Xcellent’s motor delights breeder
"He's not a big horse, average-sized, not ugly, but he doesn't stand out physically. However, he's obviously got a very good motor." That's how breeder Graeme Gimblett described Xcellent (Pentire-Excelo by Centro) after his brilliant defeat of Miss Potential and Shinzig in last Saturday's HBRI Mudgway Fair Tax Stakes 1400m G1. Graeme was at Hastings to see the horse for the first time since selling him on behalf of the G.F. Gimblett Family Trust for $45,000 to Paul Moroney at the 2002 New Zeal...
September 2, 2005Major studs share breeding awards
The "Big Three" Waikato studs dominated the four breeding industry honours presented at the Mercedes Thoroughbred Racing Awards in Christchurch last Friday evening. Garry Chittick and Waikato Stud won the Mercedes Breeder and Broodmare titles [see accompanying story], Windsor Park Stud accepted the Grosvenor Stallion Award for Volksraad and Cambridge Stud collected Zabeel's ninth Dewar Stallion Trophy. Volksraad (Green Desert-Celtic Assembly by Secretariat) won his fourth consecutive New Zeal...
August 15, 2005Statement from National Spokesman on Racing
Recent comments by Racing Minister Damien O'Connor that he "expects" the Government's report on the Racing Board's call for a lower tax takeout to be viewed favourably by the industry, and that he is "trying" to have on-course betting duty abolished to enhance the on-course racing experience shows how out of touch Labour is with the real issues facing Racing. The decline in horse numbers is a key factor in the fall in wagering on local races. The number of thoroughbred races programmed has fall...
August 12, 20052005 Mercedes Breeder Award finalists announced
The finalists for the 2005 Mercedes Breeder of the Year award were announced by New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing on Tuesday. They are: BARLOW THOROUGHBRED LTD Businessman Jim Barlow's private thoroughbred breeding company has enjoyed a particularly successful season thanks to two mares: Vedodara, dam of Group winners Bhandara and Shastri; and Amanpour, dam of Tickle, a Group 3 winner in Australia and New Zealand this season. Shastri and Bhandara, who won three New Zealand Group 3 races betwee...
July 28, 2005New Zealand student excels at National Stud in England
New Zealander Angela Lane has been awarded the National Stud Scholarship Award at the National Stud in Newmarket, England. The award includes a travel bursary worth £1000, and is given to the student gaining the highest overall marks in both the practical and academic elements of the course. Angela, a veterinary nurse, was previously employed at Seaton Park in Morrinsville and was a trainee enrolled on the Waikato Equine Training Scheme. With a strong recommendation from the course tutor Sally...
July 21, 2005New faces around NZTBA Council table
Peter Francis (Auckland Branch) has been elected as the new President of the New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders' Association. Mark Chitty (Auckland Branch) remains Vice President. In accepting the presidency, Peter Francis said "I'm both honoured and excited to take over as president of the NZTBA at this time. Thoroughbred breeding and racing issues are making the news and we have a real chance of making the vital changes needed to position our industry, and the thousands of people it employs, f...
July 6, 2005NZTBA Waikato seminar crystallises racing policies
Just as the NZTBA Waikato's Election 2005 Seminar began at Te Rapa Racecourse, Hamilton on Thursday 16 June, the planet Jupiter emerged from behind the Moon where it had been hidden for an hour. Astronomers were excited just to observe this rare event, but for racing people aware of Jupiter's astrological association with horses the symbolism was apt and powerful. Is New Zealand thoroughbred racing and breeding about to emerge from relative darkness into light? It's still too soon to say, but t...
June 23, 2005National Party announces racing policy
Dr Don Brash and his Racing Spokesman Lindsay Tisch today announced the National Party's policy on racing at a media conference in Wellington. The announcement is reprinted in full below. Peter Hutt, president of the New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders' Association (NZTBA), welcomed the National Party announcement. "This is exciting news for everyone involved in thoroughbred breeding and racing. It's especially significant for owners, breeders and trainers whose investment underpins the industry'...
June 15, 2005Ken Shirley to speak at NZTBA Waikato seminar
Senior List MP Ken Shirley has replaced Deborah Coddington as the ACT speaker at next week's Election 2005 Seminar organised by the Waikato branch of the NZTBA. Mr Shirley is the Party Whip, spokesperson on Foreign Affairs & Trade and Associate spokesperson on Commerce. He will join the present Minister for Racing Hon. Damien O'Connor (Labour), Rt. Hon. Winston Peters (NZ First), Sue Bradford (Green) and Lindsay Tisch (National). NZTBA Waikato president Vicki Pascoe reports enormous intere...
