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Former Kiwi provides Begg with stakes triumph

Talented mare Niance (Swiss Ace) landed some valuable black-type for connections when prevailing in the Listed Alinghi Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield on Saturday.The former Kiwi has won four of her five starts since crossing the Tasman to join the stable of Cranbourne trainer Grahame Begg.Despite having not been seen on raceday since May, Niance was sent out a $3.20 favourite. Given a tactically brilliant ride by Jordan Childs, the jockey took his opportunity to pocket key rival Isthmus, who e...

Meet the Breeder - Brendan and Jo Lindsay

This week in Dunstan Horsefeeds Meet the Breeder, we catch up with Cambridge Stud principals Brendan and Jo Lindsay after a very successful week with Ceolwulf (Tavistock) winning the Gr.1 TAB Epsom and the following weekend Luberon (Embellish) taking out the Gr.3 Sweynesse Stakes.How did you get into thoroughbred breeding?J’Adane is a mare that has a special place in our hearts. She was from the last crop of Danehill and we purchased her as a yearling at Karaka. While she only won one race, sh...

Group One performance ticked for Sass Bomb

Kim Reid has always seen something special in Hi Yo Sass Bomb (Complacent), and the mare rewarded her trainer for persistence with an impressive runner-up finish in the Gr.1 Livamol Classic (2040m) at Te Rapa last Saturday.A daughter of Complacent, Hi Yo Sass Bomb showed promise in her opening two starts before breaking her wither, keeping her away from the race track for over 12 months. When she returned in mid-2023, the mare flew through the grades, going from breaking her maiden to finishing ...

Kiwi Chronicles - Caught Napping

As of 7:45pm NZDT, the lead piece for this week’s edition appeared to lean heavily towards the clear-cut win by Snazzytavi (Tavistock) in the Livamol Classic (Gr 1, 2040m).After 800 metres of the Toorak Handicap (Gr 1, 1600m) there was no reason to change course but in the space of 220 metres and an electrifying last-to-first burst by Antino (Redwood), a new lead emerged.Blake Shinn’s experience was key when he correctly judged a slackening pace, setting Antino alight from the 800 metres. Th...

Hallmark-bred galloper strikes Australian stakes success

Mark Baker anticipated Nikau Spur (Proisir) would be a horse that would only improve with time, and he has continued to be proven correct as the evergreen galloper collected the Listed Queensland Cup (2400m) at Eagle Farm on Saturday.In the care of Toowoomba trainers Corey and Kylie Geran, Nikau Spur has won five races in the past 18 months, capped off with an impressive effort in the staying feature, much to the delight of his former owner in Baker.“When he got shuffled back to last on t...

Spencer continues family legacy for Schumacher

Taranaki horseman Aidan Schumacher has put his faith in the family of his foundation broodmare Mini Manday over the last few decades, and his loyalty paid off in a big way on Saturday when Spencer (Derryn) took out the Gr.3 Valley D’Vine Restaurant Spring Sprint (1400m) at Te Rapa.The Derryn gelding had been a revelation over winter, posting three wins and a runner-up result in the Listed Opunake Cup (1400m), and went one better on Saturday, scoring by 1-1/4 lengths over Geriatrix in the ...

Luberon caps top weekend for Stud in Sweynesse thriller

Cambridge Stud’s outstanding weekend continued at Rotorua on Sunday, with their exciting mare Luberon (Embellish) adding a valuable black-type success to her name in the Gr.3 Sweynesse Stakes (1215m).The previous day at Te Rapa, Snazzytavi carried the prominent yellow and black-chequered silks to victory in the Gr.1 Livamol Classic (2040m) for Graham Richardson and Rogan Norvall, and it was the turn of the Stud’s private trainer Lance Noble in the feature sprint, where Luberon was rated...

Nikau Spur dominant in Queensland Cup

Former Kiwi galloper Nikau Spur (Proisir) has provided Toowoomba trainers Corey and Kylie Geran with their first stakes success when running out a dominant winner of the Listed Queensland Cup (2400m) at Eagle Farm on Saturday.The eight-year-old son of Proisir has finished runner-up in the past two editions of the Toowoomba Cup (2000m), including a checkered-run when second at to Red Wave prior to Saturday’s triumph.Ridden by James Orman, Nikau Spur came from midfield and took inside runs ...

