Back to Blog

Brian Collins all smiles at the Auckland Stallion Tour

An enjoyable morning was had by all breeders who attended the Auckland Stud Tour hosted by Haunui Farm and Westbury Stud on Sunday. The mixture of fine weather and hospitality along with stallions, which are a credit to both farms, saw a large crowd of 120 people drawn from around the country to attend this well organised annual event, many making their first trip north of the Bombay Hills. Haunui Farm and Westbury Stud very kindly donated a service to either Ferlax (NZ) (Pentire (GB) – Legs...

Metric Mile success for Sharrock’s Gypsy Fair

A wintery Awapuni played host to the Group 3 Merial Ancre Metric Mile on Saturday. A competitive field of 14 went to post for the $70,000 handicap with fillies and mares filling the first five places. Victorious Gypsy Fair (Falkirk (NZ) – Gypsy Moth (NZ)) ran out a neck winner from Platinum Command (Red Giant (USA) - Wednesday Rocks (NZ),) with New York Minute (Ifraaj (GB) – Zenno Queen (NZ)) filling third place. The Allan Sharrock trained mare, who has now won 6 times, was ridden to perfect...

October Forum for Thoroughbred Trainers/Breeders in the Northern Region

NZTR and ACC will be holding a forum at the Cambridge Jockey Club on Friday 7 October starting at midday. The forum will run for approximately 2 hours and tea and coffee will be available prior to the forum starting. The forum is being held as a result of an ongoing project between NZTR and ACC to identify common injuries, look at work practices and training that will assist to reduce the injury rates, including the use of personal protective equipment. Any overall industry reduction in the ...

Miller opens stable doors in South Korea

Kiwi horseman David Miller is open for business in South Korea. "I'm the first New Zealander to train here," he said. "I've started to get horses into the stable now and I've got 24 boxes and it won't be hard to fill them. "The hardest part is getting the quality, there's no problem with quantity. "They aren't a bad block of stables and they are on the track with swimming pools and walkers as well." Miller is based at the Busan racecourse, which opened in 2005, with meetings every Friday...

Auckland Stallion Tour

The AUCKLAND STALLION TOUR will be held on Sunday 11th September 2016. The morning will commence at Haunui Farm at 10.30am and then proceed to Westbury Stud at 11.15am. A light lunch will be provided. All are welcome and we look forward to seeing you there. Please contact Shannon Taylor for further details. Mob: 021 2855 513 Email: shannont@haunuifarm.co.nz ...

Magical times for Little Avondale Stud

A bold front running display saw Its Time For Magic (Per Incanto (USA) - Tick Tock Time (NZ)) take out Listed Honours in The O'Leary's Fillies Stakes at Wanganui on Saturday.The tenacious filly ridden by Sam Spratt held off the determined challenge of Group 1 winner Luna Rosa (Written Tycoon (Aus) – Wild Promises (AUS) with Queen of Zealand (Savabeel (AUS) - Queen Of Pop (NZ)) back in third place. Delighted winning Te Awamutu trainer Robert Priscott who with his wife Karen, are also part owner...

Bevan Smith's latest blog from the USA - Aug '16

Despite one cancelled flight, one unplanned night in Downtown Chicago and switching planes three times until boarding one that was safe, I finally landed in Lexington, KY – 24 hours later than scheduled, but excited for the last leg of my Sunline Scholarship adventure. I was welcomed by temperatures consistently in the mid-30s with high humidity. It was a big shock to the body coming from an 'Irish summer. I am single-handedly keeping Powerade in business. After a quick farm tour of Tayl...

Cheval Stud's day in the sun

Sun-kissed Hastings played host to the first premier race day of the 2016/17 flat season on Saturday 27th August with the $200,000 G1 Makfi Challenge Stakes taking centre stage on a quality filled 9 race card .The gallant 6 year old Kawi (Savabeel(Aus)-Magic Time(NZ)) took his career earnings to $771,441 with his 4th G1 victory. Cheers of jubilation were not only reserved for Kawi's winning connections as those of 2nd El Pescado (El Hermano(NZ) - Annchips(NZ)) and 3rd placed Farm Boy (El Herm...

