Kiwi Chronicles

Just like old times

The stars aligned for vendors and New Zealand Bloodstock at last Friday’s National Weanling Sale. Masks were discarded and the Aussies returned to make the sale a huge success, providing a much needed boost to the industry. It felt like old times. Online auctions are now part of, even central to, the auction scene but... Read More

Spirit, a key ingredient

A long neck, the winning margin in Saturday’s JJ Atkins Plate (Gr 1, 1600m), may be enough to ensure that I Am Invincible (Invincible Spirit) claims his maiden Australian Sire Premiership. The $420,000 difference between winning and second would have seen So You Think (High Chaparral) take over the top spot again. However, Sheeza Belter... Read More

Don’t forget Mother

All thoroughbreds have a mother and one in particular, Mrs Moss (Reform), continues to influence the bloodstock breeding world. Described by Henrietta, Duchess of Bedford, of Bloomsbury Stud, as a “life changer”, Mrs Moss found her way into the Tavistock-Woburn Abbey empire for the princely sum of 2100 guineas in 1975 as a broodmare carrying... Read More

Balance restored

From a Kiwi perspective, the late Tavistock (Montjeu) has done much to invigorate the success of New Zealand breds among the staying three-year-olds in Australasia, with the stallion playing a major part in the bloodlines belonging to the final two Australian state Derby winners, in South Australia and Queensland, while New Zealand’s only Derby fell... Read More

When the going gets tough…

Weather bombs and heavy rains mean that winter is well underway and racing is suddenly presented with deep tracks that mean your horse will need to be fit and tough to slog through the bog. “When the going gets tough, the tough get going,” is the old adage and Grangewilliam Stud’s Zed (Zabeel) had a... Read More

When the going gets tough…

Weather bombs and heavy rains mean that winter is well underway and racing is suddenly presented with deep tracks that mean your horse will need to be fit and tough to slog through the bog. “When the going gets tough, the tough get going,” is the old adage and Grangewilliam Stud’s Zed (Zabeel) had a... Read More