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Sally Cassels-Brown retires after 28 years with the NZTBA

The NZTBA's Administration Manager Sally Cassels-Brown was farwelled at the NZTBA's Annual General Meeting in Cambridge recently as she prepares for retirement after 28 years of service. Current NZTBA President John Fokerd presented Sally with a sterling silver horse, usually reserved for Dewar and Grosvenor stallion award winners and CEO Michael Martin gave a glowing citation of the wonderful contribution Sally has made to the organisation since she joined in 1986. Michael said that Sally was...

Tax officials to work with bloodstock breeding industry

Racing Minister Nathan Guy and Revenue Minister Todd McClay have confirmed that Inland Revenue officials will work with the New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders' Association on a number of tax issues raised by the industry. The issues cover questions the NZTBA has over the application of tax rules for the industry and are expected to be dealt with as part of the normal consultative process between the private sector and tax officials. "We are confident that the majority of the issues can be worke...

Robert's Blog – July 2014

Robert checks out from Ireland Boy how time flies!! This is my forth update from the Sunline International Management Scholarship and I'm just finishing up the last few days of my 10 weeks at Coolmore Stud in Ireland, even though it only feels like I just arrived! It's fair to say I have enjoyed my time here and have definitely taken a lot in. In this blog I'll cover a few of the yards I've worked in at Coolmore including the hospital and stallions, visits to Coolmore's training center B...

Waikato NZTBA Branch Member John Bromley has an adrenelin rush with Kingdoms

Taupo based entrepreneur John Bromley, principal of Bromley Bloodstock, entered the thoroughbred game as an owner around 11 years ago. He didn't come from a racing background, he doesn't bet, but as an adrenalin junkie he was up for a new challenge. He is passionate by nature, and believes that words that best sum him up are; wow, passionate, intuitive, and synchronous and he believes in fate. His son Jamie suggested horse-racing as an interest for him as he is "a competitive bugger who loves ...

Spalato's Patron's Bowl win a high point for Trish

In August 2011 on a water-logged heavy track at Waipa, Divine Miss Em beat Roverto in a $5,000 mid-week maiden race, but the remarkable thing is that these two horses were brother and sister. Divine Miss Em is the 2007 filly by Traditionally (USA) out of Delph (Blue Razor [USA] –Miss Forty Niner [USA]), and Roverto is her 2006 colt. Both horses were bred and are raced by New Zealand's leading equine photographer Trish Dunell. At the time in a story on this website, Dunell was quoted as sayin...

NZTBA 2014 Annual Financial Report Report

The 2014 Annual Financial Report has now been mailed to all financial members of the NZTBA. Click here to read the Report - NZTBA...

2014 Stallion Register now available

The much anticipated NZTBA Register of Thoroughbred Stallions of New Zealand has been released for 2014. The glossy 164 page highly sort after annual book has just been published for the 41st time by the New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders' Association as a guide to the stallions available for the 2014 breeding season. It is a must for any breeder whether they are a commercial breeder or own just one mare, and provides vital information to guide breeders in the important investment decisions the...

Hawke's Bay Branch has busy schedule for next two months

The NZTBA Hawkes Bay /Poverty Bay Branch has several events being held over the next two months. All are open to everyone with an interest in Breeding and Racing. Firstly, on Sunday 29th June we will be holding our annual Weanling parade which will take in four properties and at this stage some 27/30 weanlings. The Parade will commence at Guy Lowry's property in Kawera Road at 9.30am followed by those at Lime Country Thoroughbreds which is up the main entry to Okawa Stud around 10/10.15 am. Jo...

Dirk and Nicki have plenty to celebrate

Northland stud-master Dirk Oberholster, couldn't be more happy with the way things are shaping up for his stallion Buffalo Man (CAN) (El Prado [IRE]-Perfect Six[USA]). Buffalo Man commenced stud duties at Totara Park just outside Whangarei in 2010 and his oldest progeny, now two-year-olds, are starting to make their name on the track. When contacted by the NZTBA after the win of Buffalo Boy at Te Rapa recently, Oberholster was his usual exuberant self, enthusing about his young El Prado (Sadle...

