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South Island Yearling Sale Live on Gavelhouse Plus

New Zealand Bloodstock’s annual South Island Sale of yearlings is now live and available to view on NZB’s new online subsidiary platform, Gavelhouse Plus.Bidding on the first-ever sale of its kind launched today and will run for an 11 day period, with the first lot closing on Sunday 7 June at 5pm (NZT).It is no secret that Southern-born and raised thoroughbreds continuously bring their immense staying power to the table and the quality 65-lot catalogue packs a punch with close...

Super result for Auckland breeder

When Auckland NZTBA Branch member Liz Allen purchased My Marguerite (Spectacular Love[USA]-Caress Success) as a broodmare she didn’t really have a lot going for her. She didn’t make it as a racehorse but she had been the Champion led Thoroughbred at the Auckland Easter Show in 2004, however some 16 years after she won her good looks title at the Auckland Easter Show, she left her first stakes winner when Supergiant (by Red Giant[USA]) won the Gr.3 Gunsynd Classic (1800m) at Eagle Farm. “Sh...

Popular NZB Insurance Pearl Series Set to Continue

The NZB Insurance Pearl Series bonus scheme has seen millions of dollars paid out to Southern Hemisphere-bred filly and mare owners, breeders, trainers and nominators. The Pearl Series has become an important part of the New Zealand racing calendar and 2020 will mark the seventh year NZB Insurance has sponsored the series.   Pearl Series administrators, the New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders Association, look forward to its continuation and NZTBA CEO Justine Sclater stated that the...

Another stakes winner for Charm Spirit

Windsor Park Stud’s shuttle stallion Charm Spirit was credited with this seventh stakes winner over the weekend when the Jean-Claude Rouget-trained Fantastic Spirit was successful in the Listed Derby Du Midi (1900m) in France. The three-year-old colt stayed on strongly in the final stages to beat Again Music by a short-neck with another length back to Frohsim in third. The son of Charm Spirit was purchased as a foal at the Arqana December Sale by Artemis Bloodstock Investments for €25,000...

Cutbacks across all areas at TAB

The Racing Industry Transition Agency (RITA) confirmed on Tuesday changes it was taking in response to the impact of COVID-19, including a reduction of 230 roles, including 150 permanent staff, across all areas of the TAB. The decision follows consultation with staff on a range of proposed changes aimed at ensuring the business was sustainable for the future and best placed to meet the needs of New Zealand racing and sport. The changes, which impact 30 percent of all roles, are expected to deli...

Imported mare confirmed positive for Theileria equi

Further testing of a breeding mare previously imported from the United Kingdom has confirmed the horse is carrying the exotic organism Theileria equi. The mare in question was imported under New Zealand protocols last year from France as a maiden and has been resident at Cambridge Stud since her arrival in February 2019.  Cambridge Stud CEO Henry Plumptre has reported she was purchased at the Arqana sale in December 2018, was negative in a pre-sale test, negative prior to going into quaran...

Blog Post: Laura McNab

Keith & Faith Taylor Equine Scholarship recipient Laura McNab gives an update on her time at the Irish National Stud.It seems bizarre that the new normal is masks, gloves and loads of hand sanitizer. COVID-19 has certainly changed our way of living, but I reckon our ‘bubble’ on the Irish National Stud is one of the lucky ones- we could still work with the horses, still learn (even if it is off a computer screen). As I write this, our foaling yard, Sun Chariot, has officially closed for ...

First Crop Sire Focus: Savile Row

Multiple stakes performer Savile Row is Valachi Downs' foundation stallion. He is the first son of Makfi to stand at stud in New Zealand and was well-received covering a strong book of mares in his debut season.Savile Row won three races over 1200m, including the Listed Hallmark Stud Handicap, and was a three-time Group 1 runner-up.Savile Row's first crop are developing into lovely types and are maturing into strong, quality weanlings....

