Gallops

Was quite a good crowd the year I went, but nothing like they'd have back in the early days, didn't get to see the early photos you mentioned, did back a winner while there, Sterling lady paid 24, Parsons trained, bred by the late Kevin Hickman, only race she won, did get my year wrong, was actually 2019, boy time flies by, Stayed in a grand pub at invercargill, think it was call the Victoria or something similar, was very well looked after, especially having traveled and a day at the races, did sample some of the famous bluff oysters. 

The good old days, camera tech has moved on since those times I guess,, maybe a bit easier these days, remember taking a couple shots of empire rose winning her NZ cup, what a lump of a horse she was, what a good horse Rough habit his win in the stradbroke I think it  was freakish ,Im positive we've witnessed the best era of racing, looking back at some of those names that pop up, horses of those calibre just not seen these days, Scapolo did get his 20 win, finished 2nd in his last hurrah to little miss swiss, raced at many a venue.Thanks again for the modena pic, certainly bring back the memory of thwt maiden win at little old Westport.

There might be an extra layer of pressure as Ka Ying Rising prepares to create more history, but trainer David Hayes has no reason to question the superstar sprinter’s credentials in Sunday’s Group One Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup (1,400m) at Sha Tin. Poised to break champion sprinter Silent Witness’ Hong Kong record of 17 consecutive wins, Ka Ying Rising has been invincible since starting his winning streak two years ago and has improved significantly since passing his first 1,400m test in last...View the full article

High-class racehorse turned Group One sire Reliable Man has died aged 18. Westbury Stud General Manager Russell Warwick confirmed the striking grey died after complications from surgery to remove melanomas. “Being a grey horse, he was starting to suffer from melanomas, and he had quite a significant one under his tail,” Warwick said. “We did some surgery on Monday, which went really well but then he had some post-surgery complications, sort of 48 hours later and he was going downhill at a rapid rate. “We didn’t want him to suffer, and you do the right thing by the horse.” Warwick said Reliable Man was always well-received by visitors to Westbury Stud’s Karaka property. “He was a real privilege to have around the farm and every time we brought him out for a stallion parade, he was a bit of a show-stopper,” he said. “He knew he was good and he was a bit of a crowd favourite.” The son of Dalakhani was the winner of the Gr.1 Prix du Jockey Club (2100m) in 2011, with his next top-flight victory coming almost two years later for Chris Waller when defeating Dundeel by two and a half lengths in the Gr.1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) at Randwick. That stunning triumph was the catalyst for a stud career in New Zealand, while he initially shuttled from studs in Germany, and France. Bred and raced by his Swedish breeders Sven and Carina Hanson, the couple remained a supporter of Reliable Man in both hemispheres for much of the duration. “When he won his Group One in Australia for Chris Waller, he broke down with 50m to go in that race and still ran a very quick time and beat It’s A Dundeel, who was a star. So he was a high-calibre racehorse in every respect,” Warwick said. At stud, Reliable Man is the sire of four individual Group One winners, with Oaks winners Miami Bound (VRC Oaks), Sentimental Miss (New Zealand Oaks) and Erle (Preis der Diana) joined by quality mare Inspirational Girl (Gr.1 Railway Stakes) as elite level winners. “He’s done exceptionally well at stud. Some would say his fillies have been slightly better than his colts,” Warwick said. “In addition to his four Group One winning fillies, he sired the likes of Group winners Annavisto, Renaisance Woman and Lekvarte who were also high-calibre fillies. “He is the sire of 29 stakes winners to date and hopefully he can add to that with horses like Lunaman in the Avondale Guineas (Gr.2, 2100m) tomorrow, while Final Return and Nest Egg who are both in the Avondale Cup (Gr.3, 2400m) have both already won at black-type level. “He’s been a pleasure to have around and will be sorely missed.” View the full article

