Australian stakes success by Kiwi-breds resumed normal service last Saturday. Drawing blanks the previous week came as a bit of surprise but the ship was righted when, of the 13 stakes run across the Tasman, four fell New Zealand’s way. Significantly, three of the four winners began their careers at home. Nevertheless, at home, the... Read More

There remains another 16 weeks of the Australian racing season. A season which includes riches to be won at the remainder of the Sydney autumn carnival, the Adelaide May carnival, then onto the Brisbane winter carnival. Therefore, the contenders for this year’s Sire Premiership will likely swap the odd place. However, the jump, in one... Read More

From Awapuni to Randwick and on to Ascot, Saturday saw three outstanding two-year-old fillies, Maven Belle (Burgundy), Fireburn (Rebel Dane) and Amelia’s Jewel (Siyouni), make championship statements. All three were dominant. Maven Belle almost certainly wrapped up the title of Champion New Zealand Two-Year-old with a clear victory in what turned out to be New... Read More

That age old question is unavoidable: Are you breeding to race or sell? The recent sales to major Australian breeding operations of Melody Belle (Commands) and Avantage (Fastnet Rock) via the Gavelhouse Plus platform are examples of a trend, at least in New Zealand, of one-off auctions of highly attractive ex-track mares. Melody Belle’s half-sister,... Read More

Two stallions, the late Tavistock (Montjeu) and the late Burgundy (Redoute’s Choice), refuse to be forgotten. Both lost their lives within a matter of weeks. Tavistock’s death was initially caused by a freak accident, which later developed into laminitis. Burgundy lost his battle against the same condition. Their last foals are finding their way through... Read More