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Feature double shines spotlight on Valachi Downs legacy

More than a year has passed since the closure of Kevin Hickman’s Valachi Downs operation, but a black-type double over the weekend showed that his influence continues to be strongly felt in the Australasian thoroughbred industry.The first of the Hickman-bred feature winners was Benaud in the Listed Wyong Gold Cup on Friday afternoon, which was followed less than 24 hours later by Chantilly Lace in the Listed HS Dyke Wanganui Guineas.That was the second stakes win for Chantilly Lace, who had pr...

BLOG | Dorian Kos 7th September

Hello everyone,As I have now finished my time in Newmarket, with the trainer Kevin Philippart de Foy and his team, I thought that it would be a good time to give you an update on what I have been up to during that time. While with Kevin, I have spent most mornings going around with him directly to watch the warm-ups, and work of his horses, which has also given me the opportunity to see and discover a lot of the different gallops Newmarket has. This was especially true as Kevin has horses i...

First winner for Eminent

Brighthill Farm stallion Eminent recorded his first win as a sire at Avondale on Wednesday when his daughter Fon Memories scored on debut in the Westbrook Cellar Door 1200.The three-year-old filly had finished runner-up in her lead in trial and trainers Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson were pleased with her last to first performance on the Heavy10 footing.“It was a big win today, especially to do it the way she did by coming from last,” Walker said.“We’ve thought for quite some time that we...

Mr Brightside superb in Memsie

Mr Brightside (Bullbars) has delivered plenty of highlights throughout his blockbuster career, but his performance in Saturday’s Gr.1 Stow Storage Memsie Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield suggested that the superstar six-year-old is still raising the bar.A two-time winner of the Gr.1 Doncaster Mile (1600m) in Sydney, the Bullbars gelding added a Melbourne major to his trophy cabinet with a tenacious and top-class Memsie victory.Mr Brightside went into the first Group One race of the Melbourne spring...

Chantilly Lace takes Wanganui Guineas

Trainer Chrissy Bambry went from frustration to joy in the space of half an hour on Saturday as her classy three-year-old filly Chantilly Lace (U S Navy Flag) made it back-to-back stakes victories with a brave win in the Listed HS Dyke Wanganui Guineas (1200m).The Bambry-trained Flower Of Wanaka looked particularly unlucky when flashing into second a race earlier when held up for a run for most of the home straight for apprentice Lily Sutherland, however Sutherland made sure she didn’t su...

Benaud breaks through in Wyong Gold Cup

The blue-blooded Benaud (Reliable Man) picked up the first stakes win of his career in Friday’s A$240,000 Listed Carlton Wyong Gold Cup (2100m), adding even more black type to an extraordinary pedigree page.The son of Reliable Man had previously been a three-time placegetter at Group level, including a runner-up finish behind Hitotsu in last year’s Gr.1 Australian Derby (2400m) at Randwick.Benaud’s form was below his best last season, but trainer John O’Shea sent him to Wyong in Jul...

Elsdon Park joins Karaka Million frame

Elsdon Park have pledged their support to the TAB Karaka Million night, with the Matamata farm announced as the inaugural sponsor of the newly established $1 million open 4YO race.To be known as the Elsdon Park Aotearoa Classic, the race will be run over 1600m for $1 million under set-weight conditions on TAB Karaka Millions night (27th January 2024).“Elsdon Park is a significant player in the thoroughbred breeding industry, making them a natural fit for that night in particular which showcase...

Meet the Breeder - Ray Johnson

How did you get into thoroughbred breeding?Seems a long time ago now, I just had an interest in a racehorse and it grew from there. I got myself a couple of mares and it went from there really.Tell us the story of Mr Brightside.I approached Marcus Corban at the sales one year and I bought two weanlings off Sir Patrick, a colt and a filly who were both by Tavistock.I believe the colt ended up in Malaysia but the filly, I sent her to a trainer and unfortunately her legs weren’t the best so I run...

Crocetti adds his name to Nakhle’s winning line

As a young man back in 2005 while still in his twenties, the first horse Daniel Nakhle selected on his own was a Shinko King weanling filly that he named Irish Colleen.She went on to win seven races including the Gr. 2 Avondale JC Concorde Handicap, as a broodmare she acquitted herself just as well, and she is now the granddam of unbeaten three-year-old Crocetti.On Saturday at Ruakaka, the son of the recently deceased stallion Zacinto made an emphatic statement with a runaway win in the Gr. 3 Ca...