Dandos take over management of Dormello Stud

Hamilton's Dormello Stud is back in business. Graeme Rogerson and Denise Howell's farm has been reawakened with the announcement of a new management agreement with Bradbury Park's Casey and Michelle Dando. "It's a fantastic opportunity for us. It's a lovely farm and the timing couldn't have been better for us," Michelle Dando said. "We purchased the neighbouring farm but we've still been struggling to take on extra horses because we've been at capacity." Bradbury Park operates on 45 hectares...

JLT Insurance Waikato Stallion Parade Weekend

Thanks to JLT for their wonderful support of the Waikato Stallion Parade weekend. Big crowds of over 200 people enjoying the sunny weekend. Click here for the link to our Facebook Page to view the photos from the weekend. Also please visit out website page to view some spectacular foals born so far this season in Australasia,...

Trotter’s Kick Back with Pakuranga Hunt Success

The Pakuranga Hunt Cup run over 4900m of the iconic Ellerslie steeplechase course on Saturday 20th August saw yet another dramatic finish fought out to this prestigious steeplechase. Kick Back (Bahhare(USA)- Take Three(NZ) trained by Kevin Myers and ridden by Shaun Fannin took over the lead within the shadows of the winning post to gain victory for Marton owner and breeder Sam Trotter and family. The diminutive yet durable 8 year old mare, who was named after a bruising encounter with Sam, too...

One of the great New Zealand jockeys, Bob Skelton MBE, has passed away in Melbourne at the age of 81.

Renowned for his uncanny ability to judge pace, Skelton was regarded as the most successful rider of two-mile stayers in Australasia. A Wellington Cup hat-trick in the early 1960s on the mighty stayer Great Sensation, two Auckland Cups and two Perth Cups underlined that skill, but his ultimate victory came in the 1976 Melbourne Cup on tough Kiwi stayer Van Der Hum. Greymouth-born Skelton was one of five jockey brothers, the eldest of whom, Bill, established a premiership-winning pattern that h...

Waikato Stallion Parades 20 & 21 August 2016

...

Two stallions for sale or lease

The NZTBA have been informed that CHIANTI (IRE) and OCTASONG (AUS) are available to be relocated for the forthcoming breeding season. They are both registered for the new season. Both stallions have a kind temperament and are very easy to handle. Chianti, by Danehill, from a Nureyev mare - Sabah, (USA) a half sister to Maroof who has produced 11 to race with 9 winners. He is a full brother to Desert King - top of the 1997 international 3 yr old classification (winner of Irish Derby G1, Irish 2...

Upper Cut delivers National success For White Robe Lodge and friends

The 142nd running of The Grand National Steeplechase at Riccarton Park on Saturday saw another name written onto its illustrious role of honour. That of Upper Cut (NZ) (Yamanin Vital(NZ)- Volucidate(NZ)) who provided trainer Mark Oulaghan with a record 5th win in the South Island's Blue Ribbon event. Paul Hamblin gave the 10 year old gelding an astute ride staying on strongly through the soft ground to beat the Australian Mr Mor by ¾ of a length. This success follows victory doubles from both D...

First foals for Proisir

The first two foals sired by the brilliant Australian Group One performer Proisir have been born at Rich Hill Stud. A son of the champion international racehorse and sire Choisir, he was New Zealand's most popular first season sire last year serving 145 mares and his first crop foals are now eagerly anticipated by breeders. "Proisir is one of the best looking stallions in Australasia and if his first two foals are any indication then we are in for a very exciting season" Rich Hill principal...

