Highview Stud have announced the service fees for their quartet of stallions ahead of the 2026 breeding season, headlined by Group One sire Wrote, who will again stand for a fee of $12,000+GST. A Group One winning son of High Chaparral, Wrote is the sire of Gr.1 New Zealand Oaks (2400m) heroine Pulchritudinous, who trained on to win the Gr.3 Magic Millions Mile. In the past 12 months highlight progeny have included multiple Group winners Wrote To Arataki and Midnight Edition, as well as the Dennis Yip-trained Group Three winner…
Month: April 2026
Sharrock keeping an eye on SH3 road closure
Allan Sharrock is keeping a close eye on State Highway 3 road reports ahead of the weekend, with the Taranaki trainer set to take three horses north to compete at Te Rapa on Saturday. A critical section of the highway in the Awakino Gorge has been closed since April 18 following major slips and flooding, and it is expected to remain closed until at least Saturday, with Sharrock having his fingers crossed that there are no further delays. “I just hope the road is open so we can get up…
Proisir heads 2026 Rich Hill roster
Rich Hill Stud has announced 2026 service fees for its strong roster of proven Group One sires, once again led by champion stallion Proisir. “It has been another exceptional season for our stallions, who continue to deliver outstanding results for breeders both on the racetrack and in the sale ring,” Managing Director John Thompson said. “We are proud to present a line-up of proven sires that have achieved success across all our major markets.” Proisir has further cemented his position among the leading stallions in the Southern Hemisphere, siring four…
Walker amassing strong Trans-Tasman spring squad
Trainer Mark Walker enjoyed good success on both sides of the Tasman last Saturday, headed by the narrow Gr.1 Sangster Stakes (1200m) victory of Geegees Mistruth (Wordsmith). The four-year-old daughter of Wordsmith is bred and raced by Elizabeth Geard Racing and transferred to Walker’s Cranbourne stable after six wins in Tasmania for Stuart Gandy. Walker was delighted to land a second Australian Group One victory in the past month, following Belle Cheval’s (NZ) (Savabeel) victory in the Gr.1 Vinery Stud Stakes (2000m) in Sydney. “It was great that both Belle…
Sydney star ruled out for the rest of the season with injury
Jedibeel (NZ) (Savabeel), who was good enough to run in The Everest last spring, was found to have a throat problem after he ran well below his best and finished at the rear of the field in The Quokka at Ascot on April 18. It was an out-of-character run by $2 million earner Jedibeel considering at his previous start he came from last on the turn and stormed through the ruck to just miss reeling in Marhoona (Snitzel) in the Group 1 The Galaxy at Rosehill on Golden Slipper Day.…
Well-bred 2YO out to add to family honours board
Promising filly Belle Rebelle (NZ) (Ribchester) hails from a potent stakes family and will attempt to add further black type honours to her pedigree page at Te Rapa on Saturday. The daughter of Ribchester finished runner-up last time out in the Listed Star Way Stakes (1200m) and will attempt to go one better for multiple Group One-winning trainer Donna Logan in the Listed Waikato Equine Veterinary Centre Stakes (1400m). She is raced under the Emerald Bloodstock banner of Hawke’s Bay breeders Mike and Diana Creed, a granddaughter of Annie Sarten…
Time’ For Lees To Win A Hawkesbury Gold Cup
Kris Lees is yet to win a Hawkesbury Gold Cup, and says there’s no better “time” than Saturday to do it. The leading Newcastle trainer will rely on dual Summer Cup winner Tavi Time (NZ) (Tavistock) in the $250,000 Group 3 Richmond Club Gold Cup (1600m), and Dylan Gibbons will ride him. Tavi Time ran fifth to accomplished wet tracker Punch Lane (So You Think) in last year’s Cup, and wasn’t suited by the heavy conditions. He came out 13 days later and won the Listed Scone Cup (1600m) on…
The Trials Report – an Alexandra Park special
With Auckland’s big night this Friday, this week’s Trials Reports looks at some southern contenders heading to Alexandra Park. Kawatiri Trev (3g Marcoola – Buller Whitebait) Tr. P Nairn One has to always respect the trainer and these famous colours when travelling north and he obviously thinks the horse is worth going all that way despite being the veteran of only four race day starts of which he has won three. Kicks off the Auckland programme in Race 1 and off the front could step and lead them a merry…
Novara Park secures globe-trotting Group One performer
Novara Park Stud in Cambridge has announced that Group One performer and multiple Group Two winner The Foxes will join the stallion roster this season at an introductory fee of 10,000+GST. A high-class son of Churchill, The Foxes was a stakes winner every year in a career that spanned the ages of two and five, competing at the highest level for trainer Andrew Balding. Bred by Barronstown Stud, The Foxes is one of six stakes winners among 12 winners from blue hen Tanaghum, whose other stakes-winning offspring include Group One…
Auret on top of the world after fruitful weekend
Marton trainer Fraser Auret sure knows how to cram a bit into his weekend. The Central Districts horseman celebrated a well-deserved Group Two victory at Te Rapa on Saturday when Khanshe (NZ) (Mongolian Khan) won the Travis Stakes (2000m) in impressive fashion. He then unleashed maiden winner Unusual Cortez (NZ) (Unusual Suspect) and progressive galloper Unusual Invader (NZ) (Unusual Suspect) who both won at Waipukurau on Sunday. Like one of his prized equine athletes, Auret timed his run to perfection to make it home on Sunday night with minutes to…