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Colorado Star too tough in Kaimai Stakes

Another daring ride by Jonathan Riddell provided the impetus for rejuvenated galloper Colorado Star (Alamosa x Elegant Emerald) to claim his second consecutive stakes victory when he cruised home to win the Listed Matamata Veterinary Services Kaimai Stakes (2000m) on Saturday.The Mike Breslin-trained seven-year-old had started his career as an outstanding sprinter-miler, winning five of his first 14 starts at distances from 1200m up to 1600m.A winning drought that started in September 2021 ...

Fourth Group One for Levante

Matamata-trained mare Levante (Proisir x Island Doy) added a fourth Group One victory to her résumé when she defeated another class performer in La Crique to take out the Gr.1 El Cheapo Cars WFA Classic (1600m) at Otaki.The two quality mares had been expected to fight out the finish of the feature, with punters unable to separate then in betting as they each started at a $2.80 quote.The Ken and Bev Kelso-trained Levante, who had been finishing resolutely in her runs over shorter distances, had...

2023 NZB national online yearling sale entries open

Entries for New Zealand Bloodstock’s 2023 National Online Yearling Sale are now open, with the Sale set to be held on NZB’s online subsidiary Gavelhouse Plus for the third year.The catalogue will be available to view online from Wednesday 5 April, with bidding set to close on Wednesday 19 April.Rich Hill Stud Principal John Thompson views the Sale as a viable option for breeders who are willing to offer their horses online.“I believe this sale on Gavelhouse Plus offers a great alternative ...

Meet the Breeder - Ben Kwok

This week in Dunstan Meet The Breeder we chat to Singapore-based Ben Kwok who is particularly fond of the New Zealand thoroughbred breeding industry and has had great success on both sides of the Tasman.What made you interested in breeding horses?In the very beginning I was a very small-time breeder and then I met the team at Windsor Park, Rodney and Steve and everyone there; they taught me more and more and so I became more and more interested.How many mares do you breed from:Around 15 in New Z...

First Southern Hemisphere winner for US Navy Flag

The Chrissy Bambry-trained Chantilly Lace (U S Navy Flag x On The Move) ran out an impressive winner of the Palamountains Animal Nutrition 2YO 1200 at Wanganui on Thursday and in the process provided her sire, US Navy Flag, with his first southern hemisphere winner.Sent out an $11 chance, Chantilly Lace settled midfield under Kelsey Hannan and was sent forward to tackle the leaders coming around the home bend, dashing away for an easy two-and-a-half length victory at her fourth raceday start.The...

Good advice gets Guineas win

Listen to the right people and be good at taking advice – that’s the philosophy that Wessel Van der Scheer attributes to his success.He has applied this theory to his thoroughbred breeding interests and now under the banner of Mahoenui Partnerhsip, is the proud breeder of New Zealand Derby aspirant and Gr.2 ATR Avondale Guineas winner Desert Lightning (Pride of Dubai [AUS] – Isstoora [AUS]).Now a resident in his native Germany, Van der Scheer is successful in the banking and brokerage indu...

Hawke’s Bay Racing doing its part with cyclone recovery

In the midst of recovery from Cyclone Gabrielle, Hawke’s Bay Racing is showing that they are much more than an organisation for racing horses.Since the cyclone devastated the Hawke’s Bay region a week ago, Hastings racecourse has become an important centre for the community, helping people and animals recover, and providing a base to help clean-up efforts.Hastings was due to hold a race meeting on Sunday February 19 but decided once the decision was made to abandon that day that the focus sh...

Osipenko stakes Guineas claim

Smart three-year-old Osipenko (Pierro x Raskova) put his hand up as an autumn force when he scooted through along the inside to win the Gr.2 Hobartville Stakes (1400m) by a short half-head over Zou Tiger ($7) with Matcha Latte ($21) another short neck away third.Odds-on favourite Aft Cabin endured a torrid run, dwelling slightly at the start then having to work his way around the field to sit outside the leader and the effort told with the colt tiring to finish fifth.While Aft Cabin had excuses,...

