Month: November 2020

Nathan Trumper has headed a strong group of applicants to win the 2021 Keith and Faith Taylor Trust Equine Scholarship. Administered by the New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association, the scholarship will support Trumper to travel to Ireland early next year to attend the world renowned Irish National Stud and complete the breeding diploma. Like many, Trumper’s early introduction to the thoroughbred industry came through family ties when helping out at his grandparent’s stud and training establishment in Te Aroha. While in his final year at New Plymouth Boys’ High School,…

The New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing Members’ Council has appointed three new directors to the board. They include Darryll Park (Christchurch), Andrew Fairgray (Auckland) and Mike Clarke (Auckland). They will commence their tenure immediately following the NZTR AGM on November 17, with Clarke’s appointment commencing on January 1, 2021. These appointments are in response to the vacancies created by the departure of Dr Alan Jackson, Victoria Carter and Rick Williams.  The Members’ Council acknowledges the large number of director position applications received, and their depth of experience and expertise presented. The…

After months of preparation and extensive testing, New Zealand Bloodstock is pleased to announce that registrations for their online bidding platform are now open, with the platform due to debut at the Ready to Run Sale on November 18 and 19.   With COVID-19 preventing NZB’s international clientele from physically attending their sales, the decision was made early in the year to create a robust online bidding platform. The upgrade to ultra-fast fibre at Karaka has enabled NZB to offer a user-friendly online bidding service for all registered buyers who are…

The Roger James and Robert Wellwood-trained One More Time (NZ) (Per Incanto) couldn’t have been more impressive on debut when scoring by six lengths in a 1200m maiden at Avondale on Wednesday. The daughter of Per Incanto had won both of her trials in readiness for her raceday debut and led throughout under Vinnie Colgan to score in the slick time of 1.09.16, cruising to the line under a hold. “She has shown a lot the whole way through,” James said. “She has been a bit weak but she is…

Leith Innes can see plenty of similarities between Saturday’s Gr.1 Al Basti Equiworld 2000 Guineas (1600m) contender Aegon (NZ) and the colt’s sire Sacred Falls. But the one likeness Innes wants to see most is both horses’ names on the winner’s list for the Riccarton classic. The South Auckland jockey rode Sacred Falls to win the 2000 Guineas in 2012, the pair unbeaten in six New Zealand starts before the son of O’Reilly transferred from Cambridge trainer Tony Pike to Sydney trainer Chris Waller, who guided him to three further…

While much of the Dennis family focus was on homebred The Chosen One (NZ) (Savabeel) running a game fourth in the Gr.1 Melbourne Cup (3200m), trainer Robert Dennis quietly went about his vocation, racking up a treble at Wingatui on Tuesday. Dennis’ uncles Joe, Martin and Ray Dennis, along with father Tony, comprise the famed Dennis brothers, who bred The Chosen One, who stems from a family, generations in the making and includes The Phantom who ran in three Melbourne Cups and finished runner-up to Kingston in 1990 after finishing…

The colours of the late Dato Tan Chin Nam were fittingly to the fore on Melbourne Cup Day when Purple Sector (NZ) (Pins) took out the Listed Furphy Plate (1800m). The Malaysian Businessman owned Bart Cummings-trained Cup winners Think Big (1974 & 1975), Saintly (1996) and Viewed (2008). Purple Sector, prepared by Randwick trainer John Thompson, required plenty of riding from jockey Craig Williams before prevailing by a neck from outsider Gold Fields (Churchill Downs), with Odeon (NZ) (Zacinto) a short head away in third. The gelding was racing left-handed…

A lot can happen in 10 minutes. That was the case for prominent breeder/owner Daniel Nakhle who was on track at Pukekohe on Saturday to watch his promising mare Arrivederci (NZ) (Per Incanto) win the NZB Insurance Pearl Series Race (1200m). Nakhle barely had time to watch the replay before Crosshaven (NZ) (Smart Missile), a horse Nakhle co-bred and retained a share in, battled it out to prevail in the finish of the Gr.3 Carbine Club Stakes (1600m) at Flemington. “It was probably the best 10 minutes I have experienced…

New Zealand-trained stayer The Chosen One (NZ) (Savabeel) finished a gallant fourth in Tuesday’s Gr.1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) won by the Joseph O’Brien-trained Twilight Payment (Teofilo). O’Brien’s father Aidan again played second fiddle to his son, with Tiger Moth (Galileo) finishing runner-up, reminiscent of the 2017 Melbourne Cup, when Joseph’s Rekindling (High Chaparral) denied Aidan’s Johannes Vermeer (Galileo). Perennial Cup placegetter Prince Of Arran finished third ahead of the Kiwi. Prepared by Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman, The Chosen One finished two lengths from the winner in a race run…

Former New Zealand-trained galloper Sin To Win (NZ) (Sir Percy) was back in the winner’s circle for the first time in 900 days, when successful in The Macca’s Run (2800m) at Flemington on Melbourne Cup Day. Prepared by Tom Dabernig and Ben Hayes, the eight-year-old son of Sir Percy relished stepping up in distance at a track he consistently performs well at, advancing his record to seven wins and 19 placings and A$682,523 in prizemoney. Under a confident Luke Currie ride, Sin To Win had two-and-a-half lengths to spare on…