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Paradox and planning come together in a Verry Elleegant result

Our Fasttrack Breeder Profile focus's on octogenarian Don GoodwinIn thoroughbred racing and breeding it’s never hard to find examples of the paradox that makes both pursuits so intriguing and unpredictable. The latest telling example came in the Gr. 1 Vinery Stud Stakes at Rosehill last week when NZ-bred Verry Elleegant led home Frankly Awesome, a filly conceived in the United Kingdom and born in Australia. The origins of both are not the only stark contrast; the other is that Verry Elleegant ...

Matamata celebrates Brutal Group One

The Matamata thoroughbred community celebrated another Group One victory on Saturday when Brutal took out the Doncaster Mile (1600m) at Randwick. The three-year-old colt was bred by Auckland-based Anne Storey and her mother Ruth Kerr-Taylor and was born and raised at Mapperley Stud near Matamata, who sold him through their 2017 New Zealand Bloodstock Premier Yearling Sale draft to Hawkes Racing for $220,000. The Matamata connection runs further, with Brutal being by Waikato Stud’s deceased cha...

Goodwood's second G1 success

Goodwood Stud principal William Fell received a late wedding present on Saturday when Nicoletta won the Gr.1 New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1600m) at Te Aroha. The 2017 New Zealand Breeder of the Year recently married central districts jockey Rosie Myers and he was delighted to notch another Group One as a breeder. “It was outstanding, she certainly deserved it I thought,” Fell said. She’s a pretty tough mare. “Last year she ran a pretty good race, where she ran third. It w...

Stallion covering statistics released

Waikato Stud’s resident sire Savabeel headed the list for number of mares covered during the 2018 breeding season. The four-time champion New Zealand sire covered 182 mares which was up on last year’s tally of 167. Coming in second on the list was Champion European three-year-old Almanzor, who was standing his first season in New Zealand at Cambridge Stud, covering 139 mares off the back of his $30,000 service fee. A full list of registered stallions and the number of mares covered can be vi...

Algie family's pride and joy rewards

Just over two years ago, Jacksstar (Zed – Star Guest by Pentire) suffered a tendon injury when finishing third in the 2017 Auckland Cup, for most five-year-old geldings that would have been the end of their career, but not for “Jack” the recent winner of the Gr.2 City of Palmerston North Awapuni Gold Cup. At the time he was injured he was already the winner of five races including the Gr.3 Manawatu Cup and the Listed St Leger, so there was a little bit of money in the kitty and his owners ...

Mark Corcoran and Zed an unforgettable weekend

Grangewilliam Stud principal Mark Corcoran experienced one of his biggest moments in racing on the weekend when Verry Elleegant secured Group One glory in the Vinery Stud Stakes (2000m) at Rosehill. Corcoran stands her sire Zed at his Waitotara property, near Wanganui, New Zealand, and he said the win was made even sweeter given Verry Elleegant’s close association with the farm. “It doesn’t get any better than a Group One,” Corcoran said. “This win was pretty special for the farm becau...

Lou and Val's breeding venture

A life-changing moment in 2017 has enabled Lou Te Keeti and his wife Val to pursue their shared love of thoroughbreds to the maximum and Group 1 success at Awapuni will realise a dream. The Tauranga couple have always had a small scale interest in racing, but two and a-half years ago a NZ$10.3 million lottery strike allowed them to significantly expand their operation and on Saturday another jackpot beckons. They race the talented filly Aalaalune (NZ) (Reliable Man {GB}), narrowly beaten in the ...

NZTBA member Joan Egan enjoying success

A year after celebrating her first Group One success as a thoroughbred breeder, Joan Egan is having a ball with her small but select racing string. When Beauden won Sunday’s Woodville Cup, the Team Rogerson-trained gelding took his owner-breeders’ tally for the season to nine wins. A day earlier Concert Hall had completed a hat-trick by winning the Gr. 3 Cuddle Stakes at Trentham, going one better than Sandrine’s Ellerslie double in late February-early March. Egan’s Group One winner was ...

