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Highden Park paving a golden road of success

In defiance of the testing times of 2020, Sam and Libby Bleakley’s Highden Park has extended its journey of success this autumn with a brace of Australian results to reinforce its preeminent position as the pride of the Manawatu, and further elevate its status amongst the best producing thoroughbred nurseries of New Zealand. Their roll of honour now includes last Saturday’s Gr.1 Australasian Oaks winner, Toffee Tongue, who was foaled and reared at Highden Park and sold for $500,000 out of th...

First Crop Sire Focus: What's The Story

What's The Story will stand at Norwegian Park for $3,000 +GST in 2020.What's The Story is the first Group One performed son of champion sire Savabeel to stand at stud. His dam, Tall Story, is half-sister to multiple Group One winning sprinter/miler Tall Poppy, who is a daughter of Group One winning miler Fun on the Run.The first crop by What's The Story are now weanlings and are impressing in type and temperament. Some of his first crop are pictured below....

Gavelhouse.com enters South African market

Leading online thoroughbred auction platform gavelhouse.com will branch into the international market next month with the launch of gavelhouse.com South Africa. In partnership with Klawervlei Stud, gavelhouse.com will conduct an online sale of around 160 thoroughbreds from 15 to 21 June, with an announcement to be made in due course as to the format and frequency of ongoing gavelhouse.com South Africa auctions. Klawervlei Stud sales and marketing manager Grant Knowles reached out to gavelhouse....

Level 3 on Farm Bloodstock Inspections for Agents

COVID-19 SAFE PRACTICE GUIDE- Hygiene and protocol measures for Bloodstock Agents and industry licensed professionals entering studs and agistment farms at Level 3 If in doubt please refer to the government website: https://covid19.govt.nz/   The NZBTA recommends at Level 3 that bloodstock inspections are by appointment only and can be conducted by a registered bloodstock agent or NZTR licensed professional, specific to their area. Prior to arrival the agents and licensed professionals must...

Roles slashed at TAB

The Racing Industry Transition Agency (RITA) confirmed to its staff on Tuesday it would commence consultation about changes to the TAB in response to the impact of COVID-19. The proposal includes a reduction of approximately 30 percent of roles across all areas of the organisation and is in addition to other cost saving measures aimed at reducing total expenditure. The detail of the proposal, which will be presented to staff on Monday, and if progressed, would see the business becoming leaner, m...

He’s Remarkable among 125 Lots online now

The current 125 Lot gavelhouse.com auction is brimming with opportunities for breeders featuring 53 broodmares plus Mapperley Stud’s Group One performing son of Pentire, He’s Remarkable. As farms gear up for another breeding season, Mapperley Stud have made a strategic decision to give another farm the opportunity to stand the impressive individual with him for sale on an unreserved basis. "Due to the competitive nature of the stallion market in the Waikato, we feel he would be better suited...

Hot streak continues for Raise The Flag

The progeny of regally-bred stallion Raise The Flag continue to make an impact on staying and jumping features in Australia. The White Robe Lodge stallion is the sire of Tuesday’s dominant Warrnambool Grand Annual Steeplechase (5500m) winner Ablaze. The win comes less than a month after Raise The Flag’s daughter Etah James took out the Gr.1 Sydney Cup (3200m) while a host of progressive staying and jumping prospects, including Novice Hurdle (3200m) winner Riding High, continue to ably repres...

Exciting filly sets tongues wagging at Cambridge Stud

It was an emotional day on Saturday for the team at Cambridge Stud. The prestigious thoroughbred nursery went through a tumultuous few months last year when losing three stallions, including flagbearer Tavistock, but they had something to cheer about on the weekend when celebrating his first Oaks winner. His daughter Toffee Tongue went close when finishing runner-up in the Gr.1 Australian Oaks (2400m), but she was not to be outdone on Saturday when taking the inside alley down the straight to ru...

