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Encouraging times ahead for the New Zealand Breeding Industry and for Nick King of Brighthill Farm

After yet another successful autumn carnival by New Zealand bred horses it seemed only fitting that the NZB National Weanling, Broodmare and Mixed Bloodstock sale be buoyant, however the record breaking sale was beyond the expectations of everybody involved. The overall statistics tell a heartening tale of the state of the industry with receipts for the three day Sale totalling $8,915,200, up $4,830,100 (a 118% increase) on last year with clearance at 91%. The overall median price settled 188% ...

Bevan's Blog - May 2016

A whirlwind first 10 weeks of the Sunline Scholarship has come and gone faster than I could have imagined. It feels like just yesterday I nervously walked through the gates of Cheveley Park Stud, but nearly three months and 45 foals later my time has come to an end. The picturesque and immaculately kept Cheveley Park Stud has been a great base for me and I really felt like part of the team. I have learnt a lot from their dedicated staff and I must thank them for everything they have done for...

Hannah’s Blog - April 2016

Hello all from Ireland. This month at the farm has been maybe one of the busiest so far with mares foaling. The stallions also very busy covering mares and all the yards are busy with every day work. Sadly, the farm had to say good bye to Big Bad Bob who passed away from a paddock accident recently. He was a great horse and was a very good bread and butter horse for the stud and he was one of my favourite stallions to deal with. He will be sadly missed and may he rest easy now. Onto a more po...

Imposing Lass completes a hat trick for Peter Newsom

Always up for an adventure, Australasian travel industry trailblazer Peter Newsom decided around 25 years ago to invest in some bloodstock in New Zealand, and recently he was credited with his latest New Zealand bred Stakes winner Imposing Lass (Makfi[GB]- Imposingly). Imposing Lass completed a hat trick of wins this autumn when she won the Listed Gold Coast Bracelet over 1800 metres as a lead into the Group One Queensland Oaks next month. Trained in Sydney by Bjorn Baker, she had previously le...

Records Tumble at NZB National Weanling, Broodmare & Mixed Bloodstock Sale

To read the press release click the link below. http://www.nzb.co.nz/news.cfm?content_id=181086 ...

Prospects all positive ahead of Sale

Pundits are predicting positive results from the annual New Zealand Bloodstock Broodmare, Weanling & Mixed Bloodstock Sale that gets underway at Karaka at 10am on Monday. Below is a cross-section of comments from some of the leading buyers and sellers direct from the sales complex. Andrew Seabrook – Managing Director, New Zealand Bloodstock "I think this is going to be a pretty strong sale. We've seen the sales in the last six months go up quite significantly – the Ready to Run sale a...

EHV Shortage - ADVICE

The New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders' Association (NZTBA) has initiated the following advice for all broodmares owners. Suggested management of non-vaccinated mares against EHV As mare owners you will now be aware of the shortage of EHV (Equine Herpes Virus) Pneumabort K or Pneumequine vaccines and many mares are now unvaccinated. The NZTBA thought it was timely to send some reminders and advice on Herpesvirus. As with any animal health issue, we always suggest you discuss your particular ...

Suggested Management of Non-Vaccinated Mares Against EHV

The New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders' Association (NZTBA) has initiated the following advice for all broodmares owners. ...

Kiwis jumping for joy with star Sydney horsewoman

A Cambridge nursery continues to be an integral part of a top Sydney trainer's success in a new role. Windsor Park Stud co-bred and part-owns Valedection, who provided Gai Waterhouse with her first success at the Warrnambool carnival when he coasted clear to win the Brierly Steeplechase on Tuesday. "Gai got a huge thrill out of that and she also won her first jumping race as a trainer when this horse won a hurdle race," Windsor Park's Nelson Schick said. Passed in at Karaka in 2009, the half-...