June 10, 2005Winter Debates, Seminars & Tours keep NZTBA busy
The winter gives many thoroughbred industry people the chance to take a well-earned holiday after the long months of hard work during the spring, summer and autumn. Paradoxically, it's often the busiest time of the year for the NZTBA and its regional branches. The annual Stallion Register is compiled each April and May (Volume 32 will be published in mid-June), and the Annual Report must be issued before the Association's AGM, to be held this year on Friday 1 July. Breeders always enjoy the ...
May 26, 2005Zabeel's triumph in Hong Kong
Champion New Zealand sire Zabeel added a new highlight to his already wonderful season when his sons Vengeance of Rain (NZ) and Greys Inn (USA) quinella-ed the Audemars Piguet Queen Elizabeth II Cup 2000m G1 in Hong Kong this evening. Russian Pearl (NZ)(Soviet Star) completed a great result for the New Zealand breeding industry by running home resolutely for third. Vengeance of Rain (ex Danelagh by Danehill) was bred by K Biggs Enterprises Pty Ltd, Porter St Investments Pty Ltd, R N Russell &a...
April 25, 2005NZTBA Member Survey now online
For the first time, NZTBA members can complete their Membership Questionnaire online. And, better still, every returned form received by 6 May 2005 will go in a draw to win a case of Lindauer sparkling wine. This survey has been carried out twice before, in 2000 and 2001, and each time around 50% of members have responded with valuable information about their primary occupations, leisure interests, and the type and level of activity they pursue within the thoroughbred industry. This response r...
April 13, 2005Salute to a Champion $8000 prize package to be won this Saturday
Breeders attending this Saturday's Windsor Park Stud Manawatu Breeders' Stakes race-meeting at Awapuni will enjoy the opportunity to inspect reigning New Zealand Horse of the Year King's Chapel. But that's not all - every breeder on-course will also have the chance to win an $8000 breeding package prize. As part of its promotion for this week's $40,000 Listed Manawatu Breeders Stakes, race sponsor Windsor Park Stud is offering breeders the chance to enter a draw to be made on the day to win ...
April 4, 2005Big Premier sale for Rodmor at Karaka
The smile on Robyn Rogers' face this afternoon said it all. Well, almost all. The mixture of elation, exhaustion and relief on her husband Russell's face was even more expressive. They had just sold their gorgeous Anabaa filly from the Australian-bred mare Iman at the New Zealand Premier Sale for $310,000. New Zealand agent Stuart Hale was the buyer. Robyn led the filly in the sale-ring and as the bidding escalated her delight became ever more obvious. Thirty minutes earlier Russell had res...
February 2, 2005Sale prices delight private breeders
Two of New Zealand's most successful private breeders were among the vendors who received excellent prices for yearlings at today's strong opening session of the 2005 New Zealand Premier Sale. Jo Wilding of Te Mania Thoroughbreds, North Canterbury sold her O'Reilly-Proteaceae colt for $300,000, the highest price she's received in more than three decades of breeding and selling horses. The colt is a grandson of Jo's wonderful broodmare Gone With The Wind, dam of Zonda (ARC New Zealand Derby G1)...
January 31, 2005Auckland breeder wins NZTBA feature
Auckland owner-breeders Don & Rochelle McLaren weren't on-course at Ellerslie on Saturday, but their four-year-old mare Calveen was impossible to miss as she sprinted almost five lengths clear of the field in the Counties RC Auckland Thoroughbred Breeders' Stakes G2. She cut out the 1400 metres in 1:22.03 and was chased home by The Island Storm (Hennessy) who fought on well after setting the pace, and Barcelona (Desert Sun). Part of memorable trebles on the day for trainer Lance O'Sullivan ...
November 23, 2004NZTBA office refurbishment completed
The NZTBA office in the Derby Enclosure at Ellerslie Racecourse,Auckland ends the year in much better shape than it began 2004. After a tree collapsed on the eastern end of the building in February, repairs were carried out under the terms of the Association's insurance cover. At the same time, the Council decided to refurbish the office interior which had not been updated since the building was opened in 1989. NZTBA, NZTM and Halberg Trust staff moved out of the office while the work was do...
