Month: January 2024

It has been a momentous week for Barneswood Farm’s Sarah Green, which kicked off on Saturday with a memorable double at Ellerslie. Green cheered home her pride and joy Desert Lightning to win the inaugural $1 million Elsdon Park Aotearoa Classic (1600m), before putting on her breeding hat to barrack for farm graduate Orchestral, who took out the $1.5 million TAB Karaka Millions 3YO (1600m) in the following race. “It was such a special night on Saturday, it was unbelievable. We had 46 people with us who had flown up…

A handsome colt by Ardrossan was one of the keenly sought-after lots on Day 1 of Book 2 at the New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sales with Ready To Run Sale vendors Lilywhites Lodge securing the prized target for $155,000.   Catalogued as Lot 795, the colt by rising star Ardrossan out of the Per Incanto mare La Donna was prepared by Dave Duley and Jude Latimer’s Landsdowne Park.  After a spirited bidding duel, it was Sophia Nolan, bidding while on the phone to husband Derek, who landed the winning blow…

It has been a momentous week for Barneswood Farm’s Sarah Green, which kicked off on Saturday with a memorable double at Ellerslie. Green cheered home her pride and joy Desert Lightning to win the inaugural $1 million Elsdon Park Aotearoa Classic (1600m), before putting on her breeding hat to barrack for farm graduate Orchestral, who took out the $1.5 million TAB Karaka Millions 3YO (1600m) in the following race. “It was such a special night on Saturday, it was unbelievable. We had 46 people with us who had flown up…

Following a record-breaking Book 1, a quickfire day of selling saw 118 lots go under the hammer at the opening session of NZB’s Karaka 2024 Book 2 Sale. Book 2 has been a happy hunting ground for Karaka Millions contenders over the years, highlighted by this year’s $1.5m TAB Karaka Millions 3YO runner-up Pendragon (NZ) (U S Navy Flag), who was a $110,000 purchase by Paul Moroney Bloodstock and Ballymore Stables at Karaka 2022. In fitting fashion, the top lot of today’s session was Lot 790, a half-brother to the Karaka Millions performer…

Toowoomba trainers Tony and Maddy Sears teamed up with Paul Moroney Bloodstock and Catheryne Bruggeman to purchase the top lot on Day 1 of Book 2 at the New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sales when going to $220,000 to secure a stunning colt by Time Test. Presented by Leanach Lodge, the brown colt enjoyed a significant pedigree update since the catalogue went to print, with his half-brother Pendragon now the winner of the Gr.2 Auckland Guineas (1600m) and runner-up in the Karaka Millions 3YO (1600m) for trainers Michael Moroney and…

Trainer Terry Kennedy is hoping the addition of some headgear will help sharpen his promising three-year-old Hakadecree (NZ) (War Decree) for Saturday’s Listed Dunedin City Motors Dunedin Guineas (1500m) at Wingatui. The son of War Decree has impressed in his four starts to date, posting two wins and two runner-up performances, including a last start second to Aberlour in the Listed Gore Guineas (1335m). Kennedy was pleased with the result but said he got distracted in the closing stages of the race, which he thinks cost the gelding victory. “He…

Stephen Autridge is in the enviable position of having a pair of well-performed three-year-olds in his stable and, if all goes to plan, they will give him a strong hand in the autumn fillies’ feature at Trentham. The Matamata trainer has Livid Sky (NZ) (Proisir) and Still Bangon (NZ) (Satono Aladdin) tracking toward the Gr.1 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai New Zealand Oaks (2400m) on March 16 and he has confidence in their ability to see out the trip. “I think they will both run the mile and a-half and after…