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Haunui stallions to make presence felt at Karaka

Book 1 of Karaka 2020 looms as a pivotal few days for Haunui Farm stallions Belardo and Iffraaj. The top-tier session of New Zealand Bloodstock’s National Yearling Sales will feature six yearlings from the first crop of exciting young shuttle stallion Belardo, while representation has soared to an all-time high for highly-regarded sire Iffraaj. A son of Lope de Vega, Belardo won the Gr.1 Dewhurst Stakes (1400m) as a two-year-old and added the Gr.1 Lockinge Stakes (1600m) as an older horse. Shu...

EXPLAINED: Racing Industry Bill

The changes to the racing industry, as laid out in the Messara Report, have now been drafted into the Racing Industry Bill (Bill Two) and is currently before Parliament. This Bill finalises the post-transition governance structure of the racing industry, creates a legislative framework to enable property to better benefit the racing industry, and enables new ways of seeking approval for betting products. The Bill will create a new Racing Industry Act that amalgamates the exiting provisions from ...

Racing Industry Bill Update

Good afternoon,  I wanted to write to you and your members on the back of the Racing Industry Bill which was introduced into Parliament earlier this month. Submissions are now being called for with the closing date being Tuesday, 11 February. Information on the Bill and how to make a submission can be found on the Parliament website. This Bill, the second of two pieces of legislation, is a significant milestone for racing which will help transition the racing industry into a financially sus...

Cambridge Stud secures Not An Option

Cambridge Stud have secured a majority share in unbeaten two-year-old colt Not An Option, a son of proven Australian sire Not A Single Doubt. An impressive winner of the recent Gr.2 Wakefield Challenge Stakes (1100m), following an easy debut victory at Pukekohe, Not An Option will remain in the care of Cambridge trainer Tony Pike. “Not An Option is arguably the most naturally gifted juvenile we have had anything to do with,” Pike said. “His potential is largely untapped. I am delighted to...

Highden Park yearling parade

Sam and Libby Bleakley of Highden Park will hold a yearling parade at their Manawatu property ahead of the New Zealand Bloodstock Yearling Sales, which will begin on January 26. The Manawatu farm will showcase their 11 strong Book 1 and 2 draft, which include progeny of sires Tavistock, American Pharoah, Shamexpress, Per Incanto, Free Eagle, Brazen Beau, Real Impact, Power, and Vadamos. The yearlings will be available for inspection at any time between 9am and 3pm on January 17. Light refreshmen...

Kiwi Bred 2019- Episode 6

The team head to Windsor Park Stud to catch up with Rodney Schick, spend 60 seconds with Haunui Farm's Shannon Taylor, tell the origin story of Verry Elleegant and the team at Waikato Equine Veterinary Centre prep for surgery on a sesamoid feature....

Auckland/Waikato yearling tour

Waikato bloodstock agent Stuart Hale’s annual Auckland/Waikato yearling inspection tour will return in 2020. The week-long tour will commence on Sunday, January 5, and include visits to 30 farms, with inspections of more than 750 yearlings. The tour will depart daily from BP Cambridge, 98 Victoria St Upper, and lunch and dinner will be provided on each of the six days of the tour. To book a place on the free tour, please contact Stuart Hale on 027 492 0975. Tour Itinerary Sunday - January 5 7...

'Champ' delivers Group Three win

He may have just won his first stakes race, but in the eyes of those close to him Justamaiz (Guillotine – Arthena) has been a “champ” since the day he was born. His recent victory in the Gr.3 Sky City Waikato Cup was the sixth and biggest win for the five-year-old Guillotine gelding that was bred by Larry and David Greene’s Greene Thoroughbreds Limited and is raced by that entity along with Quentin Maisey and Jack and Sue Thorburn. Champ, as he was named when his life began at Geoff and ...

Charm Spirit heads exciting Windsor Park roster

With Charm Spirit in stellar form and a new wave of stallions approaching their yearling debuts, the festive period has some extra shine this year for the team at Windsor Park Stud. Multiple Group One winner Charm Spirit has been shuttling to Windsor Park since 2015, and his oldest southern hemisphere progeny are now three years old. The son of Invincible Spirit has already sired 20 individual winners from just 50 runners in the southern hemisphere, with a flurry of black-type successes through ...

