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Vale Jill Gould

The Canterbury Marlborough Westland branch of the NZTBA recently lost one of their stalwart members in Jill Marye Featherston Gould. At 85 Gould had been an active member of the Association and a doyen of the dressage scene in Canterbury for many years. Until a stroke last year she resided at Sunfield in West Melton where she still fed horses each day and maintained a very large garden. Gould grew up in the Wairarapa hill country and was the daughter of the late Ian McRae the esteemed breede...

Calling for applications for the NZTBA Sunline Trust Scholarships

The New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders' Association is currently calling for applications for the NZTBA Sunline Trust Scholarships. Two fantastic scholarships are up for grabs for young people wanting to further their experience and education in the thoroughbred industry. The first is the International Management Scholarship where recipients of this scholarship spend 30 weeks experiencing the operational infrastructure and management systems at three of the world's premier farms; Cheveley Park ...

Group One sire No Excuse Needed dies aged 17

Waikato Stud suffered a major blow last weekend with the passing of No Excuse Needed (USA), and the New Zealand breeding industry lost another well performed sire. The son of the former European Champion two-year-old and successful sire Machiavellian (GB) out of Nawaiet - he was just 17 years old when he suffered a paddock accident at the stud and had to be put down. A successful racehorse in the United Kingdom he commenced stud duties in 2005 and was the leading first season sire in 2006/7. T...

NZTR announces $1,000,000 bonus

NZTR (New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing), in conjunction with the Canterbury Jockey Club, the Wellington Racing Club and the Auckland Racing Club has today announced the introduction of a: ·$1 million bonus for any horse that wins all three of New Zealand iconic staying events (NZ Cup, Wellington Cup and Auckland Cup) for this season; ·$250,000 bonus for any horse that wins any two of New Zealand three iconic staying events (NZ Cup, Wellington Cup and Auckland Cup) for this season; "New Ze...

End of an era at Cambridge Stud as Zabeel passes away

A remarkable era in New Zealand thoroughbred breeding history has ended with the death of the champion stallion Zabeel. The son of another great sire in Sir Tristram, Zabeel passed away peacefully overnight in the paddock he has occupied at Cambridge Stud since 1991. "What a loss for Sir Patrick and the team at Cambridge Stud, it must be a sad day for them and our thoughts are with them," stated NZTBA President John Fokerd. "Zabeel produced a lot of outstanding stayers and we will miss him, h...

NZTR implements comprehensive reviews following Hawkes Bay abandonment

Click here for press release - NZTR...

New Zealand Pattern Committee (NZPC) Annual Review

The New Zealand Pattern Committee (NZPC) has undertaken its annual review of the Group and Listed races run in New Zealand in the 2014-15 season. In accordance with the Rules of Racing the following decisions have been made: 1. The James & Annie Sarten Memorial S. (3YO, 1400m) at Te Rapa has been upgraded from Group 3 to Group 2 for the 2015-16 season. 2. The Manawatu Challenge S. (1400m) has been upgraded from Group 3 to Group 2 for the 2015-16 season. 3 The Westbury Classic (F&M,...

Kindaleica gives hobby breeder Gavin Saunders the thrill of a lifetime

For small time breeder Gavin Saunders the win by Kindaleica (Captain Rio [GB]- Leica Gazelle) in the Listed Westbury Stud Karaka Classic was a thrill of a lifetime. "It was really exciting, I knew the horse had it in him to win a good race, it is by far the biggest win I have had. Heck, to breed a stakes winner when I am only a hobby breeder with one mare, that's a huge thrill. "I am just a tin pot breeder who thinks it's a wonderful achievement seeing something I have bred on the racetrack le...

