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High Five for High Cee

Whangarei doctor John Sprague has made few sweeter broodmare investments than the $10,000 he spent on a Dahar mare in the mid-1990s. Sprague and his wife Karen have had their share of success over their times as owners and breeders but none has served them better than Sweet Vienna. Her value to Sprague was highlighted again on Saturday when High Cee took out the Ajax Stakes (Gr II – 1500m) at Rosehill in Sydney, racing into Doncaster Handicap contention while doing so. High Cee had a lot of...

Australian Racing Board highlights staying races

Perceptions of a decline in staying races as a feature of Australian Racing are topical at the moment and the Australian Racing Board believes it is important that this issue is given proper attention, the Chairman of the ARB, Bob Pearson, said today: "It is obvious that there is a significant level of interest in the subject of staying races. The Australian Racing Board welcomes this, and it is also a subject that has the attention of the Board, its Racing Committee, Principal Racing Authorit...

Hong Kong Derby winner bred by well-known Cambridge breeder, Ngaire Fraser

Memories from 1960s and 70s Trentham yearling sales were instrumental in leading Cambridge horsewoman Ngaire Fraser to the dam of Vital King, the latest big-race winner she has bred. Vital King (4g Almutawakel (GB)-Wauwinet by Bassenthwaite) on Sunday scored one of the most important wins by a New Zealand-bred horse in the last year when he nosed out favourite Floral Pegasus to win the Hong Kong Derby (HK-I, 2000m) Fraser bought Wauwinet when she was carrying Vital King at the 2002 Karaka b...

Minister announces extension to GST zero-rating

Peters welcomes GST decision Racing Minister Winston Peters is welcoming the Commissioner of Revenue's decision to permit racehorses sold for export to remain in New Zealand for up to 24 months without attracting GST. In general, goods sold for export are GST-exempt provided they are exported within 28 days, but the Commissioner has the discretion to extend the period if there are good reasons for keeping the goods in New Zealand. The Commissioner's decision doubles the racing industry's cu...

BNZ Special offer to NZTBA members

Special Offer Special Offer Special Offer At the Bank of New Zealand we are aware of the very successful 2007 Yearling Sales. Maybe you will have some surplus funds to invest? To celebrate this, we have an exclusive offer available to the Bloodstock Industry - a Term Investment - until you decide how to utilise your proceeds. The term investment offer is for a 60 day term and is available from 5th March 2007 and expires 19th March 2007. * Rate for 1...

River Century does it again for Waikato Stud

An Oaks winner one season, a Derby winner the next … a breeder could not ask any more of a broodmare. That's what River Century has done for Matamata-based Waikato Stud after Guyno wore down his opponents in Saturday's group one West Australian Derby (2400m). Just a year before foaling Guyno, River Century produced Legs, last year's New Zealand Oaks winner and winner this season of New Zealand's richest race, the Kelt Capital Stakes (2040m) at Hastings. Both Legs and Guyno are products of Waik...

Waikato Branch gearing up for 2007 Breeders' Stakes Day at Te Aroha

The Waikato Branch of the NZTBA is gearing up for this year's New Zealand Bloodstock Breeders' Stakes day at Te Aroha racecourse on Easter Saturday, 7th April 2007. A 2007 nomination to Danroad (AUS) Highview Stud's exciting young sire, will be won at Te Aroha on Easter Saturday, 7th April. This popular day, hosted by the Branch, offers a day of high class racing headed by the Group One New Zealand Bloodstock NZ Thoroughbred Breeders' Stakes, the country's premier WF...

Farewell to Geoff Turner

Wellington Branch Committeeman Geoff Turner passed away suddenly this morning at his home in Wellington. Geoff was the Vice President of the Branch for many years before resigning that position in 2005 due to ill health. For many years Geoff maintained a busy role in local body politics in the Wellington area. With his partner Tui Goodwin, he bred and raced many horses including Clear Cut, who was placed second in the NZ One Thousand Guineas in 1992. The Council, staff and members of the New...

