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Vale Reliable Man
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Te Akau’s NZB Kiwi triple threat
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Ritchie seeking fourth NZ Oaks crown
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Financier to make long-awaited return
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Group victory powers Cup hope across Tasman
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Coolmore purchases Super Seth
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Derby hope sold to Hong Kong
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Asakura confirmed for NZB Kiwi
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Fly Zenno to fulfil Oaks dream
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Ceolwulf cleared
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McNab keen to resume raceday competition
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Bates trimming down for Jenni return
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Wexford loaded with talent for Ellerslie
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Miss Twinkle set to shine at Riccarton
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National online breeding stock sale looming
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Can Evaporate take next step?
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Opawa Jack prevails in Wairoa Cup
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Local double for Wilson
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By Wandering Eyes · Posted
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 -
By Wandering Eyes · Posted
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 -
By Wandering Eyes · Posted
Te Akau Racing strengthened their representation in next month’s $4 million NZB Kiwi (1500m) following the announcement of their Group One winner La Dorada (NZ) (Super Seth) as ‘The People’s Horse’. Last season’s New Zealand Champion Two-Year-Old will represent the Clubs and the winners of The NZB Kiwi Golden Ticket campaign in the Southern Hemisphere’s richest three-year-old race, joining stablemates Belle Cheval (NZ) (Savabeel) (The King’s Men) and He Who Dares (NZ) (Snitzel) (Te Akau Racing). Following a standout juvenile season where she won four of her five starts, including the Gr.1 Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) and Karaka Millions 2YO (1200m), La Dorada disappointed in her two-race campaign in Australia last spring, but bounced back with victory in the Gr.2 Levin Classic (1400m) and a last-start placing in the $1.5 million Karaka Millions 3YO (1600m). Mark Walker, who trains the filly alongside Sam Bergerson, is pleased to have a third contender in the NZB Kiwi, which will be run at Ellerslie in a fortnight. “We took her to Melbourne in the spring and for whatever reason she didn’t really come up,” Walker said. “She had three weeks on the grass at Te Akau and it seemed to be the recipe to get her going well again. “They were pretty tough races in the spring in Australia, but it was good to see her bounce back in New Zealand.” Stablemate Belle Cheval will have her final hit-out ahead of the NZB Kiwi when she heads to Ellerslie on Saturday to tackle the Gr.3 Eagle Technology Uncle Remus Stakes (1400m). The daughter of Savabeel was set to head to Matamata last weekend, but her connections elected to withdraw her following heavy rain and head to Ellerslie seven days later. “We had this race as a Plan B,” Walker said. “It was our preference to run at Matamata with no travel but the heavy track put paid to that. “She has got a wide draw (13), but she is in terrific form and has got a great record at Ellerslie. I am looking forward to it.” She will be joined in her contest by stablemate To Bravery Born, who was eighth behind Belle Cheval in last month’s Gr.3 Almanzor Trophy (1200m). “There’s a bit of a question mark at 1400m but there is nothing else around for him,” Walker said. “He will be ridden neutral to try and get the trip.” The stable will also have three other stakes contenders at Ellerslie, including Towering Vision (NZ) (Circus Maximus) in the Gr.2 Eagle Technology Avondale Guineas (2100m), Qali Al Farrasha (NZ) (Almanzor) in the Gr.1 Sport Nation Otaki Maori WFA Classic (1600m), and Born To Be Royal (King’s Legacy) in the Gr.1 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai New Zealand Oaks (2400m). “We will probably ride Towering Vision a fraction quieter from the draw (4). He might have got there just a bit soon in the Waikato Guineas (Gr.2, 2000m),” Walker said. “Qali Al Farrasha comes into this with fresh legs and she is as honest as the day is long. She seems to go well fresh. She has had plenty of Group One seconds, we are just trying to enhance