Reliable Man heads Westbury 2020 Roster

In a year where the resilience of breeders is likely to be tested in New Zealand, Westbury Stud have taken a positive approach to the troubled times when announcing their roster and fee structure for the upcoming season.  “It is imperative for breeders to mate their mares this year, as the long term future of the New Zealand Industry is dependent on mares being bred and as many foals as possible being born in 2021,” Wetbury Stud General Manager Russell Warwick said. “Under the di...

Wong gets instant return on well-placed investment

Race favourite Toffee Tongue had plenty of international supporters during the running of Saturday’s Gr.1 Australasian Oaks (2000m), none more so than thoroughbred enthusiast Edmund Wong, who was cheering hard from his home in Hong Kong as the daughter of Tavistock claimed her maiden victory in the blue riband event . The Chris Waller-trained three-year-old filly is the latest stakes winner for blue hen broodmare Bagalollies, who was recently purchased by Wong in a private sale after plans to ...

Toffee Tongue sweet in Australasian Oaks

Chris Waller has pulled off another Group One training coup with Toffee Tongue (NZ) (Tavistock) breaking her maiden in style in the Australasian Oaks (2000m) at Morphettville on Saturday. The filly had been runner-up at her four starts leading into Saturday's Adelaide feature, twice to Colette (Hallowed Crown) in the Gr.2 Adrian Knox Stakes (2000m) and the Gr.1 Australian Oaks (2400m). Her victory was also a milestone for jockey Damien Thornton who recorded his first win at the highest level aft...

Wrote service fee unchanged

Highview Stud announced that Gr.1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (1600m) winner Wrote will stand for an unchanged fee of $5,000 + GST in 2020. The first of Wrote’s southern hemisphere yearlings went through the sales ring at the Karaka this year and were well received by buyers, averaging over $60,000 in Book 2. Meanwhile in Florida, where the son of High Chaparral served a low number of mares of limited quality, Wrote has already produced an impressive 54 percent winners from starters on both...

LA lowers stud fees in response to Covid-19

Little Avondale stud have reduced their 2020 service fees in response to the Covid-19 crisis. Little Avondale’s announcement of its service fees for 2020 was made prior to the onset of the pandemic. Considering subsequent events and the economic implications for breeding horses and the economy in general, Little Avondale have lowered the service fees for all three of their stallions. The roster is headed by Per Incanto (Street Cry) whose fee has been lowered from $17,500 + GST to $15,000 + GS...

NZB 2020 Weanling Sale

New Zealand Bloodstock has been forced to cancel their 2020 May Sale due to Covid-19 restrictions.Instead they will hold an online auction on the new Gavelhouse Plus platform in June. As breeders we will need to embrace a changing world and this an opportunity to sell quality weanlings online, with the added incentive of these weanlings, for the first time ever, being eligible for the Karaka Million Series. With a reduced commission, entry fee, no travel and/...

Vale Charles Roberts

The last surviving founder of the New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association, Charles Roberts, has passed away. In January 1948 Roberts, at the time a young veterinarian, along with seven high-profile New Zealand breeders and businessmen joined together to canvas the establishment of a National Association for breeders. Two months later the first general meeting of the Association was held in Wellington and the first secretary appointed. Within six months they had 500 members. Roberts was ...

First Crop Sire Focus: Time Test

With an outstanding pedigree matched by his looks and multiple Group victories on his CV, Time Test has been hugely popular in the early stages of his career both at the English National Stud and at Little Avondale Stud.In response to the COVID-19 pandemic Little Avondale Stud has lowered their 2020 service fees, as such Time Test will stand this season at $6,000 +GST.Time Test's oldest southern hemisphere crop are now weanlings and are impressing in type and temperament. You can view a range of...

Wartime Hero acknowledged by Hall Of Fame

By Wally O’Hearn A thoroughbred mare who overcame more trials and trauma than any other thoroughbred in New Zealand history has been acknowledged by the New Zealand Racing Hall of Fame. You won’t find her name attached to any major race wins or for exceptional deeds on the racetrack. Bess is linked to an era which affected the lives of all New Zealanders, and represents the demands put on horses during war. More than 10,000 New Zealand horses were sent overseas during the First World War (19...

