The Canterbury Jockey Club (CJC) meeting scheduled for Riccarton Park on Friday 3 September has been transferred to the Ashburton Racing Club and will be held at the Ashburton Racecourse.

Significant remedial work has been required to the Riccarton Park surface following the Grand National Racing Carnival. The Club is also undertaking the planned application of a mini mole-plough to the Riccarton Park sub-surface, the schedule of which has been delayed slightly due to the repairs required after three race days on heavy going having priority.

Canterbury Racing

Nominations for the following feature races at Canterbury Racing's November Cup Carnival close with the National Racing Bureau (NRB) at 4 pm on Tuesday 31 August 2010:

New Zealand 2000 Guineas
6th Coupland's Bakeries Mile
Christchurch Casino 146th New Zealand Cup
New Zealand Bloodstock 1000 Guineas

Given the recent race meeting abandonments, the following TBS 2010 Series Bonus races have been re-scheduled for the following race meetings:

Waverley Thursday, 2 September Maiden 3YO 1200 $10,000 bonus
Taupo Wednesday, 8 September Maiden 3YO 1200 $10,000 bonus

Puha, carrots and apples are on the menu today for Wanganui’s popular galloper, Bulginbaah (NZ) (Starjo).

The evergreen galloper earned the treat after dishing out a stout galloping lesson to his younger rivals in the Gr.3 Waikato Stud Foxbridge Plate (1200m) at Te Rapa on Saturday.

In recognition of his age and two Foxbridge wins prior, the Te Rapa crowd burst into applause when Bulginbaah (NZ) took the lead from pacemaker Jacowils (NZ) (Diamond Express) in the straight and from that point on, the race was only ever about one horse.

Pulling away for jockey Trudy Thornton on the Heavy 10 surface, Bulginbaah (NZ) crossed the line with no less than 1.8 lengths to spare from Miss Raggedy Ann (NZ) (Faltaat) and with another 2 lengths up his sleeve from Jacowils (NZ) in third.

Remarkably, the Ken Cropp & Catherine Wilson-trained galloper achieved the three-peat at the ripe age of 10 and under 58.5kg.

Outside of track and distance suitability, the Starjo gelding had hinted to his readiness for a bold showing with some age defying antics earlier in the day.

“I took him for a walk that morning and when he saw a float go by, he let out a squeal and did a buck like he’d never seen one before, “recounted Wilson.

“I took him back to his box and he still didn’t settle, so I ended up having to take him for two walks. He had done something similar the year before and thankfully after the second walk, he was fine.”

Bulginbaah (NZ) has collected $677,000 in stakemoney and has achieved somewhat of a cult following with a 77 start career that has yielded 21 wins and 25 placings.

“He’s pretty popular in Wanganui, but it seems he is just as popular up at Te Rapa,” said Wilson.

“He’s just ‘Cecil’ to us around home, so we are always surprised when we go places and people want to come up and pat him. It’s quite a buzz really”

Bulginbaah (NZ) received a nick to his leg on Saturday when Irish Colleen (NZ) clipped heels with him, but has been given the all clear by the Vet to proceed to the Gr.1 MUDGWAY PARTSWORLD STAKES WFA 1400m on August the 28th

In the mean time, however, the popular old bloke is enjoying his dues.

“He’s as quiet as a mouse to ride, but he can be a real grumpy old man on the ground sometimes,” said Wilson.

“He has to be the first fed or brought in and if he thinks you are giving the other horses attention, he lets you know he isn’t happy about it.

“Today though he’ll get a treat of some puha, apples and carrots. He just loves his puha. He’s happy to share his apples and carrots, but you don’t go near his puha!”

Bred by his trainer Ken, Bulginbaah (NZ) is the only named foal out of the Tristimus mare Lady Tristimus (NZ) and is by the equally youthful Cheveley Stud sire Starjo (Star Way).

Best represented by his Gr.1 winning son Pakaraka Star, Starjo has sired 8 stakes winners and has achieved a winners-to-runners ratio of 56.4 per cent.

“He’s 28 now, so we are just going to see how he is in the next month or so, before deciding what to do with him this season,” said Cheveley Stud’s Sue Trumper.

“He’s as bright as a button, but it is paramount to us that we look after him.

“He still canters around the paddock after he’s fed. He has this track that his does every time – it’s a figure of eight and he’s done it ever since we’ve had him.”

Both the ARC and NZTR would like to see the races traditionally staged by the AJC retain their traditional names. Every effort has been made to schedule the races in such a way as to provide a practical schedule of Group and Listed racing, as well as providing the AJC with a focal point for their traditional races.

NZTR and the ARC have scheduled the Avondale Cup and the Avondale Guineas on the same day to provide the AJC with an opportunity to maintain a vital link with these historically significant races while the Club is unable to race.

The traditional race names will not be attached to the races in 2010-11 without the consent and cooperation of the AJC and it is hoped that this issue can be resolved as soon as possible.

The table below summarises the changes to the Group and Listed pattern of racing:

RACE (REGISTERED NAME)
VENUE
DATE
DISTANCE
CONDITIONS

Concorde Handicap
Ellerslie
4 December 2010
1200m
Open Hcp

Great Northern Guineas
Ellerslie
26 December 2010
1600m
3YO SW

Championship Stakes
Ellerslie
1 January 2011
2100m
3YO SW

Avondale Guineas
Ellerslie
19 February 2011
2100m
3YO SW

Avondale Cup
Ellerslie
19 February 2011
2400m
Open Hcp

The full schedule of Group and Listed races for the 2010-11 season will be available at www.nzracing.co.nz on Monday, 16 August 2010.

The detailed schedule will be available at www.nzracing.co.nz on Monday, 16 August 2010.

In the schedule of Black Type races for 2010-11, there has been one change made. The DLA Phillips Fox Cornwall Handicap [registered as Cornwall Handicap] has been de-listed.

Under the revised schedule, the total number of Black Type flat races is 145, although one will not be programmed in 2010-11. The Westbury Stud Northland Breeders’ Stakes [registered as Whangarei Breeders’ Stakes] will in future be run as a spring three year old race, changing its place in the calendar from July to September. To facilitate this change the race will not be programmed as a black type race in the 2010-11 season, but will re-appear in September 2011.

With uncertainty over the future of three Avondale Jockey Club Group 2 races, the Committee has supported, for this season only, an NZTR submission to transfer the stewardship of these races to the Auckland Racing Club. Details of these changes will appear on a separate release to be issued shortly.

The Graded Stakes Committee is of the view that to maintain flexibility for future deliberations, 1st Warnings will be issued at the earliest sign of any decline in the quality of a race.

There are currently 28 races with 1st Warnings compared to 33 on the previous list, and 19 races with 2nd Warnings compared with 19 previously. There are 9 races that have had their Warnings removed.

Chris Waller’s former assistant trainer Paul Shailer has set up shop in New Zealand and will open doors as a trainer in his own right this month.

Awaiting his NZ trainers’ license in the next 10 days or so, Shailer is armed with some impressive credentials.

Prior to his noted 8 year stint with the top Sydney trainer Chris Waller, Shailer had undergone his apprenticeship with Kevin and Kathleen Gray in the Central Districts.

Paul Shailer

Before weight took hold, his foray as a jockey would number 122 wins over 2 seasons and he was a leading apprentice.

The experience with Gray served him in good stead during his term with Waller, with the latter commenting: “He is a great horseman. He can get on a horse on the track and can sort it out within a couple of days”.

Deciding to return home after 10 years in Australia, Shailer has taken up residence at the former Java Lodge in Matamata, where he has 30 boxes, a horse walker and a 1000m straight sandtrack.

Although highly ambitious, Shailer is realistic in his goals ahead.

“Ultimately, my goal is to be up there with the likes of the Te Akau’s and the John Sargent’s," he said.

“We had 100 horses in Sydney, so I am certainly capable of handling bigger numbers in the future.

“At the moment , I am getting the place up to standard and I have just the one racehorse called Universal Colours in work. There are also 14 others horses here, that I am pre-training, breaking in or are preparing for the NZB Ready To Run Sale.

“In the next 12 months, I would like grow my client base, to increase my racehorse numbers and to establish a reputation as being a refreshing young professional, who brings new ideas and the proven practices of a top Australian yard to the table."

A self proclaimed 'Taranaki boy', Shailer arrived in the Waikato a month ago with no real contacts other than his brother Kris.

“Before I got the stable here, I stayed with Stephen and Lynley Autridge, who were very kind and let me use their stable ," said Shailer.

“After working Universal Colours at the Matamata track each morning, I was able to meet some of the other local trainers and it was largely as a result of this, that John Sargent , Peter McKay and the Autridges decided to send a number of their pre-trainers my way.

"I was also able to meet the local vet David Keenan, who took me up to NZB’s Winter Mixed Bloodstock Sale at Karaka and introduced me to a few industry personalities."

Whilst many people might not have heard of Shailer’s sole racing proposition, Universal Colours, they might have heard of his owner, the Australian media personality Richard Callander.

“Richard is a mate who I played indoor cricket with, and when I asked him about the horse, he agreed to give the it a go with me in New Zealand,"

“The horse showed a lot of promise when winning a Saturday race at Rosehill earlier in his career. At the moment though, he has no form and he is an older horse. That said, he has had soundness issues which are all straightened out now, so it would be nice to get a win for Richard.

“The horse has been working well and will trial at Te Teko before racing at Te Rapa on the 10th of September."

Whilst Shailer may have departed Waller’s yard, the two remain good friends and are still in regularly contact during the week.

Of his time spent with the successful kiwi-bred trainer, Shailer recounts many highlights.

“One of the biggest highlights for me in my time with Chris was winning two Gr.1 Doncaster’s with Triple Honour (NZ) and Rangirangdoo (NZ)," he said.

“Another high point was when Chris was appointed as the trainer for the Ingham family. It was a big thing for all of us, and an absolutely huge thing for Chris. I was very proud of him that day.

“I’ve learnt so much from Chris. Not just about training, but in how to run a business and the importance of proactive communication.

Chris’ communication with his clients was first class and I intend to carry this policy on with short, sharp weekly email reports to clients, that detail their horse’s progress and the horse's plans ahead.

“My phone is always on and I will be encouraging owners to not just come along for their horse’s specific race but to make a fun day of it at the races.”

Palmerston North trainer Mark Oulaghan was the toast of Riccarton racecourse on Saturday.

Not only did he quinella the NZI Koral Steeplechase (4150m) with the Yamanin Vital pair Counter Punch (NZ) and Yourtheman, but he returned to the winners enclosure four races later to lay claim the day’s Gr.3 black-type feature also.

Sent out as a $9.90 chance in the Gr.3 Aussie Browne's Pharmacies 113th Winter Cup (1600m), backers of his stable chance Propel (NZ) (Lord Ballina) might have thought they’d done their dough when horse had only one behind him in the running, but fortunately, the horse had no such thought.

Unflinching to the heavy track task ahead, the 8YO Lord Ballina gelding sustained a strong run under Lisa Allpress down the straight, eating into the likely looking winner Taking the Mickey’s (NZ) (Tuscany Flyer) advantage with each stride .

Ultimately, it would be the very last of these strides that would see him usurp the defending champion for the 2010 title, with the last gasp victory appropriately finding a nose in his favour.

Raced by breeder Herb Renall, along with Karen Morris, the result represented the horse’s greatest result to date.

Untried until 5 years of age, Propel (NZ) has amassed $135,577 in earnings, with the lion share of this being achieved via his 6 wins from 21 starts.

Sadly, Propel’s Super Imposing dam is now deceased

Katie Lee, winner of the 1,000 and 2,000 Guineas double, has been nominated for three Awards – Mercedes Champion Three-Year-Old, Middle Distance Horse and Horse of the Year. This is in addition to her New Zealand Bloodstock Filly Of The Year Award. She also features in three other categories – Mercedes Breeder Of The Year, Broodmare Of The Year and Owner Of The Year.

The Mercedes Champion Three-Year-Old and Mercedes Champion Middle Distance Horse Awards are the most open categories for the 2009-10 season. No less than seven finalists have been nominated for Mercedes Champion Three-Year-Old - Katie Lee, Keep The Peace, Military Move, Monaco Consul, My Keepsake, Time Keeper and Zarzuela – and five for the Mercedes Champion Middle Distance Horse - Daffodil, Ekstreme, Katie Lee, Vosne Romanee and Wall Street

Last year’s Mercedes Horse Of The Year, Mufhasa, is a finalist for Mercedes Champion Sprinter along with Tavistock, Vonusti and Wealth Princess.

In the other major horse category, Mercedes Champion Stayer, the finalists comprise Boundless, Harris Tweed and Wellington Cup & City of Auckland Cup winner, Red Ruler.

Garry Chittick, of Waikato Stud, has again been nominated for the Mercedes Breeder Of The Year title for Metal Bender, Daffodil, Joey Massino, Vigor and Tootsie. He has won this Award three times in the last four years. Another prominent breeder, Sir Patrick Hogan, together with his wife, Lady Justine Hogan, lead the four nominations for the Mercedes Owner Of The Year with Katie Lee, Cool Diamond and Cavalera.

Three finalists feature in each of the two major Jockeys Awards – Flat and Jumping: Opie Bosson, James McDonald and Mark Du Plessis for the Mercedes Jockey Of The Year, and Richard Eynon, Chad Ormsby and Jonathan Riddell for Mercedes Jumps Jockey Of The Year.

