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Smithies optimistic ahead of sale

Joe and Max Smithies of Monovale Farm are looking forward to offering their 13-strong draft at New Zealand Bloodstocks’ National Yearling Sale at Karaka later this month. The Waikato brothers will offer 10 lots in the Book 1 Sale and they are particularly excited about the prospects of lot 544, the Savabeel filly out of Miss Opulence. She is a full-sister to the 2020 New Zealand Bloodstock Ready To Run sale topper, who was purchased by Te Akau’s David Ellis out of Riversley Park’s draft fo...

Tralee Rose thrashes her rivals in Bagot

Kiwi-bred mare Tralee Rose (NZ) (Tavistock) will be aimed at feature staying races after her runaway seven length victory in the Listed Bagot Handicap (2800m), which was the biggest win in that race this century.Symon Wilde said he hadn’t trained a horse with the staying capabilities of the lightly raced mare and he wasn’t surprised by how she handled her first assignment at 2800 metres in the Listed race where she led home a New Zealand-bred trifecta.“I’ve never seen one with ...

Richards and Johnson continue carnival roll

Trainer Jamie Richards, jockey Danielle Johnson and Te Akau Racing have continued their dominant Ellerslie Christmas Carnival form with a stakes double through the deeds of Imperatriz (I Am Invincible) in the Gr.2 Barneswood Farm Eclipse Stakes (1200m) and Savy Yong Blonk (NZ) (Savabeel) in the Gr.3 SKYCITY City Of Auckland Cup (2400m). Richards saddled an unprecedented six winners on Boxing Day including three at black-type level, while Johnson collected four wins during the time-honoured raced...

Surgenor comes up roses at Ellerslie

A wide draw and a step up in class couldn’t hold down underrated mare Showoroses (NZ) (Showcasing) as she led from go to whoa to take out the Gr.2 Rich Hill Mile (1600m) at Ellerslie. The Joanne Surgenor-trained four-year-old had employed similar tactics against her own sex when taking out the Gr.2 Cal Isuzu Stakes (1600m) at Te Rapa last month. Friday’s contest pitted her against the best of the boys as well, with rider Vinnie Colgan once again seizing the initiative after Showoroses worke...

Sponsor takes major prize in Royal Stakes

Valachi Downs principal Kevin Hickman picked up the thick end of the prizemoney from the race that he sponsored at Ellerslie on New Year’s Day when promising three-year-old Needle And Thread (Makfi) led all the way to win the Gr.2 Valachi Downs Royal Stakes (2000m).Hickman bred and races the Makfi filly, who had put a flashing light on her head for the race when battling on strongly for fourth in the Gr.2 Eight Carat Classic (1600m) at the venue on Boxing Day.Rider Craig Grylls took ...

Concert Hall Gets Maiden Group One Success

Versatile mare Concert Hall by Savabeel- Classic Legacy (Carnegie) bagged the Group One victory she richly deserved when she stormed home out wide to snatch victory in the Gr.1 Cambridge Stud Zabeel Classic (2000m) at Ellerslie. Prepared for owner and breeder Joan Egan by Roger James and Robert Wellwood, Concert Hall had looked a Group One winner in waiting throughout her career having won four individual stakes races before her success on Saturday, while she had been runner-up to race rival Roc...

Amarelinha the Latest Bright Young Talent in Tangerine

Champion trainer Jamie Richards and the Te Akau team have sent out an abundance of talent this season, and a remarkable performance in Saturday’s Gr.2 Jamieson Park Eight Carat Classic (1600m) at Ellerslie may have moved Amarelinha by Savabeel- Hopscotch (O'Reilly) towards the top of the list. Along with Melody Belle’s Group One Hawke’s Bay heroics, a five-win haul on New Zealand Cup day at Riccarton and now a sensational six on Boxing Day, Richards has been responsible for a seemingl...

Exciting Colt on Proven Levin Classic Path

The all-conquering Te Akau team is sticking to a proven Group One formula with rising star three-year-old Brando by Savabeel- Saoirse (Iffraaj). The striking son of Savabeel scored a dominant victory in Saturday’s Listed Shaw’s Wire Ropes Uncle Remus Stakes (1400m) at Ellerslie, which will be used as a springboard into the Gr.1 Levin Classic (1600m) at Trentham on January 16. In the two years prior to its elevation to Listed status in 2018, Te Akau won this Boxing Day three-year-old event wi...

