The champagne corks were popping at Waikato Stud last weekend when their evergreen stallion Pins (Snippets-No Finer) sired a group one, two and three winner in the space of forty-eight hours.
His group one victory and his 37th stakes winner came about when the Hong Kong galloper Ambitious Dragon (Golden Gamble) won the Mercedes-Benz Hong Kong Classic, the traditional lead up race to the group one Hong Kong Derby.
Closer to home Icepin (ex Ice Maiden) impressively won the group two Avondale Guineas, a traditional lead up race to our own group one New Zealand Derby early in March. While Antonio Lombardo (ex Petit Verdot) scored in the group three Waikato Stud 2YO Classic at Taranaki, a race won by Icepin last season.
"It's always good fun to breed a group one winner, it's great for the mare and the family, and it endorses the faith we have in the mare," said a delighted Pat Lowry a Taupo based NZTBA member.
Ambitious Dragon was bred by Lowry, from his Oregon mare Golden Gamble, a mare he bred from another of his many mares Gilding (Noble Bijou-Gold Spot).
"We purchased Gold Spot (Shahram-Syntol) a listed winner of four races from the Hurley's in Taranaki, specifically to send to stud. My mother Margot had also purchased Syntol (Syntax Extol) from them in foal to Bellissimo in the early 80's and raced a good mare from her called Bess – who went on to leave the St Leger winner Mess (St Hilarion).
"Gilding was her first foal and we raced her in Australia where she won two races. As a broodmare she has left four winners including Recall (Kaapstad) the winner of five races in Sydney including the listed STC Winter Cup, and Ichiban Lass the dam of the group three winner Delightful (Omnicorp) who has just left the Anniversary winner Roxon (Postponed).
"An unraced mare Gold Idol (Zephyr Bay) left the stakeswinning mare Sky Mist, the dam of the Concord winner Needuask. Gilding's half sister Ballroom Lady (Oregon) who was second in the group two Grosvenor Stakes is actually a three-quarter sister to Golden Gamble."
According to Lowry, Golden Gamble was unraced due to a shoulder injury but she did show ability when in work at son Guy's stables. Guy Lowry trains in partnership with Grant Cullen at Game Lodge, which is situated on the back half of the historic old Okawa Stud property which has been in the Lowry family for five generations, dating back to 1846 when the first Tom Lowry immigrated to New Zealand and established Okawa Station.
His son Thomas Henry Lowry introduced thoroughbreds and the station became known as Okawa Stud. He in turn left it to Thomas Coleman (TC) Lowry who is the father of Pat and grandfather of Guy. When Okawa ceased to be a thoroughbred stud some years ago a back section of the farm was subdivided off and this in now Game Lodge.
Pat Lowry however has been in Taupo for a number of years, he was Master of the Taupo Hunt for 25 years, and President of the Taupo Racing Club for 30 years. He is currently patron of that racing club and patron of the New Zealand Hunts Association.
The majority of his bloodstock resides at Game Lodge, with one or two coming through to Taupo for a spot of pre-training now and then.
"We originally sent Golden Gamble to Pins but didn't get a foal, the next year she went to No Excuse Needed and produced Addicted. She showed plenty of ability and after she won her first race we raced her in Daffodil's One Thousand Guineas, unfortunately we lost her not long after that, but we thought then that the mare had some ability and worth as a broodmare.
"Ambitious Dragon was the next foal, and we sent him to the Select Sale at Karaka through the Belvedere Farm draft, but due to the rumours going around at the time that he was a rig, he failed to get a bid. We sent him down to Guy's to be broken in and gelded – he wasn't a rig at all – and he was worked along and sold out of the stables.
"Her next foal was a colt by Golan and he didn't sell at Karaka either, he is a three-year-old now, and last year we sent a Fast'N'Famous colt up to the Festival sale and a client of Guy's purchased him for $36,000 and he is currently in work at the moment.
"On the strength of Ambitious Dragon winning a couple of races in Hong Kong and the deeds of High Chaparral Golden Gamble's yearling sold last month at the Premier Sale for $450,000 and was purchased by the Hong Kong Jockey Club," he said.
Ambitious Dragon has now won five races from his last six starts and should have no trouble stepping up to the 2000 metre distance of the Hong Kong Derby.
Golden Gamble produced a colt foal to Thorn Park this season and is currently in foal to Mastercraftsman.
"We tend to stick with the stallions at Windsor Park and Waikato Stud, they are commercial, they have a good selection and they have a proven track record, besides I know the principals of those two studs very well.
"Over the years I have always bred to type rather than on pedigree, I believe that some of our New Zealand bred mares tend to be a little coarse, and that was why I went to a horse like High Chaparral as he is such a fine European type of horse.
"We have a number of descendants from this family around at the moment so it's gratifying to see them performing so well and keeping the old families going," he said.