A message from the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) regarding animal welfare

Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) is seeking feedback on proposed regulations designed to take the next step in improving our already strong animal welfare system. The proposed regulations cover live animal exports, the care of and conduct towards animals as well as surgical and painful procedures. To ensure we get the best rules possible, we need your feedback. Consultation runs from 14 April until 19 May 2016. Information on the proposals and how to have your say can be found at the...

Vale Rex Fell of Fairdale and Goodwood Studs

A genuinely good all round bloke was lost to the New Zealand thoroughbred industry recently with the death of Rex Selwyn Fell. Rex passed away peacefully in Palmerston North, after a long battle with illness. A battle he fought bravely for over 10 years, and according to his older brother Gerald with great courage. He was born in March 1945 the third child of Arthur and Joan Fell and was half an hour older than his twin brother Tony. He is survived by his children William and Kate and both his...

Influential Manawatu breeder dies

Popular Manawatu thoroughbred breeder and administrator Rex Fell died on Friday after a prolonged battle with illness. He was 71. Rex was an integral part of the family-owned Fairdale Stud dynasty that was established by his father Arthur Fell in the early 1900s and came to prominence as a thoroughbred nursery in the 1950s. Rex enjoyed Fairdale's glory years when Pakistan II dominated the New Zealand sire ranks, winning six champion stallion titles through the late 1960s and 1970s. In an i...

He's Our Rokkii gives John Collinson and his partners Group success in Sydney

In the mid 90's John Collinson set up a foreign exchange business in Auckland and brought in a couple of mates, Costa Feneridis and Paul Bettany, as business partners. As it turned out they also shared an interest in horse racing, and soon after delved into racehorse ownership, often enjoying a beer or two discussing their potential champions and where racing would take them. Fast forward to 2016 and they are the proud part-owners and breeders of He's Our Rokkii (Roc de Cambes-Clerihew[GB]), t...

New stallion ticks all stud’s boxes

A Cambridge farm's search for a stallion to meet their strict criteria has come to a successful conclusion with the signing of a son of the champion galloper and sire Lonhro. Novara Park Stud manager Ray Knight said they had been on the look-out for an Australian Group One performed horse and Sweynesse had satisfied all their expectations on pedigree, performance and type. "Sweynesse is the highest-rated stallion from the Zabeel sire line to begin stud duties in New Zealand since Savabeel. ...

Much hyped Ugo Foscolo first winner for Zacinto

Talented youngster to be set for NZ 2000 Guineas The much touted Ugo Foscolo lived up to the hype surrounding him when making his debut at Rotorua today. The son of Zacinto demolished his rivals in the Rydges Hotel Rotorua 2YO Maiden over 1230m by an ever increasing three and quarter lengths. A comprehensive winner of all three of his trials, Ugo Foscolo has been touted by his connections as a potential Group One horse with trainer Stephen Marsh seeing him as a budding star three-year-old nex...

Queensland Group One challenge beckons top mare

New Zealand's latest Group One-winning mare is almost certain to be given the opportunity to collect a perfect pair. With a top-flight victory on her domestic CV, Perfect Fit is being aimed toward the Queensland winter carnival and the prospect of significantly boosting her future off track value for owners Haunui Farm. "We're giving strong consideration to one or maybe two starts over there and targeting the Winter Stakes," studmaster Mark Chitty said. The Group One feature, run as the Tatts...

Azkadellia shines in Sydney

"She's a little ripper, she always was right from the time she popped out as a foal" enthused Craig Linton when discussing the deeds of Azkadellia (Shinko King [IRE]-Raving) shortly after her sensational win in the 1600 metre Group One Coolmore Legacy Queen of the Turf Stakes. Linton, along with his partner Ilone Kelly, bred Azkadellia and Kelly prepared her to win her first start as a two-year-old in 2014, following which she was sold to Caulfield trainer Ciaron Maher's racing manager Ben Conn...