Promising Mares Feature Prominently at Ellerslie

Progressive mare Vamos Bebe by I am Invincible- Hurtle Myrtle (Dane Shadow) took the step up to stakes company with relative ease when she strode clear in the final stages of Saturday’s Listed Hallmark Stud Sprint (1200m) at Ellerslie for a comprehensive victory. Trainer Jamie Richards backed his opinion of the I Am Invincible four-year-old, who was rated a clear six points lower than any of her eight rivals and was rewarded with performance that showed she is well up to top company over ...

International Breeders Federation Webinar

The NZTBA invite you as a member to register for the International Breeders Federation Webinar. This is free to our members. Registration is now OPEN to attend global Webinar on 21st January 2021 at 13.00 UK Time (2am New Zealand time) Thoroughbred Breeding in Today’s World  - challenges, threats and opportunitiesFollow HERE to register: For full details on the event please click the link below. ...

Karaka 2021 - Yearling Parade Information

5th January Cambridge Trials  6th January 9.30am Woburn Farm (book 2) 61 Tarr Road, Ohaupo 10am Phoenix Park 242 Kaipaki Road, Ohaupo 11am Prima Park 381 Mystery Creek Road, Ohaupo 11.30am Landsdowne Park 389 Mystery Creek Road, Ohaupo 1pm Carlaw Park 473 Kaipaki Road, Ohaupo 2pm Woburn Farm (book 1) 61 Tarr Road, Ohaupo 3.15pm Leanach Lodge 114 Norrish Road, Ohaupo 7th January 10.30am Trelawney Stud 319 Maungatautari Road, Cambridge11.30am Archer Park 116 Redoubt Road, Cambridge1pm Kiltann...

Fasttrack Insurance Breeder Profile - Wayne Darling

A quick look at the breeding of Coventina Bay (Shamexpress - Coventina by High Chaparral [IRE]) the recent winner of the Gr.3 J Swap Sprint at Te Rapa, and you could be forgiven for thinking she was bred by Windsor Park Stud. By their resident sire Shamexpress, Coventina Bay is a granddaughter of their fabulous matriarch Nimue, however a check in the stud book will tell you the breeder is EVB Ltd, the business operation of NZTBA member Wayne Darling. New Plymouth based Darling counts himself ver...

Forbes’ rise from Cambridge pocket-money to Yarraman’s Yearling Manager

- Georgie Dennis, TDN AUS NZYarraman Park Yearling Manager Lance Forbes is quickly stamping himself as a rising star among the breeding industry. Having being born into a renowned Kiwi horseman-family, racing has always been in his blood. Hailing from New Zealand, Lance Forbes has been around high-quality horses from a young age, with his first job being at the large operation of Cambridge Stud.“I started off when I was about 13-years-old and on my school holidays I used to go to Cambridge Stu...

Thrilling finish to Manawatu Cup

Hastings visitor Hunta Pence overcame his apparent dislike of the Awapuni track to register his biggest career victory when he took out the Gr.3 Bramco Granite and Marble Manawatu Cup (2300m) in a desperate finish on Saturday. The Patrick Campbell-trained eight-year-old had failed to finish in a dividend bearing placing in ten previous trips to the Palmerston North circuit, including fifth place finishes in the two previous editions of the staying feature. A last-start winner of the Listed Wanga...

Frodo too Fast in Group Two Feature

Pocket rocket Tavi Mac, who affectionately carries the moniker Frodo due to his diminutive stature and ungainly build, captured the biggest victory of his burgeoning career when he dashed away from his rivals in Saturday’s Gr.2 Kevin Pratt Memorial Manawatu Challenge Stakes (1400m) at Awapuni. The Allan Sharrock-trained son of Tavistock has captured hearts due to a pugnacious, never-say-die attitude that has now produced ten wins from 15 career starts, with his last three victories at stakes l...

THROWBACK THURSDAY | DB Racing Annual 1978-79 | OL’ GINGER by BARRY STREET

“Not bad for an old fellow, eh?” Reluctantly, Ginger shows a strong, straight row of teeth, which belie his old age of 33.  On the outskirts of Matamata there lives a great lover- a professional womanizer, which sounds like a fun way of making a living. His name is Ginger. Ginger is estimated to have 50 wives and 2900 girlfriends, all of whom have found him irresistible. He's getting old now. But no one dares tilt for his title.  If anyone did, he would face a fight to the dea...

