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Miss Three Stars - Triumpant in Gp.3 Winter Cup

Although beginning from barrier stall 13 in a sixteen horse field MISS THREE STARS was able to work over to be three back on the inside running early in the race for Samantha Wynne. This tactic saved valuable ground rounding the home turn, and was very instrumental in her win. Although challenged strongly by Platinum Command in the closing stages MISS THREE STARS lifted short of the line for a short head victory. Dublin born 27 year old woman jockey Samantha Wynne has been riding in New Zeala...

BAGALOLLIES [AUS] CROWNED 2015/16 NEW ZEALAND BROODMARE OF THE YEAR

A group of mates who got together to race a few horses around ten years ago are now the proud owners of the 2015/16 New Zealand Broodmare of the Year Bagalollies (Zabeel-Lady's Knight). Led by Tommy Hepinstall, Chris and John Barnao, Andrew Campbell, Dave Ellison, Tom Pivac and Dave Platt purchased four yearlings for Andrew Campbell to train and to have some fun with. Among the quartet was the multiple Group One winner and now exciting young sire Tavistock - and what a journey the group of fri...

SIR PATRICK & JUSTINE, LADY HOGAN – 2015/16 NEW ZEALAND BREEDERS OF THE YEAR

After what can only be described as a stellar year for Cambridge Stud, Sir Patrick and Justine, Lady Hogan were last night named the 2015/16 New Zealand Breeders of the Year at the annual New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing Awards in Auckland. In an exceptional year for Kiwi-bred horses and breeders worldwide, the Hogans were represented by three individual winners of six Australian Group One contests, and a further 13 stakes performers. They have now won the prestigious title on five occasions, f...

Bliss glad he took a punt on Keano

A chance sighting of a for sale advertisement on an auction web site convinced New Plymouth horseman Jeff Bliss to go back into the stallion business. He didn't have any intention of replacing Eighth Wonder, a son of Zabeel who died pre-maturely last year, at Sentry Hill Farm until he spotted the availability of the well-related Keano. "I wasn't going to bother about another stallion and then I saw him on this site in Australia and we bought him," Bliss said. "He's beautifully-bred and he ...

Super Savabeel scoops the pool

Waikato Stud have made another clean sweep of the stallion titles. The Matamata farm has dominated the awards in recent times and it was more of the same in a highly satisfying 2015-2016. Savabeel was the star of the show by claiming the Grosvenor Award for the New Zealand sires' premiership and the Dewar Award (champion NZ-based sire by Australasian progeny earnings) and the Centaine Award (champion NZ-based sire by global progeny earnings). "Savabeel has done a wonderful job world-wide,...

Top honour to Preferment

Triple Group One winner Preferment was crowned the Waikato branch of the NZ Thoroughbred Breeders' Association Horse of the Year at a function in Hamilton on Friday night. A host of other Group One winners from the region were also acknowledged while Curraghmore principal Gordon Cunningham was the Personality of the Year and the Young Achiever award went to Scotty Buchanan. Waikato-bred Group One winners during the 2015-16 season were: Kermadec (Llanhennock Trust), Preferment (Sir Patrick Ho...

Shock passing of Group One breeder and owner

The New Zealand thoroughbred industry is mourning the recent sudden death of the popular Waikato identity Paul Smithies. "It's been a big shock to everyone," family friend and fellow breeder-owner Andrew Bryant said. "He had so much going for him." With his wife Cushla, they bred a number of Group One performers at Monovale Farm and also raced their top flight home-bred Puccini. The son of Encosta de Lago was prepared by Peter and Jacob McKay to win the Gr.1 New Zealand Derby and the Gr.1 ...

Breeders' Bulletin - Winter 2016

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NZTBA announces Breeder & Broodmare of the Year Finalists

As the 2015-16 racing season draws to a close it is time to reflect on a stellar season for the New Zealand breeding industry both at home and internationally with over 30 Group One winners beginning their lives on New Zealand farms. A Melbourne Cup winner, four Derby winners, three Oaks winners, 25% of all Group One winners in Australia, the list goes on, and the quality and calibre of the New Zealand bred is reflected in the list of finalists for the Breeder of the Year and Broodmare of the ...