Brianna, the unbeaten TBS princess

Ian and Jean Baillie's talented three-year-old filly Brianna took her career and Thoroughbred Bonus Scheme record to four wins and a very healthy $28,200 in bonus prizemoney when she won at Te Rapa on 3 February. Runner-up Keep The Message added a $2,700 bonus to his earnings. Four days later at Ellerslie, Pams Pompallier led home a TBS trifecta, and three TBS-quaified placegetters picked up an additional $6750 at Wingatui on 10 February. Saturday 3 February, Waikato A Bonus 1st Brianna (3f ...

NZTBA president acknowledges outstanding success of 2007 sales

Peter Francis, president of the NZ Thoroughbred Breeders' Association (NZTBA) today congratulated vendors, buyers, New Zealand Bloodstock and New Zealand Thoroughbred Marketing on the outstanding success of the 2007 National Yearling Sales at Karaka last week. NZTBA president Peter Francis Mr Francis says, “The strong lift in market demand for attractive, correct and well-presented horses was exactly what we hoped for when we, along with other industry groups, sought t...

Premier Sale highlights reviewed

Auckland real estate broker Don Ha, left, with his $2 million Zabeel-Sunline colt, Trevor McKee and Cambridge Stud handler Luke Simpson. Now that you've got through a hectic - whew! - week at Karaka, sit back and enjoy The Ford Report's review of some of the highlights, beginning with the record-breaking Premier Sale. Programme content for the upcoming edition... Buyer of top lot - DON HA Auction Company reaction - PETER VELA Giant pinho...

Premier Sale profitability shows sharp improvement

Yearling sale analyses have traditionally been confined to the figures that matter most to the sale company. They are paid by commission, so gross sales, the average and median prices, and the clearance rate are often considered sufficient measures of an auction's success or failure. New Zealand Bloodstock's Karaka Sales Centre, Auckland PHOTO: Susan Archer This year's Sales Series has been particularly lucrative for New Zealand Bloodstock which raised its gross commi...

Strong Select Sale makes vendors smile

The smiles on the faces of vendors at the end of the three-day 2007 New Zealand Select Sale at Karaka were more expressive than any statistical analysis of the relief that strong demand and profitable sales have brought to the industry. Hallmark Stud sold seven 2007 Select Sale yearlings for an average of $48,285 - up 15% on their 2006 Select Sale average. PHOTO: Susan Archer The frustration of some trainers and agents was merely a different view of the same stor...

NZTBA Waikato Summer Seminar, 19 February

The Waikato branch of the NZTBA, in conjunction with Fertco, Agricom and Matamata Veterinary Services, is pleased to invite members and and others to a Summer Seminar on Monday 19 February at the Prince Albert Tavern, Cambridge, beginning at 7.00 pm. A light supper will be served at the end of the evening. The two-hour session will cover three areas of knowledge that are essential for successful farming and care of horses: Pasture renovation options - Mark Brown, Agricom Appropriate fer...

Thoroughbred Bonus Scheme winners, 22-29 January

Placings were the order of the week for Thoroughbred Bonus Scheme-qualified runners at Trentham and Avondale last week. And they still collected bonus prizemoney: a pair of two-year-olds and three-year-old filly Sila Jasak earned $3375 in extra stakemoney for their owners, nominators and trainers. The new owners of yearlings from the 2007 NZ National Yearling Sales are invited to contact TBS about entering their purchases in the Scheme so they can start competing for extra prizemoney nex...

New records set at Premier Sale

Selling on the second day of the 2007 New Zealand Premier Sale was even better, and certainly more consistent, than on the first day and by the conclusion of the sale new records were set for the aggregate, media and average. This was to be expected after the sale was reduced from three to two days, with 57 fewer lots catalogued, and 32 fewer lots sold this year. The improved statistics reflect a higher quality catalogue so comparisons with previous Premier Sales cannot be exactly made. (Thanks ...

