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High fives at Windsor for 'Monaco Counsel'

The win of 'Monaco Counsel' (High Chaparral-Argante) in the Group One Spring Champion Stakes in Sydney recently was cause for celebration at Windsor Park Stud as it represented the first Group One winner for their young stallion High Chaparral (Sadler's Wells-Kasora). 'High Chaparral (IRE)', sire of 'Monaco Counsel' "It's always very satisfying to breed a Group One winner, but to have a stallion coming through who from his first crop has left three group winners in Austral...

Winning the Kelt Capital Stakes a big thrill for the Smarts

Winning the $1.2million Kelt Capital Stakes is all a bit daunting for Alana Smart, part-owner of Vosne Romanee (Electronic Zone-Madison Avenue). Even a few days after the event the obvious thrill and excitement is still in her voice. "It's been wonderful, the response from everyone is incredible, people congratulating us, it's been amazing and I haven't come back to down to earth yet," she said even though she was back at work at the family vineyard, Alana Estate. "We are small time racing p...

Importance of international investment in the NZ breeding industry

The influence and importance of international investment in the New Zealand Thoroughbred Industry was clearly illustrated when Jungle Juice (Jungle Pocket-Shadow Ray) won the listed Bonecrusher Stakes recently. Jungle Juice was bred by Japanese owned Jungle Pocket Pty Limited and Matamata based Rich Hill Thoroughbreds Limited and is raced by IDL Racing Limited, owned by Dominic Li of Hong Kong who has substantial bloodstock interests in New Zealand managed by Maryanne Simon. Jungle Pocket Pt...

Bitter Sweet Result for Waikato's Allan Godsalve

Waikato Branch member Allan Godsalve had mixed emotions when St Germaine won the Group Three Windsor Park Hawkes Bay Breeders Gold Trail Stakes at Hastings recently, as it is only a couple of weeks since he had lost his mare Selenium and her Keeper foal, while foaling. "It was a huge buzz winning the Gold Trail Stakes, it's a big thrill and she is the first stakes winner I have bred, but I couldn't help but feel a bit sad. Loosing the mare was a little gut wrenching but I guess thats racing, a...

Group 3 victory for "Dunstan Dave"

The win by Elblitzem (Elnadim-Arduous) in the Group Three Merial Ancare Metric Mile was a huge thrill for breeder and part-owner Dave Smith as it represents another good racehorse from a family which over the years has provided him with a lot of thrills and satisfaction. "He's the third generation of this particularl family that I have owned. I bred and raced his mother Arduous and now him. It's not the flashest pedigree but it represents a good old strong New Zealand pedigree which has been g...

First horse bred by Alistair Sutherland wins black type...

New Zealand Racing Board Thoroughbred director Alistair Sutherland became the breeder of the listed Wanganui Guineas winner Warrentherooster almost by default. "I didn't set out to become a breeder it just evolved that way, this is the first horse I have bred and I personally only own one broodmare so it's a whole new experience to me. Sutherland was at the Manawatu Sires Produce meeting shortly after it had been announced that Savabeel was going to stud, and he asked Graeme Rogerson if he c...

Obituary - Ross Finlayson, NZTBA President 1989-1992

In an expression uniquely Kiwi, it was said at the funeral of former New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders president Ross Finlayson that a mighty totara had fallen. Residents of Auckland's North Shore, it would seem, would have been more inclined to liken him to Tane Mahuta, Lord of the Forest. Whereas the giant kauri Tane Mahuta has acquired his iconic status over some 1250 years, Ross Finlayson had but 69 years at his disposal to make his stamp on New Zealand trade, commerce, sport, politics, t...

Tavistock continues the Mrs Moss story

It comes as no surprise that Group One Mudgeway Partsworld winner Tavistock (Montjeu-Upstage) was bred by Bloomsbury Stud, established in New Zealand in the 1990's by the then Lord Tavistock who, before his death in 2003, became Robin the Duke Of Bedford. Four years after his death Henrietta, the Duchess of Bedford, made the decision to scale down her breeding operation in New Zealand and Bloomsbury Stud was sold and the stock dispersed in 2007. A fellow Englishman, Richard Craddock, a frien...

Good attendance at the first of the 'Spring Seminar Series'

The first of the New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders' Spring Seminar's on "Profitable Breeding in New Zealand Now and in the Future" was held in Hamilton recently. New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders CEO Michael Martin welcomed around 160 members of the Association and their guests to the seminar and explained that the seminar was hosted by the Association in an effort to outline to members the options open to them in a bid to halt the decline in foal numbers. He also chaired the seminar which c...

Waikato Branch Bloodline

Click here to read the latest news from the Waikato region - Waikato Branch...

Auckland Branch Stallion Parade offers Free Service

The Auckland Branch Stallion Parade to be held in September will provide one lucky person with the opportunity to win a free stallion service. Click here to download an entry form. The Stallion Parade will be held on Sunday 6th September and allows thoroughbred enthusiasts the opportunity to visit Auckland's Stud Farms as part of the Auckland Stud Tour. Starting at Te Runga Stud in Patumahoe at 11am, the stud tour will move to Westbury Stud in Karaka at 12noon with the day's event completed at ...