Elusive Boxers wins a $20,000 NZB Insurance Pearl Bonus

On the eve of the end of her four-year-old racing season, Awapuni mare Elusive Boxers won the NZB Insurance Pearl Series 1200 metre event at Oamaru last Sunday. It was the final Pearl Series Bonus race of the season, and a $20,000 level A bonus to boot. "We set her for this race, it was a $25,000 race with a $20,000 bonus that's like winning a $65,000 race, and with her rising five it was her last chance to a win a bonus" according to Albert Bosma the racing manager for the Go Racing syndica...

Well Done fires for Falkirk in Singapore

He may not be in the NZTBA's Register of Thoroughbred Stallions in New Zealand but Falkirk (Tale of the Cat[USA]- Madam Valeta) is still very much alive and kicking at Windsor Park and preparing for the new stud season. "He's a box of birds" said Windsor Park Stud's General Manager Steve Till, "and looking forward to the new season, and deservedly so with a flag bearer like Well Done (Falkirk- Gold Cloud) in Singapore." Till was referring to the recent Group One victory in the Singapore Der...

Time Flies When You Are Having Fun - Bevan's Latest Blog

They say time flies when you are having fun and that old adage couldn't ring truer when applied to my time in Ireland on the Sunline Scholarship. It is hard for me to believe that my time at Coolmore Ireland has already come to an end even as I look forward to the next stop in Kentucky. I can say that I have experienced an Irish summer – all three weeks of it. My first month in the Emerald Isle was near perfect weather. Sadly, I haven't seen much of my old friend the sun since. I thought ...

Trainer’s bold words enough to seal stallion deal

A chat with New Plymouth trainer Allan Sharrock was enough for central districts studmaster Mark Corcoran to take on The Bold One. "I was approached by the syndicate - Eddie Bourke and the Dennis brothers – about standing him and then I had a talk to Allan and he convinced me, he rated him very highly and thought he was a Group One horse in the making," Corcoran said. As a result, the regally-bred The Bold One will begin his stallion career in 2016 at Grangewilliam Stud at Waitotara, south...

Kiwi mare’s colt lights up auction ring

New Zealand-bred mare Shamrocker was a headline-maker during her racing career and she's now playing a starring role as a broodmare. A dual Group One winner by O'Reilly, her yearling colt by champion sire Deep Impact sold for 170 million yen (about $NZ2.3 million) during Monday's JRHA Select Sale in Saporro, Japan. Shamrocker was raced by Raffles Racing, whose manager Bruce Sherwin was at the auction and he was impressed by her youngster. "He is a lovely colt with a lot of similarities t...

Breeders' Bulletin: Winter 2016

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Scintillating Win for Kiwi Bred in NZB Cup at Korchin

The New Zealand and Chinese racing industries broke new ground today with the inaugural running of the RMB500,000 New Zealand Bloodstock Cup (1800m) at Korchin in Inner Mongolia, a race that lived up to expectations and was won in scintillating style by Da Qian Shi Jie (NZ) (Keeper). The new three-year-old race is a joint venture between NZB and Mr Lang Lin of the Inner Mongolia Rider Horse Club. Da Qian Shi Jie was the highest rated runner in the field, having won one of his two previous s...

Hannah Mee's Final Blog

June blog Hello all from Ireland. Sadly all good things most come to an end. During the month of June, we visited a number of trainers to have a look around their properties and to get more of an insight into the way they train. One of the first places we visited was Jim Bolger's racing stable called Coolcullen and the spelling farm called Bechy Park, which I can honestly say was such an honour and pleasure to see. Both properties of were beautiful and amazingly set up for horses. We were ...