Voting papers were sent out to the Voting Panel today and they have until 5pm on 31 August to submit their votes to the appointed independent auditor, Deloitte.

A total of 20 Championships for the 2009-10 racing season are celebrated on the night including Awards for the top flat and jumping stars, Owners, Trainers, Jockeys and Breeders, culminating in The Mercedes Award for Outstanding Contribution To Racing and The Mercedes Horse Of The Year.

The list of Finalists is posted on the NZTR website www.nzracing.co.nz.

4/8/2010 Fillies & mares series in the Northern Region

NZTR has approved an additional $150,000 for races for fillies and mares in the Northern Region this season. This comes on the back of a review of the Set Weights with Penalties and Allowances conditions introduced for Rating 70 races last September. This review shows an enormous improvement in the performance level of fillies and mares. The statistics also demonstrate that they continue to perform very well at all levels and have won a considerably higher percentage of Rating 80 races in the last 12 months.

To clarify reference to the Fillies & Mares Series in the Spring 2010 edition of The New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders' Bulletin, it has not been agreed to programme additional fillies and mares races from the November programming period onwards. NZTR has always maintained that there are numerous programming challenges involved with increasing the number of fillies and mares races in regions and classes where opportunities can be limited, particularly from Rating 80 level and above. Consultation with the various Regional Programming Committees will always need to form part of any proposed change to programming policy.

A big-framed bay, Herman Munster (Traditionally x H'Ani by Woodman) tracked the majority of the field throughout with an astute ride by Sam Collett steering him to win by over one length ahead of Dubhdara (Shinko King) and Amirar (Ekraar).

The then five-year-old is trained by Waverley-farmer Sam Lennox who happily commented during the prize-giving "He's my mate and my farm hack and I'm just so proud of him."

Taking home the lion's share of the generous $80,000 stake, the honest galloper has now earned $97,000 from four wins and seven placings for Lennox, his brother Guy and mother Joan.

Lennox purchased him at the 2006 South Island Sale for a mere $5,000 from Strathcarron Stud.

Also successful on the eight race card was fellow South Island Sale graduate, Yangming (Danroad x Global Fantasy by Volksraad). The $20,000 purchase from Odyssey Lodge in 2008 showed his class to win the last, The Stuart Browne The Group Premier (1600m).

The Tony Pike and Mark Donoghue-trained gelding broke through to add his first win to three placings from six starts for owners Mrs Yang and Q M Zhu.

Meanwhile at Caulfield yesterday Abitofado (Black Tuxedo x Fleet Dream by Khozaam) broke through for his eighth win to take his winnings to A$230,000. The Mike Moroney runner was a $6,000 purchase at the 2006 South Island Sale by Paul Harris from Wickham Park.

Some exciting pedigree updates came up over the weekend for the sale set to be held this Friday 6 August at the Canterbury Agricultural Park. At Kranji Intercept (Zerpour) ran third in the Group 2 Singapore TC Chairman's Trophy (1800m) providing an update for Lot 14 while last season's Group 1 SAJC Goodwood Stakes winner Velocitea (Volksraad) managed third at Caulfield in the Group 3 Bletchingly Stakes (1200m) for Lot 67. By Lucky Unicorn, he is out of a half-sister to Group 1 MRC Sir Rupert Clark Stakes winner Orange County (Volksraad).

New Zealand Bloodstock's South Island Sale of 2YOs & Mixed Bloodstock is set for Friday 6 August. Contact reception@nzb.co.nz to request catalogues.

In addition $150,000 is to be allocated to a Fillies and Mares Series in the Northern region. The Series will be run later in the season with details of the Series to be finalised.

An updated Funding Policy for 2010-11 has been distributed to all clubs.

NZTR will also be enforcing more stringent requirements, in regards to proving financial stability, upon applicants seeking a Class A, B or C Trainer’s licence.

The new Licensing Policy can be viewed at:

http://www.nzracing.co.nz/downloads/LICENSING%20POLICY%20-%20FINAL.pdf

Two fine ambassadors of the Darley Flying Start management training programme visited the NZTM office yesterday.

Successfully inducted into its 12 strong course in 2009, New Zealand trainees Scott Calder and Vicky Leonard are clearly enjoying the experience of a lifetime.

Funded by the ruler of Dubai, Sheikh Mohammed, the Darley Flying Start programme is an internationally renowned thoroughbred course which spans two years.

Restricted to young people aged between 20-29 who can ideally demonstrate a proven academic record and a thoroughbred passion, the course presents the opportunity to live and learn in the thoroughbred racing and breeding centres of Ireland, England, Kentucky, Australia and Dubai.

Under the tutelage of leading industry professionals, the programme combines lectures, visits and hands-on experience and offers trainees an exceptional insight into the thoroughbred industry.

Now at the half way stage, Leonard and Calder would have to be the envy of many with firsthand experience and education already gained from countries such as Ireland, England and Kentucky.

“We are very lucky,” said Leonard.

“It is hard work, but we are doing what we love.

“We are constantly meeting people who are the very best in their field and we get to work with some amazing horses.

“The other thing about the course is that the lectures are awesome.”

Mirroring these comments, Calder proved equally as enthusiastic.

“We are extremely privileged really,” he said.

“We are unbelievable indebted to the Sheikh. He puts more into racing than what he takes out and we really are living the dream”.

At the completion of their 3 week break, the pair will make their way to Hunter Valley in Australia, which will serve as their base until December, when the group head off to Dubai before returning to Ireland.

Since the course’s commencement in 2003, New Zealand has been represented by just the two other graduates in Andrew Birch and Andrew Williams.

To those wishing to learn more about the course, Leonard and Calder both welcome any questions that you might have and recommend also, that contact be made with previous graduates.

To find the contact details for the above or to learn more about the course, please visit www.darleyflyingstart.com.

Race Seven at this Friday's meeting at Matamata sees the final New Zealand Thoroughbred Bonus Scheme (TBS) race run under the ownership of New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing (NZTR) - the 1400-metre Fillies & Mares Rating 70 Te Akau - NZ Record - Most Wins in a Season.

On 1 August 2010 the TBS will amalgamate with the New Zealand Incentive Scheme Series (NZISS). The NZISS will cease to exist and the TBS will become the sole bonus scheme in the thoroughbred code. This will be administered by the operators of the NZISS, New Zealand Livestock Ltd (NZLL).

The TBS and NZISS worked on the basis of pooling fees of nominated yearlings. These funds were paid out to nominators of horses at two, three and four years. The bonuses were in addition to stakes and were attached to specifically targeted categories of races. Only nominated horses to these incentive schemes could win these bonuses. Over $3m has been distributed in TBS bonuses under NZTR's ownership.

The owners of the two schemes, NZTR and NZLL, agreed in May 2007 to operate the two schemes together but to maintain two separate pools of nomination fees, which had been collected prior to 1 September 2007. This was done to strengthen both incentive schemes for the benefit of owners and breeders in New Zealand.

Nomination fees accepted after 1 September 2006 and before 1 September 2007 were held by NZTR and were applied to TBS races for nominated horses which were two-year-olds in the 2007-08 season, three-year-olds in the 2008-09 season and four year-olds this season.

NZTR acknowledges the enormous contribution of the New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders Association (NZTBA) and Sally Cassels-Brown, who continues to operate the TBS until the TBS's obligations under NZTR have been met i.e. 31 July 2010.

The TBS was introduced at the start of the 2003-04 season with seed funding provided by the New Zealand Racing Industry Board, and continued by the New Zealand Racing Board, of $480,000 for each of three years from the start of the 2003-04 season through to the close of the 2005-06 season. On conclusion of this support, NZTR, in its capacity as owner of the TBS, agreed to continue to fund it through the 2006-07 enrolments with further funding of $480,000.

The NZISS was launched in 1997. Since 1 September 2007, when NZLL commenced operation of TBS enrolments, including registration, communication and bonus payments, NZTR has supported a single, national bonus scheme and endorsed the contribution of the NZISS to thoroughbred racing in New Zealand.

The in-form galloper Eric The Viking (NZ) (Viking Ruler) confirmed his stakes class over the weekend.
Prepared by 29 year old Aaron Bidlake, Eric The Viking (NZ) racked up his third consecutive win under rider Matthew Cameron in the Listed Waikato Stud Opunake 125th Jubilee Cup (1400m) at Pukekura Raceway on Saturday.
In charging home late for the long head/length win over Samurai (NZ) (Daggers Drawn) and Bulginbaah (NZ) (Starjo), Eric The Viking (NZ) has confirmed an intended bid for August 7’s Gr.3 $100,000 Aussie Browne's Pharmacies 113th Winter Cup (1600m) at Riccarton Park.
“He’s come home and eaten up well, so the Winter Cup is a likely next target for him,” said Bidlake.
Raced by A B & N J Bidlake, L Boere, G Burnard, B G Krivan, S Searle & N Williams, Eric The Viking (NZ) is now the winner of 5 races and has returned $101,781 for his connections.
The lightly-framed 4YO gelding was bred by K J Nally and combines the bloodlines of Viking Ruler with the Lord Ballina mare Shrule Grove - a sister to the Gr.1 Kelt Capital Stakes winner, Balmuse (NZ).
According to Bidlake, the recent accomplishment of 4 wins from his last 5 outings has not been lost on the horse.
“He’s pretty good around the place really. No trouble whatsoever. In saying that, over the last few weeks, he has developed a bit of an evil streak around other horses. He’s starting to think a bit about himself!”
Training from Opaki racecourse, Bidlake currently has three in work, with future representatives including an Elusive City filly and a Falkirk 2YO.
Looking ahead, the young trainer understandably hopes to have more like Eric The Viking in his stable and welcomes the thought of new clients

At noon today forty-two horses remained in contention with thirty of those representing North Island stables.

Such a geographical spread is a great start to generating wide interest across the country and a likely indicator of general stable representation, all good signs for the Club.

Leading the contenders is The Brown Bomber, winner of three in succession for Eddie Carson prior to his 4th placing at Trentham on Saturday, who is rated a $5 favourite by the TAB. Kevin Myers who has an enviable record on visits south has Yanna Marie in the mix at $8, whilst Propel is rated at $10 after his strong 3rd placing ahead of The Brown Bomber on Saturday.

Top weight Elblitzem who ran fourth in the race last year is equal second favourite, also at $8.

Last seasons winner Taking the Mickey is rated at $21 alongside the leading South Island hopes Romany $16 (Laurie Jarvis) and Faaltless $14 (Shane Marr) both winners at Ashburton on 11 July.

Don't Say Clang (Terri Rae) who ran third last year is at $21 and race sponsor Aussie Browne has a chance too with the Kevin Hughes trained Aussieaussieaussie showing $31.

The Club will have entertainment between races in the birdcage for all three days (August 7, 11, 14) as well ensuring there is plenty happening each day to keep the event flowing.

Racing will conclude around 4.30 pm.

After the races on the first day many will then be heading to AMI Stadium for the big rugby test between Australia and New Zealand, making for an eventful time in the city.

The action will get underway with the New Zealand Bloodstock South Island Sale of Two-Year-Olds and Mixed Bloodstock on Friday, August 6, a week earlier than previous years.

Boasting a strong catalogue of two-year-olds, up on 10 % previous years with 187 two-year-olds catalogued, the South Island Sale continues to throw up exceptional sale graduates year after year with winners throughout Australia, Macau, Singapore, Hong Kong and New Zealand.

Following in the success of Group 1 Caulfield Cup winner Master O’Reilly, rising Sydney staying stars Herculian Prince and Beijing Boy have recently thrown the spotlight on the progeny coming out of New Zealand’s southern isle across the Tasman.

Both sons of White Robe Lodge’s ill-fated sire Yamanin Vital (Sir Tristram), himself a successful stayer in Japan, their respective trainers have touted them as strong contenders for the main staying races this spring.

Gai Waterhouse has made no secret of the fact that Herculian Prince, winner of two Listed wins in a row, is her main hope for the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups, whereas, Waller has the rising six-year-old, Beijing Boy, aimed at the Group 1 Metropolitan Handicap at Randwick in October.

With such a strong few months on the track, Yamanin Vital’s progeny are bound to be in hot demand at this year’s sale with 12 two-year-olds set to go under the hammer, nine of which will be offered by White Robe Lodge. One of the standout lots by Yamanin Vital includes a bay gelding from Cluden Cort a half-sister to Group 1 Wellington Cup winner Cluden Creek offered by Canterbury’s Berkley Stud.

The sale can also lay claim to reigning Australian Jumper of the Year Pentiffic (Pentire – Sailing High), trained by loyal South Island Sale visitors Fran Houlahan and Brian Johnston, who was purchased at the 2005 sale and this year The Pines Thoroughbreds offer a half-sister by Bahhare.

The sale has amassed a top selection of sires represented from throughout New Zealand, with a good selection of North Island stallions represented, as well as some lots by Australian-based sires. There are strong offerings from Berkley Stud’s resident sires My Halo and Coat’s Choice, Willow Glen’s Sunray, and the first crop of two-year-olds from stakes winning sires from Long Acres Stud’s Deputy Minister son Remind and White Robe Lodge’s Montjeu son Gallant Guru.