First Crop Sire Focus: Almanzor

European Champion three-year-old Almanzor  will stand his third season at Cambridge Stud in 2020.Almanzor covered full books in his first two seasons at stud and will again stand for a fee of $30,000+GST in 2020.“Almanzor could not have enjoyed a better start to his stud career,” Cambridge Stud chief executive Henry Plumptre said.“He was well received in both hemispheres covering full books of 140 and 160 mares in New Zealand in his first two seasons.“In his third season in France, ...

Equine exports suspended due to suspected piroplasmosis positive

The New Zealand Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) has informed all equine exporters that exports to, or via, Australia are suspended with immediate effect. MPI have advised that a suspected positive test result for the disease Theileria equi was returned as part of standard export certification testing of a mare prior to shipment from New Zealand. Further blood tests have been taken from the mare and MPI expect confirmation of whether the horse is negative or positive for the disease by the...

Entries Open for Inaugural Weanling Sale

The first dedicated weanling only sale is now open for entries with New Zealand Bloodstock’s National Weanling Sale to be held on the Gavelhouse Plus digital platform from Thursday 11 to Sunday 21 June.The 2020 edition will be the first of its kind, with quality weanlings offered online due to the recent COVID-19 lockdown and restrictions.While the Sale may be new, weanling graduates are no strangers to success having recorded an impressive score of nine Group One wins and ...

Contributer heads Mapperley Stud roster

With an eye to the future, Mapperley Stud has elected to reduce their service fees across the board in order to assist breeders ahead of the upcoming breeding season. “We feel reducing our service fees in this climate is the right thing to do,” Mapperley Stud principal Simms Davison said. “We firmly believe it is a time for the breeding industry to be resilient and work together to carry our industry forward. “Although we are working through a challenging time at present, it is importan...

White Robe Lodge release fees

White Robe Lodge have announced the 2020 service fees for their three resident stallions. Raise The Flag, who is having a standout season, heads the roster at $6,000+GST. The regally bred son of Sadler’s Wells has made an impact on the staying and jumping features in Australia as the sire of Gr.1 Sydney Cup (3200m) winner Etah James and Warrnambool Grand Annual Steeplechase (5500m) winner Ablaze. “We acknowledge that given the current climate times certainly aren’t easy for breeders and f...

Rich Hill Stud release 2020 fees

Despite the ongoing racetrack and sale ring success achieved by their stallions prgoeny over the last 12 months, Rich Hill Stud have elected to keep their fees largely unchanged for the 2020 breeding season. “Rich Hill stallions have always offered breeders the opportunity to not only breed a good racehorse but also achieve a profitable return in the sale ring,” Managing Director John Thompson said. Karaka’s leading freshman sire of 2020 Vadamos will remain at $15,000+GST and was a revelat...

Blog Post- Hannah Airey

Keith & Faith Taylor Equine Scholarship recipient Hannah Airey updates us on her time at the Irish National Stud.Mother Nature has well and truly issued the reminder that she is unstoppable, as while COVID-19 ploughs ahead so does the labour and cycle of the broodmare. I write this blog post from the sit-up room, waiting on the last three mares to pop out a baby. It is my last opportunity to gain some more foaling experience, so I have my fingers crossed for a foal tonight. The covering she...

Venues reduced under draft racing calendar proposal

The proposed calendar for 2020-21 has been released today by RITA for consultation, as required under the Racing Act, with 10 thoroughbred racing venues proposed not to host racing in the new season.The venues not to host racing under the proposal is headed by Auckland venue Avondale, in addition to Te Teko, Waipa (Te Awamutu), Gisborne, Wairoa, Waipukurau, Blenheim (Waterlea), Motukarara, Waikouaiti and Omakau“Every thoroughbred racing club in New Zealand has a history and a part to play,” ...

South Island a Source of Supreme Stamina

Unlike any other racing nation, the rugged terrain, cool artic environments and mineral-rich soils in the South Island of New Zealand gives the Southern-born and raised thoroughbred strength and stamina, reinforcing their immense staying power.The pristine environment that runs the breadth of the South Island has become the home of an enviable product, with the quality Southern-breds like recent Group One winner Etah James (NZ) continuing to showcase their versatility and durability to...