Macau Derby winner Best Season big thrill for his breeder, Robert Thomas

Former Ashburton trainer Robert Thomas may no longer be fully immersed in the thoroughbred industry but he still admits to getting excited when one of his breed, like the recent Macau Derby winner Best Season (Bahhare [USA]-Whinny), hits the big time. Thomas gave up training and breeding racehorses about five years ago, selling up his 50 acre purpose built training operation in Ashburton and moving to Golden Bay. He also sold out of the family that he had successfully rejuvenated to produce the...

Sham Express arrives at Windsor Park Stud

Windsor Park Stud this week paraded their new stallion Sham Express just a week after he landed in Cambridge. The showy four-year-old son of O'Reilly out of Volkrose who is by their former champion sire Volksraad(IRE), retired from racing after finishing fourth in the group one AJC All Aged Stakes at the end of April. He had previously won three races including the time honoured group one VRC Newmarket Handicap as a three-year-old, and this season as a four-year-old had only five starts all in ...

Robert's Blog – June 2014

Robert reports from Coolmore Stud in Ireland Welcome to my third blog, I am currently in my forth week living and working at Coolmore Stud in Fethard, Ireland. It's been about six weeks since my last update; this blog will cover my final weeks at Cheveley Park Stud, attending the races and sales in Newmarket and what I have been doing at Coolmore Stud so far. Before you read on here is the link to my photo blog, I've put a few photos from the races and sales in Newmarket up as well as a bit of...

May's been a momentous month for Nearco Stud

May 2014 will be remembered by Nearco Bloodstock Limited as a very momentous month, as they took top honours at the weanling sale and bred their first stakes winner. Established only four years ago by Christchurch entrepreneur Greg Tomlinson, Nearco topped the weanling sale at Karaka with an O'Reilly colt out of Miraculous Miss (AUS) and later in the month she produced their first stakes-winner when Avisto (Tavistock – Miraculous Miss) won the Listed Graeme Thomson Jewellers Great Northern F...

Great weekend at Trelawney with winners all round

It was a great weekend for the team at Trelawney Stud with winners all round. "We had the two group winners on Saturday at Doomben - Famous Seamus (Elusive City[USA]- Clinique) our 31st Group One winner and Pretty Pins(Pins [AUS]-Lunar Tudor[AUS])," enthused Trelawney Stud's Cherry Taylor. "Sancerre (O'Reilly –Vouvray) won at the Sunshine Coast on Sunday, giving her some form and stake earnings to help her make the field for the forthcoming GroupOone Queensland Oaks, a race won by her mother...

Champagne win for Elusive Catch

Te Awamutu accountant Keith Pennell admits to being more of a racing man than a breeding man, but that didn't take away the huge thrill he got when Elusive Catch (Elusive City [USA] – Milord A Lady) won the Listed Berkley Stud Champagne Stakes at Riccarton recently. "That is the first stakes winner I have bred. I went close with Miss Puzzle, and she is in the same family as this one. They share the same third dam, and Te Toro Lass, she won eight races for me sand she should have won black pri...

Brave Ali packs a punch for Ron Webby

As a small breeder Waikato NZTBA branch member Ron Webby is pretty chuffed about his latest stakes winner Brave Ali (O'Reilly- Knockmeout), the recent winner of the Listed Eagle Farm JRA Tails Stakes. "It's just a hobby and I love being involved. I have only got a couple of mares and I have bred four stakes winners, Gale, Danamite, Willy Ryan and now Brave Ali, even if this last one has taken his time," he enthused. Webby was referring to the fact that Brave Ali is now a seven-year-old, but he...

Instransigent gives Judge John Clapham another breeding success

For over 40 years Auckland Branch member and former NZTBA Councillor Judge John Clapham, has been passionate about breeding racehorses, and in that time he has nurtured the families from two foundation broodmares, Pantoufle (GB) (Panaslipper [IRE]- Etoile de France [IRE]) and Miyoshi (Fair's Fair [GB]-Corocutie). This season's Group Three Hawke's Bay Cup winner Intransigent (Refuse to Bend[IRE]- Risible) is a great-grandson of Pantoufle, the family which has probably given Clapham the most succ...

