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First foals for Jimmy Choux

Rich Hill Stud has been eagerly awaiting the first foals of the former champion performer Jimmy Choux and they haven't been disappointed. The Walton farm on the outskirts of Matamata have welcomed a stunning duo with the recent arrivals of a son and a daughter of the charismatic Thorn Park stallion. "His two foals born so far are remarkably similar," stud principal John Thompson said. "They are both well-balanced bays with quality and a very athletic appearance. It is an exciting time for us as...

NZTR announces stake increases

New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing (NZTR) has announced prize money increases from January 1, 2014. Minimum stakes for all races at the country's top five meetings, to be known as Iconic meetings, will be increased to $40,000 per race. They are Wellington Cup day, New Zealand Derby day, Spring Classic day, New Zealand Cup day and Boxing Day at Ellerslie. In addition, minimum prize money for all races at a further 15 Premier meetings, to be titled 'Premier 1' meetings, will be increased to $30,000...

Holly's Blog - August 2013

Hola! Buenos dias, Como Estas? It's been awhile since my last blog due to travel and work commitments I haven't had a lot of spare time but I will do my best to fill in the past few weeks. My last few weeks in Ireland were very enjoyable with the weather attempting to resemble some sort of summer. The last two weeks I spent at Primus, the marketing and advertising company designated to Coolmore's multinational operation. With so many stallions and in different countries it is quite a task to ...

Trelawney Stud wins the 2013 New Zealand Breeder of the Year title

The euphoria of winning the Breeder of the Year title is slowing waning and its business as usual at Trelawney Stud according to Brent Taylor. "We are back to the mundane things like foaling, organizing mares and getting our yearlings sorted. We are back down to earth now. "It was very gratifying winning the Breeder of the Year title. We have seen some wonderful people get the award in the past and always strived to be there ourselves. It took a little while for our plans to come to fruition, ...

Azamour (IRE) has Royal connections

In the stud season about to start, the former champion racehorse and proven sire Azamour (IRE) [Nightshift- Asmara] will commence stud duties at Brighthill Farm in Cambridge. Azamour was the winner of five races in the famous green and red colours of His Highness the Aga Khan. At two he had one start and won the group two Beresford Stakes at the Curragh. As a three-year-old he won the group one Royal Ascot St James's Palace Stakes and the group one Irish Champion Stakes, while at four he added ...

Breeders benefit from expert advice at NZTBA Winter Seminar Series

Almost 200 people enjoyed this year's excellent NZTBA Winter Seminar Series presented last week in Auckland, Hamilton, Palmerston North and Christchurch. The 2013 Series was free of charge for all attendees, thanks to the generous support of the NZTBA's commercial partners, the BNZ, Dunstan Horsefeeds, Fertco, Magnum Industries & Goldpine, in association with Caledonian Holdings. Alec Jorgensen (NZ Equine Veterinary Association), Gretel Webber (Dunstan Nutrition) & Dr Peter Pulford (V...

NZTBA Members' Bloodstock Taxation Update, August 2013

BLOODSTOCK TAX CASE - DECISION IN FAVOUR OF THE COMMISSIONER HIGH COURT FINDS THAT THERE WAS NO BREEDING BUSINESS By John Aubrey: jcaubrey@xtra.co.nz The decision delivered on 15 July could well prove to be a major blow to the bloodstock industry coming as it does at a time of diminishing returns and a grave loss of confidence in the future. In addition, there will inevitably be a substantial expansion in the Revenue's investigation of bloodstock syndicates. The case, DRUMMOND & ORS v TH...

Changing of guard at Hall of Fame

Founding director Chris Luoni has succeeded Gerald Fell as chairman of the New Zealand Racing Hall of Fame. Fell has remained as a director and has been joined by newcomers Cherry Taylor, of Trelawney Stud, and Haunui Farm's Mark Chitty. "Gerald was an inspirational chairman during our first nine years of operation and we thank him for his leadership and commitment," Luoni said. "Both Cherry and Mark have leadership positions in our industry and are looking forward to their involvement in this ...

Holly's Blog - July 2013

Coolmore Ireland The second part of my scholarship has begun and I am now based at the reputable Coolmore Stud in Fethard, Ireland. The short journey over from England was hindered only by the size of my suitcase and all the extra belongings I had acquired from Newmarket. I was excited and slightly apprehensive to be arriving at the place known worldwide as the home of champions. I was very impressed upon arrival, the farm is beautiful, and with lots of green grass and trees, the environment sh...

Read Holly's Ross' latest blog from Ireland

Holly Ross' latest blog can be read here - NZTBA...

Magic Belle flies the family flag for John Ralph

It was a pretty proud moment for Waikato NZTBA branch member John Ralph when his three-year-old filly Magic Belle (Keeper[AUS]-Sadie Belle) won the listed Tauranga Classic, and not just because he owns and bred the horse, but because it was trained by his younger son Stephen. "It's a proud moment to have, to see your kids do well. I tried to dissuade him from becoming a trainer so it's good to see him do well. After all the hugging and handshaking I told him all he needs now is a group one winn...

Singapore champion Super Easy retires to Hallmark Stud

Singapore Horse of the Year Super Easy (pictured) willl stand at the Baker family's Hallmark Stud, Te Kauwhata this coming spring at a fee of $7500 + GST. The high-class son of leading New Zealand sire Darci Brahma won 15 of his 23 career starts including the Singapore Guineas, Lion City Cup and Patrons' Bowl at Singapore Group 1 level. He also won a further six stakes races and gained a valuable international Group 1 placing in the Singapore Krisflyer International Sprint. Super Easy was bred...

