Back to Blog

Boutique breeders hit trans-Tasman Group jackpot

Family runs deep and fast for Northland couple Dirk and Nicci Oberholster who are enjoying a magical run with their small broodmare band.The Totara Park Stud principals are breeding from three closely related mares from the family of superstar Winx, with half-sisters Miss Vegas and Miss Bluebell combining at the weekend for a memorable winning double.Carlton House’s unraced daughter Miss Vega was firstly to the fore at Trentham as the dam of Vegas Queen, who produced a tenacious performance to...

Royal results flow for Grangewilliam Stud

Mark Corcoran went to Trentham with understandably high hopes and events subsequently exceeded all expectations with a massive result at Rosehill topping off a super Saturday.Corcoran operates Grangewilliam Stud with wife Jane and their stallion roster proved the potent force at the meeting with Derryn’s star filly Leica Lucy leading the charge for trainer Robbie Patterson with victory in the Gr.1 New Zealand Oaks (2400m).Derryn also sired progressive undercard winner Doctor Askar for breeder,...

Alflaila to stand at White Robe Lodge

Quality European galloper Alflaila has been secured for stud duties by White Robe Lodge, introducing one of the world’s great sire-lines to New Zealand through his champion sire Dark Angel. Bred and raced by the famed Shadwell operation, Alflaila’s racing career is defined by resilience, consistency, and elite-level talent, as evidenced by back-to-back victories in the fiercely competitive Gr.2 York Stakes (2100m), a race that has tested some of Europe’s best middle-distance horses.A ...

Grinzinger Belle earns Group One opportunity

Another powerhouse front-running performance by Grinzinger Belle (Shamexpress) in Saturday’s A$300,000 Gr.2 Packaging Needs Sunline Stakes (1600m) at Moonee Valley has earned her a Group One opportunity in Sydney.The fillies and mares’ feature was the fourth stakes win for the New Zealand-bred Shamexpress mare, who had previously won the Gr.2 Let’s Elope Stakes (1400m), Gr.3 The Vanity (1400m) and Gr.3 Ladies’ Day Vase (1600m). She is now in line for a shot at the Gr.1 Queen Of The ...

Gringotts secures Group One gold

Two hours after his close relative Vegas Queen (Proisir) won Saturday’s Gr.2 Wellington Guineas (1400m) at Trentham, quality New Zealand-bred gelding Gringotts (Per Incanto) took the family’s day to even greater heights with an Australian Group One triumph in the A$1 million George Ryder Stakes (1500m) at Rosehill.Gringotts was bred by Totara Park Stud and is by Little Avondale Stud’s outstanding sire Per Incanto out of the Savabeel mare Miss Bluebell, whose half-sister Miss Vega...

Four in a row for Hong Kong-bound Shanwah

Another commanding performance in Saturday’s A$500,000 Gr.2 DCE Alister Clark Stakes (2040m) at Moonee Valley has booked rising star three-year-old Shanwah (Too Darn Hot) a shot at the Gr.1 Australian Derby (2400m) ahead of his move to Hong Kong.A $750,000 Karaka yearling purchase by Cameron Cooke Bloodstock on behalf of owners Kevin and Vikki Payne, Shanwah commenced his career as a colt and was a placegetter at Canterbury in the spring. Gelding has proved to be the making of the three-y...

Oaks triumph a fitting farewell for New Zealand’s star filly

Leica Lucy (Derryn) signed off the New Zealand stage of her career with a Gr.1 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai New Zealand Oaks (2400m) victory that showcased all of the class and courage that has made her this season’s standout filly.The Taranaki superstar arrived at Trentham on Saturday with a near-flawless record of five wins and a second from six starts. After running first and second in a pair of 1400m races in the spring, Leica Lucy strung together four consecutive victories with increasin...

Vegas Queen upsets in Wellington Guineas

Unfancied filly Vegas Queen (Proisir) survived a post-race protest from runner-up Archaic Smile to collect her biggest victory after an incident-packed finish to the Gr.2 IRT Wellington Guineas (1600m) at Trentham.Sent to the front by rider Wiremu Pinn, the Kenny Rae-prepared daughter of Rich Hil Stud stallion Proisir looked to be full of running as she rounded the home bend two lengths clear of her rivals after making all of the pace from barrier rise.In a desperate finish, she held out th...

