Back to Blog

Scholarship winner announced

The success of previous scholarship winners was one of the things that inspired Josh Herd the 2025 Sunline Trust International Management Scholarship winner to apply for the scholarship.“I have seen how successful some of the past recipients have been in the industry and thought it would be a pretty good pathway forward,” said Manawatu-based Herd.“I have worked with Te Akau Racing’s Sam Bergerson and know what the scholarship has done for him, and so many others.”“Just to be able to ...

Blue Sky At Night continues family legacy

Blue Sky At Night (Shamexpress) gave owner-breeder’s Isabel and Alistaire Barker a massive thrill last Saturday at Te Rapa when taking out the Gr.3 Waikato Cup (2400m), extending the couple’s great association with her family.“It was pretty amazing,” Isabel Barker said. “She is a very genuine mare, she gives 120 percent. It was very close (half head winning margin), but a win is a win.”With victory, Blue Sky At Night attained coveted black-type and assured her future broodmare c...

Kiwi Chronicles - Something for everyone

Since about the middle of November, black type, as it affects sires and pedigree pages, can not be included in New Zealand Bloodstock’s published hard copy of the catalogue for the Karaka Yearling Sale. The lag-time between the catalogue’s release and the sale itself becomes the domain of updates and this past Saturday, the update machine kicked into overdrive.Not that he needs the exposure, but Waikato Stud’s living legend Savabeel (Zabeel) sired his 146th individual stakes...

The Empire strikes back in Gold Rush

The Grant and Alana Williams-trained Western Empire (Iffraaj) has powered to victory in the A$1.5 million Gr.3 Gold Rush (1400m) at Ascot in Perth on Saturday.Ridden by Billy Egan, who was called off the bench when regular rider Willie Pike became unavailable earlier in the week, Western Empire travelled wide with cover throughout but unleashed a devastating turn of foot to defeat Magnificent Andy and favourite Super Smink.It was shades of Western Empire’s best as the now seven-year-old s...

Jedibeel explosive in Razor Sharp

Talented sprinter Jedibeel (Savabeel) took his career to a new peak when successful in the Listed Razor Sharp Handicap (1200m) at Randwick on Saturday after gaining a late split under Tyler Schiller to grab victory from the jaws of defeat.Schiller, who rides with a calmness rarely seen, was hell-bent on waiting for a gap after being cluttered in midfield and he took full opportunity when presented with a needle-eye to defeat Pereille and Eagle NestThe Brad Widdup-trained son of Savabeel has...

Snazzytavi storms to victory in Te Rapa feature

Raging hot favourite Snazzytavi (Tavistock) more than justified the torrent of support she received in the final minutes of betting prior to Saturday’s Gr.2 Cal Isuzu Stakes (1600m), the feature event for the fillies and mares at Te Rapa.The Graham Richardson and Rogan Norvall-prepared five-year-old was making her first appearance since taking out the Gr.1 Livamol Classic (2040m) at the venue in October with a barn-storming late run and she repeated the pattern of that victory on Saturday...

Kelly Coe springs J Swap Sprint surprise

Former Manawatu mare Kelly Coe (Proisir) continued a golden run for her connections with a $28 upset victory in Saturday’s Gr.3 J Swap Sprint (1400m) at Te Rapa.Kelly Coe is trained by Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott, who racked up a career-best 66 winners last season and are setting a red-hot pace so far in 2024-25. Their 31 wins put them in second on the national premiership, and they have tasted black-type success with Grail Seeker in the Gr.1 Tarzino Trophy (1400m), Checkmate in t...

Blue Sky dreams come true at Te Rapa

It may have only been a nose at the finish but it might as well have been a mile for trainer Shelley Hale after Blue Sky At Night (Shamexpress) took out Saturday’s Gr.3 SKYCITY Hamilton Waikato Cup (2400m).Hale, who has battled ill-health in recent years, is one of the most popular figures at the Cambridge training establishment and has rejuvenated the career of the seven-year-old Shamexpress mare who has struck a rich vein of form, winning three of her seven starts since May, before tack...

