Back to Blog

With Your Blessing all the way for Bill Ritchie breakthrough

New Zealand-bred gelding With Your Blessing (Vadamos) capped a consistent run of form with his first black-type success in Saturday’s A$250,000 Gr.3 Bill Ritchie Handicap (1400m) at Randwick.The Vadamos gelding progressed through the grades last season with a pair of Randwick victories – an 1100m Benchmark 78 handicap on January 4, followed by a 1300m Benchmark 88 just over a month later. Trainer John Thompson then stepped him up into stakes company and he finished second in a photo finish t...

Tajana takes out Sunline Vase in thrilling finish

Many pre-race pundits had labelled Saturday’s Ellerslie’s feature, the Gr.3 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Sunline Vase (1400m) as a two-horse contest between Lollapalooza and Tajana (Darci Brahma), the two hottest three-year-old fillies of spring racing to date.While that ignored the legitimate challenges of several well credentialled rivals, those early predictions played out exactly as expected with the Shaune Ritchie and Colm Murray-prepared Tajana holding out race favourite Lollapalooza by th...

Ears Back claims another northern prize

North Island raids have delivered rich rewards this year for Canterbury mare Ears Back ( Jakkalberry), who collected her second black-type prize in the Gr.3 Hunterville Vet Club Metric Mile (1600m) at Trentham on Saturday.Ears Back is trained in Rangiora by her part-owner John Blackadder, who previously took her north in the autumn for a pair of feature assignments. The Jakkalberry mare ran a close fifth in the Listed Rangitikei Cup (1600m) at Trentham, then broke through in the Listed AGC ...

Meet the Breeder - Karen Parsons

This week in Dunstan Horse Feeds’ Meet the Breeder, we spoke with South Island breeder and trainer Karen Parsons, who bred Listed Canterbury Belle Stakes winner Miss Starlight.Tell us the story of Miss Starlight?Miss Starlight is out of Firelight. Firelight used to belong to Mark Todd, he won a maiden race with her at Kurow. Then he gave her to us to train, eventually we ended up buying her. We raced her before making the decision to breed from her.Miss Starlight was always sensible right from...

Mr Brightside makes history in Makybe Diva

Group One warrior Mr Brightside (Bullbars)  became the first three-time winner of the Gr.1 Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m) with a powerhouse all-the-way victory in the A$750,000 Flemington feature on Saturday.It was the 10th Group One victory for the Bullbars gelding, who has had a total of 46 starts for 20 wins, 15 placings and A$17.97 million in prize-money.Mr Brightside beat Alligator Blood by a length and a half to claim his first Makybe Diva win in 2023, then defended that title against Pri...

A star is born in Canterbury Belle Stakes

Exciting three-year-old Miss Starlight (Sweynesse) thrust her name squarely into contention for future Group One honours when she destroyed a quality field of fillies in the time-honoured feature race at Riccarton on Saturday, the Listed NZB Canterbury Belle Stakes (1200m)The unbeaten daughter of Sweynesse went into the contest with a pair of wins on the Riccarton synthetic track under her belt but no-one was sure how she would take the leap to the grass surface.The John and Karen Parsons o...

Ardex and Stable Books

As a proud sponsor of the NZTBA, Ardex Technology values every opportunity to highlight the businesses and people who make our industry stronger and we’re delighted to introduce our partner Stable Books. Stable Books provides services to specialist thoroughbred businesses, including (but not limited to) trainers, spellers, breakers and presale farms across New Zealand. By combining industry knowledge with trusted systems like Ardex, they help these businesses save time, save money and stay com...

Building Skills and Empowering Support: Racing’s Commitment to Suicide Prevention

At the end of July, OnTrack hosted a two-day ASIST (Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training) workshop with 16 industry members. The course gave participants practical skills to recognise when someone may be at risk of suicide and how to respond in ways that could save a life.Among the group were Dean Hawkins and Brad Molander from Wentwood Grange. Reflecting afterwards, Dean said:“It was an incredibly valuable couple of days. I’d like to see more breeders take up the OnTrack training �...