Windsor announce 2020 fees

2019/2020 has proven to be a breakthrough season both Australia and New Zealand for successful sire Rip Van Winkle.An established pillar among Windsor Park Stud’s stallion options, Rip Van Winkle’s exceptional Gr.1 winners Te Akau Shark (NZ) and Classic winner Jennifer Eccles (NZ) have led the way this season, together with Group winner Germanicus (NZ) and Sydney Group performer Subpoenaed (NZ). Rip Van Winkle will be available to breeders for a fee of $12,500 + GST in 2020.Windsor Park stud...

Cambridge Stud release fees

Cambridge Stud have announced their 2020 stud fees for popular young sires Almanzor and Embellish. All contracts will now be on live foal payment terms, acknowledging the difficult climate facing breeders in New Zealand.The roster will be headlined by European Champion three-year-old Almanzor, who will stand his third season at the famous nursery. Almanzor covered full books in his first two seasons at stud and will again stand for a fee of $30,000+GST in 2020.“Almanzor could not have enj...

Emergency support for Racing’s recovery

Minister for Racing Winston Peters has announced a $72.5 million dollar COVID-19 emergency support package for the racing industry. “We can’t guild the lily. The racing industry has been hit by the perfect storm of COVID-19 while in a weak financial state and in the midst of a reform programme,” Peters said.  “As a result, there is a genuine risk of insolvency and the industry losing the future gains of its reforms. “The Government has a respond, recover, and rebuild strategy for ...

Ready To Run entries open

Entries are now open for New Zealand Bloodstock's Ready to Run Sale of Two-Year-Olds, to be held on 18 & 19 November. The 2020 edition is set to build on its renowned reputation as Australasia's leading horses in training sale. In the last six years, the Sale has produced 20 Group One wins and 132 Stakes wins, with graduates excelling in New Zealand, Australia, Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia and Macau.  The sale has produced an outstanding record...

Another Dollar continues family legacy

In the late eighties when Garry Chittick was morphing Thornton Park into Waikato Stud, he made the bold decision to buy Star Of The Knight (Sir Tristram[Ire]- Celebrity II[FR]) a stakes winning mare who has gone on to produce one of Waikato Stud’s most iconic families. In winning the Listed Gosford Gold Cup recently, Another Dollar (Ocean Park – Make A Wish) became the latest stakes winner in this illustrious family, having Star Of The Knight as her third dam. If you think the name Make A Wi...

First winner for Pure Champion

The maiden victory of the John Sadler-trained three-year-old Manhattan Spector at Ballarat on Sunday provided his Group One-winning sire Pure Champion with his first winner. Ridden by Regan Bayliss, Manhattan Spector sat outside the leader throughout and out-toughed his rivals over 1500m, having placed at his previous outing at Werribee. Pure Champion retired to Mike and Barbara Cooney’s Willow Glen Stud in Waimate in 2015 and Manhattan Spector is one of 15 foals from his first crop. A son of ...

Service fees remain unchanged at The Oaks Stud

Despite a standout season for The Oaks Stud’s flagbearer Darci Brahma, the Cambridge stud farm has elected to keep the service fees unchanged heading into the 2020 breeding season. In a standout three-year-old crop, Darci Brahma was well represented by Group Three winner Kali, Group One performer Harlech, and Group One winner Catalyst. Catalyst remained undefeated in New Zealand as a three-year-old, winning all five starts, including a dominant win in the Gr.1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) ...

Jockey Club Announces Breeding Cap

The Jockey Club board of stewards have announced that it has adopted a final rule limiting the annual breeding of individual stallions. The rule reflects The Jockey Club’s goal to preserve the health of the Thoroughbred breed for the long term and will apply prospectively to stallions born in 2020 or later. Effective immediately, The Jockey Club’s Principal Rules and Requirements of the American Studbook are amended by adding the following italicized language to the text ...