After River Radiance (NZ) (Rip Van Winkle) overcame adversity to run a gallant first-up third in a Class 2 race over 1100m, trainer Mok Zhan Lun decided that the S$250,000 Merlion Trophy (1200m) on Sunday was worth a roll of the dice. “I was very happy with his last run (on August 8). He got galloped on and still came in third (to Sacred Rebel),” said Mok. “Without that incident, I’m not saying he would have won, but he could have finished closer. He came back with lacerations to his…
Author: Editor BOAY
New Zealand Thoroughbred Horse Of The Year Awards Finalists
The high quality of New Zealand’s three-year-old crop last season is illustrated by the finalists for the Champion Three-Year-Old category at the NZ Thoroughbred Horse of the Year Awards. Eight horses, including five fillies, are finalists in the three-year-old division, which will provide the voting panel with plenty to mull over. Seven of the eight contenders won a Group One race in the 2019-20 season and between them the finalists recorded 29 wins and 29 placings from 67 starts. The Kiwi three-year-olds made a mark on both sides of the…
Local assignment for Gore warhorse
Evergreen galloper Irish Excuse (NZ) (No Excuse Needed) may be 10 years old but he is showing no signs of slowing down. The No Excuse Needed gelding has recently returned to Gore from a four start campaign in Canterbury where he recorded his 16th career victory at Riccarton first-up. “It was a pretty good campaign,” trainer Ellis Winsloe said. “All of his Christchurch runs were pretty good, but the track was probably a bit too firm for him at Ashburton last start.” Winsloe has been pleased with the way Irish…
Who’s who in the Cranbourne Classic
The TAB market is open for Friday’s Group 3 Ram Security Cranbourne Classic, with Catch The Thief the favourite at $1.90 two days out from the event. Locally-trained duo Fire Legend and Manila Knight share the second line of betting at $5.50, followed by Weblec Jet ($8), who is a half-brother to reigning Cranbourne Classic winner Weblec Ace. Here’s a run down of the contenders in 2020… 1. FIRE LEGENDBreeding: April 2018 Fernando Bale x Tick Away FireSex: MaleBreeder/Owner: Mark Moroney, Doyalson North NSWTrainer: Jason Thompson, Pearcedale VICRecord: 31 starts:…
AUDIO: NZ Thoroughbred Horse of the Year Awards
Andrew Bensley and Aidan Rodley give their thoughts on the finalists for this year’s NZ Thoroughbred Horse of the Year Awards.
A HUNDRED NOT OUT FOR SUPERSTAR SAVABEEL
Waikato Stud’s star resident Savabeel has cracked another significant milestone in his remarkable career with daughter Savacool providing the multiple champion sire’s 100th individual stakes winner. Savabeel has achieved extraordinary dominance since his retirement to the premier Matamata nursery and Savacool’s victory in the Listed Rowley Mile at Hawkesbury adds to his list of extraordinary achievements. He has won the Grosvenor Award (champion New Zealand sire) for five consecutive seasons, four Dewar Awards (combined New Zealand and Australian progeny earnings) and five Centaine Awards (combined world-wide progeny earnings) and has sired…
Savacool Stakes Winner 100 for Savabeel
Savacool (NZ) (Savabeel) has upstaged her more fancied stablemates to continue Chris Waller’s recent run of success in the Listed Rowley Mile (1600m) at Hawkesbury. Sydney’s premier trainer has now won three of the past five renewals of the 1600 metre feature, Savacool adding her name to the list when she stormed home from the back to overhaul the leaders. The daughter of Savabeel had been placed in a string of stakes races but her breakthrough black-type success also gave her champion sire his 100th individual Stakes winner. Stable representative…
Icebath for Glen Boss
The Brad Widdup-trained Icebath (NZ) (Sacred Falls) will link with rider Glen Boss at Randwick on Saturday in the Cactus Imaging Sprint (1200m) as the New Zealand-bred mare looks to step through the grades ahead of black-type assignments later this spring. The four-year-old daughter of Sacred Falls was placed in the Listed South Pacific Classic (1400m) and Gr.3 Hawkesbury Guineas (1400m) at the end of her Autumn campaign and finished fourth in her trial behind Le Romain at Gosford at the beginning of the month. “It was a nice trial…
NZB to Unveil New Bidding Technology
New Zealand Bloodstock have announced the development of a new, robust online bidding platform specifically developed for the future of their thoroughbred and standardbred auction sales. After introducing market-leading technology into the digital auction-sphere four years ago via popular online subsidiary gavelhouse.com, NZB has now been able to adapt the technology to be used extensively during their upcoming physical sales. The development of the advanced bidding module is underway and will be tested extensively prior to debuting at NZB’s Ready to Run Sale of Two Year Old’s in November. Bloodstock…
Stallion Parade cancelled
The gavelhouse.com Waikato Branch New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders Association stallion parade planned for this weekend (August 22/23) has been cancelled due to COVID-19 restrictions. After consultation with several stud masters the decision was made not to go ahead with the planned tour. “It’s unfortunate for the Waikato Branch who have put so much effort into this tour, but we cannot risk up to 100 people going around the Waikato from farm to farm under the current COVID-19 restrictions,” NZTBA chief executive Justine Sclater said. “The breeding season is due to…