her resume with a Group One win. “Born To Be Royal’s last start (last in the Gr.2 David & Karyn Ellis Fillies Classic, 2100m) was a bit of a headscratcher. Her run at Ellerslie on New Year’s Day (third in Gr.2 Sir Patrick Hogan Stakes, 2000m) was good, so you have just got to take her on trust. There is a hot favourite (Ohope Wins) in it that looks smart, but it is a horse race and anything can happen.” On the undercard, Espionage will be seeking to bounce back in the Horizon By SkyCity 1200 following his unplaced run in last month’s Gr.1 Railway (1200m), as he gets ready for the Gr.3 Haunui Farm King’s Plate (1200m) on Champions Day. “He ran really well first-up in New Zealand but his Railway run was just okay,” Walker said. “We will probably ride him neutral, like we did in his first start and see if he runs home.” Meanwhile, Walker is gearing up for a busy day across the Tasman, with Te Akau Racing’s Cranbourne barn set to line-up half a dozen runners on Blue Diamond Day at Caulfield, including I Am Aria (I Am Invincible) in the Gr.1 Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m). The daughter of I Am Invincible has placed in both of her starts to date and leading hoop Craig Williams has elected to stay with the filly. “She has got a really good draw and if the emergencies come out she will jump from barrier four,” Walker said. “I think the big plus with her is that Craig Williams got offered a lot of rides and he decided to stick with her. We will try and get in behind a few, she has led up in both starts through circumstances, but we think she might be better just taking a sit.” Inaugural NZB Kiwi (1500m) winner Damask Rose (NZ) (Savabeel) returned to form fresh-up last month when runner-up in the Gr.3 Geoffrey Bellmaine Stakes (1200m) and will be looking to go one better in the Gr.3 Mannerism Stakes (1400m). “She was very good first-up and she has got a very good second-up record, and 1400m will suit her better,” Walker said. Stable newcomer Watch Me Rock (Awesome Rock) will have his first start for Walker in the Gr.1 Futurity Stakes (1400m), while he will also be represented by Abrafo (NZ) (Per Incanto) in the Gr.2 Autumn Classic (1800m), Chateau Eze (Frankel) in the Gr.2 Angus Armanasco Stakes (1400m), and Geegees Mistruth (Wordsmith) in the Gr.1 Oakleigh Plate (1100m). “Watch Me Rock has just come over from Perth,” Walker said. “He is a lovely horse and Grant and Alana (Williams) have him in wonderful condition, he only arrived on Monday. I think it is a bit of an open race, I know Treasurethe Moment is quite short but she is fresh-up, it is a horse race, and anything can happen. “Abrafo is an interesting runner. I think 1800m will suit him. It is the Werther/Bagalollies family, so a lot of staying blood in the family. He appears to be a nice staying prospect and he deserves his chance. He is long in the market but I think he will run better than that. “We think Chateau Eze should run well if she gets a bit of luck from that awkward draw (7), and Geegees Mistruth is in great form, she should have won first-up, she was desperately unlucky, but she is going really well.” View the full article -
By Wandering Eyes · Posted
The Gr.1 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai New Zealand Oaks (2400m) may have a new home, but Cambridge horseman Shaune Ritchie is hoping his strong record in the race continues as he seeks his fourth title in the race on Saturday. To be run at Ellerslie for the first time this weekend, the New Zealand Oaks was previously contested at Trentham where Ritchie won three editions of the fillies’ classic with Keep The Peace (NZ) (Keeper) (2010), Artistic (NZ) (Darci Brahma) (2012) and Jennifer Eccles (NZ) (Rip Van Winkle) (2020). Ritchie, and training partner Colm Murray, will be represented in this year’s edition by The Oaks Stud’s Tajana (NZ) (Darci Brahma), and while pleased with his filly, history tells him she will have her work cut out for her this weekend. “It is a race that we like to target with our fillies, and we have got a filly who is going to be in the thick end of things on Saturday,” Ritchie said. “We have had horses going into the race in the past who looked the dominant filly, and the dominant filly generally wins the Oaks. That is why it is such a good race because it usually throws up the best filly. Unfortunately, Ohope Wins (NZ) (Ocean Park) looks the dominant filly. “Having said that, this filly’s demeanour and temperament is probably better than any of those other fillies we have won with – Keep The Peace, Jennifer Eccles and Artistic. All of them had to mellow a little bit to run the trip out and we had to tweak their training in some way, whereas this filly just trains herself, she has got a wonderful demeanour and a lovely nature. “It is rare in any race to step a horse up over ground