Foster Foal Service - A Yearly Review

Have you ever experienced the heart-breaking loss of a mare or foal? The New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association Foster Foal Service is a valuable tool that endeavours to link orphaned foals with foster mares. The service provides support for the horses, ensuring a seamless transition in what can be a distressing time, and for breeders and owners who have concerns about their equine's physical and mental well-being.  The smooth running of this service can be contributed to the supp...

NZ Thoroughbred Welfare Guidelines Go Global

Following the lead of New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing (NZTR), the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities (IFHA) has this week released its horse welfare standards. The Welfare Committee of the IFHA created the minimum guidelines drawing from work undertaken in New Zealand which resulted in the release of the New Zealand Welfare Assessment Guidelines in October 2019. Welfare Committee chairman Jamie Stier, who led the IFHA work, emphasized that the IFHA Standards, created for a globa...

Ocean Billy puts Pomare’s retirement on hold

A career highlight at Te Rapa on Saturday might have put a further delay on retirement plans for owner-breeder-trainer Bill Pomare. After more than three decades in the industry, the Rotorua horseman celebrated his biggest win when Ocean Billy triumphed in the Gr.3 Skycity Hamilton Waikato Cup (2400m). “We’re pretty much on the cusp of retirement, but I’ve been saying that for a few years now,” Pomare said. “You know how it is in racing – you keep saying you’re going to call it a ...

Staying Future for Eulogy Winner

Lightly raced Cambridge visitor Whimsical by Savabeel- Chanel’s Choice (Redoute's Choice) showed she will be a force to be reckoned with in the upcoming age-group staying features when she produced a gritty performance to take out the Gr.3 Lawnmaster Eulogy Stakes (1600m) at just her third start. The Stephen Marsh-trained Savabeel filly had hinted she had plenty of ability when she easily accounted for her maiden rivals over 1400m at Te Rapa last month. Marsh had no hesitation in stepping...

Tab New Zealand Board of Directors – Candidate Information

Background The TAB New Zealand Board of Directors (the Directors) is the governing body of TAB New Zealand (TAB NZ), as provided for by section 55 of the Racing Industry Act 2020 (the Act). TAB NZ is established as the sole betting provider for racing and sports in New Zealand. TAB NZ is a Statutory Entity, and its focus is maximising profits for the benefit of the New Zealand racing industry and contributing to sports funding while minimising gambling harm. Directors, including one Chair, are...

Showoroses Upsets in Te Rapa Feature

Underrated mare Showoroses by Showcasing- Rodrigo Rose (Rodrigo De Triano) made full use of an electric beginning from a wide barrier to lead her rivals a merry dance as she took out the feature race at Te Rapa on Saturday, the Gr.2 Cal Isuzu Stakes (1600m). The Showcasing four-year-old had put the writing on the wall that she was ready to take out a stakes race when finishing second to Media Sensation in the Gr.2 Auckland Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1400m) at Pukekohe last month....

New Show Highlights The People Behind The Racing Industry

The New Zealand thoroughbred racing industry has more than 34,000 participants, employs over 9,500 people and contributes around $1.1 billion dollars to the New Zealand economy annually. It’s an industry that doesn’t stop with the horses requiring constant care, resulting in early mornings, late nights, busy weekends and few holidays for the hard working and passionate people behind the scenes.   Beyond The Winning Post is a magazine docuseries that explores the varied partici...

Westbury Celebrate Bumper Weekend

If Westbury Stud needs a highlight reel for its stallions ahead of the 2021 yearling sales, it won’t need to look far beyond Saturday’s racing. The day began well when Stormy, the first runner for Westbury stallion Telperion, became his sire’s first Group winner when taking out the Gr.2 Wakefield Challenge Stakes (1100m) at Trentham. A couple of hours later, Rock On Wood became the first elite level winner for another Westbury stallion, Redwood, when he took out the Gr.1 Captain Cook Stake...

Favourite Delivers in Trentham Two-Year-Old Feature

Flashy chestnut colt Stormy repaid the faith of punters who installed him as a $1.50 favourite as he powered to victory in the Gr.2 Pete’s Joinery, Precise Design & Build Wakefield Challenge Stakes (1100m) at Trentham. The Tony Pike-trained Telperion colt was the only race winner in the nine-horse field after impressing on debut at Awapuni last month. Expected to race handy from an inside draw, rider Lisa Allpress followed the script to perfection as she bounced her charge out well before cont...