Of particular interest will be Hedwood Thoroughbreds Ltd chestnut colt by Coat’s Choice from Ain’t No Pussycat (listed in catalogue with wrong vendor), a half-sister to Group 1 Sir Rupert Class Stakes winner Orange County, and a three-quarter-sister to Cat Shmea, the dam of Group 1 SAJC Goodwood Handicap winner Velocitea; as will the fillies by rising star sire Darci Brahma from the Group 2 winning two-year-old Climb The Vine, and the Scardee Cat filly from the Group 3 SAJC Adelaide Guineas winner Classic Allure; the bay Istidaad colt from the dual group winner Amore Mia; and the Coat’s Choice gelding from Escapade, the dam of multiple group performer and 17-time winner Eel Win.

The sale starts at 10am at the Canterbury Agricultural Park, less than 10 minutes from the city centre.

The day following the sale revelers can take in the country top racing and jumping action with the first day of the NZ Grand National Carnival at Riccarton. Boasting more than $700,000 in stakes on offer over the week, the carnival, which is the second biggest week of the year in Christchurch, is sure to be a huge week of racing action.

The feature on the first day of the carnival is the Group 3 $100,000 Aussie Browne’s Pharmacies 113th Winter Cup which is likely to attract strong fields. The first day of the carnival also has both the NZI Koral Steeplechase and the Sydenham Hurdles, both key lead-up races to the NZ Grand National Steeplechase and Hurdles.

That evening the All Blacks and the Wallabies will do battle at AMI Stadium for the second Bledisloe Cup match between. Tickets are available through Ticket Direct.

The racing will continue on the Wednesday with the HANZ 121st NZ Grand National Hurdles, followed by the prestigious FMG 136th Grand National Steeplechase on the final day, August 14. Both are shaping up to be hot contests between the leading jumpers in the south and the north with strong fields expected.

And if you somehow get tired of the racing action remember to check out the skiing at the winter wonderland of Mt Hutt or Porter Heights ski fields or relax at Hamner Spring Thermal Resort or Terrace Downs Resort which are all less than two hours from Christchurch.

The Lars Pearson owned-and-bred galloper Upsala (NZ) (Oratorio) defied all in the Listed Westbury Stud Northland Breeders Stakes (2YO, 1200m) on Saturday.

Rated a $6.80 win chance by the NZ TAB, Upsala (NZ) took control of proceedings after 300m and from this point on beseeched his rivals to catch him if they could.

They couldn’t, as it would turn out.

Under with a confident ride from Paul Taylor, the 56kg top weight hit the wire with 1.5 lengths to the spare from Cool Storm (NZ) (One Cool Cat), who held Mygoodgrace (AUS) (Royal Academy) out of second position by ¾’s of a length.

Upsala’s Slow 7 track time at Ruakaka’s 1200m circuit was 1:10.7.

Prepared by Kenny and Lisa Rae, the smart son of Oratorio has achieved a 76 rating to date courtesy of a career yielding two wins and three placings from eight outings.

With black-type print and $40,364 in earnings now achieved, Upsala (NZ) is proving quite an ambassador for his now deceased Mark of Esteem dam Cinquilla, who has had just the one horse to the races.

Cinquilla was a winner herself over 2600m in France and hails directly from a proven black-type family boasting the Gr.1 winners Darshaan, Darara, Dar Re Mi and Daliapour.

Encouragingly, there are still two foals to come through the system for the mare, with representatives here comprising of a 2008 Bachelor Duke colt and a 2009 High Chaparral filly.

Looking to Upsala's topline, he is by the triple Gr.1 winner Oratorio – a Danehill sire whose 6 stakes winners to date include the Gr.1 winning filly Banchee (NZ).

Oratorio’s oldest southern hemisphere progeny are rising three-year-olds

It is confirmed that feature stakes at the New Zealand Cup Meeting in November (Saturday 6th, Wednesday 10th and Saturday 13th) will remain at 2009 levels.

The Group 1 New Zealand Bloodstock 1000 Guineas will run for $300,000, the Group 2 Coupland's Bakeries Mile for $250,000, the Group 3 Christchurch Casino New Zealand Cup for $225,000 and the Group 3 Lindauer Stewards Stakes for $100,000.

Under the New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing stakes funding model for the new season the level for Group 1 races is $200,000, Group 2 is $85,000 and Group 3 is $70,000.

The Group 1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas will also retain its $1,000,000 stake being the third year of the industry initiative to fund selected races at these levels.

After the success of dual winner Katie Lee last season, the experiment of running the 2000 Guineas on the first day will continue with the New Zealand Bloodstock 1000 Guineas being run on the third day.

Similar sponsor support is also responsible for the Aussie Browne's Pharmacies Winter Cup maintaining a $100,000 stake for its renewal on Saturday August 7th. Strong nominations have already been received for the race.

7/7/2010 Race commentator Alby Gain anounces retirement

Race commentator Alby Gain has announced his retirement from race calling after more than 30 years in the racing industry. Gain will call his last race at Alexandra Park on Friday 13 August.

Gain has eased into retirement, completing his last gallops call at the end of 2009 but continuing to call harness meetings until he retires from race calling in August.

"It is now the right time for me to step away from calling altogether," says Gain. "While in some ways this is a sad day for me - racing has been my life - it's time to let the

young brigade come in," he says.

Gain made his first call in the mid 1970s for Radio New Zealand before taking on a fulltime role with Radio Pacific in 1981. At Radio Pacific he called up to 200 race meetings a

year throughout the country. Gain became Director of Racing for Radio Pacific in the early ‘90s overseeing the network's commentators and racing advertising.

With Radio Trackside taking on coverage of all New Zealand race meetings in 2005 Gain's voice continued to be heard calling premier races at Alexandra Park and Ellerslie.

He can list a string of New Zealand champions that he has called over the line. "Calling horses like Auckland Reactor, Lyall Creek, Bonecrusher and Sunline really gives you a

buzz. You do this for the love of it."

Waikato based premier caller George Simon will take over Friday meetings and Aaron White will pick up Tuesday meetings.

The family of the Gr.1 horses Imposera and Imprimatur was back in the black-type spotlight on Saturday.

Out of a half-sister to the above horses, the 7YO gelding Montjee (NZ) (Montjeu) took line honours in the Listed Amcor Kiwi-LRK Trays Kiwifruit Cup (2100m) at Tauranga.

With all before him for much of the race, apprentice rider Jason Collett crept Montjee (NZ)into reckoning along the rails to be nearly on terms with the leaders at the swing in.

With no extra effort exerted and just 52kg on his back, the 7YO gelding then gave his all in the run to the line, battling stride for stride with Halls (NZ) Generous).

In a bob of the head affair, Montjee (NZ) proved the more photogenic of the pair, capitalising on the heavy 11 track to win by 0.1 of a length.

Serving as a career highlight, Saturday’s win represented the 5th raceday success for the Ken Kelso-trained Montjeu gelding and took the D Y S Lee-owned galloper’s earnings to $81,402.

Bred by Windsor Park Stud Ltd, Montjee (NZ) is by the outstanding sire Montjeu and is out of the unraced Starway mare, Evolution.

Well represented with 5 winners from 6 to race, Evolution (NZ) produced a colt to High Chaparral in 2009 and was subsequently covered by the young Montjeu sire, Guillotine.

In keeping with his impressive bloodlines, Montjee (NZ) was a $200,000 graduate of the 2004 Premier Yearling Sale, switching hands on this occasion from Windsor Park Stud’s consignment to Dan O’Donnell.

New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing (NZTR) has unveiled significant changes to the way it will fund thoroughbred racing next season, starting on 1 August 2010.

The new funding model simplifies the previous separate funding streams, reducing these from 14 to 6. This represents a fundamental shift away from funding clubs using off-course wagering turnover and a range of other payments, to one that simply provides racing clubs with all prizemoney ‘minimums' for each race category at each race meeting.

As part of this simplification, the traditional mechanism of NZTR charging clubs an annual levy for the cost of providing raceday officials, including integrity and health and safety, will be discarded. These costs will now be directly funded from the total distributed amount, of approximately $63m for next season, paid by the New Zealand Racing Board (NZRB) to thoroughbred racing.

This new model will see 18% of actual on-course wagering turnover paid to racing clubs, an increase of 2% on this season, and a new race meeting fee paid to racing clubs based on the meeting type [Premier, Feature or Industry day], in recognition of the direct costs clubs incur in staging racing.

NZTR will continue its policy of paying Jockeys' riding fees on behalf of Owners for Rating 80 races and lower, representing savings to Owners of approximately $3m per year. NZTR's Free Racing Policy will still apply to all races below Rating 80. While this is a reduction of the current ‘free racing' cover it still ensures Owners of more than 80% of horses have the opportunity to run their horses for free.

At the core of the proposed new funding model is a new approach whereby NZTR sets and directly funds all prizemoney minimums for each race category at each race meeting. This will make it easier for racing clubs to plan their race programmes, ensure they are fully funded irrespective of the day on which they race, and provide a consistent prizemoney structure for each individual race class and meeting category for Owners, Trainers and Jockeys.

The model is based on receipt of $110m net industry funding from the NZRB for the Thoroughbred, Harness and Greyhound codes. This amount represents an increase in funding to the Thoroughbred code of approximately $5m. However, as a result of a decrease in this season's funding from the NZRB, NZTR has been utilising its reserves to maintain its funding commitments. These reserves are now exhausted resulting in funding to clubs not increasing for the 2010/2011 season.

Guy Sargent, Chairman of the NZTR Board, stated: "This new model provides a real opportunity for our industry. By directly funding 100% of prizemoney minimums, we are encouraging racing clubs to focus on their critical role of maximising ‘on course' entertainment, leaving NZTR to manage issues surrounding prizemoney."

"At the same time it provides aspirational targets for Owners, Trainers and Jockeys on our Feature and Premier days, with our top [black type] races being maintained at 2009/2010 levels."

"NZTR has also introduced a two-pronged solution to the additional financial pressure being felt by racing clubs. In developing this model, we are very, very conscious of a decline in race sponsorship, on-course and hospitality revenue and gaming grants for clubs. This was affecting Industry days in particular, making them difficult to operate on a break-even basis. To help counter this, we will increase funding for industry days [predominantly weekday meetings] and, in consultation with clubs, reduce some stake minimums at lower levels to fund, in part, increases at the top. The consistent pattern of industry days during the week is a vital plank for the international TAB agreement, the progression of horses through the grades and, ultimately, our market share."

El Cheapo Cars 2010 RACE Jumps Series

After the second weekend of the El Cheapo Cars 2010 RACE Jumps Series, held at Awapuni on Saturday 17 June, the leader board is as follows:
9 Points Paul Nelson
6 Points Kevin Myers
5 Points Stephen Gillies and Mark Oulaghan
4 Points Ross Elliot
3 Points Graeme & Debbie Rogerson and Bob Autridge
2 Points Shane Brown, Sean Cameron, Gerald Innes and John Wheeler
1 Point Allen Baker, Bob Baker, Sharon Cann, Trevor Chambers, Dean Cunningham, Sandy Dravitzki, Mathew Faber, Rachael Frost, Peter & Casey Lock, Joanne Moss and Harvey Wilson.

The series continues at Trentham on Saturday 17 July 2010, with the running of four jumping races including the Grant Plumbing Wellington Steeplechase and Stella Artois Wellington Hurdle.

Te Akau Principal David Ellis has today confirmed that Te Akau Racing will establish an international operation in Singapore.

“We are delighted to announce that on Friday 11 June, the Malayan Racing Association approved a licence for Mark Walker to train in Singapore. The Singapore Turf Club has allocated 40 boxes to Te Akau in the first year and we will train 60 horses by year two,” said David Ellis.

Te Akau Racing will operate in Matamata, Rangiora and Singapore. Mark Walker will leave New Zealand towards the end of this year to be ready for the start of the Singapore racing season in January 2011 (Singapore works to a calendar year). Te Akau’s assistant trainer, Jason Bridgman (38) will assume Mark Walker’s role as trainer for Te Akau’s New Zealand operation from 1 August 2010.

“Jason Bridgman has been working for Te Akau for the last three months and previously was stable foreman for Mark Walker for two and a half years. He left Te Akau to gain further international experience, working for leading trainers in Ireland, England, France and the United States. After gaining an honours’ degree from Massey University, Jason has been focussed on becoming a top trainer and everyone who knows him is very impressed,” said Ellis.

“In the last six months, I have fully syndicated 46 young rising two year olds and I believe that our team for the Spring is our strongest one yet. We have just broken the long standing, all-time record for wins in a season (currently having won 106 races this season). We are certainly not turning our back on New Zealand racing – just the opposite. It will be full steam ahead in New Zealand at both Matamata and Rangiora.”

Ellis added: “I am also really thrilled to have New Zealand’s top jockey Opie Bosson back as Te Akau’s stable rider. Can you imagine the team Jason will have around him to start the new season – Mark Walker his Matamata foreman, Gus Clutterbuck his South Island foreman and Opie Bosson to ride our horses! All of our other senior staff of course continue in their existing roles.”

Mark Walker will leave New Zealand towards the end of this year to be ready for the start of the Singapore racing season in January 2011
Singapore Turf Club's Vice President Racing, Mike Wanklin commented:

"The Club has had a long association with New Zealand racing and breeding and sees the granting of stabling and a training licence to Mark as strengthening those ties. Mark's training record speaks for itself in New Zealand and he brings with him outstanding credentials. I'm sure he is going to prove a great success here in Singapore.”