NZTR announce initial stakes money

With the assistance of working groups of trainers and clubs, New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing (NZTR) has developed a return to racing plan which includes a flat stakes level of $15,000 for all races at 13 meetings during July. A number of initiatives will also be introduced with the focus on reducing costs and spreading returns for owners. They include ensuring a wider distribution of stakes to more owners, payments will be made back to 14th, no nomination/acceptance fees for those horses which s...

Lion roars for Contributer

Multiple Group One winner Contributer sired his first winner when Lion’s Roar won the Good Luck Andrew Bensley 2YO Showcase Handicap (1200m) at Wagga on Thursday. Fittingly, the Champion Thoroughbreds-raced gelding was prepared by John O’Shea, who trained Contributer to win both the Gr.1 Chipping Norton Stakes (1600m) and Gr.1 Ranvet Stakes (2000m) when head trainer at Godolphin. “Contributer was a very special horse to me and hopefully he will continue to be,” O’Shea said. “I was d...

Level 3 Covid-19 Equine Activities update

Guidance on equine activities permitted under COIVID-19 Alert Level 3 30 April 2020 The following relevant information was provided among guidance issued today by the Ministry for Primary Industries.  NZTR also reminds all employers/businesses that they must have a COVID-19 Health & Safety Plan (refer link to Worksafe template) to operate under COVID-19 Alert Level 3. Any queries may be directed to Martin Burns, GM Welfare & Sustainability. Horse Transport At Level 3 horses are classed as ...

NZB Airfreight resumes with trial flight

Under strict health and safety requirements, NZB Airfreight has successfully completed a test flight with a small pool of horses from Auckland to Sydney. With new regulations and plans in place for grooms, New Zealand Bloodstock can confidently begin to work on limited flights for the backlog of horses requiring trans-Tasman travel. The test flight was conducted with all grooms and travelling staff in full personal protective equipment, including overalls, masks and gloves, with loading and unlo...

Changing of the guard at Haunui

Haunui Farm has announced that the decision has been made to call time on the shuttling career of Group One producing stallion Iffraaj. “After lengthy discussions with the team from Darley, we have made the decision to retire Iffraaj from Southern Hemisphere serving duties after 12 years. At 19 years of age, the decision was made solely in Iffraaj’s best interests,” Haunui Farm Managing Director Mark Chitty said. “I’d like to take this opportunity to thank His Highness Sheikh Mohammed ...

NZB National Weanling Sale to Debut on Gavelhouse Plus

With New Zealand Bloodstock’s Karaka May Sale having to be cancelled due to the COVID-19 lockdown, the decision has been made to hold a quality weanling only sale in its place on Gavelhouse Plus in June.The National Weanling Sale will be open to all vendors and allow those who normally trade at the Karaka May Sale an opportunity to trade young stock within a timely manner.With the sale running under NZB terms and conditions, all weanlings offered at the Sale will be eligible for the ...

Horse road transport set to resume

Horse transport by road is set to resume when the country moves into Covid-19 Alert Level 3 at 11:59pm next Monday. Leading horse transport business Majestic Horse Floats said they are now taking bookings for next week. “We will have strict protocols in place to keep both clients and our staff safe,” Majestic Horse Floats said in a statement. “We will endeavour to keep to the 2m separation rule.” Demand is expected to be high and Majestic Horse Floats is calling for patience. “Due to a...

Super Seth retires to Waikato Stud

Group One winner Super Seth will retire to Waikato Stud this season, giving breeders access to the first Gr.1 Caulfield Guineas (1600m) winner to stand in New Zealand in three decades. Super Seth won five of his 12 career starts, highlighted by his victory in last year’s Caulfield Guineas. He will stand at Waikato Stud at an introductory fee of $35,000 + GST. Waikato Stud principal Mark Chittick said consideration had been given to furthering Super Seth’s racing career, but with uncertainty ...