and put blinkers on, but that is our faith in how well she will settle. Obviously, we won’t be able to drive her out of the gates with the blinkers on. She is probably going to settle in the back half of the field, and if that is the case she will attack the line strong.” Following her unplaced run in the Gr.1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) at Riccarton in November, Ritchie said they gave her an intentionally light lead in to the Oaks, with just the two runs, including placing in the Gr.2 David & Karyn Ellis Fillies Classic (2100m) at Te Rapa earlier this month, and he said she is thriving ahead of Saturday’s 2400m test. “When we came back from Christchurch we deliberately missed the Ellerslie carnival with this Oaks in mind,” he said. “I don’t think we will get her in any better order, she looks fantastic. She will peak on Saturday. “She is certainly not going into the race on tired legs, which is a major plus. In the past we have had fillies that have dominated the series from the beginning who have won this race, and we have looked for ways to freshen them up, and in this case we have just been able to keep the foot gently on the pedal all the way through.” Ritchie is also looking forward to lining up last-start Gr.3 Aotearoa Classic (1600m) winner Tuxedo (NZ) (Tivaci) in the Gr.1 Sport Nation Otaki Maori WFA Classic (1600m). It will be the four-year-old gelding’s third tilt at weight-for-age, following unplaced runs in the Gr.1 Proisir Plate (1400m) and Gr.1 Howden Insurance Mile (1600m) last spring, and while Ritchie believes Tuxedo is a horse for the future, he is looking forward to seeing how he measures up against his seasoned opposition this weekend. “There will be no negative from his performance last time, he will produce the same performance. It’s hard to say he has improved again but I am sure he will put up the same effort,” Ritchie said. “The issue of course is going from four-year-olds, and I think they are a strong bunch of four-year-olds, to weight-for-age level. “In the spring we just fell short, not by much, but we feel he is a little stronger on his autumn form and we are hoping that will cover it. He was a little bit unlucky in his weight-for-age runs but I don’t think he would have won either, even with even luck. “We are dealing with a bit of a strong animal and there is a lot of respect for our weight-for-age horses over the last couple of years, we have had those two great mares – La Crique (NZ) (Vadamos) and Legarto (NZ) (Proisir) – and they have been dominant and are going off to be broodmares next season. “Then you have got the likes of Waitak (NZ) Proisir) and El Vencedor (NZ) (Shocking) who seem evergreen horses, but it is hard to imagine there is any improvement in them. You get what you have got with them heading into next season and we see him as a weight-for-age star for the next couple of years. “We are excited to have him over the next two years, but whether he is up to those hardened warriors right now, I guess we will find out on Saturday.” The stable will also be represented by Mahrajaan (Kitten’s Joy) and Nereus (NZ) (Savabeel) in the Gr.3 Eagle Technology Avondale Cup (2400m), with the former bidding to win back his Gr.2 Auckland Cup (3200m) crown next month, having won the two-mile feature two years ago. “I just don’t think Mahrajaan gets warm until he gets to the two miles,” Ritchie said. “We are waiting to put the blinkers on him in the Auckland Cup, so that will be his peak performance. We are expecting him to go super in that race, but he is likely to be uncompetitive (on Saturday). “From that draw (18) we are going to be forced to ride him cold and he is unlikely to sprint home in the times he needs to in order to be competitive on Saturday. “Nereus is the forgotten horse a bit, I think he is overs. His last run at Ellerslie he ran El Vencedor and Mary Shan (NZ) (Almanzor) very close and his last start at weight-for-age he had the second fastest last 200m of the race. “He is going in good form. He is racing well without getting a lot of luck and I just feel from gate seven he is going to get a nice trip somewhat handy. He is well capable of taking a race like this out. “He is down in the weights again, which is going to be a big advantage to him. He might be one for longer odds from our runners over the weekend.” Ritchie is excited about the prospects of his promising juvenile Summer Schemer (Dirty Work), who will make her debut in the Eagle Charters 1100, having won both of her lead-in trials. “There is some terrific trial form,” Ritchie said. “She ran the quickest time of those trial winners at Ellerslie two weeks ago, so that is encouraging for us. She sat three-wide and pricked her ears on the line, so it is hard to tell where the bottom of her is. “She is tidy in track work without being