First foals for Sword Of State

Cambridge’s Stud Champion Two-Year-Old Sword Of State has ushered in the next phase of his career with the arrival of two well-bred colts.As a Group One-winning son of Snitzel, Sword Of State has natural appeal to the Australian market and the exciting young stallion’s first foal has arrived across the Tasman at famed Hunter Valley nursery Kia Ora Stud.“Needle And Thread had a belter of a Sword of State colt,” Kia Ora Stud’s Bloodstock and Breeding Manager Shane Wright said.“He’s g...

Raced Evens brings pedigree and performance to Gavelhouse auction

One of the highlight lots in the latest fortnightly sale on gavelhouse.com is Raced Evens (Zoffany), who performed up to Group Three level on the racetrack and also boasts a star-studded pedigree page.The seven-year-old is a daughter of the stakes-winning mare Luscilla (NZ) (Entrepreneur), who is a half-sister to the quality racehorse and successful sire Falkirk.Luscilla is also a half-sister to the Group Two-winning mare Mulan Princess (NZ) (Kaapstad) – dam of Group One Australian Oaks (2400m...

Crocetti claims Group Three win

Exciting three-year-old Crocetti (Zacinto x Gracehill) displayed his classic credentials once again with another front-running demolition of his rivals to take out the Gr.3 Cambridge Stud Northland Breeders Stakes (1200m) at Ruakaka on Saturday.After winning with ridiculous ease at the venue a fortnight again, punters were quick to send the showy chestnut out a $1.40 favourite despite being up against some smart individuals including Trobriand (Kermadec) who was a Group Two winner...

Deserved Stakes success for Savannah Cloud

Six-year-old gelding Savannah Cloud scored a well-deserved black-type victory in a thrilling finish of the Listed Regal Roller Stakes (1200m), prevailing by a nose over a fast-finishing Umgawa at Caulfield on Saturday.The Phillip Stokes-trained gelding has been a model of consistency throughout his career and had previously placed at Group Three level last campaign prior to heading for a spell.The son of Savabeel camped in behind a solid pace under jockey Daniel Moor and drove up the inside of h...

First winning trick for Ace High

Rich Hill Stud is celebrating a first success for young resident sire Ace High following Bezique’s (ex Kashika) dashing victory on his home track at Ruakaka on Saturday.A son of the influential High Chaparral, Ace High was an Australian star during his racing career with a brace of top-flight victories from the Sydney stable of David Payne and has now made his mark early in his stallion career.“That was great, it’s really exciting and a fantastic feeling. That’s going to be the first of ...

Mr Brightside lands second P.B. Lawrence

Star galloper Mr Brightside (Bullbars x Lilahjay) has returned in imperious fashion when successful in Saturday’s Gr.2 P.B. Lawrence Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield, a race the son of Bullbars won last year.Prepared by Ben, Will & JD Hayes, the multiple Group One winner covered the 1400m in a slick 1.21.71s as he went on to score by just under two lengths from Pinstriped, with fellow New Zealand-bred runner Aegon charging home into third.  With regular jockey Craig Williams in the saddle,...

Sky On Fire adds black-type quality to gavelhouse.com sale

The latest fortnightly sale on gavelhouse.com has been given a touch of star quality with the inclusion of a stakes-winning two-year-old filly from last season.Sky On Fire (Exceed and Excel) had six starts during her juvenile campaign, headed by a win in the Listed Welcome Stakes (1000m) at Riccarton last November. She also collected two seconds, a third, and a close fourth in the Listed Wellesley Stakes (1000m) at Trentham in January.By exceptional sire Exceed and Excel out of a mare by the sho...

Heavenly start for Highview’s new recruit

The 2023-24 season is off to a perfect start for new Highview stallion Divine Prophet, whose daughter See You In Heaven scored a dominant win in Saturday’s Gr.3 Behemoth Stakes (1200m) in Adelaide.The high-class four-year-old was sent out as a $2.15 favourite for the Morphettville feature and lived right up to those high expectations, overcoming a three-wide run to win with plenty in hand.“Considering she is still underdone, it’s exciting to see where she goes next,” co-trainer Chantelle...