Dan Myers and Kevin O'Hara look forward to New Zealand Cup week

Taranaki based breeders Dan Myers and Kevin O'Hara, are looking forward to New Zealand Cup week, and the prospect of more black type for their promising young broodmare L'Artiste (AUS)(Peintre Celebre [USA]-Glittering Girl). Just recently the pair bred their first stakes winner out of the mare, The Justice League, and he is headed to Riccarton for the Group One New Zealand 2000 Guineas, and his four-year-old half-sister Vive La Difference (by Choisir[AUS]) is nominated for the Group Two Couplan...

Jakkalberry - future sire of middle distance and staying performers

Experienced Stud Master and Manager of Novara Park (just south of Cambridge) Ray Knight is looking back in order to chart the future. Novara, in northern Italy, is where the legendary breeder Federico Tesio made his indelible mark on the bloodstock breeding world. Without Tesio, highly influential stallions Nearco (ITY) (Pharos [GB]) and Ribot(GB) (Tenerani [ITY]) would not have existed. Knight has taken on the task of establishing widely travelled international Group One stayer Jakkalberry(IR...

Parfore - 2015 NZ Broodmare Of The Year

There are not that many mares in the Stud Book that have left three individual Group One winners, but Parfore (Gold Brose[AUS]- Twigg Moss[AUS]) the recipient of the 2015 Broodmare of the Year Award is one of them. According to her owner Mike Ryan, it's a very select band worldwide, and he believes that this spring with Ball of Muscle performing in Australia that he could easily join the Group One winners Terravista, Tiger Tees and Super Easy and Parfore become the dam of four Group One winners...

Jaggard to begin stud career

Group One performer Jaggard has been retired and will begin his breeding career from a northern base. Wingatui co-breeder and part-owner Shaun McGarry, who also trained the son of Falkirk and the Centaine mare Centastage to win the Gr.3 White Robe Lodge Handicap, said the eight-year-old would stand this season at Karen Petch's Blue Heaven Farm at Kaitaia. Jaggard, who had four wins and nine placings from his 26 starts, was transferred to Foxton trainers Sue Walsh and Bruce Gregory later in his...

2016 Sunline Trust Scholarships

For further information, click here - Nicola Griffiths...

New Zealand Racing mourns passing of Hall Of Fame trainer

The New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing Industry is mourning the passing of legendary Australian trainer Bart Cummings. The extraordinary horseman who was known worldwide as the "Melbourne Cup King" passed away peacefully on the weekend after accomplishing virtually all there was to accomplish in the world of thoroughbred horse racing. Celebrated for his many career achievements in Australia, his deeds with New Zealand bred horses were recognised locally in 2012 when he was made an honorary induct...

Health and Safety Workshops 2015

From 28 September a number of health and safety workshops will be held for all Race Clubs, Trainers, Jockeys and Breeders. The purpose of these workshops is to finalise draft templates that will assist Clubs in preparing their health and safety plans and provide advice to Trainers, Jockeys and Breeders . Please advise numbers attending by Friday, 4 September – please RSVP to office@nzracing.co.nz Final confirmation and details will be provided to all attendees by Friday, ...

IDL Breeding, Parfore & Waikato Stud win Breeding Awards

Waikato Stud, IDL Breeding & wonder broodmare Parfore received the breeding industry's highest honours at the New Zealand Thoroughbred Horse of the Year Awards held on Thursday evening in Hamilton. The Awards celebrated an outstanding 2014-15 season for Kiwi-bred horses and New Zealand breeders, owners, trainers & jockeys in domestic & international comeptition. Dominic Li's IDL Breeding Ltd won the coveted Breeder of the Year title after breeding Australian Group 1 winners Volks...

2015 Auckland & Breeding & Racing Awards, 26 September

Breeders of three Group 1 winners are among the long list of NZTBA Auckland branch members to be honoured at this year's Auckland Breeding & Racing Awards dinner on Saturday 26 September to be held at the beautiful Villa Maria Estate (pictured). Local trainers, jockeys & owners will also be recognised and elite performers such as Rosehill Guineas winner Volkstok'n'barrell are in the mix for the 2015 Auckland Horse of the Year title. Once again sponsored by New Zealand Bloodstock Insur...