Well-bred stayer bags Christmas Cup

Progressive stayer Kadavar (Tarzino) maintained his perfect record over 2400m when recording a strong win in the Listed Christmas Cup (2400m) at Randwick on Saturday.The Chris Waller-trained four-year-old is in a rich vein of form, notching a hattrick of victories  including bouncing between assignments in Sydney and Melbourne and has now won all four of his 2400m starts.Ridden by Kerrin McEvoy, Kadavar took up a more forward position after initially settling midfield and tracked eventual r...

Beau Dazzler stamps Derby credentials with Grand Prix romp

Kiwi-bred three-year-old Beau Dazzler (Ardrossan) has flagged his staying ability with a strong victory in the Gr.3 Grand Prix Stakes (1800m) at Eagle Farm on Saturday for trainers Tony & Maddysen Sears.The son of Ardrossan was the winner of the Listed Phelan Ready Stakes (1000m) as a juvenile and performed with credit when crossing the Tasman to finish seventh in the Karaka Million 2YO (1200m) when closing well.The gelding again ran meritoriously and without luck when fourth in the Lis...

Kiwi Chronicles - Cashing In

Continuing the theme of sire and pedigree page enhancements leading into next month’s NZB Karaka Yearling Sales series is the clear-cut win by Sethito (Super Seth) in Saturday’s Bonecrusher Stakes (Gr 3, 1400m).In an open race, Sethito revealed her class when having to be used early to find a good spot. She levelled up just prior to straightening, then after taking over, Sam Spratt pushed her out, gave her a reminder approaching the 200 metres to break clear, an...

Good times flowing for Grangewilliam

Grangewilliam Stud is continuing to set a merry pace with strong results on and off the track.Mark and Jane Corcoran’s farm bred and sold high-class performer Ladies Man (Zed), who won Saturday’s Gr.1 Mufhasa Classic (1600m) at Trentham where recent purchase Utopian Wine was also successful.On the auction front, resident Grangewilliam sire Derryn enjoyed a strong Ready to Run Sale at Karaka last month with his top lot realising $420,000 while his homebred daughter Kiwiesque was recently a sm...

Sethito delivers on all levels for Chittick family

Quality filly Sethito (Super Seth) produced a timely and satisfying victory for Waikato Stud when she impressively bridged the gap to black type company at Ellerslie.Bred and raced by Garry Chittick, the three-year-old daughter of resident sire Super Seth added significant performance to her illustrious pedigree when she romped home in Saturday’s Gr.3 Bonecrusher Stakes (1400m).The addition of blinkers by trainers Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott had the desired result outcome at her p...

Kiwi-bred sprinter sitting on top of the world

New Zealand has been synonymous with producing quality middle-distance and staying thoroughbreds, but now it can lay claim to the best sprinter on the planet after Ka Ying Rising (Shamexpress) took out the Gr.1 LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint (1200m) at Sha Tin on Sunday.The Kiwi-bred gelding has been a dominant force since making his debut in Hong Kong in December last year, posting eight wins from his 10 prior starts, including three at Group level, and he was duly backed into $1.10 favouritism for ...

Bosson masterclass lands second Group One for Ladies Man

Champion jockey Opie Bosson moved to the brink of a Group One milestone with an outstanding ride on Ladies Man (Zed) to take out Saturday’s TAB Mufhasa Classic (1600m) at Trentham.The $400,000 weight-for-age feature was the 99th win at Group One level for Bosson, who returned to riding this week after taking a two-month break for personal reasons. Ladies Man was only his fourth ride back.“That’s 99 Group One wins now, and I probably should be up around 110 by now if I kept my life on track...

Bonecrusher quinella continues Wexford run

The outstanding form of Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott’s three-year-olds continued at Ellerslie on Saturday with a one-two finish by Sethito (Super Seth) and Prosegur (Proisir) in the Gr.3 Bonecrusher Stakes (1400m).It was the second age-group feature within the space of a week for the Wexford Stables team, who saddled Checkmate for a commanding victory in last Saturday’s Listed Armacup 3YO Stakes (1500m) at the same venue. Overall, O’Sullivan and Scott have had a total of 1...

Meet the Breeder - Sarah Devcich

In our Dunstan Horsefeeds Meet the Breeder interview this week, we catch up with Sarah Devcich who bred impressive Listed O'Leary Fillies Stakes (1340m) winner, Hitabell.Tell us the story of Hitabell?I came across Anahita on Gavelhouse. She was out of a family we had had a lot to do with and unfortunately ‘Visique’ who was from the same family had passed away.At the time we were looking for a mare to send to Embellish and she seemed to fit the bill.I purchased her for $1000 much to Marc’s ...