Photos & vendor comments at Karaka, Sunday

As so often happens in Auckland, the weather has finally settled at the end of January, and delivered a clear sky, sunshine and moderate humidity for the day before the beginning of the New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sales Series. For visitors strolling around the beautiful Karaka Sales Centre the atmosphere was relaxed and the scene endlessly interesting, but for buyers and vendors it was all business: heavily marked catalogues, smart uniforms and professional marketing, busy hospit...

Premier Sale first day posts record median

The first day of the re-formatted two-day 2007 New Zealand Premier Sale ended with a record median of $120,000 and an average of more than $146,000, significantly exceeding New Zealand Bloodstock's pre-sale expectations. The sale's momentum built steadily through the day after a subdued start. The first Visitors at Karaka today and selling Lot 463 on Wednesday were Veloce Bella's owner-breeders Margaret & Murray Hardy. PHOTO: Susan Archer ...

Willy Smith's Cup win recalls Wotan's 1936 triumph

In 1936 New Zealand stayer Wotan (Siegfried-Left by Martian), bred and owned by the Smith brothers from Wanganui, won the Melbourne Cup at 100/1. It's still one of the most famous episodes in the long and honourable tradition of Kiwis taking Australians by surprise at Flemington. The Smiths returned to New Zealand and cherished both their Melbourne Cup and the female family that produced Wotan. Today, just over 70 years after that memorable victory, Willy Smith (Volksraad-Sound Lear by Sound Re...

NZTBA welcomes visitors to Karaka 2007

New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders' Association president Peter Francis says, "We warmly welcome all local and international visitors to the 2007 New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sales Series and look forward to hosting buyers, vendors, NZTBA members and media at Karaka." NZTBA president Peter Francis (left) & chief executive Michael Martin The NZTBA hospitality marquee, located between the indoor parade ring and Stable Block C, will be open from Sun...

Rich history of yearling sale lot numbers

After eight decades of national thoroughbred yearling sales, New Zealand can roll out a breath-taking list of outstanding graduates in almost every major racing nation. That means there's a New Zealand yearling sale lot number attached to many of our most celebrated horses, among them Phar Lap, Rising Fast, Tulloch, Galilee, Dulcify, Octagonal, Happyanunoit and Starcraft. New Zealand National Yearling Sale graduates: STARCRAFT (top), PHAR LAP, JEZABE...

Urgent invitation for NZ stud staff at Karaka

New Zealand stud staff keen to develop management-level careers within the industry are warmly invited to the Cafe on the first level of the main building at the Karaka Sales Centre this evening, Thursday 25 January at 6.30 pm (refreshments will be provided). Representatives of the NZTBA will explain the fantastic opportunity offered by the Sunline Trust Scholarship to Ireland, England & the United States. - NZTBA...

Brianna's bonuses boost returns for the Baillies

A week out from the 81st New Zealand National Yearling Sales Series, talented three-year-old filly Brianna (Sudurka-Lightning Tree) has reminded buyers how worthwhile it can be to enter their purchases in the Thoroughbred Bonus Scheme. Brianna, bred by John O'Flaherty and sold on his behalf by Bloomsbury Stud, earned her third 'B' bonus at Avondale on Saturday. All three of her wins have been at Avondale and all have been TBS races. They have added $16,...

Pins approaches new earnings record

Not quite halfway through the 2006-07 season, and with many major races still to be run, Waikato Stud's sire Pins is little more than $100,000 away from setting a fresh New Zealand stallion premiership earnings record. PINS, current leader on the 2006-07 New Zealand general sires' table. PHOTO: Waikato Stud There's no doubt that substantially increased prizemoney resulting almost entirely from last year's tax legislation is the main reason a n...

TBS owners enjoy holiday bonuses

Owners, nominators and trainers of horses qualified for the Thoroughbred Bonus Scheme have enjoyed rich holiday pickings, collecting $64,125 since 23 December. That's on top of the increased base prizemoney which has kicked in this season, following the introduction of reduced taxation on betting. Three A bonuses, worth $10,950 to each winner, have been struck, by two-year-olds Jacob at Ellerslie on Boxing Day and Emily Jane, who led home a TBS trifecta at Woodville on 6 January...