One Thousand Guineas in 1992. The Council, staff and members of the New...

Brianna, the unbeaten TBS princess

Ian and Jean Baillie's talented three-year-old filly Brianna took her career and Thoroughbred Bonus Scheme record to four wins and a very healthy $28,200 in bonus prizemoney when she won at Te Rapa on 3 February. Runner-up Keep The Message added a $2,700 bonus to his earnings. Four days later at Ellerslie, Pams Pompallier led home a TBS trifecta, and three TBS-quaified placegetters picked up an additional $6750 at Wingatui on 10 February. Saturday 3 February, Waikato A Bonus 1st Brianna (3f ...