Racing mourns Anderton family matriarch

The racing community is mourning the death on Saturday morning of Lorraine Anderton, the matriarch of one of New Zealand’s most celebrated racing families.The wife for 63 years of Racing Hall of Fame horseman Brian Anderton, she had suffered poor health over the past 18 months, but that didn’t prevent her from continuing to play a significant role in White Robe Lodge, virtually up until her passing.“Mum always liked to have a handle on things, especially around the administrative side of t...

TiES Enhanced for 2023-24 Season

The Thoroughbreds in Equestrian Sport programme (TiES) will receive a significant boost for the 2023/24 season with over $76,000 on offer to eligible competitors across two Series.Funded by the 1% levy on stakes, the Series was established in 2014 to demonstrate the versatility of Thoroughbreds and increase their uptake into equestrian sports.Previously known as the TiES Series, the TiES Accumulator Series will have a total prize pool of $41,500 up for grabs for Thoroughbreds of all ages competi...

NZB Insurance Pearl Series Revamped by Entain & NZTR

Adding to the list of further boosts Entain and New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing have made to New Zealand’s racing industry in recent months is the delivery of enhanced Pearl Series bonuses for fillies and mares. Entain, NZTR and NZB Insurance have collaborated to provide continued support of fillies and mares racing in New Zealand, with all current Pearl Series bonuses now doubled for the 2023-24 racing season.  The refreshed Series will be renamed the Entain - NZB Insurance Pearl Se...

Meet the Breeder - Graeme Rogerson

How did you get into thoroughbred breeding?Desperation….no, it has been ever since I was a young kid. I raced a horse the day I was eligible to race it in 1964 (I think!), it was the first horse I ever trained, and it won. Morven Queen at Rotorua and Roger Lang rode it. I have always had horses, breeding, selling and racing; and we have had a few winners over the years, I think it is well over 5000 races.I have bred some good ones, I bred Winx’s Mum, then I sold her after I had finished raci...

Belardo’s remarkable run continues with Winter Cup win

A stellar run of form by the progeny of former shuttle stallion Belardo has left Haunui Farm managing director Mark Chitty with a feeling that is all too familiar to studmasters.Chitty decided against bringing Belardo back to the Karaka stud for the upcoming breeding season, having served a book of only 13 mares in 2022. That decision has been followed by the best patch of form in the Lope De Vega stallion’s southern hemisphere career.Belardo has been represented by 30 winners among his New Ze...

2023 Waikato Stallion Parade Schedule

Hosted by the Waikato branch of the New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association and sponsored by gavelhouse.com, the parade will visit nine farms and showcase 39 stallions.No preregistration is required and lunch will be provided at Rich Hill Stud on the Saturday and Windsor Park Stud on the Sunday.All enquires can be directed to Scott Calder via 027 616 4235.Saturday August 19th (Matamata farms)9.30am Mapperley Stud – 107 Matai Road, Matamata (Armory, Contributer, Savile Row and Puccini)...

Te Aute Stud to offer breeders deal

Te Aute Stud in Hawke’s Bay have announced that well-credentialled stallion Sneaking To Win is the subject of a one-off special fee reduction until 1st September 2023.A son of Snitzel, Sneaking To Win is out of the winning Grand Lodge mare Disguise, making him a is a half-brother to four-time Group One-winning mare Appearance and stakes winner Mascareri.“Until September 1st we will offer a 50 percent discount on Sneaking to Win’s regular fee,” owner Steve Brougham said.“Breeders who bo...

Sarginson Cruises to first training win

Bruce Sarginson has always held ambitions of becoming a trainer and at Riccarton’s synthetic meeting on Wednesday he recorded his first win in that role.The local horseman wasn’t overly confident heading to the mid-week meeting with his five-year-old Cruise, but the homebred gelding pleasantly surprised his owner-trainer when taking out the Elmwood Trading Co Maiden (1400m).It was the first start on the synthetic surface for Cruise, and while he was a last-start placegetter, Sarginson wasn�...