Mile proves no issue for quality mare Grinzinger Belle

Bold front-running mare Grinzinger Belle (Shamexpress) has further embellished her already impressive record with victory in the Gr.3 Catanach's 150 Years Vase (1600m) at Caulfield on Saturday.Prepared by Danny O’Brien, Grinzinger Belle is a daughter of in-form sire Shamexpress, a son of O’Reilly whom O’Brien trained to win the Gr.1 Newmarket Handicap (1200m).Ridden by Damian Lane, Grinzinger Belle ran solid splits in the mid-stages of the race and had just enough in the tank to withs...

Stakes success for rising star Jimmy

Exciting prospect Jimmysstar (Per Incanto) made a one-act affair of the Listed Weekend Hussler Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on Saturday when powering to a two and a quarter length victory.The Ciaron Maher-trained son of Per Incanto claimed his first stakes victory and the lightly-tried former Kiwi looks to have plenty more instore.Sent out the $2.30 favourite, Jimmysstar was ridden with supreme confidence by jockey Blake Shinn, who was happy to travel wide throughout before giving the five-y...

Raziah brilliant in Ashburton feature

North Island raider Raziah (Niagara) produced a brilliant burst of speed to make it back-to-back victories at stakes level when she took out the Gr.3 Barneswood Farm Stakes (1400m) at Ashburton on Saturday.Fresh off success in a slogging finish to the Listed Canterbury Belle Stakes (1200m) at Riccarton last month, the Tony Pike-prepared filly looked to be in a power of trouble when back on the fence and a conservative six lengths off the leaders rounding the home turn.Despite collecting a b...

Spencer claims first stakes victory

Spencer (Derryn), the find of the winter sprinting ranks, showed he could be just as effective on better going when he claimed a decisive victory in the Gr.3 Valley D’Vine Restaurant Spring Sprint (1400m) at Te Rapa on Saturday.The Erin Hocquard-trained five-year-old put three victories in a row together during the winter before finishing runner-up in the Listed Opunake Cup (1400m) back in July.The son of Derryn was thereabouts in his next three starts but was left alone by punters on Sat...

Antino stunning in Toorak

The Tony Gollan-trained Antino (Redwood) trounced his rivals to win the Gr.1 Toorak Handicap (1600m) under a masterful ride by Blake Shinn at Caulfield on Saturday.The striking son of Redwood had six and a half lengths to spare over runner-up Craig with Perth raider Alsephina finishing third.Antino had been around the mark in elite company with placings behind Pride Of Jenni and Mr Brightside at his previous two outings.After a slow beginning Antino came from last, looping the field prior t...

Snazzytavi stuns in Livamol romp

A trophy that slipped through Brendan and Jo Lindsay’s grasp in their early days of racehorse ownership now has pride of place in the Cambridge Stud trophy cabinet, thanks to a stunning coming-of-age performance by Snazzytavi (Tavistock) in Saturday’s Gr.1 Livamol Classic (2040m) at Te Rapa.The Lindsays’ foundation mare J’Adane went agonisingly close to winning the 2007 edition of the spring showpiece, where she was beaten by a whisker by superstar mare Princess Coup.Multiple Group ...

Lovely Rita on song at Waverley

There was plenty of emotion on display at Waverley on Wednesday when Lovely Rita (Keano) broke a two-decade winning drought for owner-breeder-trainer Alison Ross.The eight-year-old daughter of Keano was fair away from her wide gate, but jockey Madan Singh elected to press forward with his charge and captured the lead heading into the back straight. Lovely Rita set a strong tempo up front, opening up several lengths on the rest of the field and was able to maintain that advantage to the line...

New Zealand the Place for Success

A move to New Zealand and rekindling an old friendship may have led Robert and Kim de Courcy towards breeding the next Gr.1 VRC Derby winner.The couple under their Kinsale Bloodstock banner, bred Keeneland (Almanzor- Savabeel Star), the impressive winner of the Listed VRC Super Impose Stakes over 1800metres. A win that has propelled the gelding into second favouritism.Raced by Tommy Hepinstall and partners, Keeneland races in the distinctive lime green and blue colours carried by Tavistock and n...

Kiwi Chronicles - The Connection

The ownership trio of Bourke, Bourke and Piercy may race their charges in yellow and black but the colour purple might be more appropriate after a memorable week.One Bold Cat (The Bold One) saluted in the postponed and transferred Arrowfield Stud Plate (Gr 1, 1600m) last Wednesday, providing more than enough for the ownership to celebrate. Then four days on at Hawera the team’s celebrations were set to continue after The Hottie (Swiss Ace) prevailed in the Taranaki Breeders’ Stakes (Gr 3, 14...