New Zealand Bloodstock and Pencarrow Stud principals, Peter and Philip Vela, added their support to Te Akau’s new operation:

“Philip and I want to congratulate Mark for getting a licence to train in such a wonderful racing environment as Singapore,” commented Peter Vela.

“With Singapore’s burgeoning racing scene becoming so significant to the New Zealand breeders, to have New Zealand’s champion trainer joining the already formidable force of the kiwi training contingent is a great result for the New Zealand industry.”

“Te Akau is fortunate to have Jason Bridgman to carry on the strength of Te Akau Racing in New Zealand while Mark develops their business in Singapore. We’re looking forward to continuing our support of both stables and wish them all the very best of luck in their new venture,” Vela added.

David Ellis concluded:

“This exciting development is really good news for the entire New Zealand industry and what better way to promote our industry than to have New Zealand’s champion trainer in Asia. Races are held in Singapore all year round on either weekday evenings or weekend afternoons. With more than 900 races per year, there are many opportunities for horses of all classes to compete for more the S$64 million in prize money. There are no losers in this, it is a win/win for everyone,” Ellis concluded.

The Oamaru Jockey Club meeting scheduled for this Sunday, 13 June 2010, has been abandoned due to heavy rain over the past three weeks.

Following consistent wet weather, a large amount of clay has washed down the hill beside the back straight at the 1300 metre point. This has rendered the track unsafe and efforts are currently focused on clearing the track and ensuring it is safe to race on for the club's next meeting on Thursday, 1 July 2010.

Two races, a $7,000 Maiden Hurdle over 3000 metres and a $15,000 Open Hurdle over 3000m, have been transferred to the South Canterbury Racing Club meeting on Sunday, 20 June 2010. Nominations and acceptances fees will be charged for the Open Hurdle: Nominations $56.25 and Acceptances $103.64

The $15,000 Otago Steeplechase (Open 4200m) will now be run at the Oamaru meeting on Thursday, 1 July 2010. The race conditions will no longer include any allowances.

As at 2 June 2010, Walker has chalked up 100 wins - just four short of the season record of 104 wins achieved by Dave and Paul O’Sullivan in 1992-93.

Remarkably, this is the second time in as many seasons that the Te Akau conditioner has reached the century milestone.

Walker, who has had a long association with David Ellis and Te Akau Stud, first won the NZ Trainers' Premiership in 2003-04 with 76 wins, won the 2006-07 title with 81 wins, and shared the premiership with the Rogerson/Autridge in 2005/06 with 88 wins. Last season Walker completed the term with 102 wins.

It was plain to see early this term that Walker had the firepower within his stable to chase a fifth premiership title. He took an early lead and has never looked back.

Walker is currently 26 wins clear of John Sargent, with South Island trainer Michael Pitman seven wins in arrears with 67 wins.

“This is a tremendous achievement and proves that Te Akau’s policy of going to the Karaka Sales and buying quality yearlings for our stable works. This success is a great advertisement for Karaka and for the New Zealand thoroughbred,” said Te Akau principal David Ellis.

“It is also the result of a truly great team effort from an unbelievably dedicated team of staff at Matamata, Rangiora and Te Akau Stud. Our team has worked very long hours and dedicated 100% of their energy and passion to this achievement. It’s been another great season for our owners.”

Dick Karreman’s smart juvenile Smoulder (NZ) (Traditionally) confirmed her stakes class billing on Saturday.

Prepared by Graeme & Mark Sanders, the The Oaks Stud-graduate headed into the Listed Great Northern Foal Stakes (2YO, 1400m) with two last start wins to her credit and on the Slow Ellerslie track, she found plenty once again to ensure her rivals were in trouble 200m out.

Guided to the stakes win by Chad Ormsby, the Traditionally 2YO officially took post honours by 1.5 lengths, with We Can Say It Now (AUS) (Starcraft) holding second a nose ahead of Shamabelle (NZ) (Sharmardal).

“She looks to be above average alright,” said The Oaks Stud’s General Manager, Rick Williams.

"Each outing she improves and on Saturday she really showed her versatility and I was pleased with how professionally she did it”

Retained as a racing prospect owing to her uncommercial sire, the Karreman Bloodstock Ltd-bred youngster showed plenty early.

“On debut she was third to Jimmy Choux, who is now one of the top colts in the country," said Williams.

“As some horses can do, she got a bit lost on the long Trentham straight that day. The race was held on a slow 8 track, so we weren’t at all surprised when at her next start she won on a good track.”

With her Listed victory, Smoulder (NZ) became the third stakes winner for the former The Oaks Stud sire, Traditionally – a Mr Prospector stallion who enjoyed three winners across New Zealand and Australia on Saturday.

Smoulder’s Stravinsky dam Flying Firebird was likewise a precocious sort.

Trained by Graeme Rogerson, she won 3 at two including the Listed VRC Ottawa Stakes (1000m).

Smoulder is her first foal to race and has already achieved a four start career record of 3 wins and a placing.

“Smoulder will now spell for three weeks and will be brought back into work in July,” said Williams.

“She has well and truly qualified for a tilt at the Gr.1 1000 Guineas, but who knows depending on the colts around, we might even look at the Gr.1 2000 Guineas as well, just like Katie Lee did this season.”

Following yesterday's announcement by the Avondale Jockey Club that it has decided to suspend racing for the 2010/11 season and that the last race day in the current season will be 3 July 2010, New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing is working with the Northern Cluster to ensure the 13 race day licences currently held by Avondale will be run in the 2010/11 season.

After 3 July the Club will only operate its training facility at Avondale Racecourse along with the non-race related activities based there.

The Whangarei RC, in association with Westbury Stud, has announced details of the 2010 Westbury Stud Triple Crown Point Series for 2YO.

This point series will be run on the following two-year-old races at Ruakaka:

Date Distance Stake
26 May Cecconi @ Westbury Stud 1000m $10,000
23 June Swiss Ace @ Westbury Stud 1200m $10,000
17 July Westbury Stud Northland Breeders Stakes 1200m (LR) $45,000

There will be a total of $12,500 in Bonuses operating on the three races with points allocated according to the finishing position of horses in each race, as follows:

May/June July (Listed Race)
1st 10 12.5
2nd 7 9.5
3rd 5 7.5
4th 3 5.5
5th 2 4.5
All other starters 1 1

Bonus of $5,000 to be paid to the Trainer of the horse with the most points accumulated over the series.
Bonus of $5,000 to be paid to the Owners of the horse with the most points accumulated over the series.
Bonus of $2,500 to be paid to the Owners of the runner up horse on points over the series.

In this the fourth year of running the Triple Crown series the Whangarei RC is pleased to have joined forces with naming rights sponsor Westbury Stud.

NZISS Bonus Series - 4 Year Olds

NZISS Bonuses are available to eligible 4 Year Old horses on the following races:

23 May Egmont RC Maiden 2100m $10,000 Bonus
29 May Wellington RC Open Hcp 2100m $30,000 Bonus
7 June Foxton RC Rating 70 1200m $10,000 Bonus
11 June Avondale JC Maiden 2200m $10,000 Bonus
13 June Oamaru RC Rating 75 1400m $10,000 Bonus
19 June Manawatu RC Rating 90 1400m $30,000 Bonus
26 June Canterbury Racing Open Hcp 1600m $30,000 Bonus
3 July Hawke's Bay RI Rating 70 1400m $30,000 Bonus
7 July Cambridge JC Rating 80 2400m $30,000 Bonus
25 July Marlborough RC Maiden 1400m $10,000 Bonus

Gr.3 PLATINUM HOMES N Z ROTORUA CUP
$70000, Arawa Park (NZ), 2200m, Dead(4).
FIRST:

INDIKATOR (NZ) 6 b g, 56 kg
Sandtrap (USA) - Lady Daintree (NZ), by Sir Tristram (IRE)
37 starts: 9-4-6 $282,721
Owners:

P Setchell
Breeders:

P Setchell
Trainer:

K B Opie
Jockey:

B R Jones
SECOND:

Tinseltown (NZ) 6 b g, 57 kg
Pentire (GB) - Tinsel (NZ), by Father Christmas (GB)
THIRD:

Chettak (NZ) 7 br g, 55.5 kg
Almutawakel (GB) - Filament (NZ), by Lord Ballina (AUS)
Margins:

0.3 lens, 2.3 lengths. Time: 2:14.05.
Others:

Vickezzchardonnay (NZ), Manonamission (NZ), Royal Jazz (NZ), Veloce Bella (NZ), Mandela (NZ), Our Star Pupil (NZ), Caparison (NZ), I’m Isaac (NZ), El Presidente (NZ) & Vantastic
(NZ).

Gr.3 COCA-COLA CANTERBURY GOLD CUP
$100000, Riccarton Park (NZ), 2000m, Good(3).
FIRST:

BRUCE ALMIGHTY (NZ) 6 grey gelding, 59 kg
Deputy Governor (USA) - Striking Angel (NZ), by Straight Strike
(USA)
55 starts: 12-4-6 $235,863
Owners:

Mrs L K Durrant & R S Manning
Breeders:

Boyte Family Trust
Trainer:

Stuart Manning
Jockey:

R J Hannam
SECOND:

Soph (NZ) 6 b m, 57 kg
Lord Ballina (AUS) - Our Sophie (NZ), by Kaapstad (NZ)
THIRD:

Shelby (NZ) 6 ch g, 59 kg
His Royal Highness (NZ) - Stick (NZ), by Touching Wood (USA)
Margins:

1.5 lengths, 1.5 lengths. Time: 2:02.98.
Others:

The Pearler (NZ), The Meista (NZ), Biman (NZ), Piero (NZ), Peyow Peyow (NZ), El Chico (NZ) & Idunno (NZ).

The season’s outstanding two-year-old filly Banchee has been sold by Sam Kelt to Peter and Philip Vela of Pencarrow Stud.

The winner of both the Ford Diamond Stakes-Gr.1 and Matamata Breeders’ Stakes-Gr.2 this season, Banchee will be wearing the Vela brothers’ famous blue and white colours when next seen on the racetrack.

Sam Kelt made this significant announcement exclusively to New Zealand Thoroughbred Marketing this morning.

“Peter Vela told me that if I ever wanted to sell the filly, could I give him the opportunity to buy her,” said Sam Kelt.

“We’ve had a fantastic time racing the filly and John Sargent has done a superb job,” added Kelt.

“She couldn’t be going to a better home,” Kelt concluded.

By Oratorio from Miss Jessie Jay, Banchee is not only a Group One winner in her own right, but a half-sister to Katie Lee, Sir Patrick Hogan’s Pins filly who created history when winning the NZ 2000/NZ 1000 Guineas double at Riccarton Park this season.

“She’s a filly I’ve liked ever since I saw her as a yearling when sold by Hallmark Stud through our Karaka Premier Sale,” Peter Vela told NZTM today.

“It’s now a fantastically-commercial family, so she’s going to make a wonderful addition to our broodmare band at Pencarrow Stud at the end of her racing career.”

Banchee changes hands with a record of 6 starts for 3 wins and her placings include a second in the ARC Eclipse Stakes-Gr.3 and a third – when coming from last – in the $1m Karaka Million-RL.

Banchee - the Group One-winning half-sister to Katie Lee has been sold to Peter & Philip Vela

The Riverton RC meeting this Sunday, 9 May is still scheduled to be run at Riverton despite heavy rain over the last couple of weeks.

New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing (NZTR) Stipendiary Steward, Mark Davidson, inspected the track today.

The track is currently rated heavy and is likely to remain heavy for Sunday, but the track is safe for racing at present.

NZTR will continue to monitor the track throughout this week

1 1/2 LEN, HEAD, 1/2 HEAD, NOSE, LEN Time: 02:05.68 Track: slow Others:Vickezzchardonnay, Lady Chaparral, Culminate, So Pristine, Casabella Lane, Under And Over, Possum, Pinzee, Our Zara

Saturday’s winner of the Gr.2 Travis Stakes (2000m) at Te Rapa, Ekstreme (NZ), is Queensland bound following her trouncing of the fillies and mares weight-for-age field.

Ekstreme (NZ), who heads to Brisbane with three black-type ticks already beside her name this season, revelled in the rain affected track conditions on Saturday, powering clear over the final stages to salute the judge by one-and-a-half-lengths.

The four-year-old mare will contest the A$500,000 Doomben Cup (2020m) at Doomben on May 22.

Saturday’s winning jockey Jason Waddell will retain the mount on the Ekraar mare in the Doomben Cup.

Prepared by Bryce Revell and raced by the Waimea Racing Syndicate, Ekstreme’s race record now reads seven wins and three placings from 27 outings.

Of these starts, it is her Gr.1 Captain Cook outing that occupies pride of place, but extra kudos was also attained when winning the Gr.2 Cal Isuzu Stakes earlier this season, and the Gr.3 Lowland Stakes (2100m) last term.

Standing for $10,000 at Stoney Bridge Waikato last season, Ekstreme (NZ) is by the Red Ransom sire Ekraar and is out of the winning Anziyan mare, Cashcade (NZ) – a noted half-sibling to the Gr.3 winner Blackrock College.