2015/16 New Zealand Free Handicaps

Two Thousand Guineas winner Xtravagant is the highest rated three-year-old on the 2015-16 New Zealand Free Handicaps. Xtravagant headed an outstanding crop of three-year-olds and was rated at 61.5kg in the 1200m to 1600m category. Sacred Elixir, a Group I winner at the Brisbane winter carnival, was the top-rated two-year-old. Xtravagant won two Group I races by wide margins and was rated on the same level as the 2015 dual Derby winner Mongolian Khan, who was given 61.5kg in the over 1600m c...

Miss Three Stars - Triumpant in Gp.3 Winter Cup

Although beginning from barrier stall 13 in a sixteen horse field MISS THREE STARS was able to work over to be three back on the inside running early in the race for Samantha Wynne. This tactic saved valuable ground rounding the home turn, and was very instrumental in her win. Although challenged strongly by Platinum Command in the closing stages MISS THREE STARS lifted short of the line for a short head victory. Dublin born 27 year old woman jockey Samantha Wynne has been riding in New Zeala...

BAGALOLLIES [AUS] CROWNED 2015/16 NEW ZEALAND BROODMARE OF THE YEAR

A group of mates who got together to race a few horses around ten years ago are now the proud owners of the 2015/16 New Zealand Broodmare of the Year Bagalollies (Zabeel-Lady's Knight). Led by Tommy Hepinstall, Chris and John Barnao, Andrew Campbell, Dave Ellison, Tom Pivac and Dave Platt purchased four yearlings for Andrew Campbell to train and to have some fun with. Among the quartet was the multiple Group One winner and now exciting young sire Tavistock - and what a journey the group of fri...

SIR PATRICK & JUSTINE, LADY HOGAN – 2015/16 NEW ZEALAND BREEDERS OF THE YEAR

After what can only be described as a stellar year for Cambridge Stud, Sir Patrick and Justine, Lady Hogan were last night named the 2015/16 New Zealand Breeders of the Year at the annual New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing Awards in Auckland. In an exceptional year for Kiwi-bred horses and breeders worldwide, the Hogans were represented by three individual winners of six Australian Group One contests, and a further 13 stakes performers. They have now won the prestigious title on five occasions, f...

Bliss glad he took a punt on Keano

A chance sighting of a for sale advertisement on an auction web site convinced New Plymouth horseman Jeff Bliss to go back into the stallion business. He didn't have any intention of replacing Eighth Wonder, a son of Zabeel who died pre-maturely last year, at Sentry Hill Farm until he spotted the availability of the well-related Keano. "I wasn't going to bother about another stallion and then I saw him on this site in Australia and we bought him," Bliss said. "He's beautifully-bred and he ...

Super Savabeel scoops the pool

Waikato Stud have made another clean sweep of the stallion titles. The Matamata farm has dominated the awards in recent times and it was more of the same in a highly satisfying 2015-2016. Savabeel was the star of the show by claiming the Grosvenor Award for the New Zealand sires' premiership and the Dewar Award (champion NZ-based sire by Australasian progeny earnings) and the Centaine Award (champion NZ-based sire by global progeny earnings). "Savabeel has done a wonderful job world-wide,...

Top honour to Preferment

Triple Group One winner Preferment was crowned the Waikato branch of the NZ Thoroughbred Breeders' Association Horse of the Year at a function in Hamilton on Friday night. A host of other Group One winners from the region were also acknowledged while Curraghmore principal Gordon Cunningham was the Personality of the Year and the Young Achiever award went to Scotty Buchanan. Waikato-bred Group One winners during the 2015-16 season were: Kermadec (Llanhennock Trust), Preferment (Sir Patrick Ho...

Shock passing of Group One breeder and owner

The New Zealand thoroughbred industry is mourning the recent sudden death of the popular Waikato identity Paul Smithies. "It's been a big shock to everyone," family friend and fellow breeder-owner Andrew Bryant said. "He had so much going for him." With his wife Cushla, they bred a number of Group One performers at Monovale Farm and also raced their top flight home-bred Puccini. The son of Encosta de Lago was prepared by Peter and Jacob McKay to win the Gr.1 New Zealand Derby and the Gr.1 ...

Breeders' Bulletin - Winter 2016

...