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Compliance has ‘Good Friday’ on his mind
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Williamson debutants impress at Addington
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It’s all go for The Race
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Self Assured primed for huge run in The Race
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Point Napean a ‘proper stayer’ says Williams
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Rescheduled date for Laurie Laxon memorial
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Ayrton all set for Victoria Handicap return
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Waikato Stud announces 2022 stallion roster
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First winner for U S Navy Flag
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Australian spring campaign calling Wolverine
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Top mare’s trainer oozing with confidence
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Busy week for Darwin trainer Phil Cole
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By Wandering Eyes · Posted
Emma Thompson was stepping into the unknown when taking on the role as Programme Lead for the NZB Kiwi, and after executing an outstanding inaugural running in March, she was recognised at Entain’s Industry Excellence Awards. For the duration of 2024 through to Champions Day, Thompson was immersed in promoting the $3.5 million slot race, the first of its kind in thoroughbred racing on Kiwi soil. She brought a modern, innovative approach to the event, whilst maintaining the history and culture of New Zealand and our racing industry. Thompson’s effort and dedication to the concept were rewarded on Sunday night, where she was humbled to be announced the winner of the Administration and Innovation Excellence category. “I was a bit shocked honestly, I was stoked to even be nominated among an elite calibre of young people,” she said. “To win, it was quite surreal. “Thank you very much to the team at Entain for putting on the awards, what they are doing for our industry is incredible. They were instrumental in establishing the NZB Kiwi, which I’m very grateful for. “It was very special to be recognised for organising something that, in my opinion, has a really special place in the industry and hopefully will have a lasting impact for many years to come. “I couldn’t have done it without an incredible team, and I’d like to thank my steering committee, Cameron George and Petrea Vela. They really helped me professionally and gave me confidence to make smart decisions around the race. “I’m very grateful to them, and the entire team at NZTR.” As a daughter of Rich Hill Stud proprietors John and Colleen Thompson, thoroughbreds were the centre of Thompson’s upbringing, and after university, an opportunity at New Zealand Bloodstock sparked her love for marketing and administration. “I graduated with a marketing and communications degree, then landed a marketing internship at NZB,” she said. “I started a week before the Ready to Run Sale in 2018, and within a week, I realised how much I loved being a part of the industry. “I’ve watched my parents build their business from the ground-up, and what they’ve achieved in the past few years with their own stallions has been amazing to watch. I’m very proud of them, and that has a flow-on to how I want to be in my life, and the impact I want to make on the industry. “Starting at NZB gave me great knowledge at the grassroots level, the people were amazing, and I loved the marketing and advertising side of things. That really sparked my interest and then I moved to NZTR about two-and-a-half years ago, which was a bit of a career jump for me.” Thompson took on a new position as New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing’s Communication and Public Relations Lead, which led to her role in promoting the NZB Kiwi. “I really found my passion for writing and communicating and I’ve been very lucky to be given opportunities along the way, as well as some amazing role models,” she said. “I knew very early on that the new race was going to be something special, so I took the bull by the horns and tried to do my part in getting that off the ground. We contracted Andrew Gourdie, who was our Head of Content and Media, and the Kiwi would not have got anywhere near the cut-through that it did without him. “It was very cool to be able to set something up from scratch, but that did make it challenging at times because there was no blueprint to follow. That presented an opportunity for us to be really bold and innovative, and something I really leaned into was the New Zealand industry, which was really well-received internationally.” In the lead-up to March 8, Thompson targeted mainstream media coverage with her own unique