Bevan's Blog - April 2016

First lesson in England – their leads don't have a clip. And they call them ropes. This discovery was the result of a somewhat confusing conversation with the stud groom during my first day in England. There have been many things that I have found different to the places I have worked in New Zealand and Australia, but before I get into them, I better introduce myself. The best place to start is my name – Bevan Smith. I have grown up in the thoroughbred industry and my father, Chris Smith, ...

Hannah’s Blog - March 2016

Hello All, Last month I worked night shifts foaling down mares in the foaling unit, which was a great experience, as I have never foaled down in a box before. Over the three nights I had 9 mares that all foaled happy and healthy babies. Foaling in a box did bring a new challenge for me as we had to work in a small space/area and we had to make sure the mare would not lie down too close to the wall as it would restrict our movement around her if she needed help. All and all this was a fantastic ...

Davison bags a Group One double for Mapperley

Being in the right place at the right time has enabled Simms Davison's Mapperley Stud to double their involvement with a global thoroughbred giant. The Matamata farm will this year launch the stallion careers of the Group One winners Contributer and Complacent. "It came down to having a good relationship with Darley and when I heard Complacent had been retired I got on a plane to go over and see him and the day I was there Contributer injured himself," Davison said. "I was just Johnny on the ...

New Derby winner for Sir Patrick and family

Breeding Derby winners is not something new for Sir Patrick and Lady Hogan of Cambridge Stud, they have bred or co-bred quite a few, but in Sir Patrick's opinion breeding the Australian Derby winner is the ultimate. Sir Patrick's tally in that event is three, Tristarc (Sir Tristram[IRE]- Renarc) in 1985, Don Eduardo (Zabeel-Diamond Lover) in 2002 and the latest one Tavago (Tavistock-Sara Ann) in 2016, one each from each of his champion stallions. Tavago is the sixth Group One winner that Sir P...

Southern mare sees off northern raiders at Riccarton

Pint sized mare Coulee made sure that the major spoils on offer at Riccarton on Saturday would remain in local hands as she saw off a pair of northern raiders in the Gr. 3 Valachi Downs South Island Breeders' Stakes (1600m). The pint sized Gallant Guru mare made it three wins on end and six from just 15 career starts as she mowed down the Cambridge trained pair of El Sagrado and race favourite Charmont in the closing stages of a keenly run affair, courtesy of a perfect ride from apprentice Jaco...

Stakes double caps superb day for Carter family at Awapuni

The barnstorming finish that carried two-year-old filly Luna Rossa to victory in the Gr. 1 Courtesy Ford Manawatu Sires' Produce Stakes on Saturday capped a day that Carter family siblings John, Mark and Rachel, who bred and race the filly under their Jomara Bloodstock banner, will never forget. Brothers John and Mark, who were on-course at Awapuni on the day, barely had time to settle their emotions after celebrating a Group Three victory in the Higgins Concrete sponsored Manawatu Classic (20...

Fiber Fresh NZ Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes on Saturday 9th April

Remember to join us for the Fiber Fresh NZ Thoroughbred Breeders' Stakes on Saturday 9th April At the Te Aroha racecourse From 11.30pm in the Waikato Breeders area Light refreshments will be served throughout the day from 12.30pm This popular event offers a day of high class racing action that is highlighted by the Group 1 Fiber Fresh NZ Thoroughbred Breeders' Stakes - the country's premier Weight for age Fillies and Mares race. Heading the promotions to be won on the day is a 2016 service...

South Island sale presents many opportunities

The final New Zealand yearling sale for 2016, the New Zealand Bloodstock South Island Sale has a new venue in Christchurch. The sale, which will be held on Friday 15 April from, 11 a.m., is now at the Riding for the Disabled Building at the Canterbury Agricultural Park in Christchurch. A total of 16 vendors will present a catalogue of 95 entries featuring 90 yearlings, four broodmares and a two-year-old. Last year's leading vendor Berkley Stud presenting 20 yearlings and the well renowned Whi...