Category: Gallops

Buyers from Hong Kong and mainland China were an unstoppable force on the second day of the New Zealand Bloodstock Ready to Run Sale at Karaka on Thursday. Picking up where they left off at the end of Wednesday’s opening session, Hong Kong and Chinese buyers combined to purchase 57 horses on Thursday for a total of more than $13 million. That haul included all of Thursday’s four highest-priced lots, including a sale-topping colt by Zoustar out of the stakes-winning Hussonet mare Hijack Hussy. Offered by Kit Brooks’ KB Bloodstock…

Back-to-back lots through the Karaka sale ring on Thursday’s second day of the New Zealand Bloodstock Ready to Run Sale produced unprecedented results for a pair of Kiwi sires. Cambridge Stud shuttle stallion Hello Youmzain hit a new high when Lot 283, a colt out of the Zabeel mare Cool Tart, was knocked down to Hongwei Chen for $700,000. The colt was offered by Barry Donoghue’s BMD Bloodstock. It was a new record price not only for Hello Youmzain but also for Donoghue, continuing a remarkable spring in which he…

Buyers from Hong Kong and mainland China were an unstoppable force on the second day of the New Zealand Bloodstock Ready to Run Sale at Karaka on Thursday. Picking up where they left off at the end of Wednesday’s opening session, Hong Kong and Chinese buyers combined to purchase 57 horses on Thursday for a total of more than $13 million. That haul included all of Thursday’s four highest-priced lots, including a sale-topping colt by Zoustar out of the stakes-winning Hussonet mare Hijack Hussy. Offered by Kit Brooks’ KB Bloodstock…

Back-to-back lots through the Karaka sale ring on Thursday’s second day of the New Zealand Bloodstock Ready to Run Sale produced unprecedented results for a pair of Kiwi sires. Cambridge Stud shuttle stallion Hello Youmzain hit a new high when Lot 283, a colt out of the Zabeel mare Cool Tart, was knocked down to Hongwei Chen for $700,000. The colt was offered by Barry Donoghue’s BMD Bloodstock. It was a new record price not only for Hello Youmzain but also for Donoghue, continuing a remarkable spring in which he…

Pre-post favourite Affirmative Action will have to overcome a wide gate and a lighter than intended preparation in his shared bid to defend the stable’s title in Saturday’s Gr.1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m). Trainer Pam Gerard prepared Savaglee to romp home in last season’s Al Basti Equiworld Dubai-sponsored Classic at Riccarton and will be double-handed in her attempt to go back-to-back in the age group feature. While Affirmative Action boasts the higher profile, barnmate Romanoff has also come into serious contention following two sound lead-up efforts. Their southern flight…

Shaune Ritchie hopes his decision to bypass the fillies’ feature at Riccarton with Tajana will pay off on Saturday when she takes on the boys in the Gr.1 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m). The daughter of Darci Brahma has been one of the best in her age group this spring, winning the Gr.3 Northland Breeders’ Stakes (1200m) and Gr.3 Sunline Vase (1400m) before finishing third in the Gr.2 Soliloquy Stakes (1400m) to Well Written. While the Gr.1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) had been on Ritchie’s…

Riccarton galloper Mystic Park (NZ) (Ocean Park) prevailed in a thrilling tussle between the locals in the Gr.3 TAB Mile (1600m) on his home track on Wednesday. The Michael and Matthew Pitman-trained gelding had been on an upward trajectory this preparation without winning and had the services of Victorian-based Kiwi-expat jockey Daniel Stackhouse, closing a $6.10 hope behind northern visitors Cannon Hill and Archaic Smile. Jumping from barrier six, Mystic Park was a stride slow from the gates and found himself three-wide in the trail of another fancied runner in…

Colts by proven New Zealand stallions Per Incanto and Satono Aladdin provided the highlights on Day One of the New Zealand Bloodstock Ready To Run Sale with the top two lots set to join the Lindsay Park operation of the Hayes family. The father and son combination of David and JD Hayes oversaw proceedings at Karaka as Mainland Chinese owner Mr Sanxiong Gao signed the docket for Lot 105, a Satono Aladdin colt out of Shezdelicious for $675,000 from the draft of Riversley Park. Lot 105, a colt by Satono…

Stakes targets are in the offing for promising gelding Sunset Boulevard (NZ) (Eminent) after he secured a winning double at Riccarton Park during New Zealand Cup Week. The Sir Peter Vela-bred and raced five-year-old won over 2000m on the opening day of the carnival and backed up on Wednesday where he jumped an even money favourite in the Wuhan Jockey Club Premier (2000m). In the hands of in-form local hoop Tina Comignaghi, Sunset Boulevard was pushed forward early and settled in the coveted one-one position. Turning for home he was…

In the shades of his talented dam, Kiwi Magic (NZ) (Shocking) announced himself as a three-year-old to follow this term with an impressive victory in the Halls Cold Chain Logistics Three-Year-Old Premier (1400m) at Riccarton on Wednesday. The Christchurch venue was a happy hunting ground for the gelding’s mother Kiwi Ida, who carried the colours of owner-trainers John and Karen Parsons to success on 14 occasions including a Listed Canterbury Belle Stakes (1200m), Gr.3 Canterbury Breeders Stakes (1400m), Gr.2 Westbury Classic (1400m) and Gr.2 Manawatu Challenge Stakes (1400m). Her mating…