Scholarship Blog: Sam Bergerson's from Shadwell Stud

After a whirlwind Karaka yearling sales and a few emotional goodbyes, I was on my way. First stop Shadwell Stud, Norfolk, UK. As this is the first time a scholarship recipient has attended Shadwell Stud, I thought some background would be helpful: Shadwell’s global breeding and racing enterprises involve both Thoroughbred and Arabian horses, bred and brought to race in the renowned blue and white racing silks of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum. It encompasses Shadwell Estate C...

Equine breeding trainees of the year awards

Trainees who completed their National Certificate in Equine qualifications in 2018 were considered for the Level 3 and Level 4 Trainee of the Year awards. As well as being presented with trophies, NZTBA generously donated gift packs which contained a number of books including copies of Give a Man A Horse, signed by Sir Patrick Hogan and a year's membership to the NZTBA The winners were Jim Carroll (Windsor Park Stud) who was presented with his award by Rick Williams (General Manager of The Oaks ...

Celebrations New Zealand wide thanks to Gr.1 glory

There were celebrations throughout New Zealand when Sentimental Miss (Reliable Man[GB]-Nostalgic[AUS]) won the Gr.1 Al Basti Equiworld New Zealand Oaks at Trentham last weekend. Celebrating on course at Trentham were her owners Go Racing Yesteryear Syndicate along with her breeders The Oaks Stud, while in Auckland the team at Westbury Stud were celebrating as she had provided her sire Reliable Man(GB) with his first well deserved group one winner. And in the South Island Jonny Orr was celebratin...

NZTBA Members will come together for Group One Day

The Gr.1 Fiber Fresh NZ Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1600m) Day at Te Aroha on April 6 represents the perfect opportunity for members of the New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association and their friends and budding breeders to get together. “The Breeders’ Stakes has a great history being the only Group One race restricted to fillies and mares,” Association President John Thompson said. “It always attracts a very good field and has been won by some great mares that have had grea...

Furore extends NZ's record in the Hong Kong Derby

The Frankie Lor-trained Furore continued New Zealand’s stellar record in the HK$18million Hong Kong Derby (2000m) when he took out the Classic race at Sha Tin on Sunday. Bred in New Zealand by Jonathan Munz under his GSA Bloodstock banner, Furore was born and raised at Haunui Farm and stud principal Mark Chitty said it was a great result for the farm and New Zealand. “It was a good result for the farm, but a great result for the industry in New Zealand, extending our record in the race (winn...

Rich Hill bred takes Gr.2 Adelaide Cup

Monday’s Gr.2 Adelaide Cup (3200m) winner Surprise Baby has provided a stunning return on investment for connections of the Kiwi stayer, who purchased the son of Shocking for just $5,500 from online auction gavelhouse.com as an unraced three-year-old. The Paul Preusker-trained four-year-old has proved a revelation, winning four of his six starts and becomes the seventh stakes winner for Rich Hill Stud stallion Shocking, who also sired last year’s Adelaide Cup winner Fanatic, the Group One wi...

Breeders' Stakes victory a lifetime high for McCarthy

Years of involvement in racing and breeding balanced by significant input to industry administration were rewarded when the Greg McCarthy-owned and bred filly Aretha won last Saturday’s $100,000 J Swap Contractors Matamata Breeders’ Stakes. McCarthy approached the Group Two race with an open mind, well aware of the strength of the opposition for New Zealand’s most prestigious race for two-year-old fillies but also daring to hope Aretha was up to the occasion. “You can never be too confi...

Paul’s Princess getting Group rewards

Things haven’t always gone to plan with Princess Kereru (NZ) (Pins) but they seem to be working out just fine now. The recent Gr.3 Waikato Stud Plate (1200m) winner was bred by Paul Humphries and his sons Kevan, Richard and Michael with the intention to sell her at auction as a yearling. “We bred Princess Kereru to sell at Karaka," Humphries said."She was slightly offset in one of her knees and was not a big filly as a yearling. “Wayne (Larsen of Te Runga Stud), who has been a great mento...

G1 ​Breeders’ Stakes set for its 48th running

This year the Gr.1 New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1600m) will be run for the 48th time. The Fibre Fresh-sponsored feature, which each year attracts a strong field of quality sprinter/miler female racehorses, will be run at Te Aroha’s April 6 meeting and is an opportunity for members of the New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders Association to get together at the annual Waikato Branch organised event. “The Breeders’ Stakes has a great history being the only Group One race restricte...

