Author: NZRacingDesk

Emily Murphy brings you Winter Weigh In, your place for Thoroughbred racing news, reviews and insights throughout the colder months. The team look back at some brilliant jumping performances as well as the best of the Winter Championships from Ruakaka. Winter Weigh In, June 30

Transitioning into the breeding side of thoroughbred racing reignited Olivia Blane’s love for the industry, a passion that was recognised at Entain’s Industry Excellence Awards where she was named winner of the Stud, Stable and Kennel Excellence Award. Blane leads the yearling preparation team at Waikato Stud, one of New Zealand’s premier breeding operations. Despite holding such a pivotal role, she was caught by surprise when announced the winner on Sunday night. “I was surprised, but really honoured to be announced the winner,” she said. “It felt great to be…

Emerging filly Levakia (NZ) (Proisir) has given Curraghmore further cause for celebration. The Ken and Bev Kelso-trained three-year-old struck for the second time from a handful of starts when she won the Winter Championship Final (1600m) at Ruakaka last Saturday. The Proisir filly’s success followed the good time enjoyed by Curraghmore at New Zealand Bloodstock’s National Weanling Sale at Karaka. They ended the auction as the leading vendor by aggregate with eight youngsters sold for $465,000 and a top price of $120,000 for a colt by Sword Of State who…

Wentwood Grange Yearling Manager Brad Molander was recognised for his contribution to the New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeding industry at the Entain Industry Excellence Awards on Sunday night when he was bestowed the Dedication to Breeding Excellence Award.  It comes two years after Molander was awarded the Mary Lynne Ryan Young Achiever at the National Breeding Awards, and he was delighted to be recognised by the wider industry on Sunday.  “It was awesome to get the award and be recognised,” Molander said. “The Hawkins family, who own Wentwood Grange, were there…

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Sam Bergerson, New Zealand’s leading trainer, was recognised by his peers when receiving the top gong at the Entain Industry Excellence Awards on Sunday night. Bergerson is part of the Te Akau Racing juggernaut, training in partnership with Mark Walker for the last two seasons, securing the trainers’ premiership last season and currently leads this year’s premiership with 127 wins and more than $9.1 million in stakes earnings. The 31-year-old’s achievements were recognised on Sunday night, receiving the Equine Licence Holder Excellence Award before being bestowed the overall Supreme Entain…

Alice Jeffries didn’t always see a future for herself in the breeding industry, but a very special filly played a key role in getting her to where she is today, working as Cambridge Stud’s Assistant Yearling Manager, and receiving Entain’s Newcomer Excellence Award on Sunday. Growing up on a sheep and beef farm in Tauranga, Jeffries’ father Warwick Jeffries delved into breeding on a small scale and was rewarded in a big way, breeding glamour mare Legarto out of his mare Geordie Girl. Before she was a three-time Group One…

Caitlin O’Sullivan Doyle has been immersed in racing from a young age and she was recognised for her individual contribution to the industry at Entain’s Industry Excellence Awards on Sunday. A daughter of hall-of-fame jockey turned Group One-winning trainer Lance O’Sullivan, O’Sullivan Doyle took out the National Racing Woman of the Year category for her pursuits in marketing and communications, alongside work as a presenter and ambassador. “I was super excited to just be nominated, alongside some very worthy finalists,” O’Sullivan Doyle said. “To win was great, it was an…

Waikato horseman Simon Lawson has an eye for a bargain, and the product of one of his purchases turned into his first stakes winner over the weekend. As Waikato Stud’s dry mare manager for a couple of years, Lawson was looking to get into breeding himself a few years ago and an unplaced mare called Mohegan Star caught his eye on online auction house gavelhouse.com, and he secured the daughter of Reliable Man with a final bid of $1,100. She quickly proved to be an astute purchase, with her half-brother…

Goodwood Stud’s William Fell is enjoying an exciting ride with unbeaten star steeplechaser Jesko. While it has been an unforeseen outcome, it’s nevertheless a successful one with the son of the late Atlante quickly rising to the top of the jumping ranks. The late bloomer won three on the flat before a successful transformation for trainers Shaun and Hazel Fannin with the former also taking the reins. Jesko began his hot run at Wanganui before claiming the Manawatu Steeplechase (4000m) and Wellington Steeplechase (4900m) titles. “It wasn’t what we were…