November 9, 2004Savabeel's Cox win has a strong Kiwi flavour
Three-year-old Savabeel's brilliant victory in the MVRC W.S. Cox Plate 2040m G1 at Moonee Valley this afternoon won't officially count as a New Zealand victory, but there are enough Kiwi connections for us to claim a fair part of him. He's trained, co-bred and part-owned by a proud New Zealander and one of the sport's more colourful personalities, Graeme Rogerson, whose trans-Tasman stables are rarely without a very good runner or three. They emerge from a large base of horses, maintained by a ...
October 23, 2004Best of the Week: Cedar Manor, Our Egyptian Raine & Sunline's foal
Sunline's safe delivery of her filly foal by Rock of Gibraltar at Cambridge Stud on Monday 18 October was nicely timed after a thrilling Caulfield Cup day, and the best raceday for Kiwi-breds in Australia so far this season. Cedar Manor (Oregon; bred by the FairdaleTrust) and Our Egyptian Raine (Desert Sun; Chris Ball, Mal Barratt, Kenny Rae & Nick Rodokal) added two Group wins for the (NZ) team, Pretorius (Volksraad) and Star Of Gretchen (Bahhare) ran second and third in the Coongy Handicap...
October 19, 2004Balmuse scores decisively in the Kelt Capital Stakes
Balmuse's victory, rather than Starcraft's defeat, was the biggest story out of yesterday's $1 million HBRI Kelt Capital S. 2040m G1 (or, its registered race name, the Ormond Memorial). That may not have been the impression conveyed by some media reports, but it was definitely what the crowd's reaction indicated when Balmuse swept past Starcraft in the straight. There was no stunned silence, only sustained cheering and yelling for the five-year-old gelding bred by Jim Wallace Senior at Ardsley ...
October 3, 2004Breeders vie for prestigious national title
The 2004 Mercedes New Zealand Breeder of the Year will be announced at this evening's NZ Thoroughbred Racing Awards dinner in Auckland. The winner is decided by a secret ballot of NZTBA councillors who consider the relative merits of four finalists: Garry Chittick, Waikato Stud, Matamata Garry, who owns and operates Waikato Stud with his wife Mary, son Mark & daughter-in-law Lisa, is this season's leading New Zealand breeder of Australian Group & Listed Stakeswinners with five individua...
August 20, 2004Board unveils plan for New Zealand racing
Feedback from its members has made the NZTBA acutely aware of how domestic thoroughbred racing's poor performance has reduced investment by breeders. That's supported by New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing's latest Annual Report which records falling or stagnant trends in key breeding statistics: registered broodmares, mares covered and foals born. The positive changes at NZTR under Guy Sargent's progressive, energetic chairmanship are signs of a turning tide. Perhaps New Zealand racing as a whole...
July 22, 2004Land granted for Thoroughbred Racing Museum
Plans for a new purpose-built museum to house New Zealand thoroughbred racing's past and present treasures took an important step towards fruition yesterday. Agreement was given by the Auckland Racing Club Board to grant land at Ellerslie Racecourse for the proposed building which will include the New Zealand Racing Hall of Fame. The Chairperson of the Museum Committee, Wendy Pye, is delighted that the ARC Board shares her vision for the museum which will be built on land valued at $710,000. ...
July 7, 2004Three-way Group One glory for Pompeii Court
The value of Pompeii Court as both sire and broodmare sire was underlined in bold black ink yesterday when his five-year-old son Pomp And Glory won the ARC Easter Handicap G1 at Ellerslie. That was about 85 minutes before Starcraft, from Pompeii Court's daughter Flying Floozie, took out the AJC Australian Derby G1 at Randwick, from the very game Braeloch a son of Prized from Valley Court by - you guessed it - Pompeii Court. Although Pomp And Glory's margin over the fast-finishing Rodrigo Ros...
April 11, 2004Tribute to Robert Sangster
Few modern racehorse owners and breeders have had as much success as Robert Sangster who died in London on Wednesday afternoon, 7 April, at the age of 67. Even fewer have appeared to enjoy it as much as he did. I met him very briefly only once at an Australian thoroughbred breeding conference in Melbourne six years ago and found him every bit as charming as I'd been led to expect. He joined John Messara and Patrick Hogan to speak about the three champion sires with which they were each associat...
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