Our Jumala takes out Cuddle Stakes

Taranaki trainer Robbie Patterson kicked off his assault on the stakes races at Trentham on Saturday with a bang as underrated mare Our Jumala (Zed) prevailed in a titanic struggle in the Gr.3 Wentwood Grange Cuddle Stakes (1600m).The six-year-old daughter of Zed has always shown plenty of promise throughout her career including a runner-up finish in the Gr.3 Manawatu Breeders’ Stakes (2000m) at this time last year and finally achieved a richly deserved stakes race victory with a barnstor...

Late starter strikes on debut

Procul Boy (Proisir) made up for a late start to his racing career with an eye-catching victory in the Property Brokers – Wanganui (1200m) at Waverley on Wednesday.A five-year-old by Proisir, Procul Boy has been patiently handled by Gail Temperton, who bred and owns the gelding under her Taikorea Thoroughbreds banner. He made his first appearance to the trials back in December of 2023, and over a year later, he returned to Foxton to finish a narrow second over 1000m, showing promising sig...

Kiwi Chronicles - Replay

In stark contrast with Ellerslie’s grand NZB Kiwi day, a week ago, this week the attention was focussed on Tauranga and the sole stakes race in the country.By some coincidence, the last 400 metres of the NZB Kiwi (Listed, 1500m) and the Japan Trophy (Gr 2, 1600m) saw a strong similarity when Waitak (Proisir) flew along the inner from near last to gobble up the leaders quite a long way off the post, just as Damask Rose (Savabeel) had done the previous week.Rider Ryan Elliot had few op...

Progressive mare doing top Haunui family proud

Haunui Farm’s strong run of form has continued with Grande Gallo (Belardo) their latest graduate to stamp her credentials as a stakes winner in waiting.High-class three-year-old Linebacker has led the recent charge with the son of Super Seth claiming top honours in the Gr.1 Randwick Guineas (1600m).Bred by GSA Bloodstock, he was purchased out of Haunui’s draft at New Zealand Bloodstock’s National Yearling Sale for $160,000 by co-trainer John O’Shea and Suman Hedge Bloodstock.The Kar...

Waitak and Elliot a class above in Japan Trophy

A week after Blake Shinn’s rail-skimming masterclass to guide Damask Rose from last to first in the inaugural NZB Kiwi (1500m), Ryan Elliot followed a similar script to help Waitak (Proisir) triumph in Saturday’s Gr.2 Ultimate Mazda Japan Trophy (1600m) at Tauranga.The $150,000 feature was a step down in class following a string of high-class summer assignments for Waitak, who has contested 10 Group One races in his 30-start career.The Proisir gelding had gone winless since taking out t...

Meet the Breeder - Sean Buckley

This week in Dunstan Horsefeeds Meet the Breeder, we caught up with Sean Buckley of Ultra Thoroughbreds. The famous black and emerald green chevrons of Ultra Thoroughbreds have been on big names such as Miss Andretti and Shamus Award, but most recently they were  carried to victory by Captain Pluto (Savabeel) in Sunday’s Listed Bunbury Cup.Tell us the story of Captain Pluto and provide a quick overview of Ultra Thoroughbreds?I bought a mare 16-18 years ago called Scribbling, she had a bea...

Gateway courses offering path into breeding industry

New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing and New Zealand’s Equine Educational Trust’s Equine Gateway programme is offering students like Tiela Rudolph a golden opportunity to enter our country’s flourishing breeding sector.The Gateway programme introduces subjects outside of the general school curriculum, including trades, social work and agriculture. NZEET, a private industry-owned establishment, offers the New Zealand Equine Breeding Courses, commencing from a 13-month certificate, up to a profes...

Palmetto Unstoppable in Canberra Cup

South Island Sale graduate Palmetto (NZ) (Ghibellines) collected his first black-type win in Australia with a relentless front-running performance in Sunday’s A$200,000 Listed TAB Canberra Cup (2000m).Palmetto was offered by Three Valleys in the 2020 South Island Sale, where he failed to meet his $10,000 reserve. He has now had 35 starts for seven wins, seven placings and A$1.41m in stakes – more than 150 times his reserve at the South Island Sale.Palmetto began his career in the A...

Kiwi Chronicles - Racing restoration

New Zealand’s biggest ever race day has come and gone and may well be remembered as a watershed point in time for our industry.Without racing there is no bloodstock industry and for too long we have languished behind the vibrancy of the Australian scene. Saturday changed all that and the realisation of that fact took place for the writer when departing Ellerslie, immediately after the last race was run.Among the throng was a gentleman wearing a burgundy hat depicting the name ‘Evap...

