Back to Blog

Belclare shoots for Breeders’ Stakes treble

Belclare (Per Incanto) will attempt to carve out a piece of New Zealand racing history with an unprecedented third victory in the Gr.1 HKJC World Pool New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1600m) at Ellerslie on Saturday.The daughter of Per Incanto won the fillies and mares’ feature at Pukekohe in 2023, then defended her crown at Ellerslie last March. She became only the sixth back-to-back winner of the Breeders’ Stakes, joining Tudor Light (1976-77), Orchidra (1978-79), Waikiki ...

Pearl Series Hits Pinnacle With Ellerslie Final

The Entain/NZB Insurance Pearl Series provides lucrative returns to owners, breeders and trainers throughout the New Zealand racing calendar, but its undisputed pinnacle comes with the running of the $120,000 Entain/NZB Insurance Pearl Series Final (1400m) at Ellerslie on Saturday.On top of its $120,000 stake, the annual final also carries a bonus payment of $100,000. The owner of the winning horse receives $70,000 of that amount, with $20,000 for second and $10,000 for third.Saturday marks the ...

It's in the blood - Feroce

Given his rapid accomplishments as a sire it was about time Super Seth (Dundeel) had a Group 1 winner.And that’s exactly what Australian Guineas (Gr 1, 1600m) hero Feroce (Super Seth) is: he’s all about time.Time in the pedigree, to let a couple of duplications “mature” – one way of saying they’ll be pushed far enough back to have their impact optimised, with potential drawbacks diluted.And time in the hills, those famous rolling, limestone-rich hills of New Zealand they talk about i...

Kiwi Chronicles - Super Seth is our future

Late last Saturday afternoon, New Zealand time, interested New Zealanders turned their attention to Flemington. The big question: Could Savaglee (Savabeel), our leading three-year-old, be as good as we thought? The answer was yes, despite being beaten by Feroce (Super Seth) in the Australian Guineas (Gr 1, 1600m).Imagine being Waikato Stud’s Mark Chittick when the race narrowed to two runners at the 200-metre mark. Another Group 1 for Savabeel (Zabeel) or a first Group 1 for Super Seth (Dundee...

Kiwi studs celebrate Feroce’s Guineas crown

Feroce’s (Super Seth) stunning Gr.1 Australian Guineas (1600m) victory was celebrated in several of New Zealand’s most prominent stud farms over the weekend.Bred by Pencarrow Stud, Feroce was narrowly beaten by Private Life in the Gr.1 Caulfield Guineas (1600m) back in October, but there was no denying the gelding at Flemington on Saturday, outmuscling fellow Kiwi-bred colt Savaglee to take the three-year-old feature by three-quarters of a length.Leon Casey, stud manager at Pencarrow, w...

Goodwood back in Group limelight

Goodwood Stud has downsized its thoroughbred operation in more recent times, but the Manawatu farm remains a breeding force to be reckoned with.Its latest high-profile graduate is the Per Incanto mare Marble Arch, a hollow last-start winner of Gr.2 Blamey Stakes (1600m) at Flemington.The Ben, Will and JD Hayes-trained five-year-old’s victory also earned her a golden ticket into this weekend’s Gr.1 All-Star Mile (1600m), should Lindsay Park take the option of backing her up.“It’s exc...

Leica Lucy phenomenal in Lowland

Leica Lucy (Derryn) displayed exactly why she is the overwhelming favourite for the upcoming $1 million Gr.1 Al Basti Equiworld New Zealand Oaks (2400m) with a fourth-straight Group victory in Sunday’s Gr.2 Jennian Homes Lowland Stakes (2100m).An unstoppable force out of the Central Districts, Leica Lucy was a winner on debut and Robbie Patterson, who trains her out of New Plymouth, stamped her as an Oaks filly from that moment forward. After a narrow second to Wingman at the following st...

Feroce goes one better in Australian Guineas

Waikato Stud stallion Super Seth and trainer Dominic Sutton stood in the Group One spotlight for the first time when Feroce (Super Seth) headed a New Zealand-bred quinella in Saturday’s A$1 million Gr.1 Howden Australian Guineas (1600m) at Flemington.It was a case of second time lucky for Feroce, who finished second and was beaten by an agonising short head by Private Life in the Gr.1 Caulfield Guineas (1600m) in October.Rookie trainer Dominic Sutton soon set his sights on Australian Guin...

