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Plenty to Celebrate at Auckland NZTBA Breeders' Awards

The Auckland Branch of the NZTBA will be hosting their annual New Zealand Bloodstock Insurance Auckland NZTBA Breeders' Awards on Sunday 9th October 2016 and with 17 individual Group winners bred in the region, including the New Zealand Derby winner, the Australian Oaks winner, the Manawatu Sires' Produce winner and the New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders' Stakes winner in the 2015/2016 breeding season, there is plenty of success to celebrate. Auckland Branch President David Moore says, "It has ...

Inside Agent wins in style in Australia

Both Peter Walker and his good friend Sir Patrick Hogan, have been a little under the weather recently and both received a boost of "cheer germs" when Inside Agent (Stravinsky[IRE]-Octapussy) won the Listed Poseidon Stakes for three-year-olds at Flemington. "There was plenty of talk coming out of the stable about his ability," said a delighted Peter Walker who bred the horse with Sir Patrick Hogan, "but he had no experience, having had only one start, and he certainly has a lot to learn, but b...

Pins is hot to trot for Waikato Stud

It's been a great couple of weeks for the super consistent Waikato Stud stallion Pins(AUS) (Snippets[AUS]-No Finer[AUS])with three Stakes winners on the board already this season. That comes as no surprise to Waikato Stud General Manager Mark Chittick who maintains he is a great stallion. "Pins consistently leaves Stakes winners, and winners. Each season he has around 10-12 Stakes winners, and always has a good horse on the go either here or in Australia or Hong Kong. Over the last ten years...

NZ Equine Research Foundation Spring 2016 Bulletin

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Kiwi Bred - Season 5, Episode 1

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Primary ITO 'Train The Trainer' Workshop (Free Workshop)

This course is designed to help you gain the skills you need to train and motivate your staff. Organised by the Primary ITO, the course is free and comes highly recommended by our NZTBA Northern Region Councillor, Vicki Pascoe....

Chinese buyers to be out in force

The Asian influence at next year's New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale series is set to be even more significant. The Kylin 500 Club will be hosting 200 of its high-net worth clients at the Karaka auction, with their visit to also take in the Karaka Million race meeting at Ellerslie and business functions in Auckland. Kylin's global services include thoroughbred trading and management, organising luxury events and tours and promoting investment and trade opportunities between its m...

2016 New Zealand Pattern Committee Review

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Honey’s Run Continues in Gold Trail Stakes

The $70,000 G3 Hawke's Bay Breeders' Gold Trail Stakes at Hastings on Saturday was won in impressive style by Honey Rider (Pins (AUS) – Southern Heights (NZ)). Under a lovely ride by Michael Coleman, Honey Rider swept through the field of twelve to finish three quarters of a length ahead of Glass Slipper (Pins (AUS) – Fairy Tale (NZ)), with Mystery Show (Sakhee's Secret (GB) – Showstra (NZ)) a further length behind in third place. Trained at Cambridge by Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman,...

Brian Collins all smiles at the Auckland Stallion Tour

An enjoyable morning was had by all breeders who attended the Auckland Stud Tour hosted by Haunui Farm and Westbury Stud on Sunday. The mixture of fine weather and hospitality along with stallions, which are a credit to both farms, saw a large crowd of 120 people drawn from around the country to attend this well organised annual event, many making their first trip north of the Bombay Hills. Haunui Farm and Westbury Stud very kindly donated a service to either Ferlax (NZ) (Pentire (GB) – Legs...

Metric Mile success for Sharrock’s Gypsy Fair

A wintery Awapuni played host to the Group 3 Merial Ancre Metric Mile on Saturday. A competitive field of 14 went to post for the $70,000 handicap with fillies and mares filling the first five places. Victorious Gypsy Fair (Falkirk (NZ) – Gypsy Moth (NZ)) ran out a neck winner from Platinum Command (Red Giant (USA) - Wednesday Rocks (NZ),) with New York Minute (Ifraaj (GB) – Zenno Queen (NZ)) filling third place. The Allan Sharrock trained mare, who has now won 6 times, was ridden to perfect...

October Forum for Thoroughbred Trainers/Breeders in the Northern Region

NZTR and ACC will be holding a forum at the Cambridge Jockey Club on Friday 7 October starting at midday. The forum will run for approximately 2 hours and tea and coffee will be available prior to the forum starting. The forum is being held as a result of an ongoing project between NZTR and ACC to identify common injuries, look at work practices and training that will assist to reduce the injury rates, including the use of personal protective equipment. Any overall industry reduction in the ...

Miller opens stable doors in South Korea

Kiwi horseman David Miller is open for business in South Korea. "I'm the first New Zealander to train here," he said. "I've started to get horses into the stable now and I've got 24 boxes and it won't be hard to fill them. "The hardest part is getting the quality, there's no problem with quantity. "They aren't a bad block of stables and they are on the track with swimming pools and walkers as well." Miller is based at the Busan racecourse, which opened in 2005, with meetings every Friday...

Auckland Stallion Tour

The AUCKLAND STALLION TOUR will be held on Sunday 11th September 2016. The morning will commence at Haunui Farm at 10.30am and then proceed to Westbury Stud at 11.15am. A light lunch will be provided. All are welcome and we look forward to seeing you there. Please contact Shannon Taylor for further details. Mob: 021 2855 513 Email: shannont@haunuifarm.co.nz ...