blistering so you think she would get a little further than the 1100m as well. “They have given us a gift barrier (1), so we will obviously be using that.” The daughter of Dirty Work holds a nomination for the Gr.1 Courtesy Ford Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) and Ritchie said she will head towards the Trentham feature if she measures up on Saturday. “We nominated her for the Sires’ Produce before she even trialled, so we have got a healthy opinion of her,” he said. “But you have got to measure up to these better ones. I feel the 1100m may just fall a little short, but if she can get a soft run on the fence and she is attacking the line then that will justify her spot, and we will certainly look for another run to head into that Group One race.” Further south at Otaki, Ritchie will line-up just the one runner, but he believes Andahar (NZ) (Savabeel) is the stable’s best bet of the day in the Otaki Tyre Repairs Handicap (1600m). “He is probably the best bet of the day for us because it is the least competitive race,” he said. “It is so hard to win at Ellerslie on a Group One day, and in all of those races there is not going to be much between first and eighth. “I know he has got a tricky gate (13), but he is a real Savabeel, he keeps getting better with his racing and he ran into a very good one last time in the CD. He looks really well placed there and if he drew well I am sure he probably would have been $2.50 and not $5. “I like the fact that he has got that claim as well. He has a good, strong apprentice with Sam (McNab) on, getting three kilos off.” View the full article -
By Wandering Eyes · Posted
While looking forward to a big day of racing at Ellerslie on Saturday, Cambridge trainer Stephen Marsh is excited to head to Taupo a day later where his Group Two performer Financier (NZ) (Tavistock) will make his long-awaited return in the Rabobank Cup (1400m). The six-year-old son of Tavistock hasn’t been sighted on raceday since his placing in the Gr.2 Japan Trophy (1600m) at Tauranga two years ago, and Marsh is looking forward to stepping him out once more on Sunday. “It is just exciting to have a nice horse like him back,” Marsh said. “He had a slight tweak of the tendon, it wasn’t a bowed tendon or anything like that, but we decided to give him a long, extended spell and give him a nice, slow build-up. “We probably gave him longer than he needed, but time is always a horse’s best friend.” Marsh has reserved expectations leading into Financier’s first-up run, believing he will require a few runs to return to match fitness. “We have got him forward enough but he is going to take a lot of improvement, and he is still carrying very good condition, so the run is going to clean him up really well,” Marsh said. “I think he will take a couple of runs to get back to his fighting weight.” Meanwhile, Marsh will head to Ellerslie with a strong hand on Saturday, including a three-pronged attack in the Gr.1 Sport Nation Otaki Maori WFA Classic (1600m) courtesy of reigning New Zealand Horse of the Year El Vencedor (NZ) (Shocking), Provence (NZ) (Savabeel) and Queen Zou (Zoustar). “El Vencedor is obviously using this as a lead-up to the Bonecrusher (Gr.1, 2000m),” Marsh said. “I liked his last run (fourth in the Gr.1 Herbie Dyke Stakes, 2000m), he is bright and well, and I don’t see why he couldn’t give a bit of cheek. “I thought Provence was a little bit unlucky last start (ninth in the Gr.1 BCD Group Sprint, 1400m). With that run under her belt and back to a mile and back at Ellerslie from a good draw (5), I think she can bounce back. “Queen Zou is one of the newer girls on the block, has drawn nicely (2) and really deserves her chance but is going to have to be right up on her game.” Of his other runners, Marsh is particularly looking forward to Kiwi Skyhawk (NZ) (Contributer) and Sinhaman (NZ) (Tivaci) in the Gr.3 Eagle Technology Avondale Cup (2400m), Ardalio (NZ) (Ardrossan) in the Horizon By SkyCity 1200, and juvenile debutant Rose Aye Reign (I Am Invincible) in the Eagle Charters 1100. “We have nice chances all round but there is hard racing on the day,” Marsh said. “I think Ardalio coming back to an open sprint is a big chance, I really like the way she is going. I like Kiwi Skyhawk and Sinhaman’s chances in the Avondale Cup, and I really like a two-year-old called Rose Aye Reign, but she has drawn a poor gate (10). I think she is one going places.” One runner that won’t feature on the nine-race card is Ammirati (NZ) (Savabeel), with the dual stakes winner having been sold to Hong Kong. “He has been sold to Hong Kong, that is why he is out of the Avondale Guineas (Gr.2, 2100m),” Marsh said. “He is tough, very durable, and I think he is the ideal horse for up there.” View the full article
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