Aquacade issues powerful Cup statement at Pukekohe

In-form staying mare Aquacade (Dundeel x Forest Of The Seas) declared she is the horse to beat in the Gr.2 Barfoot & Thompson Auckland Cup (3200m) with an emphatic statement as she powered home to take out the Gr.2 ATR Avondale Cup (2400m) at Pukekohe.The Lance Noble-trained four-year-old started a warm favourite ($2.90) in the race off the back of victories in three of her last four starts and fully justified that support with an authoritative performance.Regular pilot Warren Kennedy slotte...

Lightning strikes in Avondale Guineas

Classy three-year-old Desert Lightning (Pride of Dubai x Isstoora) thrust himself to the forefront of discussions surrounding the Gr.1 Auckland Thoroughbred Racing New Zealand Derby (2400m) when he narrowly defeated Waitak to claim victory in the Gr.2 AJC Avondale Guineas (2100m) at Pukekohe.The Peter and Dawn Williams-trained runner has been highly competitive throughout his Classic season with a half head runner-up finish to Pier in the Gr.1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) in the spring prece...

Press Charges upsets in Southland Guineas

An aggressive display of front running riding by Lisa Allpress paved the way for lightly raced three-year-old Press Charges (Press Statement x Max It Out) to upset the applecart when taking the Listed ILT Ascot Park Hotel Southland Guineas (1600m) at odds of better than $21.Betting in the race was dominated by last start Listed Dunedin Guineas (1500m) winner Specialty ($1.90) and he looked the goods when he was hustled to the early lead by rider Brandon May.Allpress found herself shunted out thr...

Group One in sight for Annavisto

Quality mare Annavisto (Reliable Man x Avisto) trialled in ominous fashion earlier in the month and converted that to an explosive raceday resumption when comfortably winning the Gr.3 Tony Bourke Memorial (1400m) at Flemington on Saturday.The five-year-old daughter of Reliable Man won the Group Three feature last year and produced a dominant on-speed performance on Saturday under Jamie Kah to go back-to-back.Pressured for much of the contest by Wrote To Arataki, the pair of in-form mares got awa...

Under The Radar - Josh Smith

In this edition of BetaVet Under the radar we talk to New Zealand Thoroughbreds Marketing's Josh Smith. Enjoy reading the NZ Racing Desk content? Chances are Josh wrote that story. Like the adverts promoting NZ-bred thoroughbreds? Josh probably had a hand in designing them. Need up to date statistics? Josh can help you out.What is your role?Marketing Executive – New Zealand Thoroughbred Marketing.What does a typical day look like for you?We have a small team at NZTM, so our...

Meet the Breeder - Noelene Bishop

We caught up with Noelene Bishop who bred stakes-winner Wrote To Arataki from her sole broodmare, Galloping Gerte.How did you get into breeding horses?Well, I love animals and have always had animals, but I have never had a thoroughbred. Both my grandfather and father were into it. I have six sons and no daughters, so I say it took me to get a filly to get a daughter! I also wanted a filly that I could later breed from.Tell us about Galloping Gerte?I bought her dam at the yearling sales for $250...

Floods wreak havoc for Hawke’s Bay trainer

Amid the devastation and destruction to her property which has decimated her business, Hawke's Bay trainer Vicki Wilson is counting herself lucky.Wilson's Kahuranaki farm, south of Hastings, suffered extensive damage from flooding resulting from Cyclone Gabrielle but despite the heartbreak she is still looking on the bright side and prioritising the care of 180 horses on the property."We're incredibly lucky. All the people are safe, all the horses are safe," Wilson said."I know there are people ...

39th Asian Racing Conference opens in Melbourne

The 39th Asian Racing Conference (ARC) had its official opening during a ceremony in Melbourne last night (Tuesday, 14 February), marking the fifth time Australia has hosted the event since the first ARC in 1960.Delayed by a year because of the COVID pandemic, the 39th ARC began with a ceremony at Crown Palladium in Melbourne where Asian Racing Federation (ARF) Chairman and Hong Kong Jockey Club Chief Executive Officer Mr. Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges welcomed approximately 700 guests from 35 co...

Sharp 'N' Smart is just that

Crack three-year-old Sharp ‘N’ Smart (Redwood [IRE] - Queen Margaret) is certainly living up to his name.Following his impressive win against the older horses in the Gr.1 Herbie Dyke Stakes he is now a Group One winner on both sides of the Tasman, with earnings in excess of $2million.The son of Redwood has now had 10 starts for five wins. As a two-year-old he ran second on debut before taking out the Listed ATR Champagne Stakes over a mile in April. He ventured to Queensland in June and ran ...