The champagne corks were popping at Waikato Stud last weekend when their evergreen stallion Pins (Snippets-No Finer) sired a group one, two and three winner in the space of forty-eight hours.
His group one victory and his 37th stakes winner came about when the Hong Kong galloper Ambitious Dragon (Golden Gamble) won the Mercedes-Benz Hong Kong Classic (HK Gr 1), the traditional lead up race to the group one Hong Kong Derby.
Closer to home Icepin (ex Ice Maiden) impressively won the group two Avondale Guineas, a traditional lead up race to our own group one New Zealand Derby early in March. While Antonio Lombardo (ex Petit Verdot) scored in the group three Waikato Stud 2YO Classic at Taranaki, a race won by Icepin last season.
"It's always good fun to breed a group one winner, it's great for the mare and the family, and it endorses the faith we have in the mare," said a delighted Pat Lowry a Taupo based NZTBA member.
Ambitious Dragon was bred by Lowry, from his Oregon mare Golden Gamble, a mare he bred from another of his many mares Gilding (Noble Bijou-Gold Spot).
"We purchased Gold Spot (Shahram-Syntol) a listed winner of four races from the Hurley's in Taranaki, specifically to send to stud. My mother Margot had also purchased Syntol (Syntax Extol) from them in foal to Bellissimo in the early 80's and raced a good mare from her called Bess – who went on to leave the St Leger winner Mess (St Hilarion).
"Gilding was her first foal and we raced her in Australia where she won two races. As a broodmare she has left four winners including Recall (Kaapstad) the winner of five races in Sydney including the listed STC Winter Cup, and Ichiban Lass the dam of the group three winner Delightful (Omnicorp) who has just left the Anniversary winner Roxon (Postponed).
"An unraced mare Gold Idol (Zephyr Bay) left the stakeswinning mare Sky Mist, the dam of the Concord winner Needuask. Gilding's half sister Ballroom Lady (Oregon) who was second in the group two Grosvenor Stakes is actually a three-quarter sister to Golden Gamble."
According to Lowry, Golden Gamble was unraced due to a shoulder injury but she did show ability when in work at son Guy's stables. Guy Lowry trains in partnership with Grant Cullen at Game Lodge, which is situated on the back half of the historic old Okawa Stud property which has been in the Lowry family for five generations, dating back to 1846 when the first Tom Lowry immigrated to New Zealand and established Okawa Station.
His son Thomas Henry Lowry introduced thoroughbreds and the station became known as Okawa Stud. He in turn left it to Thomas Coleman (TC) Lowry who is the father of Pat and grandfather of Guy. When Okawa ceased to be a thoroughbred stud some years ago a back section of the farm was subdivided off and this in now Game Lodge.
Pat Lowry however has been in Taupo for a number of years, he was Master of the Taupo Hunt for 25 years, and President of the Taupo Racing Club for 30 years. He is currently patron of that racing club and patron of the New Zealand Hunts Association.
The majority of his bloodstock resides at Game Lodge, with one or two coming through to Taupo for a spot of pre-training now and then.
"We originally sent Golden Gamble to Pins but didn't get a foal, the next year she went to No Excuse Needed and produced Addicted. She showed plenty of ability and after she won her first race we raced her in Daffodil's One Thousand Guineas, unfortunately we lost her not long after that, but we thought then that the mare had some ability and worth as a broodmare.
"Ambitious Dragon was the next foal, and we sent him to the Select Sale at Karaka through the Belvedere Farm draft, but due to the rumours going around at the time that he was a rig, he failed to get a bid. We sent him down to Guy's to be broken in and gelded – he wasn't a rig at all – and he was worked along and sold out of the stables.
"Her next foal was a colt by Golan and he didn't sell at Karaka either, he is a three-year-old now, and last year we sent a Fast'N'Famous colt up to the Festival sale and a client of Guy's purchased him for $36,000 and he is currently in work at the moment.
"On the strength of Ambitious Dragon winning a couple of races in Hong Kong and the deeds of High Chaparral, Golden Gamble's yearling sold last month at the Premier Sale for $450,000 and was purchased by the Hong Kong Jockey Club," he said.
Ambitious Dragon has now won five races from his last six starts and should have no trouble stepping up to the 2000 metre distance of the Hong Kong Derby.
Golden Gamble produced a colt foal to Thorn Park this season and is currently in foal to Mastercraftsman.
"We tend to stick with the stallions at Windsor Park and Waikato Stud, they are commercial, they have a good selection and they have a proven track record, besides I know the principals of those two studs very well.
"Over the years I have always bred to type rather than on pedigree, I believe that some of our New Zealand bred mares tend to be a little coarse, and that was why I went to a horse like High Chaparral as he is such a fine European type of horse.
