Kiwi Chronicles

Where’s that again?

Civic Stakes (Listed, 1400m) winner, Ucalledit (Zacinto), was the sole New Zealand-bred winner among Saturday’s seven Australian stakes races and was sold by the Corcoran family’s Grangewilliam Stud, Waitotara, west of Wanganui, but that is just half the story. Ucalledit was bred way down in the deep south, at Thomsons Crossing, near Winton, by Neil... Read More

Ticking over

Stakes racing, both here and in Australia, is winding down for the season but ex-performed New Zealand runners made their mark on Saturday with one of the country’s five black-type races falling to Regal Lion (Jakkalberry). In a mixed bag, based on their respective sires, the Kiwis had a pretty fair day and kept things... Read More

Chaparral highlights

Another week, another High Chaparral (Sadler’s Wells) highlight, or three. If it seems that High Chaparral and his sons are dominating this column it’s because he warrants it and events of this past week underline his influence, not only via race results but also in the sales ring. Last week the Great Southern Weanling sale... Read More

The chase is on

Saturday’s Captain Cook Stakes (Gr 1, 1600m) winner’s prize of $172,250 saw Savabeel (Zabeel) surge from fifth to second on this season’s premiership but the leader, Proisir (Choisir), who enjoyed an outstanding spring, has a $630,000 margin as the summer part of the season heats up. The riches of the Auckland, Wellington and Waikato carnivals... Read More

A November to remember

November, the last month of spring, has been massive for Rich Hill Stud, whose stallions are in huge demand – and for good reason. Their month began on Melbourne Cup day when Defibrillate (Shocking) returned from a successful Australian campaign to land the Balmerino Stakes (Gr 3, 2050m) at Pukekohe. By the same sire, Hezashocka... Read More

Next focus

Glowing from a successful Ready to Run Sale, the next focus for the New Zealand bloodstock industry is the annual Karaka yearling sales, set for late January and early February and the Kiwis have wasted no time in adding to an already first class spring. That glow is burning bright at Rich Hill Stud whose... Read More