Riomoral (NZ) noses out Rio Fortune in blanket finish
12:35 PM Monday May 03, 2010

THE GR.3 WINDSOR PARK STUD BREEDERS STAKES (3YO, 1200m)
FIRST
RIOMORAL (NZ) (Captain Rio x Immoral (Last Tycoon)
Owners:
Graham T Harvey
Breeders:
Forhomes Investments Ltd
Trainer:
Karyn McQuade
Jockey:
Michael Coleman
SECOND =
RIO FORTUNE (Captain Rio x Bahira (Volksraad)
Owners:
Fortuna No.7 Syndicate (Mgr John Galvin)
Breeders:
Westbury Stud Ltd
Trainer:
Mark Walker
Jockey:
Noel Harris
SECOND =SHOW UP (NZ) (Show A Heart x La Serenade (St Covet)
Owners:
The Oaks Stud
Breeders:
Karreman Bloodstock
Trainer:
Graham Richardson
Jockey:
Jason Collett
Margins:NOSE, DEAD HEAT, HEAD, SHORT NECK, LEN Time: 01:11.63 Track: slow
Others:

Via Veneto, Lemonade, Aspinal, Blonde Bombshell, Fazzle, Fledgling, Slashing, Keyora, Seven Schillings, Capone, The General's Lady

Saturday’s Gr.3 Windsor Park Stud Breeders' Stakes at Te Rapa proved a headache for judge Tommy Thompson, as five horses crossed the line in unison in the three-year-old 1200m feature.

Minutes later however it would be Riomoral (NZ) (3 B. G. Captain Rio - Immoral, by Last Tycoon) who would be called in as the winner, with fellow Captain Rio gelding Rio Fortune (Captain Rio) in a deadheat for second with Show Up (Show A Heart).

Settling just behind the pace, Riomoral (NZ) peeled out in the home straight, and showed plenty of determination to push his nose out right on the line to nab the victory. .

Trained by Karyn McQuade at Matamata for his owner Graham Harvey, Riomoral (NZ) has now won four of his eight starts for earnings of $69,000.

All four victories have been over 1200 metres, three of those recorded with give in the ground.

McQuade said that after Riomoral (NZ) had won two starts ago at Pukekohe that she was aiming him at the Breeders' Stakes, and with the mission accomplished she would now spell the horse.

Stable spokesman Hamish McQuade said, "He never stops trying, he gives everything he's got. This was the plan, this race, and when a plan comes off its great."

Bred by Forhomes Ltd, Riomoral (NZ) represents the ninth individual stakes winner for his sire Captain Rio (Pivotal).

The Dargaville Racing Club meeting scheduled to be run at Dargaville's Awakino Point track on Wednesday 12 May will now be run as a Counties Racing Club meeting at Pukekohe Park.

Stakes will remain the same, as advertised in the April edition of the Thoroughbred Racing Monthly. The programme of races remains the same as advertised except for the distance changes listed below.

Rating 80 2100m (was 2000m)
Rating 70 2100m (was 2000m)
Maiden 2100m (was 2000m)

Due to the current drought conditions in the area, Dargaville Racing Club's committee consulted with New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing's (NZTR) Racecourse Inspector, Garry Foskett. He visited the track on Wednesday for a pre raceday inspection.

Following that inspection, Foskett commented: "The track does not have sufficient time for grass recovery even if it does rain during the next three weeks".

"In the interests of horse and rider safety, I recommended the race meeting be transferred."

This recommendation was agreed by both NZTR and the Dargaville Racing Club committee.

A total of 117 races will be run at 14 venues throughout the country all the way from Auckland down to Riverton.

Eighteen Prestige Jump Races (PJRs) are programmed through the season starting at the Great Western Meeting at Riverton on 9 May. These races are programmed to run every fortnight, the key events being as follows:

9 May Great Western Steeplechase & Hurdle Riverton

22 May Waikato Steeplechase & Hurdle Waikato

7 June McGregor Grant Steeplechase & KS Browne Hurdle Ellerslie

19 June Manawatu Steeplechase and Awapuni Hurdle Awapuni
3 July Hawke’s Bay Steeplechase & Hurdle Hastings

17 July Wellington Steeplechase & Hurdle Trentham

11 August Grand National Hurdle Riccarton

14 August Grand National Steeplechase Riccarton

21 August Pakuranga Hunt Day Ellerslie

4 September Great Northern Day Ellerslie

One of the primary objectives of NZ Jumps Inc., the national body overseeing the wellbeing of the sport, is to increase national interest in jumping racing. Statistics from last year’s jumping season show a strong upswing.

Last year the average number of starters per race increased from 9.5 to 10.5 in the 16 PJR events. In all grades of jumping races there was an overall increase in starter numbers on a monthly basis with the exception of September. Last season’s average off-course wagering turnover leaped from $117,000 to $142,000 compared to the previous year. This was in contrast to the industry wide trend. These results show a marked contrast to the position of jumping racing just a few years’s ago, when it was experiencing a season-on-season decline in all areas of activity. Since jumping racing underwent a restructure two years ago it has demonstrated its value to the industry and is now delivering results that improve the industry’s financial sustainability.

The Storming Home two-year-old Lion Tamer (NZ) lived up to his sires name on Saturday, when he stormed home to win the Listed Network Visuals Champagne Stakes (1600m) at Ellerslie.

Settling back in the field, the stunning Murray and Bjorn Baker-trained colt unleashed his challenge out wide, swamping the leaders right before the finishing line to win by 0.8 of a length.

Race favourite Hoofit (NZ) (Mossman) finished second, with Red General (NZ) (Volksraad) taking third place one length away.

“I think he’ll be a better three-year-old. He’s a lovely horse,” said Murray Baker of his two-year-old stable star.

Lion Tamer (NZ) commenced his racing career in November with a similar slashing win in the Listed Counties Challenge Stakes (1100m) at Pukekohe, and also posted a win at Trentham over 1200m in March.

All told the Phil Bayly-bred-and-owned galloper has won three of his five juvenile starts, to bank a touch of $80,000.

Phil Bayly is rarely without a good horse to carry his familiar red and black striped colours, brought to prominence by outstanding mare Blue Denim, Lion Tamer’s grandmother who won the Auckland Cup, and was second in the Melbourne Cup.

Lion Tamer is by English sire Storming Home, who served one season at stud in New Zealand as a shuttle stallion and could not return because of equine influenza.

He is the first foal to race for his Generous dam Lioness.

A fitting finale will be played out for a remarkable galloper in the Gr.1 Easter Hcp (1600m) this Saturday.

Having returned from Australia on Tuesday, the event marks the noted racing swansong of Rags To Riches (NZ) (Entrepreneur) – the winner of the said race in 2006.

Now nine years of age, Rags To Riches (NZ) has come to mean many things to many people.

Rags To Riches (NZ) bows out of racing in Saturday's Gr.1 Easter Hcp

To his hobby Te Kauwhata breeders Paul Schlotjes and Kelly Danford, he represents a Group 1 dream come true from their very first breeding attempt.

In support of a NZTBA fundraiser in 1999, Paul Schlotjes purchased $60 dollars worth of raffle tickets offering a free service to The Oaks Stud's sire Entrepreneur.

When Schlotjes subsequently won this, the search was on for a suitable broodmare.

Upon picking up the local Trade & Exchange newspaper, a Bassenthwaite mare by the name of Candescent fortuitously awaited him.

Costing just $350, the onetime to the races mare subsequently played her part with the production of a bay colt - enter Rags To Riches (NZ).

Offered at the 2001 NZB Weanling Sale, the colt would come to be purchased for $22,000 by Eamon Cleary and Hallmark Stud’s Mark and Denny Baker.

On the face of it, the Rags To Riches fairy tale appeared to go awry at this point.

Despite the intention being to on-sell him at 2002 Select Colts Yearling Sale, fate intervened and the horse returned home after falling $5000 short of his $25,000 reserve.

Although unknown at the time, this return float trip would later seal the first Gr.1 winner to be owned by Hallmark Stud.

“He was going through a gangly, ugly phase and the yearling sale just came at a bad time for him. It also didn’t help that he was by Entrepreneur, who had done nothing at the time,” said Hallmark Stud’s Mark Baker.

“We weren’t worried though. With these type of colts, there is always a way you can get out, whether that be at the Ready to Run Sale or the Trials market.

“We later sent him to Ralph Manning in Cambridge and to his credit; he really did a great job with the horse.”

Despite an early trial win, Rags To Riches (NZ) continued to evade the purchase spotlight.

With the decision to race the horse then made, a name was consequently required.

“We decided to name him Rags To Riches for three reasons,” Baker recalled.

“The first was because of his raffle beginning, the second was because of his billionaire owner Eamon Cleary who left school at 11, and the final reason was because his sire’s name was Entrepreneur.”

Showcasing the name to best advantage on debut, Rag To Riches (NZ) bolted in at his first start, winning over 1400m by 2 ¼ lengths at Hawke’s Bay.

“There was an offer from Hong Kong floating round for him after that. It didn’t eventuate and I’m glad it didn’t. We’ve had a lot of fun with him,” said Baker.

Over the course of the next three years, he would come to add to this with 9 additional wins from 1400m-1670m - the most important being his Gr.1 win over Korau Road and La Sizeranne in the Easter Hcp (1600m) of 2006.

Although conceivably overshadowed by his superstar stablemate Seachange (NZ), Rags To Riches (NZ) had come to be a very popular member of the Manning stable by this time.

“Rags To Riches won 10 for us and was a Gr.1 winner, so you always remember those ones well,” said Manning.

“He was cruisey as around the stable, but on the racetrack he was a hard, tough fighter.

“He was a good, easy natured horse who really enjoyed racing life. In fact, he would actually lose condition when we sent him away to spell.”

Such a claim would be confirmed by Baker.

“He use to stand in the corner of the paddock and sulk. In the end, we’d have to ring Ralph and tell him we were sending him back early,” he said.

Clearly a fan of stable life, Rags To Riches (NZ) appeased this spelling weakness with an endearing racing temperament.

“The thing about him is he is as honest as the day is long. He might not be a world beater, but he tries his heart out. He is just a totally 100% genuine racehorse,” commented Baker.

“Of all the races he won for us though, probably the biggest thrill he gave us, was when he dead heated for second with La Sizeranne a long neck behind Cog Hill in the Gr.2 Rich Hill Mile.”

Rated at the top of the handicaps following his Gr.1 Easter Hcp win, the NZ$193,788 earner became hard to place.

“He’s not a big robust horse, so he was battling with the weights. We tried him at WFA, but with all due respect, he wasn’t a WFA horse,” explained Baker.

“I spoke to my mate Liam Birchley and he suggested he might have more luck placing him in Queensland.

“He got a group of guys together to lease him and that’s how the horse made his way to Australia as a 6YO.”

This Australian export would bring about 4 additional wins at the mile– three at Listed level at Eagle Farm, and over A$320,000 in earnings for trainer Liam Birchley and his 10 strong syndicate managed by Mark McLean.

“They’re a great bunch of guys and they’ve had a lot of fun with the horse. He won three Listed races at their hometrack for them and they’ve had some great tours with him,” said Baker.

“Probably though, the biggest highlight on tour was when he was beaten just 0.3 lengths for third in the Gr.2 Villiers Stakes (1600m) at Randwick.”

Just as they were when their other horse Sarge in Charge (NZ) finished second in the Restricted Listed Karaka Million, the said syndicate will be on hand when the curtain comes down at Ellerslie this weekend.

Making the swansong all the more personal will be the on-track role of Hallmark Stud’s Charlotte Hook.

“She prepared Rags after we bought him as a weanling all those years back and she will strap him on Saturday,” said Baker.

Of his Gr.1 bow out bid, Rags to Riches (NZ) is reportedly in fine shape for the race.

“I spoke to Liam and he said the horse is as fit as he can get him and that he is well and sound,” Baker said.

“It’s quite remarkable that it will be his 85th start on Saturday and he’s never had an unsound day in his life. According to Liam he’s a ‘young 9YO’, and no doubt, the old bloke will give his best on Saturday.”

Rewarding him on the other side of Saturday’s 1600m contest will be a lifelong retirement at Hallmark Stud.

“It’s the least you can do for a Gr.1 winner like him,” said Baker.

“He’s got a great nature, so we’ll use him as a farm hack and he’ll granny the weanlings.”

Four-year-old Juice (Bertolini x Call Minder by Christmas Tree) took home top honours for New Plymouth trainer John Wheeler at Te Aroha, winning the Group 1 New Zealand Bloodstock Breeders' Stakes in fine style.

Leading the field throughout, the ever honest Culminate (Elnadim x Solstice by Marceau) looked to have the field's measure before Hayden Tinsley and Juice revealed their hand. Racing sixth on the outer Tinsley expertly timed Juice's run, storming down the outside to win by three-quarters-of-a-length. Talented filly Obsession (Bachelor Duke x Mystery Creek by Kaapstad) was impressive to finish in third.

Winning at stakes level in each year of her racing career to date, Juice won the Listed NZB Fillies Stakes at Avondale as a juvenile to go on to win the Group 3 Hawkes Bay Gold Trail Stakes early in her three-year-old year. She also finished second to in the Group 1 NZB 1000 Guineas and fourth in the NZB Filly of the Year Series, won by another Central Districts-trained mare in Daffodil (No Excuse Needed).

Recent NZ Racing Hall of Fame inductee John Wheeler reported this morning that Juice had pulled up from the race in super order and will head to the Group 1 Land Pride Easter Handicap (1600m) at Ellerslie this Saturday.