Studmaster Branch President reports a notable year

The 2014-15 season has once again been a successful one for the New Zealand-bred horses. In total there have been 12 international Group One races won outside New Zealand, as well as three Singapore Group One events. The four different countries where these were won are important export markets for our horses: Australia, Hong Kong, Singapore & Japan. One of the highlights of last season must be, for the second year running, The Championships at Royal Randwick where our horses played a major...

NZTBA Waikato branch honours Group 1 breeders

Aerovelocity has earned international honours for his sprinting prowess and the New Zealand-bred has also been acknowledged on the domestic front. Trained by expatriate Kiwi horseman Paul O'Sullivan, the Pins gelding has Group One victories in three countries to his credit with the Chukyo Takamatsunomiya Kinen in Japan and the Krisflyer Sprint in Singapore to go with his Longines Hong Kong Sprint success. Aerovelocity was recently honoured as the Waikato branch of the NZ Thoroughbred Breeders'...

Benji’s Blog – August 2015

From Ireland to America The Prestigious Royal Ascot Racing Carnival Whilst at Coolmore Stud, Ireland I was fortunate enough to spend a fortnight at one of the most successful training yards in the world 'Ballydoyle', Ireland. My experience at Ballydoyle over the Royal Ascot carnival was unforgettable! The quality of the horses heading over to Royal Ascot, England and the racing over the five day carnival was truly amazing. Top horses travel from all over the world: Ireland, France, Americ...

Last call for entries for the 2015 NZB Insurance Pearl Bonus Scheme

Entries for the 2015 NZB Insurance Pearl Bonus Scheme close tomorrow, 31st July 2015. A one off entry fee of 920.00 (inc. GST) gives your yearling filly eligibility for bonuses as a 2YO, 3YO and 4YO. Enter your yearling filly online by visiting the NZTBA website or call Nicola on (07) 827 7727. - Nicola Griffiths...

Newly Appointed NZTBA Council

The NZTBA's Annual General Meeting was held last Tuesday 21st July in Cambridge. Elections were held for the new Council following the retirement of John 'O'Brien and Murray Brenton-Rule, both from the Central Region. We are delighted to welcome two new Central Region Councillors, Libby Bleakley and Jo Griffin. John Fokerd was re-elected as President and Treasurer and Mark Chitty re-elected as Vice President. John Thompson, John Fokerd, Vicki Pascoe and Mark Chitty remain as the Executive Comm...

Nominees for next month's NZ Thoroughbred Racing and Breeding Awards

Waikato Stud will again be in the thick of the action when the 2015 New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing Award winners are honoured in Hamilton next month. Their leading sire Savabeel will be crowned with both the Grosvenor Award and the Dewar Stallion Trophy on August 13 while his late associate sire O'Reilly or current resident Pins will win the Centaine Award. Stud patriarch Garry Chittick is also nominated for the Breeder of the Year Award for the Group One deeds of the farm graduates Sacred Fa...

Karaka Stallion Parade on 31 July, 2015

The Karaka Stallion Parade will be held for the third time at New Zealand Bloodstock prior to the commencement of the Winter Mixed Bloodstock Sale at 12pm on Friday 31 July. With the new breeding season just around the corner, studmasters are offered the opportunity to parade their sires, young or established, at the Karaka Sales Complex. Amongst the stallions schedule to visit Karaka this year are El Roca, Proisir and Little Wonder, three sires commencing their first season at stud this year...

Lightning Doesn't Strike Twice in the Same Place

Dubbed "The Chestnut Thunderbolt" and the undisputed champion of his time, Mainbrace played a significant role in the direction and development of the New Zealand breeding industry. His bloodlines set a trend that was to last for several decades, all in the name of attempting to breed the next Mainbrace. There is a wise old saying, however, that lightning does not strike twice in the same place and in the case of replicating Mainbrace, that appears to be true despite the many efforts to dispro...