RITA Welcomes Significant Milestone for Racing Industry Reform

The Racing Industry Transition Agency (RITA) welcomed the Government’s introduction of the Racing Industry Bill  - a major package of reforms to replace the Racing Act 2003. The Bill, which was introduced last week, had its first reading on Tuesday. RITA Chairman Dean McKenzie said the introduction of the Racing Industry Bill is a significant milestone for racing and will help achieve the ambitious goals set by John Messara to ensure the sustainability of the racing industry.  ...

Cook comes full-circle with Preferment

Eminent Australian owner Francis Cook has returned to New Zealand this week, the source of one of his standout racetrack performers. Cook and his wife Christine have enjoyed sensational success over the last few seasons. Their tally of Group One victories has soared into double digits thanks to the likes of Lasqueti Spirit, Foreteller, Moriarty and this season’s Gr.1 Toorak Handicap (1600m) and Cantala Stakes (1600m) hero Fierce Impact. They have become renowned not only for their success, but...

Charismatic Riodini retained by his breeders

Right from the time he was a foal Riodini(Proisir[AUS]-Giardini) the winner of the recent Gr.3 Bonecrusher Stakes, was a horse with charisma. “He was one of those foals with a personality a bit different from the rest, he always looked for you when you went in the paddock and would come over and say hello,” recalled Alan Galbraith who bred and races the horse with his wife Liz, daughter Cecilia and her husband Mike Lewis. “We all liked him as an individual, but Liz particularly liked him ...

Luptons savour stakes successes

Matamata owners Mark and Cath Lupton are hoping their dream run will continue in Saturday’s Gr.2 Cal Isuzu Stakes (1600m) at Te Rapa. The Luptons’ quality mare Yearn will chase back-to-back stakes wins in the fillies and mares’ feature, having claimed a career-best victory in the Gr.2 Auckland Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1400m) at Pukekohe on November 23. In between times, the Luptons, who are members of the Waikato branch of the NZTBA, celebrated a victory in Saturday’s A$300,000 P...

Exciting weekend for Haunui Farm

Wyndspelle’s breakthrough Group One win topped off a big day at Trentham on Saturday for Haunui Farm. In winning the Gr.1 Captain Cook Stakes (1600m), Wyndspelle became the 10th individual Group One winner for the Haunui Farm-based sire Iffraaj. Three races earlier on the programme Haunui Farm, as part-owners, shared in the success of exciting two-year-old Not An Option in the Gr.2 Wakefield Challenge Stakes (1100m) and on the same day at Ellerslie Orakei Overlord, a son of Iffraaj, notched hi...

Rock ‘N’ Pop now standing at Okawa Stud

Okawa Stud, once one of the famous thoroughbred nurseries in Hawke’s Bay, is undergoing a revival with the property now standing the well-bred stallion Rock ‘N’ Pop. The son of champion Australian sire Fastnet Rock took up residence at Okawa last month, having transferred from Waikato Stud where he has stood since 2013. Tom Lowry, who is the third generation to take over Okawa Stud, said this week he was delighted to stand Rock ‘N’ Pop and hopes that it will give Hawke’s Bay thorough...

Burgundy sadly put down

Cambridge Stud stallion Burgundy was put down at the Waikato farm on Friday, having contracted acute laminitis in his front feet. His condition had deteriorated over the past 72 hours and the decision was made between the major partners that he should not suffer further.  Burgundy was a $1.3 million yearling when sold by his breeders Philip and Sir Peter Vela, the owners of Pencarrow Stud. Out of Group One winner Grand Echezeaux, he was a three-quarter brother in blood to Darci Brahma, cha...

Lisa Chittick to be remembered with new Matamata race

Leading thoroughbred nursery Waikato Stud has strengthened its relationship with the Matamata Racing Club in the creation of a fillies and mares’ race with special meaning. Appropriately, the race is named in honour of the late Lisa Chittick and will be contested at the MRC’s annual Premier meeting, Matamata Breeders’ Stakes day. The Lisa Chittick Plate will be an open 1400-metre race run under set weight and penalty conditions with a stake of $40,000. The inaugural running is scheduled f...