Magical times for Little Avondale Stud

A bold front running display saw Its Time For Magic (Per Incanto (USA) - Tick Tock Time (NZ)) take out Listed Honours in The O'Leary's Fillies Stakes at Wanganui on Saturday.The tenacious filly ridden by Sam Spratt held off the determined challenge of Group 1 winner Luna Rosa (Written Tycoon (Aus) – Wild Promises (AUS) with Queen of Zealand (Savabeel (AUS) - Queen Of Pop (NZ)) back in third place. Delighted winning Te Awamutu trainer Robert Priscott who with his wife Karen, are also part owner...

Bevan Smith's latest blog from the USA - Aug '16

Despite one cancelled flight, one unplanned night in Downtown Chicago and switching planes three times until boarding one that was safe, I finally landed in Lexington, KY – 24 hours later than scheduled, but excited for the last leg of my Sunline Scholarship adventure. I was welcomed by temperatures consistently in the mid-30s with high humidity. It was a big shock to the body coming from an 'Irish summer. I am single-handedly keeping Powerade in business. After a quick farm tour of Tayl...

Cheval Stud's day in the sun

Sun-kissed Hastings played host to the first premier race day of the 2016/17 flat season on Saturday 27th August with the $200,000 G1 Makfi Challenge Stakes taking centre stage on a quality filled 9 race card .The gallant 6 year old Kawi (Savabeel(Aus)-Magic Time(NZ)) took his career earnings to $771,441 with his 4th G1 victory. Cheers of jubilation were not only reserved for Kawi's winning connections as those of 2nd El Pescado (El Hermano(NZ) - Annchips(NZ)) and 3rd placed Farm Boy (El Herm...

Dandos take over management of Dormello Stud

Hamilton's Dormello Stud is back in business. Graeme Rogerson and Denise Howell's farm has been reawakened with the announcement of a new management agreement with Bradbury Park's Casey and Michelle Dando. "It's a fantastic opportunity for us. It's a lovely farm and the timing couldn't have been better for us," Michelle Dando said. "We purchased the neighbouring farm but we've still been struggling to take on extra horses because we've been at capacity." Bradbury Park operates on 45 hectares...

JLT Insurance Waikato Stallion Parade Weekend

Thanks to JLT for their wonderful support of the Waikato Stallion Parade weekend. Big crowds of over 200 people enjoying the sunny weekend. Click here for the link to our Facebook Page to view the photos from the weekend. Also please visit out website page to view some spectacular foals born so far this season in Australasia,...

Trotter’s Kick Back with Pakuranga Hunt Success

The Pakuranga Hunt Cup run over 4900m of the iconic Ellerslie steeplechase course on Saturday 20th August saw yet another dramatic finish fought out to this prestigious steeplechase. Kick Back (Bahhare(USA)- Take Three(NZ) trained by Kevin Myers and ridden by Shaun Fannin took over the lead within the shadows of the winning post to gain victory for Marton owner and breeder Sam Trotter and family. The diminutive yet durable 8 year old mare, who was named after a bruising encounter with Sam, too...

One of the great New Zealand jockeys, Bob Skelton MBE, has passed away in Melbourne at the age of 81.

Renowned for his uncanny ability to judge pace, Skelton was regarded as the most successful rider of two-mile stayers in Australasia. A Wellington Cup hat-trick in the early 1960s on the mighty stayer Great Sensation, two Auckland Cups and two Perth Cups underlined that skill, but his ultimate victory came in the 1976 Melbourne Cup on tough Kiwi stayer Van Der Hum. Greymouth-born Skelton was one of five jockey brothers, the eldest of whom, Bill, established a premiership-winning pattern that h...

Waikato Stallion Parades 20 & 21 August 2016

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Two stallions for sale or lease

The NZTBA have been informed that CHIANTI (IRE) and OCTASONG (AUS) are available to be relocated for the forthcoming breeding season. They are both registered for the new season. Both stallions have a kind temperament and are very easy to handle. Chianti, by Danehill, from a Nureyev mare - Sabah, (USA) a half sister to Maroof who has produced 11 to race with 9 winners. He is a full brother to Desert King - top of the 1997 international 3 yr old classification (winner of Irish Derby G1, Irish 2...

Upper Cut delivers National success For White Robe Lodge and friends

The 142nd running of The Grand National Steeplechase at Riccarton Park on Saturday saw another name written onto its illustrious role of honour. That of Upper Cut (NZ) (Yamanin Vital(NZ)- Volucidate(NZ)) who provided trainer Mark Oulaghan with a record 5th win in the South Island's Blue Ribbon event. Paul Hamblin gave the 10 year old gelding an astute ride staying on strongly through the soft ground to beat the Australian Mr Mor by ¾ of a length. This success follows victory doubles from both D...

First foals for Proisir

The first two foals sired by the brilliant Australian Group One performer Proisir have been born at Rich Hill Stud. A son of the champion international racehorse and sire Choisir, he was New Zealand's most popular first season sire last year serving 145 mares and his first crop foals are now eagerly anticipated by breeders. "Proisir is one of the best looking stallions in Australasia and if his first two foals are any indication then we are in for a very exciting season" Rich Hill principal...