The King of the Queensland Winter Carnival also commented "I'll be taking a team over to Brisbane again this year and at this stage Juice is on the short-list. After the Easter there's not much left for her here this preparation."

Call Minder, herself a Listed Matamata Cup winner, has produced four to race of which all are winners. She is from the family of champion 2 & 3YO in NZ in Tang (Taipan II). Bertolini stood at Rich Hill Stud for five seasons with Juice now his best performer with over $460,000 earned for her owners Graeme and Jack Kissick.

Popular Matamata vet Jim Marks bred the mare and sold her through Seaton Park at the Carnival Sale for $20,000.

The win takes the total number of Group 1 winning graduates this season that were sold by New Zealand Bloodstock to 14.

Meanwhile at Riccarton, after the running of the Listed New Zealand Bloodstock Airfreight Stakes, the winner Mercury Mistress (No Excuse Needed x Flytaine by Centaine) added her name to the top of the table, making it three fillies tied for the lead in the NZB Southern Filly of the Year Series.

Trained in Cambridge by Lance Noble, Mercury Mistress bounced out confidently from barrier one to lead throughout the race. On entering the straight, Buddy Lammas urged her to draw away and warn off a challenge from Champagne Joy (Thorn Park x Madamina by Key to Content) who finished a just under a length back in second.

Like Juice, Mercury Mistress was a $20,000 purchase from Karaka. Part-owner in the filly, Rob Burnet secured her at the 2008 Select Sale from her breeders, Waikato Stud.

The Beekeeper (Keeper x The Minder by Personal Escourt) added one point for third in the race to her three from finishing second in the Listed NZB Insurance Stakes last start. Currently Brown Eyed Grace (Van Nistelrooy) and Chaparella (High Chaparrel) complete the three-way-tie with the final race in the Series, the Listed New Zealand Bloodstock Warstep Stakes (2000m) set to run on 24 April at Riccarton.


6/4/2010 Nacho Man (NZ) wins Gr.1 Manawatu Sires' Produce Stakes (1400m)

The talented Mr Nancho gelding Nacho Man (NZ) confirmed his definite left-hand racing preference with a dominant win in the Gr.1 Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) on Saturday.

Trained by brothers Mike and Paul Moroney, Nacho Man (NZ) has thrice been given the opportunity to race anti-clockwise and on each occasion he has rewarded his owners Christopher Grace, Tom & Shelley Murtagh, Michael Clements and Peter Pang with the best of results.

Ridden handy to the pace by Craig Grylls on Saturday, Nacho Man (NZ) seized the lead from Cellarmaster (NZ) (Dubawi) with 100m to run and drew away thereafter, crossing for the noted Gr.1 win in a time of 1.23 on the good Awapuni track.

At the line, he had gained a 1 ¼ length advantage over the bold frontrunner Cellarmaster (NZ), with Jimmy Choux (NZ) (Thorn Park) putting in plenty for third ½ a neck away.

Making the win all the more notable was the fact that it was the first Gr.1 winner for Stoney Bridge’s Southern Halo sire Mr Nancho, it was the third win in the event for his trainers behind Happyanunoit (1998) and Jokers Wild (2006) and because of the fact that the horse suffers a breathing difficulty.

Despite left side paralysis of his larynx, the smart juvenile has amassed a record of 3 wins from 5 outings, with additional black-type attained in the Listed Matamata Slipper (1200m) at start three.

With $153,125 in earnings now banked, Nacho Man (NZ) has well and truly repaid each of his earlier Karaka sale ring invoices.

Offered at the 2008 NZB National Weanling Sale, the Twin Pines draft member was initially sold to Mr BG & Mrs A Henry for $15,000.

Returning to the Karaka sales arena as a yearling, he was then purchased by Esker Lodge’s Tom and Shelley Murtagh from the 2009 Festival Yearling Sale consignment of Maara Grange for $27,000.

“He was the best horse at that sale. I’d seen him at Maara Grange beforehand and I fell in love with him,” recalled Paul Moroney, the astute purchaser of 28 individual Gr.1 winners.

“I had wanted to buy him, but by that stage of the sales series, I’d ran out of ammunition.

“I happened to be talking to Shelley and Tom at a bar afterwards though and they told me they had bought lot 1679. I didn’t need to open the catalogue to see that one because he was the best horse in the final session and I told them as much.”

Subsequently sent to Moroney due to his high regard, Nacho Man has continued to impress all involved.

“He’s up there as one of the best 2YO’s we’ve ever had,” said Paul.

“Happyanunoit was heads and shoulders the best 2YO we had and maybe the best horse full stop. Jokers Wild was a champion 2YO. He was a high class colt, who could run both ways, so he didn’t have the chink in the armour that this guy has.

“Nacho Man’s biggest asset though is his maturity. He’s a big, strong, powerful horse.”

To be spelled now, the future - if not a little uncertain, looks bright.

“There is a possibility that he could go up to Singapore to his part-owner Michael Clements’ yard for the Juvenile Championship in May, but this will be up to his owners,” said Moroney.

“Dependent on what they decide, he could well end up at Mike’s Melbourne stable in the spring.”

Bred by Stoney Bridge Thoroughbred Ltd, Nacho Man (NZ) is the leading ambassador for his first season sire Mr Nancho, the Champion Miler in Argentina in 2003/04.

Standing at Stoney Bridge Waikato for $4,500 in 2009/10, Mr Nancho has only had the three runners to date; with his oldest progeny being 2YO’s this season.

The said Gr.1 winner’s dam El Coriero (The Jogger) was a two time winner at 1200m in New Zealand and has produced the two winners Nacho Man & China Doll from three to race

Sir Slick (NZ) wins Gr.2 Awapuni Gold Cup (2000m)
2:38 PM Tuesday Apr 06, 2010

Graeme Nicholson’s warhorse Sir Slick (NZ) (Volksraad) dished out a stern galloping lesson in the Gr.2 Lawnmaster Awapuni Gold Cup (2000m) on Saturday.

Although sprightly out of the gates, the evergreen 8YO handed the lead up to Borrack (NZ) (Black Minnaloushe) but upon turning in for home, it was clear that this concession had been strictly temporary.

Kicking hard, the seasoned 6 time Gr.1 winner left the field to it, sprinting to the line in the hands of Samantha Collett to record the easiest of wins for his co-owner/co-trainer Graeme Nicholson and part-owner Frances Crimmins.

Completing the 2000m trip in a good track time of 2.01.55, the win saw Sir Slick (NZ) extinguish the chances of Manonamission (NZ) (Kilimanjaro) and Red Ruler (NZ) (Viking Ruler), who did the best of rest 1 ¾ lengths and a ½ length back in second and third.

Serving as his third win in the event, Sir Slick (NZ) joined the esteemed three-win company of the champion galloper Desert Gold with the outing.

Trained in partnership with Paul Allbon, Sir Slick’s remarkable race record now reads 22 wins and 32 placings from 117 starts.

Purchased by Nicholson from Mapperley Stud's 2003 Select Colts Sale draft, Sir Slick (NZ) has obliterated his $48,000 with the culmination of NZ$1,777,000, A$107,292, S$60,000 in earnings.

This 22 win feat - which includes 6 Gr.1 wins, 5 Gr.2’s, 2 Gr.3’s and 2 Listed triumphs, also sees him posted in New Zealand’s racing archives as the 7th equal slayer of the most amount of New Zealand-based wins.

The veteran galloper’s next start has been pencilled in for the Easter Hcp (1600m) at Ellerslie on April 17. Success here would see him join Catering King and Ocean Guard as the winner of 23 races and would see him join Seachange, Rising Fast, Might & Power and Lord as the NZ-Bred winners of 7 Gr.1 races.

Bred by Paul and Cushla Smithies of Monovale Farm, Sir Slick (NZ) is by the champion sire Volksraad and is from the Paris Opera mare Miss Opera.

Standing at Windsor Park Stud, Volksraad is the sire of no less than 12 Gr.1 winners,55 stakes winners and a 66.97 % winners-to-runners ratio. Further he is also well on track for an 8th Champion NZ Sire title award (see The Grosvenor Award standings below)

With regard to Sir Slick’s maternal make up, his dam Miss Opera counted the Listed Castletown Stakes among her 6 wins and has distinguished herself well in the breeding paddock, where her five winners from five runners have included the stakes performers Shortblackmini (NZ) (Black Minnaloushe) and Mr Jinky (NZ) (Volksraad).


Time Keeper (NZ) wins Gr.3 The Oaks Stud Manawatu Classic (3YO, 2000m)
1:38 PM Tuesday Apr 06, 2010

The Graeme Nicholson and Paul Allbon-trained Stravinsky gelding Time Keeper (NZ) has beseeched an Australian mission with an all too impressive outing in the Gr.3 The Oaks Stud Manawatu Classic (3YO, 2000m) at Awapuni on Saturday.

Sent straight to the front by David Walsh, the 3YO gelding got out to as much as a 5 length advantage in the back straight and still had plenty in the tank in the run to the line, winning under his own steam by a commanding 6 lengths.

Doing the best of the rest, Utopia (NZ) (High Chaparral) raced home well for second, with Eileen Dubh (NZ) (Storm Creek) finishing third 1 ¾ lengths away.

Crossing in a 2000m time of 2.01.8, the effort saw him finish just 0.25 of a second slower than what his 6 time Gr.1 winning stablemate Sir Slick achieved in the Gr.2 Lawnmaster Awapuni Gold Cup (Opn, 2000m) the same day (see earlier story).

Like Sir Slick (NZ), Time Keeper (NZ) is owned by Nicholson and Frances Crimmins, who to date have celebrated the 3YO’s 3 wins and 6 placings.

Further, purchased by Nicholson from The Oaks Stud draft at the 2008 Carnival Sale for $65,000, Time Keeper (NZ) is already on the right side of the ledger with NZ$157,350 in earnings.

Although nominated for this Saturday’s AJC Derby, Nicholson has indicated he would like to take him to Queensland for the Queensland Derby following an outing in the Gr.1 Easter Hcp (1600m) at Ellerslie on April 17.

Should the latter transpire, this would see him notably pit wares against Sir Slick (NZ).

Bred by C D Harvey, D C MacLean & T H Morris, Time Keeper (NZ) combines he bloodlines of Stravinsky with the unraced Our Emblem mare, Organdy.

To date Stravinsky has been represented by 61 stakes winners – 7 at Gr.1 level, and has achieved a winners-to-runners ratio of 67.7 per cent.

Organdy alternatively has produced three foals to race for the two winners Time Keeper (NZ) and Electracute (NZ) (Postponed).

29/3/2010 Gritty Zabrasive now Derby favourite

Karaka Premier Sale graduate Zabrasive looks set to continue the New Zealand-bred tradition of dominating the Group 1 AJC David Jones Australian Derby with a fantastic win in the race's traditional lead-up, the Group 1 STC Darley Rosehill Guineas (2400m) on Saturday.

Tracking pacemaker Gathering (Tale of the Cat) throughout the race, Zabrasive drew to the lead on the straight before knuckling down to fight out a tight finish when headed by Group 1 VRC Australian Guineas winner Rock Classic (Fastnet Rock). The filly Run For Naara (More Than Ready) finished two lengths back in third.

Trained by John O'Shea, the win came off the back of an eye-catching run for fourth in the Group 1 AJC Randwick Guineas which was won by Shoot Out (High Chaparral), who ran fourth in the race on Saturday.

Bred by Don and Rochelle McLaren's Northfields Stud, Storm Thoroughbreds secured Zabrasive for just $95,000 from Haunui Farm's 2008 draft. From just six starts to date for three wins and two placings, he's already returned his connections over A$370,000 in stakes.

Zabrasive is another example of the sought after Zabeel - Danehill cross, being from the stakes winning Danehill mare Danasia, who finished third in Tapildo's 2001 Group 1 NZ Oaks. To date her four progeny to race have all been winners.

Now the current favourite for the $1.3 million dollar purse on offer on April 10th, O'Shea's charge is hoping to join other NZ-bred victors in the AJC Derby such as last year's Metal Bender (Danasinga) to make it four in a row for the (NZ) suffix. Other NZ-bred winners of the race in the past ten years include Roman Emperor (Montjeu), Nom Du Jeu (Montjeu), Fiumicino (Zabeel), Starcraft (Soviet Star) and Don Eduardo (Zabeel).

If he was to take out the Rosehill Guineas - AJC Derby double, Zabrasive's name would be among the likes of fellow Kiwi stars, Phar Lap, Tulloch, Dulcify, Taras Bulba, Battle Sign and more recently Sky Heights, Octagonal and Naturalism.

On the same card another son of Cambridge Stud's Zabeel notched up a stakes win with Precedence (ex Kowtow by Shadeed) taking out the Listed STC NE Manion Cup (2400m), confirming his favouritism for the Group 1 AJC Schweppes Sydney Cup on 24 April.

Trained by Bart Cummings, Precedence was purchased by DGR Thoroughbred Services for $180,000 at the 2007 Karaka Premier Sale from Bloomsbury Stud. In recording his fourth win on Saturday, and third on the trot, the four-year-old took his total winnings to over A$280,000.

