Here we are at the end of the season and it seems to have passed in a flash. Highlights were many and the annual Breeders’ Awards, held this past Saturday, provide a timely reminder of the successes enjoyed by the New Zealand industry for 2024-25. In particular were the deeds of Ka Ying Rising (Shamexpress),... Read More

“Only the strong survive” is a fitting category to be applied to lightly raced Joshua Brown (Dalghar) who slogged it out best in Saturday’s Opunake Cup (Listed, 1400m). Running a similar time to a normal 1600 metres suggests that “slog” is the appropriate description. Carrying the minimum weight of 53 kilograms he was the least... Read More

The older brigade knows that time is unstoppable and not just for we humans. Thoroughbreds are not immune and Waikato Stud’s Ocean Park (Thorn Park) will soon turn 17. That doesn’t mean he’s finished, far from it, but it does mean that he is finding that the competition is getting ahead of him. The stallion... Read More

We’re into the last month of the season and Saturday saw a surprisingly large nine stakes races run, all in Australia, however, the New Zealand Stud Book was mostly left out of proceedings. The New Zealand name cropped up in connection with Winx Guineas (Gr 3, 1600m) winner The Three Hundred (I Am Invincible), whose... Read More

Perseverance coupled with patience were the two qualities which could be found when Manzoice (Almanzor) cleared out to land the Tattersalls Cup (Gr 3, 2400m), one of six stakes on the Eagle Farm card last Saturday. In a long and winding road, which started in July of 2022, Manzoice’s sole run at two was very... Read More