New Zealand Latest
Stakes winner Rose ‘N’ Power for sale on Gavelhouse Plus
Listed winner Rose ‘N’ Power (Power) will be offered on Gavelhouse Plus this week, with bidding to close on from 7pm (local time) on Monday. The winner of six races from 24 starts, the Fred and Lindsay Cornege-trained Rose ‘N’ Power won the Levin Stakes (Listed, 1200m) in November 2021, setting a new track record at Otaki, and has twice been tried at Group 1 level. “She’s been a very good mare to us,” co-trainer and part-owner Fred Cornege said. “She hasn’t quite performed at her very best in the current season, but that can happen sometimes. She rose up through the grades so quickly before then, and she reached the pinnacle of the weights in handicap races. She ran fifth in the Foxbridge Plate in the spring, and I decided to run her in the Group 1 Tarzino Trophy at Hastings, where that very heavy track took the stuffing out of her completely. She continued to run creditably in every race after that, but just not quite up to her former glory. I do believe she could still be a racing proposition for someone else if they were that way inclined. With the benefit of a nice, long break, she could easily come back and perform to a high level again. We own her in partnership with Liz Pollard, who has some younger ones in the family going now, so this is the time to put her up for sale.” Rose ‘N’ Power is out of dual winner Diamond Rose (Danroad), herself a half-sister to five other winners, including Group 3 scorer Perfect Scenario (Iffraaj) and the Listed winner and Group 2-placed Queens Rose (O’Reilly). Her granddam is Rosetti Bay (Pins), who herself won eight races, including the Stoney Bridge Stakes (Gr 3, 1400m).
Three clubs merge to create Waikato Thoroughbred Racing
The creation of a new ‘super club’, Waikato Thoroughbred Racing, has moved a step closer after the merger was approved by the Waikato Racing Club, Cambridge Jockey Club, and Waipa Racing Club. The amalgamation was endorsed by the board and members of all three clubs during their respective Special General Meetings, paving the way for the merger to take effect on August 1. At the helm of the merger is Waikato Racing Club chairman, John Elstob, who as the WTR Working Group chair, said: “Collectively, the merger of the three clubs places the newly formed club in a significantly better position to accomplish our primary objectives, surpassing the capabilities of any individual club or combination of two clubs. The merged club will have improved scale and strength, as well as the flexibility to advance its racing and training operations. These positive effects will extend beyond the club itself, benefiting the racing industry throughout the entire country.”
First winner for Nishizuka
Youth and experience successfully combined at Pukekohe Park on Saturday where apprentice Joe Nishizuka posted the first win of his riding career. The 20-year-old had placed in three of his previous 16 race day rides and it was ten-year-old No Loitering (No Excuse Needed), trained by Iain Marks, who provided him with his breakthrough victory. “It was great to win on him as I ride him every day. He’s nice and easy to ride, but in the tie-up stalls he can be quite aggressive,” Nishizuka said.
On-farm parades for NZB National Sale
On-farm parades ahead of the New Zealand Bloodstock National Weanling and Broodmare Sale continue today. The schedule begins at Brighthill Farm at 10am, before moving on to Cambridge Stud, Highline Thoroughbreds and Wentwood Grange. The parades will continue each day through to Friday. The 253-lot sale will take place on June 16, beginning at 10am.