Annual General Meeting

The Association's Annual General Meeting will be held on Thursday 13th June at 4pm in the Cuvee Room, Members' Stand, Ellerslie Racecourse, Auckland. All members are welcome. The Guest Speark will be Chris Bayliss, CEO of the New Zealand Racing Board. We look forward to a lively and informative presentation. Click here to read the 2013 Annual Financial Report. - NZTBA...

Snipza Gold comes up 'trumps' with Dugan

Around 16 years ago Waikato NZTBA branch member Steve Marriner joined a Te Akau racing syndicate to have a bit of fun racing a horse. Also joining that syndicate to race a horse called Te Akau Class were Doug Ansford, Bruce Fisher and Trevor Lee, none of whom knew each other at the time. These days the fun is still continuing and not only have they become successful race horse owners but they are successful breeders as well, with Dugan (Darci Brahma – Snipza Gold) being their latest stakes wi...

Breeders' Bulletin - Winter 2013

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Waikato Stud, Ron and Fran Dixon combine for an exciting win

Waikato Stud's champion sire O'Reilly is showing no signs of slowing down and is continuing year after year to produce stakes winners. Hera (ex Corsica), the winner of the Listed Graeme Thomson Jewellers Great Northern Foal Stakes for two-year-olds, is his 15th stakes winner this season, and brings his total to 66. He has left five three-year-old stakes winners this season including the Group One winners Shamexpress (ex Volksrose) and Sacred Falls (ex Iguazu's Girl) and the fillies Emerald Que...

Holly's Blog - May 2013

My last few weeks in Newmarket were just as busy and exciting as the first few seizing to make the most of every opportunity before I left. I accompanied Chris Richardson on a Saturday morning to watch some of the Cheveley Park horses in training. ...

Bruce Gray says "I Do"

Karaka breeder Bruce Gray was among those cheering on I Do (No Excuse Needed(USA)- Freequence) when she won the listed Windsor Park Rotorua Stakes recently as he is the proud owner of her dam Freequence. In fact, Bruce actually bought Freequence (O'Reilly – Freequent) while she was carrying I Do, knowing that the foal was to be kept by Alan Sharrock and Waikato Stud who had leased the mare for two seasons. "Freequence was owned by Shirley and Ross Hayward who have been friends of my family f...

Graeme Hunt has great faith in Eulogy line mares

Salamanca's (Alamosa- Anca) impressive win in the recent listed Berkeley Stud Champagne Stakes at Riccarton did not come as a surprise to his breeder Graeme Hunt. What did surprise him was how well he won. "I am surprised that he won that well in the wet, on what he had shown in his first win (at his only other start). I knew he was capable of winning. It's very exciting for me as not only is he Alamosa's first stakes winner, but he is also Anca's first foal. For a first foal he was outstandin...

Brampton Legs leaves a Group 2 winner for Eric and Moyra Johnston

Mosgiel breeders Eric and Moyra Johnston only have one broodmare, Brampton Legs (Zabeel- La Suffragette), on their 30 acre property, but in their eyes she is pretty special especially after her first foal Pimms Time became a group two winner. Pimms Time, a four-year-old mare by Pins (AUS), recently won the group two Travis Stakes, taking her winning tally to five wins from 12 starts. In fact, this time last year she was still a maiden, winning her first race at Otaki in late May before having a...

NZTBA member Don Gordon wins his local Cup

Hawke's Bay octogenarian Don Gordon has been breeding horses and racing horses for nearly sixty years, and is no stranger to breeding or racing stakes winners. However his most recent stakes winner Survived (Zed – Liberal) is lucky to have done exactly that. When Survived was born in October 2009 he was so small Gordon didn't think he would survive. "I decided to foal Liberal (Generous[GB]) – Political) at home to save the $500 foaling fee and got Arthur Ormond around to give me a hand. It...

Bel Esprit and Sacred Falls both descend from No. 34 family

BEL ESPRIT the sire of champion Australian racemare BLACK CAVIAR, along with SACRED FALLS recent winner of the $2 million ATC Doncaster Handicap in Sydney belong to the Bruce Lowe No.34 Family. BEL ESPRIT traces back to one of Southland's oldest families involving veterinarian and studmaster Mr.A. Chisholm, of Glentriun Stud, Otautau, Western Southland. For many years Alex Chisholm was the official veterinarian at the Trentham Yearling Sales, and when the New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders' Ass...

Holly's out and about in Newmarket

Read Holly Ross' latest blog from Newmarket, England. - Holly Ross...

Tremec keeps the Horlicks' family flag flying for the de Gruchys

The legacy of the champion mare Horlicks continues to live on, and recently her grandson Temac (Zabeel – Tipple), winner of the group two ATC Chairman's Handicap, added his name to her tally of stakes winning descendants. "It's great to see her descendants excel in the hottest racing scene in the world at the moment in Australia. She has left a great legacy and it will live on," according to Hawkes Bay breeder Graham de Gruchy who bred and owned the great mare, and bred her grandson Temac. "...

Holly's Blog - April 2013

I have now been in England for five weeks which means I am halfway through my time at Cheveley Park Stud. Everything on the stud is going well; haven't had many foals in the past couple of weeks (probably due to the cold weather) so we are expecting a few very soon! Each day I am learning something new and adjusting to the different way tasks are carried out in the Northern Hemisphere. There are so many great places to see in Newmarket for a horse racing and breeding enthusiast. Running a few e...