First black-type success for Marble Arch

Previously a runner-up in two black-type races, Marble Arch (Per Incanto) went one better on Saturday with a valuable victory in the A$300,000 Gr.2 TAB Blamey Stakes (1600m) at Flemington.The New Zealand-bred five-year-old had been narrowly beaten in two recent attempts in stakes company, going down by a half-length when second in the Listed Lord Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield on Boxing Day and by neck when second in the Gr.3 JRA Plate (1600m) at Caulfield on February 8.But this time Marble Ar...

Our Echo takes Wingatui feature in thrilling finish

Veteran galloper Our Echo showed all his fighting qualities when he clung on gamely to hold out a determined challenge from Perfect Scenario to capture the feature event at Wingatui, the Gr.3 White Robe Lodge Weight For Age (1600m)Allowed to start at the luxurious price of $31 in the Fixed Odds market for the race, the Danny Frye-prepared eight-year-old had his chances discarded by punters, despite winning two of his previous three starts, due to his finishing last of seven runners on an unsuita...

Loftys Gift lands Dunedin Gold Cup upset

Four weeks on from a brave second in the Gore Cup (2000m), lion-hearted stayer Loftys Gift (Ghibellines) delivered again for her connections at Wingatui on Saturday and went one better in the Listed Positive Signs + Print Dunedin Gold Cup (2400m).The gritty daughter of Ghibellines was a winner over 1400m at Ascot Park in late January, then stepped up to 2000m for the Gore Cup and was beaten by only half a length despite being caught three wide without cover for the second half of the race.The st...

Loose Sally storms to victory in Dunedin Guineas

Local filly Loose Sally (Turn Me Loose) put aside the disappointment of missing a start in the Listed Southland Guineas (1400m) a fortnight ago when refusing to load into the starting gates, by coming from the tail of the field to upset the favoured runners in Saturday’s Listed Property Brokers – Ray Kean Dunedin Guineas (1600m)The Shankar Muniandy-prepared daughter of Turn Me Loose had demonstrated she has a lethal finishing burst when winning on debut over 1200m on a heavy surface at ...

Meet the Breeder - Pete and Chrissie Algie

This week in Dunstan Horse Feeds Meet the Breeder we catch up with Pete and Chrissie Algie who co-bred group one winner Jimmysstar (along with many other stakes winners) in partnership with Little Avondale Stud.Tell us the story of Jimmysstar?Star Guest was the first mare we owned and all her foals to race have been winners. Anniesstar is the first foal out of Star Guest and Jimmy is Annie’s third foal, full brother to Charms Star and In’Kantosstar. We have enjoyed a wonderful partnership wi...

Vale Herrick Perry

Former NZTBA Councillor Herrick Perry a stalwart of the racing industry in the Manawatu, and founder of Highden Stud passed away suddenly last week.According to his son well-known bloodstock agent Bruce Perry, at 87 his father had lived a good a full life, enhanced and enjoyed by his love of the racing industry.“He was a gentleman who loved his horses and the industry and that was something that came through very much at his funeral earlier this week,” he said.Herrick Leonard Perry was born ...

Big double for Manning’s gavelhouse.com graduates

Respected horseman Ralph Manning has been a prolific purchaser on gavelhouse.com over the years, and a pair of his bargain buys played starring roles on Australian racetracks on Saturday.Manning paid only $7,750 to secure Mr Brightside (NZ) (Bullbars) from a gavelhouse.com auction in August of 2020, while he bought Step Aside (NZ) (Redwood) for $2,300 a few months later.Fast-forward to Saturday, when the exceptional Mr Brightside added a ninth Group One win to his record with a typically tenacio...

Kiwi Chronicles - One replay is not enough

How many times did you watch the replay? I am, of course, referring to the Oakleigh Plate (Gr 1, 1100m) and the scintillating performance by Jimmysstar (Per Incanto). Live, it looked as if ‘Jimmy’ was a total non-factor before the field straightened for the run home.The replay merely offered a head scratching. How on earth did he get a run? The first 100 metres of the straight was a traffic jam but when the gap did open up his response was electric. In the next 150 metres ...

Timely Group Two victory for Trelawney

Shanwah’s (Too Darn Hot) victory in the Gr.2 Autumn Classic (1800m) at Caulfield on Saturday was timely for his breeder’s Trelawney Stud, who are set to offer his half-brother at Inglis’ Australian Easter Yearling Sale in April.It was the third consecutive win for the Ciaron Maher-trained gelding, who was having his first tilt at stakes level, and made light work of his opposition when scoring by 1-1/2 lengths. By Too Darn Hot, Shanwah was a popular commodity at the 2023 New Zeal...