Captain Pluto Captures Bunbury Cup

Hours after Damask Rose (NZ) (Savabeel) dazzled in the $3.5m NZB Kiwi (1500m) and Jedibeel (NZ) (Savabeel) won Sydney’s Group Two Challenge Stakes (1000m), the A$150,000 Listed Swan Draught Bunbury Cup (2019m) produced Saturday’s third stakes-winning Karaka graduate by Savabeel.Captain Pluto (NZ) (Savabeel) was offered by Rich Hill Stud in Book 1 of Karaka 2021, where he failed to meet his $150,000 reserve. He has now earned A$358,765 from a 25-race career ...

Connors’ Melbourne Cup dream alive and well

Raymond Connors has collected every major two-mile prize in New Zealand, and now he is dreaming of a possible tilt at Australasia’s most coveted staying scalp, the Gr.1 Melbourne Cup (3200m).The Bulls horseman has long held aspirations of winning the race that stops a continent, and his breeding and racing endeavours have reflected that, with Connors having a plethora of success in New Zealand staying and jumping features.Trav’s (Almanzor) victory in the Gr.2 Auckland Cup (3200m) at Ell...

Sister acts deliver stunning breeding double

A stunning family double for Tony Rider on Champion’s Day elevated the Milan Park principal into rare territory.Rider was still coming to terms on Monday with the enormity of events at Ellerslie where his homebred Savabeel sisters Provence and Damask Rose landed massive feature event blows.The former won the Gr.1 New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1600m) and three races later Damask Rose also produced a dashing performance to claim the inaugural running of the $3.5 million NZB Kiwi (...

Francee fabulous in Pearl Series Final

Te Akau Racing commenced Ellerslie’s inaugural Champions Day in the best possible fashion, with progressive mare Francee (Iffraaj) winning the Entain/NZB Insurance Pearl Series Final (1400m).Carrying the silks of Haunui Farm, Francee had been out of the winner’s circle since Boxing Day in 2023, but had been knocking on the door in recent runs and was among the chances in an even market for the $120,000 contest.Jumping from an outside gate, jockey Craig Grylls eased Francee near the tail...

Francee (NZ) a Fitting Winner in Entain/NZB Insurance Pearl Series Final

The inaugural Champions Day kicked off at Ellerslie on Saturday with the $120,000 Entain/NZB Insurance Pearl Series Final (1400m), and there could have been no more appropriate winner than Francee (NZ) (Iffraaj).Francee is raced by her co-breeders Haunui Farm, whose managing director Mark Chitty also serves as deputy chair of Auckland Thoroughbred Racing. Chitty had more than one reason to have a spring in his step on Saturday, with the $8.2m Ellerslie extravaganza capturing the attent...

Linebacker completes Group One double for Super Seth

Waikato Stud’s rising star stallion Super Seth has sired his first two Group One winners within the space of seven days, with Linebacker (Super Seth) capturing Saturday’s A$1 million Gr.1 The Agency Randwick Guineas (1600m) a week after Feroce’s heroics in the Gr.1 Australian Guineas (1600m).Both Linebacker and Feroce come from the first crop by Super Seth, who was New Zealand’s leading first-season sire in 2023-24 and heads the second-season standings in 2024-25. His 28 winners inc...

Fresh Jedibeel sparkles in Challenge Stakes

Lining up for his first start in 84 days, Jedibeel (Savabeel) collected the eighth and most important win of his promising career in Saturday’s A$500,000 Gr.2 Schweppes Challenge Stakes (1000m) at Randwick.The five-year-old Savabeel gelding scored his first black-type win in the Listed Razor Sharp Handicap (1200m) in December, and then trainer Brad Widdup elected to freshen him ahead of autumn targets. Saturday’s Challenge Stakes was his first start since, and he announced his return to...

Dominant Derby redemption for Willydoit

Memories of a confidence-denting defeat in last month’s Gr.2 Avondale Guineas (2100m) were blown away on Saturday as Willydoit (Tarzino) powered to a dominant victory in the Gr.1 Trackside New Zealand Derby (2400m) at Ellerslie.Willydoit strung together three increasingly impressive wins at the Auckland track during the summer and spent most of the last three months at the head of fixed-odds betting for the $1.25 million classic.However, the Tarzino gelding dropped out to a distant third-...