Meet the Breeder - Ross and Corinne Kearney

In this week's Dunstan Horsefeeds Meet the Breeder, we catch up with Ross and Corinne Kearney who bred Listed Armacup 3yo Stakes winner Checkmate under their Okaharau Station Ltd banner. Tell us the story of Checkmate?Checkmate was born at the Rich Hill Stud, but he grew up at our farm in Okoroire.He was good natured with us, but could get excitable when other horsed were around -  especially fillies,  hence he was castrated at 18 months old.He always looked to have an easy stride...

Jericho Cup jackpot for $1000 gavelhouse.com purchase

Three and a half years after taking a $1000 punt on a pedigree they liked on gavelhouse.com, Ian and Shelley Wright landed their richest prize in racing when Farag (NZ) (Sacred Falls) romped to a 20-length runaway in Sunday’s A$300,000 Jericho Cup (4600m) at Warrnambool.It was the seventh win of a 29-start career for Farag, who has turned that meagre purchase price into A$331,358 in prize-money.This year’s Jericho Cup was the seventh running of the ultra-long-distance race, which was added t...

BetaVet Under The Radar - Kylie Unsworth

In this month's edition of BetaVet's Under The Radar, and leading into the busy sales season, we thought it was the perfect time to reintroduce BetaVet's National Sales Manager Kylie Unsworth. If you would like to have a chat with Kylie in regard to any of BetaVet's products, you can contact her on 022 078 4958 or sales@betavet.co.nz.Explain who BetaVet is, what they produce and what they stand for?BetaVet is a NZ owned and operated company established 16 years ago and is one of the on...

Kiwi Chronicles - Counting down

The NZB Karaka Yearling Sale catalogue is out and the countdown to the 2025 or 99th National Sale begins. Over the next eight weeks stakes races may impact, particularly sires, as well as pedigree pages as the results unfold and last Saturday’s New Zealand racing got the ball rolling.Buyers often react to current fashion and sires that are running hot get more attention. One such sire might be Cambridge Stud’s Embellish (Savabeel) and the stud should be encouraged with recent resul...

Checkmate continuing broodmare’s grand record

A chance purchase at Karaka has proved to be an outstanding piece of business for Waikato breeders and owners Ross and Corrine Kearney.While wandering around the complex, a winning daughter of Conatus caught their attention and they followed through to secure Signorina for $6,000 out of Westbury Stud’s draft at New Zealand Bloodstock’s Broodmare Sale.She has proved to be a gem for the couple with Saturday’s Listed Armacup Stakes (1500m) winner Checkmate, who is raced under their Okaharau S...

Promising filly a stakes-winning hit for Devcich

Sarah Devcich was full of pride witnessing a filly she bred and part-owns in Hitabell (Embellish) win last Saturday’s Listed The O’Leary’s Fillies Stakes (1340m) at Wanganui.At her fourth raceday start, Hitabell was due a change in fortune after a luckless run at Ellerslie behind Costae, and jockey Courtney Barnes took luck out of the equation in the feature, leading from the outset to score over race-favourite Celestial Wonder.Devcich, who owns and operates Henley Park alongside her ...

Whangaehu captures Wanganui Cup

Promising stayer Whangaehu (Proisir) claimed his biggest success when came with a bullocking late run to take out the Listed Steelform Roofing Group Wanganui Cup (2040m) on Saturday.The six-year-old son of Proisir has always promised to perform at a higher level and finished off his last campaign with a creditable performance in the Gr.2 Auckland Cup (3200m) before finding a Heavy10 track too testing when near the rear in the Listed Hawke’s Bay Cup (2200m).Trainer Bill Thurlow lined him u...

Marsh goes back-to-back in Fillies’ Stakes

The decision to move the Listed O’Learys Fillies’ Stakes (1340m) to a new position on the calendar has worked wonders for Cambridge trainer Stephen Marsh, who has now won both December runnings of the Wanganui feature.Previously staged in September, the Fillies’ Stakes was shifted to its new date last season and Marsh won it with Glamour Tycoon. He targeted the same race again on Saturday with promising filly Hitabell (Embellish), and again he pulled it off.“It’s been a good little rac...