Scholarship Blog: Ryan Stacey at the Irish National Stud

As I arrived in Dublin after a surprisingly straightforward 24-hour trip, I was welcomed by Jerry who works at the Irish National Stud. He was there to pick up myself and 2 other students, Jock Ferguson (AUS) and Fabian Puchta (GER). A lovely overcast day and a crisp southerly met us as we walked out of the airport. Lucky I had prepared for it. After a 45-minute drive were at the Irish National Stud. Most people had arrived already, so it was time to do the meet and greet with the other students...

Magic twenty fours hours for Windsor Park

Saturday’s victory by Aretha in the Gr.2 J Swap Contractors Ltd Matamata Breeders’ Stakes (1200m) brought double delight for well-known Cambridge-based breeding operation Windsor Park Stud. The victory carried dual significance for Windsor Park as the Murray Baker & Andrew Forsman-trained filly became both the first Southern Hemisphere winner for shuttle stallion, Charm Spirit as well as his first at stakes level in this part of the world. Aretha is from the first New Zealand crop of the son...

Glory Days and the Hunt factor

Over the past month Glory Days (Red Giant[USA]-Bilancia), On The Rocks (Alamosa- Cold Shoulder), and He Kin Fly (Darci Brahma – Shi Kin Fly) have all won black type races, however that’s not all they have in common, their common denominator is the involvement in their breeding by Graeme Hunt. Trading as Cambridge Hunt Limited, Hunt a member of the Wellington branch of the NZTBA, currently owns the dams of Glory Days and On The Rocks, and bred He Kin Fly. Regardless it has been an exciting an...

Beauty Generation - what a star for the New Zealand breeding industry

New Zealand-bred gelding Beauty Generation flattened all-comers again at Sha on Sunday as Hong Kong’s champion bagged a sixth career Group One success in the Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup (1400m). “It’s just a repeat of what he’s been doing all season,” trainer John Moore said. Hong Kong’s equal highest-rated (127) horse of all-time had just taken his season’s tally to an impeccable six from six. “Everyone’s had a go at beating him,” Moore said. “The little bit of hype arou...

Hooked on a yearling

Pinhooking is a notoriously tough game but Windsor Park Stud’s Yearling Manager Alice Berry is doing her best to turn it into a profitable past-time. In 2018 English-born Berry owned a small share in a Shamexpress colt that went through the Inglis Classic Sale in Sydney, the proceeds of which allowed her to select another prospect for the 2019 New Zealand Bloodstock Yearling Sales. Berry, who had run the Windsor Park Stud Foaling Unit for three seasons before heading the yearling crew in 2018,...

Treasure find for Cambridge Breeder

Cambridge based breeder Sue Westend, was devastated when she lost her mare My Amnesia (AUS) {Elvstroem[AUS]-Attire[AUS]) foaling in 2015, and vowed to get herself another mare from that family. “My Amnesia was a half-sister to the former champion Australian two-year-old Fashions Afield ( Redoute’s Choice[AUS]-Attire[AUS]),” Westend said, “and I said to Peter when we lost her that I would love to get back into that family.” It took a wee while but scrolling through the Gavelhouse websit...

Dream week for Canterbury breeders

Canterbury based breeder Cheryl Wilson is this week trying to catch her breath after a whirl wind week of racing and yearling sales. Wilson and her partner Bruce Sheat, members of the Canterbury, Westland, Marlborough and Otago branch of the NZTBA, have just had a week that breeders often dream about. Successfully selling yearlings and breeding stakes performers. And it all stems from their Hussonet (USA) mare Steel Stilettos (AUS), who produced Air Max the winner of the Listed Dunedin Guineas,...

NZTR Venue Plan Consultation

The NZTR Venue Plan consultation document was released on 29 January 2019 and is available for viewing here Feedback on this document is due by 19 March 2019 and can be sent to venues@nztr.co.nz or via post toc/o Office of CEO, 106-110 Jackson Street, Petone, Wellington 5012. NZTR CEO Bernard Saundry will be meeting with clubs at the following times and venues over the coming weeks and NZTBA members are welcome to attend:• Tuesday 12 February, Christchurch 9am-12noon; Dunedin, 3pm-5.30pm• Fr...