Kiwi Chronicles
Finally, the big stage
“It’s going to be a big day tomorrow.” Those were the words of Little Avondale Stud’s Sam Williams last Friday afternoon, winding down with a lemonade after day five of the Karaka sale. The previous Friday, March 4, Roch ‘N’ Horse (Per Incanto) headed Lost And Running (Per Incanto) in an 800–metre jump–out, at Flemington.... Read More
More from Kiwi Chronicles
What have you done for me lately?
This week’s title is an Americanism the writer discovered while living in the USA: “What have you done for me lately?” Almost a back-handed compliment, the comment conveys that older favours fade and that only current favours are worthwhile. It might also be interpreted as: “My memory is not so good, so remind me again?”... Read More
Highs and lows
A sad week ended with new hope for us followers of thoroughbreds in New Zealand. In many ways, racehorses are very strong yet also somewhat fragile. Although racing is what it is all about, career-ending injuries take place even when horses are not on the track. Star mare Probabeel (Savabeel) saw her race career come... Read More
‘When life gives you lemons, make lemonade’
‘When life gives you lemons, make lemonade,’ is the old adage which encourages a positive outlook on a potentially negative situation. That scenario may be in play regarding New Zealand Bloodstock’s annual sales series which were pushed back to the second week of March due to government restrictions over the coronavirus pandemic. Immediately after NZB’s... Read More
Repeat, no change
Multiple champion sire Savabeel (Zabeel) ended January with his 27th Group 1 winner, The Chosen One. Half the stakes season is over but the second half, which started on Saturday, continued in much the same way when Savabeel’s Hasabro was too classy in the deep south’s premier weight-for-age race, the White Robe Lodge Stakes (Gr... Read More
Turning point
On Saturday, in just under 70 seconds, Cambridge Stud achieved a notable and decisive turning point from the old guard to the new. Two knights, Sir Patrick and Sir Tristram (Sir Ivor), laid the foundation for Cambridge Stud’s enormous success, their influence still undeniably present, yet initiated as far back as the mid–1970s. The distaff... Read More