Black-type break-through for Casabella Lane (NZ)
10:53 AM Monday Mar 29, 2010

Narrowly denied a stakes level win at her last start in the Listed Westbury Stud Classic, the game Volksraad mare Casabella Lane (NZ) went one better on Saturday, to take out the Gr.2 Japan International Trophy (1600m) at Tauranga.
Trained on the track by Jim Pender, the six-win mare had been tested at black-type level on four previous occasions, and was unlucky not to feature in the finish of the Gr.2 Cal Isuzu Stakes at Te Rapa in December, when she was interfered with in the running, but recovered to finish less than two-lengths from the winner.
Pender said after the race that he was delighted that Casabella Lane (NZ) had broken through for the all important black-type tick.
"In each of her attempts at stakes' races she had no luck at all and if ever a mare deserved to win a black-type race it was her” said
Owned by Albert Knap, Sandra O'Dwyer, Jim Pender, Karaka Walker, Dennis Watson & Margaret Weeks, Casabella Lane (NZ) was bred by Windsor Park Stud Ltd, and is one of two winning foals to race for the winning Kaapstad mare Kaapentyne.
She represents the 55th individual winner for her champion sire Volksraad, who currently leads The Grosvenor Award in New Zealand.
Casabella Lane (NZ) will have her next start in the Gr.1 NZ$200,000 New Zealand Bloodstock Breeders' Stakes (1600m), at Te Aroha on April 10.

First: CASABELLA LANE, Volksraad - Kaapentyne (Kaapstad)
Owners: A L P Knap, Mrs S J O'Dwyer, J C Pender, K Walker, D H Watson & Mrs M J Weeks
Breeders: Windsor Park Stud Ltd
Trainer: Jim Pender
Jockey: Jason Collett
Second: Arlington, Red Ransom - Savannah Success (Success Express)
Owners: Bruce Reid & Sons Pty Ltd, A Capogreco, G Harvey, Sir Patrick Hogan, Mrs M J & Ms S J Jenkins, Mrs A Pirrello, G A Rogerson MNZM & R C Upadhyaya
Breeders: Mr G Harvey
Trainer: Graeme & Debbie Rogerson
Jockey: Trudy Thornton
Third: Vonusti, Ustinov - Reasonably (Sound Reason)
Owners: P T J & T G O'Shea & R Patel
Breeders: Mrs E & J R Fairweather
Trainer: Tim & Margaret Carter
Jockey: Noel Harris

Margins: 2 1/4 LEN, HEAD, 1/2 LEN, NECK, 3/4 LEN Time: 01:36.06 Track: good
Others: Our Star Pupil, Sir Slick, Irish Opera, Casual Fibs, Irish Colleen, Santangelo, Keffiya, Gallions Reach

Sharp Princess (NZ) wins Listed Valachi Downs South Island Thoroughbred Breeders Stakes (1600m)
1:08 PM Monday Mar 29, 2010

The smart Fraser Auret-trained Pins mare Sharp Princess (NZ) led rivals a merry chase in Saturday’s Listed Valachi Downs South Island Thoroughbred Breeders Stakes (1600m) at Riccarton.

Dictating terms throughout for rider Lisa Allpress, Sharp Princess (NZ) skipped clear upon straightening, ultimately hitting the wire with 3 and ¾ lengths to spare from Caparison (NZ) (Cape Cross), with Our Zara (NZ) (Yamanin Vital) finishing a neck back in third.

Held on a Good track, Sharp Princess’ time for the mile outing was 1.34.51.

Purchased by her owner Bromley Bloodstock Ltd at the 2008 Winter Mixed Bloodstock Sale for $170,000, Sharp Princess (NZ) has now achieved 5 wins and 5 placings from 18 career starts.

Bred by Garry Chittick, Sharp Princess (NZ) represents the 33rd stakes winner for Pins and the 4th stakes winner to result from the classically Waikato Stud Pins over O’Reilly mare cross.

Sharp Princess’ O’Reilly dam She’s Snubbed was placed at three in Australia and has produced two foals for the one to race.

Beyond black-type print achieved on Saturday, Sharp Princess is strongly distinguished on the pedigree page with the presence of the 6 time Gr.1 winner Slight Chance (NZ).


26/3/2010 Vonusti (NZ) out for Gr.2 spoils at Tauranga
8:55 AM Friday Mar 26, 2010

The Tim and Margaret Cater-trained Vonusti (NZ) (Ustinov) has always looked well above average, and he duly proved his galloping ability at the elite level in January’s Gr.1 Telegraph Handicap at Trentham.
Saturday will see the five-year-son of Ustinov seek a second win at group level this season in the Gr.2 Bayleys Japan NZ Trophy (1600m) a Tauranga.
A winner of eight races in total, Vonusti (NZ) has had the two starts on the Tauranga surface, winning over 1400m three starts ago, and finishing fourth in the 2009 running of the Japan/NZ Trophy.
The Cambridge-based galloper has stepped out over the mile distance on four occasions, and his trainer Tim Carter has no concerns over the proven sprinter stretching to 1600m.
“He's only had the four starts at 1600m and he's done pretty well," said Carter.
The strongest opposition to Vonusti’s group two bid include the McKee stablemates Irish Opera and Irish Colleen, along with the tough-as-teak mare Ruud Van Slaats and the last start winner Keffiya.

Atalla (NZ) on black-type mission
Thursday Mar 25, 2010
The honest racemare Attalla (NZ) (Volksraad) is on a mission to pick up that all important black-type tick in Saturdays Listed Valachi Downs South Island Breeders’ Stakes (1600m) at Riccarton.

Trained by Lance Noble, Attalla (NZ) is a winner of four of her 21 starts to date, but has yet to record a win at stakes level. The five-year-old daughter of Volksraad was second to Coup Align (NZ) in the Listed Eclipse Stakes two starts ago, and third to Bella Renza (NZ) is the Listed Westbury Classic at Ellerslie this time last year.

A valuable matron in the making, Attalla (NZ) is a half-sister to two winners, and is from the winning Mi Preferido mare Janus, who is a half-sister to the dam of the Gr.1 winner Vinaka, and the stakes winners Lim’s Grand and Vaalu.

A capacity field of 15 will assemble in Riccarton’s feature, with likely dangers to halt Attalla’s black-type mission including:

The Pearler (NZ) (Volksraad) – Already a stakes winner. Was successful at her last start over 1400m three weeks ago.

Sharp Princess (NZ) (Pins) – Central Districts visitor who was second in the Listed Wairarapa Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes two starts ago.

One Chance (NZ) (Golan) – Promising Golan mare who is making her way swiftly up the grades.

Sir Slick and Bruce Almighty made sure that the Group 3 WRC Rich Hill Thompson Handicap was run at a genuine pace, with Wall Street (Montjeu x Villa Wanda by Grand Lodge) outclassing his rivals when asked to lengthen for Opie Bosson, winning by one-and-a-quarter lengths from Cassini (Reset x Mathematical by Honor Grades). An eye-catching run by All In Tempo (Shinko King x All In Tune by Grosvenor) saw him finish a further head back in third position.

The five-year-old mile specialist recorded his eighth win from 13 starts, adding the Group 3 scalp to his collection of stakes successes which also includes the Group 1 WRC Thorndon Mile and Group 2 CJC Couplands Bakeries Mile.

Bred by CW Wong, he was purchased by Paul Moroney Bloodstock for $100,000 at the 2006 Karaka Premier Sale from Jo Wilding's South Island operation, Te Mania Thoroughbreds. Racing in eye-catching bright purple colours with stars, he's now accrued $370,025 for his owners the GG Syndicate, GKV Holdings and MA Head.

Training out of Awapuni, Lynds reported today that Wall Street has come through the race well and will head to the Group 2 Awapuni Gold Cup (2000m) on 3 April before heading to Sydney with stable-mate Vosne Romanee (Electronic Zone x Madison Avenue by Morcon) who's aimed at the Group 1 A$350,000 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) a week later on 24 April. Sticking to his winning formula, Lynds will keep Opie Bosson on board both horses for the trans-Tasman trip.

Bosson had a magic day at Trentham winning four of the ten-race card including the day's feature, the Group 1 Wellfield NZ Oaks on Keep the Peace (Keeper x Peace of Mind by Wild Rampage). The Oaks marks the final race in New Zealand Bloodstock's Filly of the Year Series with the title already secured by Katie Lee (Pins x Miss Jessie Jay by Spectacularphantom).

Currently second favourite for the Doncaster is fellow Karaka graduate Rangirangdoo (Pentire x She Wishes by Kenfair) who's looking to crack his Group 1 hoodoo after finishing three times second, including his last two performances, at the elite level. Trained by Chris Waller he finished just behind Theseo in the Group 1 STC Ranvet Stakes (2000m) on Saturday. Expatriate Kiwi Waller will be looking for his second win in the feature having trained Triple Honour to win in 2008.

Last year NZ-bred Vision and Power won the race for Joe Pride. He's also nominated for this year's race.

Stacked full of quality the Group 1 fillies classic is run over 2400m for $300,000 and has been won by the likes of Princess Coup, Legs, Boundless, Bramble Rose and Justa Tad in the new millennium.

Missing from the 2010 Group 1 Wellfield New Zealand Oaks is confirmed 2009/10 New Zealand Bloodstock Filly of the Year Katie Lee (Pins) who is having a well deserved spell in the lush paddocks of Cambridge Stud after competing in seven Series events, winning three of them including the Group 1 NZB 1000 Guineas.

Her absence sees Zarzuela (Zabeel x Star Satire, by Volksraad) head the 2010 field after her fourth placing in the $2.2m Telecom NZ Derby a fortnight ago.

The Mark Walker trained filly has shown a ton of ability and an aptitude for staying in beating the best of the boys in both the Group 2 ARC Championship Stakes (2100m), the Group 2 Great Northern Guineas (2100m), and the Group 3 Waikato Guineas (2000m) this season.

The winner of four from nine starts has the propensity to get back in running but jockey James McDonald may look to place handier from barrier 1 and will take plenty of beating.

Next in the book is Central Districts-trained Eileen Dubh (Storm Creek x Vingtaine, by Centaine) who has been patiently handled by Francis Finnegan having only started twice since winning the Group 1 Levin Classic (1600m) in November.

The result was a win and a tough placing with big weight for the filly who is yet to compete beyond a mile, and her immediate family features top sprinter-milers the calibre of Group 1 winners Culminate and Captivate. However, the Storm Creek filly's third-dam Soliloquy did produce 1985 New Zealand Oaks winner Solveig.

On the opposite side of the spectrum Stephen McKee's Adaline (Court of Jewels x Red Covet, by St Covet), Shaune Ritchie's Keep the Peace (Keeper x Peace of Mind, by Wild Rampage), John Sargent's A Chance to Dream (Volksraad x Make Me Dream, by Sadler's Wells), Richard Collett's November Rain (Stravinsky x Lady Teruko, by Kris S), Mark Walker's Posavina (Tiger Hill x Dance My Dance, by Sadler's Wells) and Corsage (Volksraad x Spray, by Entrepreneur), plus Ken Kelso's Miss Sharapova (Ustinov x Young and Free, by Kenmare) have all won or placed in Group or Listed events at 2000m and beyond.

Drawn 10, Adaline won the Group 2 NZB Royal Stakes (2000m) at Ellerslie on New Year's Day before finishing mid-field in the Listed Sunline Vase (2100m) last week.

A Chance to Dream won the Vase impressively by four lengths, clearly relishing the extra distance which, being out of a Sadler's Wells mare from the family of English Oaks winners Midway Lady and Eswarah, her pedigree indicates. She has drawn mid-field and has the services of the in-form Mark Du Plessis.

November Rain and Corsage filled the minor placings in the Sunline Vase and both will be looking to settle just off the pace with cover from barrier 2 and 5 respectively.

Posavina lead all the way last start in the Group 3 Lowland Stakes (2100m) and will be looking to outstay her competition again on Saturday with Hayden Tinsley aboard from barrier 11. Bred to stay all day being by dual German Group 1 Grosser Preis Von Baden (2400m) winner Tiger Hill from a Sadler's Wells mare, Posavina will again meet Keep the Peace and Miss Sharapova who finished strongly to fill the minor placings in the Lowland.

Not to be forgotten Dean, Donna Logan and Chris Gibbs' charge Jungle Juice (Jungle Pocket x Shadow Ray, by Groom Dancer) placed third in the Group 2 Waikato Guineas (2000m) with a strong finish before a mid-field finish in the NZ Derby last start. Rosie Myers is aboard the filly who will be ridden cold from barrier 16 based on previous outings.

The same training partnership saddle Nike Princess (Golan x Winged Victory, by Victory Dance) who won twice over 2100m and is a filly capable of putting herself in the race but she will be made to work hard if she is to sit handy on Saturday from the outermost barrier 18.

La Marina (Golan x In the Vain, by Vain) is another talented Golan filly and she has won on two occasions for trainer Janelle Millar. She has drawn wide as has Danica Guy's dual winner Poppy Rose (Thorn Park x Ngaio, by Nassipour) with both fillies yet to win past 2000m.

Graham Richardson's Shamarose (Shamardal x Rose Beat, by Rhythm), Lisa Latta's Platinum Princess (Keeper x Merle Park, by Machiavellian), Guy Lowry and Grant Cullen's Southern Heights (Align x Alpine Beauty, by Khozaam), Mark Walker's Miraflores (Johar x Marie Claire, by O'Reilly), and John Sargent's The Goddaughter (Don Eduardo x Better Believe, by Success Express) are all lightly tried, consistent types who have won and are looking for their first black type result in the Group 1 feature.