Meet the Breeder - Don and Dame Wendy Pye

Dunstan Horsefeeds Meet the Breeder, caught up with Dame Wendy Pye who alongside her husband Don, have been involved in the breeding industry for over 35 years. They have had some fantastic success, including the 2002 Gr.1 Wellington Cup with Cyclades. Their most recent stakes-success came via Lollapalooza in the Gr.3 Gold Trail Stakes at Ellerslie on Saturday.Tell us the story of Lollapalooza?A great name ... meaning 'Celebration' but, we cannot claim all the credit for naming as this was done ...

Meet the Breeder - Linda Huddy

Dunstan Horsefeeds Meet the Breeder caught up with Linda Huddy, who alongside her husband Graham, own Peachester Lodge in Australia. The Huddy's have had some great racetrack success in their Maroon, Gold Diagonal Stripes, White Sleeves, Gold Cap owning the likes of Shoot Out, Preferment and Most Important; however, they are also renowned breeders and bred the now dual-group one winner, Quintessa.Tell us the story of Quintessa?Quintessa came to us through the purchase of an in foal mare fro...

Arigato (NZ) All the Way in Charity Cup

Just a few days after the catalogue was launched for the 2025 Ready to Run Sale at Karaka, the world’s leading sale of two-year-olds celebrated another new stakes-winning graduate – Arigato (NZ) (Charm Spirit).Bought for $150,000 from the 2020 Ready to Run Sale, Arigato led from start to finish and picked up the biggest win of his career in Sunday’s RM100,000 Perak Charity Cup (1400m).Arigato was offered by Henley Park in Book 1 of Karaka 2020 and was knocked down for $100,0...

Lollapalooza soars to stunning Gold Trail win

Lollapalooza (El Roca) went into Saturday’s Gr.3 Gold Trail Stakes (1200m) at Ellerslie as a maiden, but she came out of it as one of the leaders of her generation and the clear favourite for the Gr.1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m).The $150,000 three-year-old fillies’ feature was the El Roca filly’s fourth start. She had finished third on debut at Ellerslie in February behind Lucy In The Sky and Miss Ziggy, then struck bad luck in the straight when eighth in the Gr.1 Sistema Stakes ...

Resurgent Quintessa reigns in Proisir Plate

The early spring has tended to bring the very best out of Quintessa (Shamus Award), and that trend continued at Ellerslie on Saturday with a spectacular last-to-first performance at $36 odds in the Gr.1 Proisir Plate.The $400,000 weight-for-age triumph came almost exactly a year after the Te Akau Racing mare’s last win, which was a first-up victory in the Gr.3 Cockram Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield on August 31 last year. Another 12 months before that, she kicked her three-year-old season of...

Saltcoats lands Wyong Cup

Saltcoats (NZ) (Ardrossan) delivered trainer Chris Waller his ninth Wyong Cup (2100m) victory when narrowly prevailing in the Listed feature from locally-trained Salt Lake City.The son of Ardrossan was ridden by James McDonald and heavily supported as he landed his fifth career victory from 18 starts, with a further eight placings.McDonald tracked eventual third Glory Daze (Cotai Glory) into the race and came off his back upon straightening to claim the prize.“He relaxed like a dream whic...

Irish National Stud - Cameron Ring

Cameron Ring talks about his experience on the Irish National Stud, how the scholarship has influenced his career, and why any passionate industry individual should apply!...

Under the Radar - Andrew Stewart

We recently caught up with Andrew Stewart from Arion Pedigrees. Andrew has been in the industry his whole life and is so generous to the NZTBA with his time whether he is producing pedigrees for the annual stallion register, stallion parades, our members update, maiden focus and even loves to provide a fun fact every now and then!Explain who Arion Pedigrees is and your role within the company?Arion Pedigrees provides the pedigree information for all thoroughbred auctions held in Australia & ...

Vale Group One-winning horseman Tony Dennis

A member of one of New Zealand racing’s most famous and successful families has died, with the recent passing of Tony (Anthony) Dennis, aged 86.Dennis, twin brother Ray and their younger siblings Martin and Joe, established a formidable training and breeding operation and were based at Woodlands, near Invercargill, for more than 60 years until their retirement from training at the end of last year.The brothers enjoyed spectacular success with their charges instantly recognisable as carrying th...

