Hockey

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

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