flare. “One of my favourite memories was the barrier draw, where I came up with the idea of smashing Kiwi eggs,” she said. “I really wanted to incorporate something that had never been done before, that would get mainstream cut-through. “I’m a Gen Z, so if someone’s talking about it, whether it’s bad or good, it’s all publicity for the race. I worked with an amazing event manager who helped us pull that off, and I think that was definitely a special moment, bringing an idea to reality.” Over 12 months of work finally came together in a two-minute display of elite three-year-old racing, when Thompson admitted she felt a sense of relief. “It was a very hectic day, but it was quite a relief when the race was run,” she said. “I think the narrative that we were able to build throughout the racing season, to create a moment that people wanted to be a part of, was really special to see. “One of my priorities was to ensure the slot holders had an experience unlike any other day they’ve attended before, and it was amazing to see every piece of the puzzle come together. “We worked with the iwi to have a haka powhiri, and we were able to show our beautiful culture on the world stage, with the World Pool meeting involved. “In a race that is so highly publicised, people tend to look for negative attention, but all of the horses got home safely, in such an elite calibre of field too. It was the highest-rated three-year-old race of the season, so to get that in its inaugural year and get the buy-in from stakeholders, we’re really only scratching the surface.” Having started her career at New Zealand Bloodstock, their sponsorship of such a new concept was particularly special for Thompson. “I’d like to acknowledge and thank NZB as well, for coming on board and sponsoring the inaugural running of the race,” she said. “To have Sir Peter Vela, the Vela family and the team at NZB support the concept was amazing, and it was a nice fit considering they had nine graduates from all three of their sales in the race. “It had a special part in my heart, because that is where I started my career, so I was very proud to work with their team, who I’m very close with.” View the full article -
By Wandering Eyes · Posted
Buyers can currently bid on 11 stakes-performed mares in the National Online Breeding Stock Sale on Gavelhouse Plus, including one that brings South American bloodlines and Singaporean racetrack performance. The Argentinian-bred Istataba is by the Galileo stallion Treasure Beach, who won the Irish Derby (2400m) and is the sire of nine Group One winners among a total of 21 stakes-winning progeny. He has already racked up 15 winners as a broodmare sire including Group Three winner Candlelit (Equal Stripes). Istataba’s dam is Coordenada (Equal Stripes), who was a standout two-year-old in Argentina and won the Group One Gran Premio Estrellas Juvenile Fillies (1600m). Coordenado’s full-brother Cooptado (Equal Stripes) was Champion 3YO Colt in Argentina in 2013-14 and won the Group One Gran Premio Nacional (2500m). Fellow elite-level winners Cool Day (John F Kennedy), Coquelize (Equalize) and Punk (Ringaro) all feature on the pedigree page. Istataba had 29 starts for five wins, 10 placings and over S$536,000 in stakes. Her wins came over distances ranging from 1200 to 2000 metres, and she was runner-up in the Singapore 3YO Classic (1400m) and finished third in two editions of the prestigious Singapore Gold Cup (2000m). “She’s a lovely mare and a very athletic type of horse,” said Donna Logan, who trained Istataba in Singapore. “She showed so much ability on the track, winning five times over a range of distances and placing in the Singapore Gold Cup two years in a row. “One of the best things about her is how easy she is to handle and ride. She’s just great to do anything with. She obviously travelled well, handling the big trip from to Singapore to New Zealand. She could easily have raced here, but I think the owners were just finding the distance between them and the horse a bit difficult, so they’re putting her on the market. “She brings some bloodlines that we don’t see too much of in our part of the world, and I think she’s going to make an absolutely beautiful broodmare. She has such an outstanding temperament and I’m sure she’ll leave lovely foals and pass on her great attributes.” Bidding is open in the 2025 National Online Breeding Stock Sale on Gavelhouse Plus with the first lot closing from 7pm (NZT) on Wednesday 9th July. View the full article -
By Wandering Eyes · Posted