The $300,000 Group 1 Wellfield New Zealand Oaks (2400m) is set to jump at 4.22pm on Saturday at Trentham Gardens.

The second event in the four-race Series was a competitive contest from the outset with all 15 fillies jostling for position from the jump.

Race favourite The Beekeeper (Keeper) lead the field from her handy barrier and went about setting herself as the one to catch in the Wingatui straight. Chaparella (High Chaparrall x Peak Time, by Straight Strike) was positioned mid-field on the rail for jockey Jay Misbah who gave his charge a lovely run in transit, saving ground with cover.

Rounding the home-bend the field bunched markedly, with all contestants well within striking distance of victory. However, The Beekeeper was only giving her competitors false hope as she sprinted from the front as the field straightened and quite clearly made herself the one to catch and the one to beat.

Chaparella in the meantime was eased wide by Misbah, eventually a gap appeared, and within an instant the three-year-old filly was charging down the very outside of the field.

Chaparella hit the front in an instant and ran away in the final 50m to win by a length and a quarter over The Beekeeper, with Howbadouneedit (Howbaddouwantit) a nose away third.

Trained by Steven Prince, Chaparella won her maiden by 10 and three quarter lengths at Gore on 11 October and since then has won three more races including the Listed Liquorland Gore Guineas against the colts two starts ago.

With prize-money totalling $65,000, Chaparella shares the NZB Southern Filly of the Year Series lead with first-leg, Listed NZB Canterbury Belle Stakes, winner Black Eyed Grace (Van Nistelrooy). The Beekeeper and Te Akau Rose (Thorn Park) share third place with three points apiece.

Chaparella is the only stakes-winning filly produced by High Chaparral in the Southern Hemisphere thus far, however in the Northern Hemisphere his fillies have provided real highlights through the likes of Group 2 winner The Miniver Rose, and Group 1 placed High Heeled, Unsung Heroine, Joanna, Serienhoehe, and Beach Bunny.Chaparella is the first foal of five-time winning Straight Strike mare Peak Time with the family also responsible for Group 1 NZ 1000 Guineas winner Prepak, and more recently Group 2 Travis Stakes and Group 3 Rotorua Cup winner Katy Keen.

The Listed New Zealand Bloodstock Airfreight Stakes (1600m) at Riccarton on 10 April is the next race in the NZB Southern Filly of the Year Series with Steven Prince having confirmed the race as Chaparella's next target.

Vosne Romanee (NZ) wins Gr.1 SkyCity New Zealand Stakes (2000m)

The poorly conformed but game as you like galloper Vosne Romanee (NZ) (Electronic Zone) belied his conformation with another endearing Gr.1 level display on Saturday.

Previously successful this season in the Gr.1 Kelt Capital Stakes (2040m) and the Gr.1 Zabeel Classic (2000m), Vosne Romanee (NZ) threw his cap into the ring for serious New Zealand Horse of the Year considerations with a dominant win in this weekend’s SkyCity New Zealand Stakes (2000m) at Ellerslie.

Gifting his breeder/owners Ian and Alana Smart with their 3rd Gr.1 win, Vosne Romanee (NZ) was patiently ridden by Opie Bosson, who set the baldy faced chestnut alive in the straight.

With hand brake released, the Electronic Zone gelding knuckled down to the task outside, reeling in his opposition with 150m to run.

Pulling away thereafter, the 7YO greeted the post 1 length superior of his nearest rival Harris Tweed (NZ) (Montjeu) and with 1.2 lengths to spare from the third placed Tell A Tale (Tale of the Cat).

Vosne Romanee’s time for the Good 2 track 2000m contest would be 2.01.63, coming home the last 600m in 35.31 seconds.

Already a dream come true for his Martinborough-based breeder/owners, Vosne Romanee (NZ) could add significantly to his seasonal success story with a planned trip to Sydney to target the Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) on April 24.

Further, should the horse continue to thrive, his Palmerston North trainer Jeff Lynds has signalled a trip to tackle Melbourne’s WFA showpiece, the Gr.1 Tatts Cox Plate, could feature on the cards in the season ahead.

Interestingly, despite bloodlines connecting him to such Gr.1 gallopers as Weekend Hussler, Viewed, Sky Heights, Ad Alta, Allegro, Battle Heights, Noble Heights, Mapperley Heights, and Royal Heights, Vosne Romanee (NZ) was unwanted at the 2004 Select Yearling Sale, passing in for $13,000.

“He’s not well conformed. He’s so straight in front that no person would buy him at first sight. It would be like going into war with a popgun,” explained Lynds.

“He has a perfect attitude though and he has shown ability since his first start.

Fortuitously retained by his first time breeders, the ’unwanted’ chestnut gelding has now garnered $1,213,400 in earnings and has been a stand out performer for the little heralded stallion, Electronic Zone.

Owned by Tony Cruz, the Rahy stallion stands for $3500 at John and Sue Trumper’s Cheveley Stud in Te Aroha and has sired 33 winners from 55 to race (60% winners-to-runners). Leading performers have comprised of the three stakes winners Vosne Romanee, the Gr.3 BTC Premiers Cup winner, Rezone and the Listed Levin Challenge Stakes winner, Elcee’s Gold.

Looking at the bottom of his pedigree, Vosne Romanee’s unraced dam, Madison Avenue (Morcon) is a half sister to Gr.2 VRC Queen Elizabeth Stakes winner Hear That Bell and is a granddaughter of Garden Heights, the dam of the Gr.1 winner Allegro - a noted half-sister to Battle Heights.

To date, Madison Avenue has produced one foal to race for the Gr.1 winner and could have further ambassadors on the track with the two foals by Electronic Zone produced in 2003 and 2004, the His Royal Highness colt born 2006 and with the Ishiguru foal born 2008.

Banchee (NZ) wins Gr.1 Auckland Diamond Stakes (2YO, 1200m)

It would seem the apple has not fallen far from the tree.

Already strongly distinguished with the deeds of her dual Gr.1 winning daughter Katie Lee (Pins) this season, Hallmark Stud & Trevor Hurley’s outstanding matriarch, Miss Jessie Jay, returned to the Gr.1 spotlight with her game 2007 Oratorio filly Banchee (NZ).

Previously successful against her own sex for owners Sam and Birdie Kelt in the Gr.2 Matamata Breeders’ Stakes (1200m), Banchee (NZ) came out at Ellerslie on Saturday to showcase her indiscriminate supremacy over the boys in the Gr.1 Auckland Diamond Stakes (2YO, 1200m).

Ridden by Leith Innes, Banchee (NZ) bounced out of barrier one carrying 54.5kg and settled handy to pace throughout in fourth.

Whilst she would level up to the leaders Sirrio (NZ) (Captain Rio) and Nacho Man (NZ) (Mr Nancho) with 300m to run, her battle for victory was far from over.

Looming ominously on her outside, Jimmy Choux (NZ) (Thorn Park) went up to the filly with 200m to run and if that wasn’t enough, Cellarmaster (NZ) (Dubawi) chimed in with a rapid descent along her inner.

Clearly sharing the competitive mettle of her half-sister, Banchee (NZ) would be undeterred, digging deep to eventually shade the two out of the winners circle by a head and a nose respectively.

Banchee’s time for the 1200m circuit would be 1.09.72, with her last 600m coming in 0.34.88 seconds.

Trained by John Sargent, Banchee’s record now reads $277,050 in earnings from 3 wins and 2 placings from 5 starts – a record that compares favourably against her history making New Zealand Bloodstock 3Y0 Filly of the Year’ half-sister Katie Lee, who at the same stage in her career had achieved 2 wins and three runner-up performances for $79,175.

Purchased from Hallmark’s Stud’s 2009 NZ Premier Yearling Sale draft by Bloodstock Agent Bruce Perry for $375,000, Banchee (NZ) could receive her own opportunity to collect an age group title of her own with a nominated outing in the Central Region Ford Dealers Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes (2YO, 140m) on April 3.

Alternatively, another option that is under consideration for her Hastings owners Sam and Birdie Kelt on the same day is the $A3.5 million Golden Slipper Stakes at Rosehill.

Rated up there as one of the best 2YO’s he had trained, Sargent is of the belief that her ability to storm home and her temperament, should see her competitive against her speedy Australian counterparts.

"She's not nominated so we'd have to pay the late entry fee," Sargent was reported as saying in the Sunday Star Times.

"She's the perfect two-year-old. She's so laid back; all she does is sleep and eat.”

Such regard would be shared by part-breeder Mark Baker of Hallmark Stud.

“Both Katie Lee and Banchee had great temperaments as yearlings - both tended to just sleep and eat and had great constitutions,” said Baker.

“Katie Lee perhaps had a bit more spunk about her, but Banchee was special.

“In the first few weeks, it’s unusual for a foal to come up and put their head on your chest expecting a scratch. But she was a such a character, she would come up and do this.

“Even at the Premier Yearling Sale, after parading she would stop on the way back to her box to push the spare door open in order to rifle through our lolly jar. Sometimes on the way back she’d head for the fan with Charlie and let it blow on her forelock. ”

Should success in the Australian race transpire, Banchee (NZ) would represent the second Australian Gr.1 winner to hail from Hallmark Stud’s and Trevor Hurley’s noted matriarch Miss Distinction (Bletchencore).

Miss Distinction’s earlier ambassador was her daughter Gee I Jane (NZ) (Jahafil) who won the Gr.1 BTC Cup, and with Banchee (NZ) she presents as the second dam.

Miss Jessie Jay was herself a Gr.3 winner and since retirement to the breeding paddock has produced four foals for the four winners: KATIE LEE (NZ) (Gr.1 x 2), BANCHEE (NZ) (Gr.1), Eclair Fantastic (NZ) (Listed placegetter) and My Spec (winner at 1100m).

Miss Jessie Jay, who must surely have strong claims to this season’s NZ Broodmare of the Year title, is currently in foal to Katie Lee’s sire Pins.

Her dam Miss Distinction, alternatively, is in-foal to High Chaparral and has a Darci Brahma filly at foot.

11/3/2010 Beautiful Girl wins Sprint

The Group 3 Darley Plate (1200m) run yesterday on Ellerslie's Auckland Cup Day race-card saw a hard fought finish between Karaka graduates Beautiful Girl and Vonusti.

The $100,000 event was contested by 14 high class sprinters on a picture perfect day at New Zealand's premier track.

The field jumped to find inaugural Karaka Million winner Vincent Mangano (No Excuse Needed) leading the field at a strong clip with Lipperty Lip (Riviera), Jazzella (Black Minnaloushe), and Raid (Pins) trailing the leader.

Beautiful Girl (Black Minnaloushe x Piccadilly Lily, by Rubiton) was placed in a beautiful mid-field spot by Leith Innes, on the rail with Group 1 Telegraph Handicap winner Vonusti (Ustinov) outside her hind-quarter.

Into the Ellerslie straight Innes pulled Beautiful Girl off the fence and angled the six-year-old mare out to the middle of the track where she had clear space to chase down Vincent Mangano and Jazzella who had set sail for home.

With 53kg on her back Beautiful Girl sprinted supremely when picking up the leaders and running home hard to score by a short-head over Vonusti who finished strongly down her outside.

The win was the mare's fifth from eight starts this season, a great testament to the training ability of her owner and trainer Leanne Franklin.

Good enough to contest the Group 1 NZB 1000 Guineas as a three-year-old, Beautiful Girl was off the racing scene for almost two years with a tendon injury before Franklin was able to nurse her back to recovery.

Beautiful Girl has now earned over $150,000 on the racetrack after being purchased as a yearling for $13,000 by Papich Racing at Karaka's 2005 Select Sale from Haunui Farm.

Now a seven-time winner, Beautiful Girl is a grand-daughter of Group 1 Queensland Oaks winner and Group 1 AJC Oaks and Sydney Cup placed Round the World (Red Anchor). This top family is also responsible for Royal Regatta, The Perfume Garden, Bel Air, and more recently Leigh Valley.

New Zealand Bloodstock will conduct the Selwyn River Unreserved Dispersal Sale on Friday, 26 March. Request a catalogue from reception@nzb.co.nz.

The big week for Easter graduates continued across the Tasman today when well-travelled stayer Zavite proved too tough in the Group 1 Auckland Cup (3200m).

ZAVITE ($80,000 2004 Easter, 7g Zavite-Miss Vita) was offered through the Fairdale Stud draft and has proven an astute investment by trainer Anthony Cummings.

Today was his 10th win, but first at Group 1 level. His prizemoney is now heading towards the $2million mark.

Zavite has been a consistent performer over a number of seasons and has been a stakes winner in four states of Australia. He was previously a two mile winner of the Group 2 Adelaide Cup last year.

Today’s G1 victory follows Easter graduates winning five of the six races run at Flemington last Saturday.

Zavite joins an ever growing list of international Group 1 winners for Inglis.

The Group race success recently extended to the United Arab Emirates when South African G1 winner MUSIR ($P900,000 2008 Easter, 3c Redoute’s Choice-Dizzy De Lago) easily won the G3 UAE 2000 Guineas on the new Meydan track, taking his overall record to five wins in six starts.

The 2010 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale will be held in Sydney from April 6-8.


Zavite