"We have a number of descendants from this family around at the moment so it's gratifying to see them performing so well and keeping the old families going," he said.
- Michelle Saba
His group one victory and his 37th stakes winner came about when the Hong Kong galloper Ambitious Dragon (Golden Gamble) won the Mercedes-Benz Hong Kong Classic, the traditional lead up race to the group one Hong Kong Derby.
Closer to home Icepin (ex Ice Maiden) impressively won the group two Avondale Guineas, a traditional lead up race to our own group one New Zealand Derby early in March. While Antonio Lombardo (ex Petit Verdot) scored in the group three Waikato Stud 2YO Classic at Taranaki, a race won by Icepin last season.
"It's always good fun to breed a group one winner, it's great for the mare and the family, and it endorses the faith we have in the mare," said a delighted Pat Lowry a Taupo based NZTBA member.
Ambitious Dragon was bred by Lowry, from his Oregon mare Golden Gamble, a mare he bred from another of his many mares Gilding (Noble Bijou-Gold Spot).
"We purchased Gold Spot (Shahram-Syntol) a listed winner of four races from the Hurley's in Taranaki, specifically to send to stud. My mother Margot had also purchased Syntol (Syntax Extol) from them in foal to Bellissimo in the early 80's and raced a good mare from her called Bess – who went on to leave the St Leger winner Mess (St Hilarion).
"Gilding was her first foal and we raced her in Australia where she won two races. As a broodmare she has left four winners including Recall (Kaapstad) the winner of five races in Sydney including the listed STC Winter Cup, and Ichiban Lass the dam of the group three winner Delightful (Omnicorp) who has just left the Anniversary winner Roxon (Postponed).
"An unraced mare Gold Idol (Zephyr Bay) left the stakeswinning mare Sky Mist, the dam of the Concord winner Needuask. Gilding's half sister Ballroom Lady (Oregon) who was second in the group two Grosvenor Stakes is actually a three-quarter sister to Golden Gamble."
According to Lowry, Golden Gamble was unraced due to a shoulder injury but she did show ability when in work at son Guy's stables. Guy Lowry trains in partnership with Grant Cullen at Game Lodge, which is situated on the back half of the historic old Okawa Stud property which has been in the Lowry family for five generations, dating back to 1846 when the first Tom Lowry immigrated to New Zealand and established Okawa Station.
His son Thomas Henry Lowry introduced thoroughbreds and the station became known as Okawa Stud. He in turn left it to Thomas Coleman (TC) Lowry who is the father of Pat and grandfather of Guy. When Okawa ceased to be a thoroughbred stud some years ago a back section of the farm was subdivided off and this in now Game Lodge.
Pat Lowry however has been in Taupo for a number of years, he was Master of the Taupo Hunt for 25 years, and President of the Taupo Racing Club for 30 years. He is currently patron of that racing club and patron of the New Zealand Hunts Association.
The majority of his bloodstock resides at Game Lodge, with one or two coming through to Taupo for a spot of pre-training now and then.
"We originally sent Golden Gamble to Pins but didn't get a foal, the next year she went to No Excuse Needed and produced Addicted. She showed plenty of ability and after she won her first race we raced her in Daffodil's One Thousand Guineas, unfortunately we lost her not long after that, but we thought then that the mare had some ability and worth as a broodmare.
"Ambitious Dragon was the next foal, and we sent him to the Select Sale at Karaka through the Belvedere Farm draft, but due to the rumours going around at the time that he was a rig, he failed to get a bid. We sent him down to Guy's to be broken in and gelded – he wasn't a rig at all – and he was worked along and sold out of the stables.
"Her next foal was a colt by Golan and he didn't sell at Karaka either, he is a three-year-old now, and last year we sent a Fast'N'Famous colt up to the Festival sale and a client of Guy's purchased him for $36,000 and he is currently in work at the moment.
"On the strength of Ambitious Dragon winning a couple of races in Hong Kong and the deeds of High Chaparral Golden Gamble's yearling sold last month at the Premier Sale for $450,000 and was purchased by the Hong Kong Jockey Club," he said.
Ambitious Dragon has now won five races from his last six starts and should have no trouble stepping up to the 2000 metre distance of the Hong Kong Derby.
Golden Gamble produced a colt foal to Thorn Park this season and is currently in foal to Mastercraftsman.
"We tend to stick with the stallions at Windsor Park and Waikato Stud, they are commercial, they have a good selection and they have a proven track record, besides I know the principals of those two studs very well.
"Over the years I have always bred to type rather than on pedigree, I believe that some of our New Zealand bred mares tend to be a little coarse, and that was why I went to a horse like High Chaparral as he is such a fine European type of horse.
"We have a number of descendants from this family around at the moment so it's gratifying to see them performing so well and keeping the old families going," he said.