Cambridge gelding Cleese (NZ) (Sweet Orange) will make his first appearance at the races in more than nine months when he heads to Arawa Park on Wednesday to contest the Arawa Park Hotel Rotorua 1560. The seven-year-old son of Sweet Orange was last sighted on raceday when runner-up behind Group Three performer Nest Egg at Ellerslie last September, with trainer John Bell nursing a couple of niggly issues with the gelding. Bell reported he is now in full fettle, and he is looking forward to his gelding resuming on Wednesday, albeit at a distance further than intended. “He has been away for a while, but he is probably one of the most improved horses in the stable,” Bell said. “We had to put him in that race because there was nothing else around for him. I would have liked to have gone to a 1400m, but he will run a nice race over 1560m. “He will be a bit fresh of course, but he hasn’t run a bad race in his life, and I am very pleased to have him back.” Cleese was set to lumber 61.5kg but will get some weight relief courtesy of apprentice jockey Sam McNab’s four-kilogram claim. Bell has yet to map out the rest of Cleese’s preparation and said Wednesday’s performance will dictate his next target. “We will get through this one and assess his fitness as to where we head,” he said. “We will take it race by race.” Looking ahead to the weekend, Bell will have just the one runner at Te Rapa on Saturday but has yet to decide which race they will target. Ata Rangi (NZ) (Haradasun) is dual nominated for the OTL Group LTD Hurdle (2800m) and John Young Family 2400, but he said retirement is looming for the nine-year-old gelding with the lack of jumping opportunities available to him now that he has won his maiden hurdle. “I have him in the hurdle, but he is going to come up against horses that have won five or six races, so that doesn’t thrill me at all,” Bell said. “I am looking for a 0-1 or 0-2 hurdle, which they don’t have anymore. “I have got him in the 2400m as well. If we can’t get suitable races for jumping, he will probably be retired.” View the full article -
By Wandering Eyes · Posted
The racing industry has lost one of its more colourful characters with the passing of Joe Yorke on Sunday. The Manawatu horseman was a respected breaker and pre-trainer for a number of top Central Districts racing stables before becoming a bloodstock agent, but he is more known for his feats in the Equestrian world, having competed in showjumping at the 1976 Montreal Olympics with Big Red. The pair were inducted into the Equestrian Sports New Zealand Hall of Fame at their 75th Anniversary dinner on Friday night, alongside thoroughbred trainer and Olympian Harvey Wilson and his wife Ann. Wilson was sad to hear of Yorke’s passing just two days later, aged 77, and recalled their time together preparing to compete at the Montreal Olympics. “We rode a lot together in the early days,” Wilson said. “We went to England in a team in ‘76 to go to Montreal – Joe Yorke, myself and John Cottle. “John and my horses suffered a bit from travel sickness, so we didn’t get there, so Joe was the only representative when riding for New Zealand at Montreal.” Joe Yorke on Big Red clearing 6ft 6inches in Australia Photo: supplied While they failed to make the final, Yorke and Big Red proved to be a formidable pair in the lead-up, gaining their Olympic selection through numerous wins and placings, including Horse of the Year and the Pilmer Plate for puissance in 1974, and the Norwood Gold Cup in 1975. Such was their standing that the trophy awarded to New Zealand show jumping’s Young Rider of the Year is called The Big Red Cup, named in honour of Yorke’s chestnut. While Big Red was Yorke’s most popular horse, Wilson said he also had plenty of success with another mount. “He also had another very good horse that jumped for New Zealand called Challenge,” Wilson said. “Challenge was his first horse and Big Red was his second horse, and he was a very good horse. He did a very good job to have two horses compete for New Zealand, and that is not easy.” Following his Olympic endeavours, Yorke returned to New Zealand to concentrate more on thoroughbred racing and he established a successful breaking-in and pre-training business. “He retired after Montreal and he set-up his own business up where he used to break-in and pretrain, and he then became a bloodstock agent,” Wilson said. Yorke was a familiar face on Stuart Hale’s annual yearling sale tour, with his quick wit and expert eye a welcome addition to the high-anticipated gathering. While sad to hear of Yorke’s passing, Wilson was pleased his old friend was able to be honoured for his achievements in the saddle when inducted into the Hall of Fame last Friday. “It’s very sad, having been inducted into the Equestrian Federation Hall of Fame two days before,” Wilson said. “He was a great horseman.” View the full article -
By Wandering Eyes · Posted
Emily Murphy brings you Winter Weigh In, your place for Thoroughbred racing news, reviews and insights throughout the colder months. The team look back at some brilliant jumping performances as well as the best of the Winter Championships from Ruakaka. Winter Weigh In, June 30 View the full article
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