Niamh Waters has been announced as the 2026 recipient of the Sunline Trust International Management Scholarship and will depart on Saturday to begin her 30-week international experience. Funded by the Sunline Education Trust and administered by the New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association, the scholarship provides an all-expenses-paid, bonded international experience designed to expose emerging industry leaders to the operational systems and management practices of the world’s leading thoroughbred organisations. Waters brings a strong practical background gained across New Zealand, England and Australia, having worked through breeding seasons, yearling preparations and major international sales environments. Her career began at Haunui Farm in Karaka while completing a Diploma in Veterinary Nursing, before roles at New England Stud and Newsells Park Stud in Newmarket, and more recently Newgate Farm in Scone, where she has taken on increasing responsibility within the yearling team. She said her motivation to apply stemmed from a desire to broaden her knowledge beyond New Zealand and challenge herself across different sectors of the global industry. “I’ve always wanted to expand my understanding of the industry internationally and work in new environments,” Waters said. “The opportunity to learn alongside some of the best in the industry was something I couldn’t pass up.” Being selected carries significant personal meaning for Waters. “As a proud Kiwi, it’s incredibly special to represent our industry on an international stage,” she said. “It feels like a real vote of confidence, and I’m determined to make the most of the opportunity.” The scholarship itinerary includes experience across several premier racing and breeding jurisdictions, highlighted by time at Coolmore Stud in Ireland — an opportunity she is particularly excited about — along with exposure to Hong Kong’s internationally recognised high-performance racing environment. “I’m especially looking forward to my time at Coolmore Stud,” she said. “To be immersed in an environment with that level of influence and excellence is incredibly exciting. I’m also really looking forward to Hong Kong, the racing environment there is so competitive and unique, and I’m excited to experience the high-performance culture that makes it one of the strongest jurisdictions in the world.” Waters has developed a strong interest in breeding and bloodstock, particularly mating decisions, pedigree analysis and long-term planning, while also looking forward to gaining a broader understanding of the racing and performance side of the industry. “I’m particularly excited to continue developing my knowledge of the breeding and bloodstock side of the industry, especially around mating decisions, pedigree analysis and the long-term planning that goes into producing elite racehorses,” she said. “Equally, gaining experience on the racing and performance side will give me a much more well-rounded understanding of the full lifecycle of a racehorse.” Waters said she has been fortunate to learn from several mentors throughout her career, singling out her recent time at Newgate Farm as particularly influential. “It’s hard to pick just one as I’ve been fortunate to work with many inspirational people who have given me incredible opportunities so far,” she said. “What really stood out to me at Newgate was the management team and their genuine commitment to giving young people real opportunities to learn and grow. It’s the best example of supportive leadership and culture I’ve experienced in my career so far.” Looking ahead, Waters hopes the experience will help shape the next stage of her career. “I hope this scholarship will give me the experience and knowledge I need to eventually step into a management role within the industry,” she said. “It’s also a chance to build vital connections with leading professionals around the world, which could open up even greater opportunities once the scholarship is completed.” NZTBA Chief Executive and Sunline Trust Trustee Nick Johnson said the Sunline Scholarship has played an important role in developing future leaders within the industry. “The Sunline Scholarship has now given more than 20 young New Zealanders the opportunity to experience the global thoroughbred breeding and racing industry, bringing the skills and knowledge they gain back home,” Johnson said. “It has helped launch the careers of some of the very best New Zealanders working around the world, and we again saw a fantastic group of applicants this year, which bodes well for the future of our industry. Niamh is a thoroughly deserving recipient.” Johnson also acknowledged the support of NZB Insurance, Cambridge Stud, Rich Hill Stud and the Proisir Syndicate, Windsor Park Stud and Coolmore, and Yulong Investments for donating stallion services, along with Phillip Brown, Ben Kwok, Judith Mulholland, and Sam and Dame Catriona Williams for their generous support in purchasing those services at an auction held during the National Breeding Awards in July, with the evening dedicated to fundraising for the scholarship. “That generosity ensures the scholarship remains strong and sustainable for many years to come,” he said. – NZTBA View the full article