NZTBA scholarship winner launches new venture

Respected industry player Bruce Slade is diversifying his involvement in the thoroughbred world, launching new venture Kestrel Thoroughbreds alongside an ongoing role with Newgate Farm. New Zealand-born Slade, who was awarded the 2008 Sunline Trust International Management Scholarship administered by the New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders' Association, has amassed tremendous experience through a number of roles in the Australasian industry, from racing manager of the Gai Waterhouse stable to gene...

Scorpz salutes in Group Three for Jomara

A colt who failed to meet his reserve at Karaka in 2018 is rewarding his breeders Jomara Bloodstock Limited with a bit of excitement and a group of their mates with a load of fun. The colt Scorpz (Charm Spirit[IRE]-Forbetterforworse[AUS]) is the latest stakes winner bred by Jomara after winning the Gr.3 Wellington Stakes (1600m), and now they are glad he didn’t reach his reserve. “He was a cracking foal, and a nice yearling we were surprised that he didn’t sell,” recalled John Carter, w...

White Robe celebrates Jericho Cup quinella

Sunday’s A$300,000 Jericho Cup (4600m) delivered a dream result for White Robe Lodge, but the iconic farm’s proprietor Brian Anderton was left lamenting the one that got away. In an entirely Kiwi-bred finish to the ANZAC-themed Warrnambool feature for Australian and New Zealand-bred stayers, Ablaze edged out Golden Flag by three-quarters of a length. The Shaune Ritchie-trained Where Are You finished another 10 lengths away in third. Both Ablaze and Golden Flag were co-bred by Brian Anderton,...

Kiwi Bred 2019 Episode 4

Kiwi Bred takes a look at the rise of the online auction in NZ, spend 60 seconds with Te Akau’s David Ellis, pay tribute to Sacred Falls, follow the origin story of Surprise Baby and introduce Case 2 at WEVC....

Waikato Stud mourn the loss of Sacred Falls

The Chittick family and the team at Waikato Stud are in mourning after the shock loss of their best mate and emerging young stallion, Sacred Falls. The Waikato Stud veterinary team identified an issue with the stallion’s liver just on a fortnight ago and despite receiving world-class treatment at both the Stud and then at Matamata Veterinary Services equine hospital, his condition deteriorated overnight and he passed away early on Sunday morning. The son of Waikato Stud’s champion sire O’...

Buckinghams add another Group winner to their book

Clyde and Pat Buckingham know what it feels like to breed a Group Winner. Operating under their Emblem Ltd banner they have bred the likes of three time Group One winner Sangster (Savabeel x Quinta Special), Group Two winner Lasarla (Rip Van Winkle x Imco Main), Group Three winner Adorabeel (Savabeel x Plaza Doree) and were also part of the partnership that bred Group One winner Kaaptan (Kaapstad x Fanny Black). The Karaka-based couple, who are members of the Auckland branch of the New Zealand...

Yearn - just the tonic for the Lupton's

The after effect of some vigorous celebrations the night before had Matamata resident Mark Lupton feeling a little weary on Sunday morning but still in a state of elation after Yearn, the bonny mare he owns with wife Cath, took out the Gr.2 Dunstan Feeds Auckland Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1400m) at Pukekohe on Saturday. It was the first black type victory for the Savabeel six-year-old that the pair were essentially gifted by her breeders Clyde and Pat Buckingham under their Emblem Ltd. ba...

Per Incanto in demand at Karaka

Cambridge Bloodstock agent Garry Carvell has had plenty of success with progeny of Per Incanto he has acquired from Karaka, and he went back to the same well on Thursday. He purchased two sons by the Little Avondale Stud stallion for Hong Kong-based clients on the second day of New Zealand Bloodstock’s Ready To Run Sale of 2YOs. He went to $325,000 to secure lot 340, the colt by Danasinga mare Demerara for Hong Kong trainer Peter Ho, while he purchased lot 352, the colt out of Zabeel mare Drea...