2025 Ready to Run Catalogue LIVE!

2025 Catalogue Launched for World’s Most Successful 2YO SaleThe catalogue for the 2025 edition of the leading sale of two-year-olds is now online and in mailboxes, with NZB excited to unveil another stellar offering at the Ready to Run Sale.Showcasing both quality and quantity, an exceptional selection of 480 youngsters will go through the Karaka sale ring on Wednesday 12 and Thursday 13 November. Boasting the right pedigrees, physiques and sale preparations, these two-year-olds follow in the ...

Platinum Diamond completes unique treble in Guineas

Emerging filly Platinum Diamond (Hello Youmzain) sparkled again in Saturday’s Listed HS Dyke Wanganui Guineas (1200m), completing an unprecedented treble of winter age-group features.The daughter of Cambridge Stud shuttle stallion Hello Youmzain became the first horse to win the Castletown Stakes (1200m), Ryder Stakes (1200m) and Wanganui Guineas.There had previously been nine who won two of the three Listed races – Beechcraft (1983 Ryder and Guineas), Purdah’s Pride (1988 Ryder and G...

Josh Herd - Sunline Trust International Management Scholarship - Blog Three

Josh Herd updates on his travels through the UK thus far and what he is excited for next on his Sunline Trust International Management Scholarship.After finishing up with Goffs, I made my way down to Newmarket — the capital of horse racing in the UK. It’s an incredible place, with over 3,000 horses in training and racing woven into every corner of the town. You can feel the history and tradition as soon as you arrive, with the gallops stretching for miles and horses exercising at every ...

Under the Radar - Jane McAlpine

BetaVet Under The Radar catches up with Jane McAlpine who has recently joined the NZB Insurance team based out of the Cambridge office. Jane is a very familiar face within the industry having previously worked in racing stables and doing foal watch before taking a position at what was JLT Insurance and then onto ICIB Brokerweb. It is great to have Jane firmly back in the industry!Explain your role and who you work for.I have recently joined the team at New Zealand Bloodstock as Assistant Insuran...

Sterling Express comes of age in Foxbridge Plate

Sterling Express (Shamexpress) stepped up to Group level for the first time in Saturday’s Gr.2 Waikato Stud Foxbridge Plate (1200m) at Te Rapa, and a stunning last-to-first performance showed that he belongs.Gloria Macrae and Brian McKeagg’s homebred son of Shamexpress had already racked up seven wins from a promising 18-race career, with three smart victories as a three-year-old followed by another four last season. His last start had produced his biggest win yet, storming home from th...

First foal by Chaldean

The first foal by Cambridge Stud stallion Chaldean has hit the ground with a filly foal out of the winning Burgundy mare Top Note born at Pencarrow Stud.The bay filly was bred by Lachlan Fitt and Cameron Rodger and stems from the family of Gr.1 New Zealand Oaks winner Belle En Rouge.“She’s out of a maiden mare but has a lot of quality about her,” stud manager Leon Casey said. “She’s got good leg under her and good rein and has a fair bit of class about her.”The only Group One winning...

Rebecca Donovan - Sunline Trust International Management Scholarship

The world is her oyster now for 2024 Sunline Trust International Management Scholarship recipient and Wentwood Grange team member Rebecca Donovan, who has found her place in the industry after gaining a wealth of knowledge and experience during her time on the scholarship. Facilitated by the NZ Thoroughbred Breeders' Association, the scholarship offers recipients an all-expenses paid, bonded trip of 30 weeks supported by the Sunline Education Trust, to experience the operational infrastructure, ...

Stud on target for further Guineas glory

High-class filly Tajana (Darci Brahma) has taken an impressive step toward a third Group One fillies’ feature for breeder and owner The Oaks Stud.The Shaune Ritchie and Colm Murray-trained representative opened her classic season at Ruakaka where she overcame trying conditions to land the Gr.3 Northland Breeders’ Stakes (1200m).“I thought the track and the distance was right against her and I told him (Wiremu Pinn) to ride for luck,” The Oaks Stud General Manager Rick Wiliams said.�...