Kiwi Chronicles

Walking vs running

Over the next few days, buyers’ focus will alter, from buying yearlings to buying two-year-olds. In essence, the difference is between walking (yearlings) and running (breeze-up two-year-olds), criteria that requires a change of tack. Within that, many judges will also suggest that “how” may have as much importance as “what”, meaning that judges look for... Read More

Casting a spell

This time next week, many of the trainers present at Flemington’s Champions’ Day will have crossed “the pond” to New Zealand, hoping to uncover the next VRC Champion. Their reasoning is sound. The Kiwis are casting a spell, being responsible for five of Saturday’s winners. This time last week, Kiwi Chronicles devoted much of the... Read More

Dollars or stakes?

A recurring theme of big race winners, just in time for NZB’s Ready To Run Sale later this month, continues to play out. Saturday, within the space of forty minutes, New Zealand-based Almanzor (Wootton Bassett) sired the winner of the Victoria Derby (Gr 1, 2500m), Savabeel (Zabeel) sired the winner of the world’s second richest... Read More

Pre-sale chatter

Half way through the breeze-ups for the upcoming 2022 NZB Ready To Run Sale, the timing of Australian winning performances by Kiwi-breds is immaculate. Saturday, October 1, was enormous but since last Wednesday, the Kiwis just keep pouring it on and vendors could be excused for getting excited about the possibilities. Last week’s edition focused... Read More

Rich Hill riches

Rich Hill Stud’s John Thompson may not be in the ownership of La Crique (Vadamos) but he couldn’t resist giving the winner a healthy nose rub while she was being unsaddled after her commanding victory in the Arrowfield Stud Plate (Gr 1, 1600m). A first Group 1 for any stallion, especially their Vadamos (Monsun), will... Read More

Deep south strikes

Studs in Cambridge, Matamata, Masterton and Wingatui had plenty to celebrate after the weekend’s super results. Ghibellines (Shamardal), Per Incanto (Street Cry), Turn Me Loose (Iffraaj) and Savabeel (Zabeel) provided four of the five New Zealand–bred stakes winners and are proudly flying the flag. Especially pleasing are the results being achieved by two of our... Read More