The champagne corks were popping at Waikato Stud last weekend when their evergreen stallion Pins (Snippets-No Finer) sired a group one, two and three winner in the space of forty-eight hours.
His group one victory and his 37th stakes winner came about when the Hong Kong galloper Ambitious Dragon (Golden Gamble) won the Mercedes-Benz Hong Kong Classic (HK Gr 1), the traditional lead up race to the group one Hong Kong Derby.
Closer to home Icepin (ex Ice Maiden) impressively won the group two Avondale Guineas, a traditional lead up race to our own group one New Zealand Derby early in March. While Antonio Lombardo (ex Petit Verdot) scored in the group three Waikato Stud 2YO Classic at Taranaki, a race won by Icepin last season.
"It's always good fun to breed a group one winner, it's great for the mare and the family, and it endorses the faith we have in the mare," said a delighted Pat Lowry a Taupo based NZTBA member.
Ambitious Dragon was bred by Lowry, from his Oregon mare Golden Gamble, a mare he bred from another of his many mares Gilding (Noble Bijou-Gold Spot).
"We purchased Gold Spot (Shahram-Syntol) a listed winner of four races from the Hurley's in Taranaki, specifically to send to stud. My mother Margot had also purchased Syntol (Syntax Extol) from them in foal to Bellissimo in the early 80's and raced a good mare from her called Bess – who went on to leave the St Leger winner Mess (St Hilarion).
"Gilding was her first foal and we raced her in Australia where she won two races. As a broodmare she has left four winners including Recall (Kaapstad) the winner of five races in Sydney including the listed STC Winter Cup, and Ichiban Lass the dam of the group three winner Delightful (Omnicorp) who has just left the Anniversary winner Roxon (Postponed).
"An unraced mare Gold Idol (Zephyr Bay) left the stakeswinning mare Sky Mist, the dam of the Concord winner Needuask. Gilding's half sister Ballroom Lady (Oregon) who was second in the group two Grosvenor Stakes is actually a three-quarter sister to Golden Gamble."
According to Lowry, Golden Gamble was unraced due to a shoulder injury but she did show ability when in work at son Guy's stables. Guy Lowry trains in partnership with Grant Cullen at Game Lodge, which is situated on the back half of the historic old Okawa Stud property which has been in the Lowry family for five generations, dating back to 1846 when the first Tom Lowry immigrated to New Zealand and established Okawa Station.
His son Thomas Henry Lowry introduced thoroughbreds and the station became known as Okawa Stud. He in turn left it to Thomas Coleman (TC) Lowry who is the father of Pat and grandfather of Guy. When Okawa ceased to be a thoroughbred stud some years ago a back section of the farm was subdivided off and this in now Game Lodge.
Pat Lowry however has been in Taupo for a number of years, he was Master of the Taupo Hunt for 25 years, and President of the Taupo Racing Club for 30 years. He is currently patron of that racing club and patron of the New Zealand Hunts Association.
The majority of his bloodstock resides at Game Lodge, with one or two coming through to Taupo for a spot of pre-training now and then.
"We originally sent Golden Gamble to Pins but didn't get a foal, the next year she went to No Excuse Needed and produced Addicted. She showed plenty of ability and after she won her first race we raced her in Daffodil's One Thousand Guineas, unfortunately we lost her not long after that, but we thought then that the mare had some ability and worth as a broodmare.
"Ambitious Dragon was the next foal, and we sent him to the Select Sale at Karaka through the Belvedere Farm draft, but due to the rumours going around at the time that he was a rig, he failed to get a bid. We sent him down to Guy's to be broken in and gelded – he wasn't a rig at all – and he was worked along and sold out of the stables.
"Her next foal was a colt by Golan and he didn't sell at Karaka either, he is a three-year-old now, and last year we sent a Fast'N'Famous colt up to the Festival sale and a client of Guy's purchased him for $36,000 and he is currently in work at the moment.
"On the strength of Ambitious Dragon winning a couple of races in Hong Kong and the deeds of High Chaparral, Golden Gamble's yearling sold last month at the Premier Sale for $450,000 and was purchased by the Hong Kong Jockey Club," he said.
Ambitious Dragon has now won five races from his last six starts and should have no trouble stepping up to the 2000 metre distance of the Hong Kong Derby.
Golden Gamble produced a colt foal to Thorn Park this season and is currently in foal to Mastercraftsman.
"We tend to stick with the stallions at Windsor Park and Waikato Stud, they are commercial, they have a good selection and they have a proven track record, besides I know the principals of those two studs very well.
"Over the years I have always bred to type rather than on pedigree, I believe that some of our New Zealand bred mares tend to be a little coarse, and that was why I went to a horse like High Chaparral as he is such a fine European type of horse.
"We have a number of descendants from this family around at the moment so it's gratifying to see them performing so well and keeping the old families going," he said.
- Michelle Saba