Bevan's Blog - June 2016

Bevan's first blog from Coolmore, Ireland June 2016 After a great time in Newmarket the Sunline Scholarship has brought me to the Emerald Isle and what a blast I have had so far. As the great New Zealand band Crowded House told us kiwis 'always take the weather with you' and I have delivered Ireland with a fantastic summer reminiscent of back home. For all the stereotypes you hear of Ireland being wet and miserable all year round we have enjoyed a stellar run of weather, making it all th...

United approach gets stable to memorable mark

Teamwork has been the key to Stephen Autridge and Jamie Richards sitting atop the national trainers' premiership with a century of winners. The Matamata partnership hit three figures for the season when Esprit De Corps was successful at Te Aroha on Sunday. "It's not just about Stephen and I," Richards said. "It's been a huge effort by all the staff with the vets, farriers and chiropractors getting in behind us to make sure that we get the horses to the races in the best possible condition. ...

First Group One winner for Showcasing at Ascot

Three-year-old filly Quiet Reflection (GB) (Showcasing) provided a fantastic day of firsts at Royal Ascot overnight – the first Group One win for her sire, trainer Karl Burke and jockey, Dougie Costello. The winner of six of her seven starts, Quiet Reflection started the 7-4 favourite for the Group One Commonwealth Cup over 6f and defeated the colts and geldings with a commanding performance which cements her place at the top of Europe's three-year-old sprinting ranks. "She's...

Champion mare Horlicks produces another Group One winner for Graham de Grucy

Hawkes Bay breeder Graham de Gruchy is thrilled with the win of Sacred Elixir (Pour Moi[IRE]-Baltika) in the Group One JJ Aitkens Stakes, the latest Group One winner descended from his champion mare Horlicks. "It's fantastic to get a Group One two-year-old in the family, as they are pretty rare". "It was a fantastic result, the industry could not have got any greater exposure than the two fabulous Group One winners in Queensland," he enthused referring to the win by Sacred Elixir and the Grou...

Like Father Like Son for Cambridge Stud dynasty

The stunning performance by three-year-old filly Provocative to claim Saturday's Gr. 1 Queensland Oaks provided great cause for celebration at the home of her remarkable sire Zabeel as he equalled his illustrious father Sir Tristram as the sire of fourty five individual Group One winners. For Cambridge Stud supremo Sir Patrick Hogan it was a poignant moment that he took time to mark in his own special way. "We've been waiting some considerable time for this victory as it had bee...

Results Continue for Rich Hill Class of 2011

The brave win by Pentire's progressive son Tucanchoo at Randwick on Saturday continued the remarkable success of Rich Hill Stud's classic 2011 Karaka yearling draft. The list of top class winners bred, raised and sold from the farm's consignment that year has continued to grow since Ockhams Razor, a $170,000 purchase, won the Listed Karaka Million in 2012. The honours board also includes the Gr.1 Melbourne Cup winner Prince Of Penzance, Gr.1 Australian Guineas winner Ferlax, Gr.3 BRC Premier...

Vespa a great fit for Wellfield Lodge

Group One-winning sprinter Vespa is viewed as the perfect addition to Wellfield Lodge's stallion roster. The champion two-year-old of his year will begin his stud career at the Palmerston North farm in 2016, following his retirement earlier this year. "In the last two or three years we have concentrated on strengthening our broodmare band with a number of quality purchases of our own and with clients," Wellfield's Bill Gleeson said. "We're always looking for opportunities and when this one ca...

Super weekend for Westbury Stud

In 2008 self-made millionaire Gerry Harvey made the decision to invest in the thoroughbred industry in New Zealand by buying an interest in Westbury Stud. Eight years on and Harvey has a $50 million plus investment in New Zealand, he owns the stud outright, along with its properties in Karaka and Matamata, and they are home to around 600 thoroughbreds consisting of mares, foals, yearlings, racehorses and stallions. According to Russell Warwick general manager of Westbury Stud, this year has ...