Peoples Choice Award Finalist gives owners the thrill of their lives

Undoubtedly one of the most popular and proficient gallopers currently on the New Zealand racing scene is Bulginbaah (Starjo-Lady Tristimus) and as the winner of 20 races he will forever be a part of racing folklore. His recent win in the Group 3 Foxbridge Plate brought his winning tally of wins to 20, and his stake earnings to just under $600,000. In a career that started in the 2003-2004 season he has had 65 starts for 20 wins, 13 seconds and seven thirds, including the 2003 Manawatu Challen...

Auckland Branch Extravaganza

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Auckland Branch Newsletter: Hoofprint - Spring 2009 edition

Click here to read the latest edition of Hoofprint - Auckland Branch...

Guest speaker announced for Auckland Awards Night

The Auckland Branch of the New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders' Association are delighted to announce that once again, New Zealand Bloodstock Insurance will be the Premier sponsor for their annual awards evening to be held on Friday, 4th September 2009 at the Ellerslie Events Centre. "The Auckland Branch is extremely grateful of the support given to us by New Zealand Bloodstock Insurance," said Branch President David Moore. "Jim Bruford and his team do a wonderful job in servicing the needs of c...

Laminton Vegas earns plaudits for her breeder

Ryder Stakes winner Lamington Vegas Photo: NZTM website The breeder of Lamington Vegas (Elusive City-Piece of Cake), the recent winner of the listed Ryder Stakes, Waikato Branch member Joan Egan is quite philosophical about the fact that she no longer owns her dam Piece of Cake. "I sold Piece of Cake at the May sale at Karaka. It was time for me to scale down some of my interests and I reluctantly let her go. I think I was the only vendor at the sale who was crying...

"Bred To Win"

NZ On Screen is the online showcase of New Zealand TV and film; fully funded by NZ On Air. Editor Paul Ward very kindly contacted us to provide the link to a classic 1960s National Film Unit documentary "Bred To Win", about the NZ thoroughbred industry. Paul noted that "Bred To Win is a documentary looking at thoroughbred racehorse breeding in NZ, an industry appraised as producing "the world's finest racing thoroughbreds" (e.g. 1966 Melbourne Cup winner Galilee). Made in 1968, when racing cou...

July Edition of Waikato Branch Bloodline

Click here to read the latest Bloodline Magazine - ...

"Breeders' Relative Costs are Too High"

"The domestic breeding industry has lost its way when it should be a very attractive business to invest in particularly as New Zealand has the best tax effective regime in the world," according to Chris Luoni, the recently elected Northern Region representative to the New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders Association Council. "We have had numerous studies about the falling foal crop and its consequences but no substantial action plan to increase the foal crop. The industry has to develop better ma...

First publication of 'Well Bred"

Please open the attached Adobe PDF file of "WellBred" - the Wellington Branch of the New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders' Association's Newsletter. If you don't have Adobe Reader to view this attachment you can download it for free here - Adobe Reader or please send me an email and I will post you a copy. Update to the Newsletter: Unfortunately The Department of Internal Affairs has declined our application (& subsequent appeal) to conduct a raffle for the Sir Percy service. We are very d...

New Councillor for Central Region

The new Central region Councillor for the NZTBA Murray Brenton-Rule is looking forward to representing his region on the council and being involved with Council matters in the industry. "There is a fair bit going on just now in the racing and breeding industry, and I believe it is important to keep people involved and motivated. Nothing is easy in a world wide recession, but we have to ride the ups and downs. I enjoy being a part of this industry and I want to see it go forward," he enthused. ...

Guy Sargent fronts up at NZTBA AGM

NZTR Board Chairman Guy Sargent was the guest speaker at the Annual General Meeting of the New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders' held in Auckland on 18th June. In an address to around 60 members he discussed a range of subjects of importance to the industry from governance to stakes funding and bonuses. The issue of concern to most breeders was the proposal submitted by the NZTBA to NZTR last year for a "Breed To Race" bonus. Mr Sargent told the meeting that unfortunately at this time there i...

Many owners involved in Our Lukas' dam

Listed Ipswich Cup winner Our Lukas (Generous-Parfore) became the tenth individual stakes winner this season to be born and bred at Westbury Stud in Karaka. "It's been a bumper season for us. We have been represented by 10 individual stakes winners who have won races right across the board. We have had a stayer and a sprinter, a two-year-old and a three-year-old, a miler and a middle distance horse, and they have won here, in Australia and in Hong Kong. You couldn't wish for a better result," e...

Read the latest edition of the Waikato Branch Bloodline magazine

Click here to read the June 2009 Bloodline - Waikato Branch...

Taranaki breeders rewarded with a Group One winner

Retired Taranaki dairy farmer Graeme Hill nervously watched last weekend's Group One Queensland Derby on television on the edge of his seat and didn't like the chances of the Viking Ruler colt he had bred during the early stages of the race. However, he was worried unnecessarily, as Court Ruler (ex Free Court), under the guidance of expat kiwi Larry Cassidy, cruised to the lead in the long Eagle Farm straight and went on to win by a long neck. "I was a little bit worried, I thought he had go...