Family double act booked for Windsor Park newcomer

Multiple Group One winner Mustang Valley (Vanbrugh) has joined her mother in the Windsor Park Stud broodmare band with both set to visit the Cambridge farm’s new stallion Paddington.The top-quality mare carried 60kg to victory in the open mile at Tauranga on Saturday in what was to have been her lead-up to another crack at the Gr.1 Livamol Classic (2040m), but was found to have bled and has been retired.Bred by Windsor Park, who remained in the ownership group, Mustang Valley was trained ...

Under the Radar - Ellie Aykroyd

This month in BetaVet Under The Radar, we catch up with NZTR's Breeding Course Coordinator, Ellie Aykroyd and learn more about her role and background in the industry!Hi all NZTBA readers. I’m Ellie Aykroyd and I look after the Level 3 and Level 4 Equine Breeding certificates for NZTR and NZTBA. You may have seen my write ups on the block courses we do and those who have completed the course in the education section of this newsletter.Explain your role.My role being the breeding course coordin...

Stunning Epsom triumph for Ceolwulf

A two-time second placegetter at the elite level last autumn, Ceolwulf (Tavistock) put the spotlight firmly on himself with a stunning coming-of-age performance in Saturday’s Gr.1 TAB Epsom Handicap (1600m) at Randwick.The Tavistock gelding was bridesmaid behind Australia’s standout three-year-old of last season, Riff Rocket, in the Rosehill Guineas (2000m) and Australian Derby (2400m). The stamina he showed in those two races may have made Saturday’s Gr.1 Metropolitan Handicap (2400m...

Hawera double caps dream week for connections

A special week got even better on Saturday for trainer Robbie Patterson and owner-breeders Eddie and Nicola Bourke and Allan Piercy.They teamed up for back-to-back victories at Hawera with The Hottie (Swiss Ace) in the Gr.3 Grangewilliam Stud Taranaki Breeders’ Stakes (1400m) and Belles Beau (Iffraaj) in the Energy Ford Hawera (1400m). That winning double came only four days after the rescheduled Gr.1 Arrowfield Stud Plate (1600m) at Matamata on Wednesday, which Patterson, the Bourke...

Keeneland puts Busuttin and Young on Derby path again

New Zealand-breds have been a rich source of success for Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young in Australian three-year-old staying features, and that trend continued in Saturday’s Listed ABC Bullion Super Impose Stakes (1800m) at Flemington.The expat Kiwi couple collected their third win in the A$175,000 Super Impose with the up-and-comer Keeneland (Almanzor), who followed in the footsteps of fellow Kiwi-breds Main Stage (2017) and Atmosphere (2014).Saturday’s success has Busuttin and Young work...

Cat’s bold run timely boost for Grangewilliam

How quickly fortunes can change in the bloodstock world have again been emphasised by the success of One Bold Cat (The Bold One) in the relocated Gr.1 Arrowfield Stud Plate (1600m) at Matamata on Wednesday.The Robbie Patterson-trained six-year-old is a son of The Bold One, who until recently stood alongside the late Zed at Mark and Jane Corcoran’s Grangewilliam Stud.Understandably, spirits were low at the Waitotara farm following the passing of the Zabeel stallion, most notably the sire of the...

One Bold Cat pounces on Group One

Robbie Patterson had his sights set on the Gr.1 Livamol Classic (2040m) for One Bold Cat (The Bold One), but the gelding showed he can be just as impressive at a mile with a powerful victory in Wednesday’s Gr.1 Arrowfield Stud Plate (1600m) at Matamata.One Bold Cat burst onto the scene with a decisive win in the Gr.3 Counties Cup (2100m) last November, and he continued to feature prominently in the top-flight staying contests, placing behind Legarto and Campionessa in the Gr.1 Herbie Dyke Stak...

Savaglee takes out drama-filled Hawke’s Bay Guineas

There was plenty of drama with the abandonment of last Saturday’s feature meeting at Hawke’s Bay, and that drama continued at the transferred meeting at Matamata on Wednesday in the running of the Gr.2 AHD Animal Health Direct – Hawke’s Bay Guineas (1400m).Short-priced favourite Captured By Love reared up as the gates were released, losing six lengths at the start, and what looked to be all chance in the three-year-old feature.So Naïve took up the pace making role up front, while second...