Ka Ying Rising scores third successive Group One

Kiwi-bred sprinting sensation Ka Ying Rising (Shamexpress) continued his imperious reign as Hong Kong’s sprint monarch with a superb victory in the Gr.1 Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup (1400m) for David Hayes and Karis Teetan at Sha Tin on Sunday as the world’s joint highest-rated sprinter landed his third Group One.Settling outside the leader and last year’s winner California Spangle, Ka Ying Rising cruised to the lead entering the straight before rallying late under pressure to resist ...

Jimmy shines brightly in Oakleigh Plate

Former Kiwi galloper Jimmysstar (Per Incanto) scored a stunning win in the Gr.1 Oakleigh Plate (1100m) at Caulfield on Saturday under a brilliant Ethan Brown ride.The son of Per Incanto stalked eventual runner-up She’s Bulletproof and launched from the rear of the field to record an emphatic length and a quarter victory in a slick 1:02.25.The winner of two of his three starts in New Zealand for Hastings trainer Guy Lowry, a majority share in Jimmysstar was sold to clients of Ciaron Maher follo...

Nine of the best for Brightside

Champion galloper Mr Brightside (Bullbars) notched his ninth Group One victory when winning the Gr.1 Futurity Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on Saturday for trainers Ben, Will and JD Hayes under a positive Craig Williams ride.The son of Bullbars displayed all his fighting qualities as he made it back-to-back Futurity Stakes, defying his widest draw and a strong head-wind as he raced outside the leader Private Life, with that rival trailing the field home.Mr Brightside scored by the barest of m...

Group One target for Classy Coeur Volante

Coeur Volante (Proisir) delivered a commanding performance at Caulfield on Saturday, securing her third Stakes victory in the Gr.3 Mannerism Stakes (1400m) under the guidance of jockey Blake Shinn.Prepared by Mike Moroney and Glen Thompson, the talented Proisir mare overcame a challenging run at Sandown in her previous start, showcasing her class this time around.Grinzinger Belle set a brisk early pace, allowing Coeur Volante to find the trail from a wide barrier.As the leader's momentum wa...

Just another day at the office for outstanding El Vencedor

El Vencedor, (Shocking) or the big EV as he is becoming affectionately known, continued his career-best form with another superb victory at Ellerslie in Saturday’s Gr.1 Sport Nation Otaki-Māori WFA Classic (1600m).The gelded son of Shocking sat three back off the pace set by Belclare and looked to be travelling like a winner throughout for rider Wiremu Pinn.Given his head rounding the home bend, the Stephen Marsh-trained runner charged to the front at the 200m and never looked like being deni...

Sethito sparkles in NZB Kiwi audition

Four confirmed candidates for the inaugural $3.5 million NZB Kiwi (1500m) had their final dress rehearsal in the Listed Trevor & Corallie Eagle Uncle Remus Stakes (1400m) at Ellerslie on Saturday, and a classy performance by Sethito (Super Seth) put a spring in the step of her connections and slot-holders.Bred and raced by Waikato Stud patriarch Garry Chittick, Sethito was selected to represent Waikato Thoroughbred Racing’s slot after an impressive run of form that started with a six-...

Group Two victory for Firestorm

Smart four-year-old mare Firestorm (Satono Aladdin) snared a well-deserved Group Two victory when getting the better of her rivals in the Millie Fox Stakes (1300m) at Rosehill on Saturday.Prepared by Chris Waller and ridden by Jason Collett, Firestorm was resuming from a spell and got the better of her rivals late to defeat Dark Glitter and stablemate Scarlet Oak.The daughter of Satono Aladdin commenced her career in New Zealand when prepared by Paul Mirabelli and finished sixth in the Gr.1...

Upset Cup double for Blue Sky At Night

Blue Sky At Night (Shamexpress) has defied double-digit odds to win both of New Zealand’s biggest 2400m handicaps this season, adding Saturday’s Gr.3 Eagle Technology Avondale Cup at Ellerslie to her victory in the Gr.3 Waikato Cup in December.The Shamexpress mare landed a $13 upset with her Te Rapa triumph three starts ago, but subsequent unplaced finishes in the Gr.3 Queen Elizabeth II Cup (2400m) and Gr.3 Taranaki Cup (1800m) saw those odds balloon to $34.70 on Saturday.But under a w...