Perth Brothers choose New Zealand to start their breeding venture

Perth-based brothers John and Dean Brescacin have been in and out of race horses for years, but only ventured into the breeding game four years ago and have come up trumps with their first horse. The pair bred Caduceus (Lucky Unicorn [AUS]- French Lion [AUS]), the winner of the Listed 1600 metre Windsor Park Champagne Stakes run at Ellerslie recently and race him with their good friend Mike Anghie, also from Perth. "This is the first horse we have ever bred so it's pure luck. It's pretty exci...

Robert's Blog – April 2014

Robert files another blog from Cheveley in England Back to the blog! I'm currently in my seventh week living and working at Cheveley Park Stud in Newmarket, although it feels like I only arrived yesterday, time is flying! I've settled in really well, happy, healthy and enjoying my stay here. In this blog I'll go over some foals born on my nights sitting up, give an update of some of the things I've done, places I've been and people I have met and the night lectures. SITTING UP As I said in my ...

Kisses lands a big one for the Chequers Stud brothers

Cambridge brothers Chris Campin and Mark Fraser-Campin don't usually race fillies, but they are pleased they made an exception and kept Kisses (Iffraaj [GB]-La Marmalade[AUS]), especially after she recently won her second Listed race in the Christchurch Casino Easter Cup. "We are really very proud of her," said Mark Fraser-Campin, "She was always a nice big bold filly. Chris and I don't race a lot of fillies, preferring to race colts that we can trade on but we decided to keep her and take her ...

NZTBA member Tim Bodle breeds another Group One winner

When O'Marilyn (O'Reilly-Monroe Magic), the recent winner of the Group One The Oaks Manawatu Sires' Produce Stakes, was a offered up as a yearling, a lot of experts said she was too small and too long in the pasterns to ever make a racehorse, according to her breeder Tim Bodle. That was obviously not an opinion shared by one expert, one Trevor McKee who purchased the flashy dark brown filly for himself and his good mate Barry Rissetto. In six starts as a two-year-old she has now won twice and b...

Windsor Park keep a close eye on the Sydney Autumn Carnival

The team at Windsor Park are watching the racing at the Sydney autumn carnival with excitement and anticipation, and in particular, a four-year-old gelding in the Hawkes Racing stable - Entirely Platinum (Pentire [GB]- Platinum Blonde). "It's always nice to breed a good winner over the big Aussie carnivals and following Entirely Platinum's win in the Group Three Sky High Stakes, it looks like he has a big future and I am sure the Hawkes will have some lofty targets for him," stated Windsor Park...

Position Vacant - Marketing Assistant/Web Administrator

New Zealand Thoroughbred Marketing (NZTM) was established 'to communicate and actively market, for the long-term financial benefits of all stakeholders, the attributes of the New Zealand thoroughbred industry to clearly identified markets'. An exciting opportunity has arisen for an enthusiastic and organised individual to join our small Hamilton-based team as an online-focused marketing assistant. In this role you will support the Chief Executive and Project Managers by communicating to our aud...

Robert's Blog – March 2014

Robert Dennis' first blog from Cheveley Park Stud in England Hi there everyone, welcome to my blog about my experience while on the Sunline Scholarship. Firstly a brief introduction of myself, my name is Robert Dennis and I am this year's recipient of the Sunline Trust International management Scholarship. I am 22 years old and hail from a township called Woodlands in Southland where I was raised on the family farm by my parents Tony and Sharon. I went to school in Invercargill before continuin...

South Island Sale Yearling Parade

Sam and Libby Bleakley 89 Highden Road, RD6, Palmerston North 4476 Libby - 0276129610 Sam - 0272907759 South Island Sale Yearling Parade. Sam and Libby Bleakley invite you to inspect their quality draft of South Island Sale Yearlings. Parades will be held on the yearling farm, 102 Highden Road, RD6, Palmerston North on the following dates and times. March 28th 2014 commencing at 1.30pm April 4th 2014 commencing at 1.30pm April 7th 2014 commencing at 1.30pm Parades will take around an hour...