Author: Editor BOAY

Little Avondale Wairarapa nursery Little Avondale Stud has added another major milestone to its rich history, celebrating 80 years of operation. Founded as Te Parae Stud and passed down through three generations of the Williams family, New Zealand’s oldest family-owned stud has amassed a proud list of accomplishments. There have been famous names such as Sunbride and Oncidium, and in 1974 they were the very first in Australasia to crack the $100,000 mark for a yearling. “This anniversary is a pretty special time for us, and it’s an occasion that…

Cambridge trainer Andrew Campbell will once again derive great pleasure out of watching his former Gr.3 New Zealand Cup (3200m) winner Gobstopper chase Australian riches on Sunday. The talented stayer turned jumper has been a revelation since switching vocation and is one of a number of Kiwi gallopers towards the top of the market in the Grand National Hurdle (4200m) at Sandown this weekend. Fellow New Zealand jumper Tallyho Twinkletoe will have to create a modern day weight carrying record if he is to record a second win in the…

Andrew Bensley catches up with the irrepressible Graeme Rogerson to find out the latest from Team Rogerson, including a look at his key weekend runners

Twelve months after being crowned New Zealand’s champion first season sire, Windsor Park shuttle stallion Charm Spirit has added a second season title to his CV. The son of Invincible Spirit sired four winners in New Zealand in 2019-20, three of them at black-type level. Aretha, who had been the standout performer in Charm Spirit’s first crop of two-year-olds, added the Gr.3 Gold Trail Stakes (1200m) at Hastings in September, while Lilikoi captured the Gr.3 Eulogy Stakes (1600m) and placed in the Gr.2 Royal Stakes (2000m). The headline act over…

The champion first season sire for 2019-20 is Novara Park’s Sweynesse, who sired three winners including Bonita Aurelia, who won the Gr.3 Taranaki 2YO Classic (1200m) and placed in the Gr.2 Matamata Breeders’ Stakes (1200m). The highly regarded Walkthisswey was an impressive recent winner at Riccarton. “It’s a really good result, and a great way for the stallion to start his career,” said Novara Park manager Ray Knight. “It’s been a funny old year for everyone with Covid-19, but it’s been very encouraging for us to see his first progeny…

Star Kiwi mare Melody Belle has continued preparations towards her expected return in the Gr.2 Missile Stakes (1200m) with a win in a star-studded barrier trial at Randwick. Three heats for Group horses were conducted on Randwick’s Kensington track on Friday morning having been pushed back from Tuesday because of the recent wet weather in Sydney. The Jamie Richards-trained 10-time Group One winner Melody Belle finished strongly between runners under jockey Kerrin McEvoy late in her trial over 850m on a heavy track to win by a half-length over dual…

Central Districts trainer Kevin Myers enjoyed a day out at Awapuni on Friday, saddling five winners. The wily conditioner linked with rider Shaun Fannin to win four of the five jumps races with Bakela, Ave Maria, Albaron and Napolean, but it was the flat victory of staying and jumping all-rounder Aigne in the Eddie Carson Memorial Parliamentary Handicap (2100m) that proved one of the highlights of the day. Confidently ridden by Sam O’Malley, Aigne showed a great turn of foot late to demolish his rivals by six and a half…