Blog: Alice's first update from the Irish National Stud

Arriving at Dublin airport a month ago on a brisk cold day with a high of -2°C was a shock to the system coming from summer. Then after two days of being here, we had our first small dumping of snow, which was pretty to wake up to. But since then, we have had considerably mild weather with no significant rain as of yet, however, it is meant to come this week.After three days in Ireland, we went on our first day trip to Ballydoyle and Coolmore, which will be a highlight of the trip.We started th...

Prowess displays all her class at Te Rapa

Prowess (Proisir x Donna Marie), who stared the hottest favourite of the day at Te Rapa on Saturday, justified her $1.20 quote when she gave her three-year-old counterparts a complete shellacking in the Gr.2 David & Karyn Ellis Fillies Classic (2000m).The last start winner of the Karaka Million 3YO Classic (1600m), where she defeated horses of the calibre of Wild Night and Legarto, was expected to comfortably account for her rivals despite stepping over 2000m for the first time.In a display ...

Smart three-year-old too sharp in Te Rapa feature

Outstanding three-year-old Sharp ‘N’ Smart (Redwood x Queen Margaret) overcame a wide run in transit against a quality field of middle distance performers to capture the Gr.1 Herbie Dyke Stakes (2000m) at Te Rapa in a performance that had to be seen to be believed.Having just his second start since returning from an Australian Spring campaign that saw him win the Gr.1 Spring Champion Stakes (2000m) at Randwick before being narrowly beaten in the Gr.1 Victoria Derby (2500m), the Team Rogerson...

Po Kare Kare scores breakthrough Group win

Warwick Farm trainer Bryce Heys has a small but in-form team and the roll continued when four-year-old mare Po Kare Kare (Savabeel x Suadela) scored a comfortable victory in Saturday’s Gr.3 Triscay Stakes (1200m) at Randwick.The victory provided Heys with his first Group success, with the New Zealander having previously trained Spieth to a Listed win in 2016 prior to multiple Group One placings.Despite entering the race off a rating of just 74, Heys was keen to run Po Kare Kare third-up i...

Meet the Breeder - Vivienne Kaye

What made you interested in breeding horses?My Dad always bred horses while I was growing up, he was right into it. He had four or five mares that he used to breed from that were his own breed. Nothing notable as he had more success training horses. (Vivienne’s Dad is former prominent trainer, Alan Kaye)How has your career as a jockey and trainer influenced your breeding decisions?I didn’t really push to be a jockey, Dad said I was at the right age and he pushed for it. I was 15 at the time ...

Champion racemare Verry Elleegant for Hall of Fame

The roll of honour for the New Zealand Racing Hall of Fame is set to be enhanced by champion racemare Verry Elleegant, who will be on the list of 2023 inductees at the Hall of Fame Dinner in Hamilton on May 7.In common with recently announced inductee Melody Belle, Verry Elleegant easily meets the Hall of Fame standard with a record of 16 wins – 11 at Group One level – and stake-earnings of A$14.8 million. Defining performances included her Melbourne Cup victory under 57kg, her Winx Stakes w...

Sky’s the limit for Sunline Trust International Scholarship recipient

With international travel back on the agenda after a COVID-19 enforced hiatus, this year’s Sunline Trust International Scholarship recipient will be heading offshore to learn from some of the best in the industry.The 2023 recipient is 22-year-old Dorian Kos who will join the likes of Jamie Richards, Bruce Slade, Libby Bleakley, Bevan Smith and Michael Wallace as a graduate of the New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association-administered scholarship.Born and raised in France, Kos moved to N...

The next generation relishing the Karaka experience

A desire to find his way in the thoroughbred industry led 21-year-old James Gray to Karaka as a bid spotter, and he was lucky enough to take the bid from David Ellis on the million-dollar Fastnet Rock-Tell The World filly.Gray is just one of a number of young people who were working at Karaka trying to find a career pathway into the various fields in the thoroughbred industry. His sister Katie also worked for NZB and Raceform also caught up with a couple of other passionate youngsters Maria Scot...