Central Districts trainer Chrissy Bambry believes there will be a surplus of horses ready to go in the lower North Island when racing resumes in the coming weeks. While further north the Te Rapa trials were awash with 293 horses enjoying a hit-out on Tuesday, Bambry said the volume of runners at the Levin jump-outs on Wednesday followed by a Waverley point to point meeting on Thursday meant there were plenty of horses ready for action. “There were 157 horses that had a jump-out at Levin yesterday after around 90…
Month: July 2020
Dedicated Weanling Sale Live on Gavelhouse Plus
New Zealand Bloodstock’s first-ever National Weanling Sale is now live, with the quality 82-lot catalogue available to view on Gavelhouse Plus. Bidding on the weanling only sale launched today and will run for an 11-day period, with the first lot closing on Sunday 21 June at 3PM (NZT). While the Sale may be new, weanling graduates are no strangers to success having recorded an impressive score of nine Group One wins and 81 stakes wins in the current six seasons, headlined by recent New Zealand Oaks winner Jennifer Eccles (NZ) (Rip Van Winkle), a $5,000…
Not An Option returning to Pike
New Zealand colt Not An Option will return to his homeland later this month after finishing tailed off in a roughhouse affair in last Saturday’s Gr.1 J.J. Atkins Stakes (1400m) at Eagle Farm. The Group Two winner was left in the care of Sydney trainers Michael and Richard Freedman due to COVID-19 restrictions but did not get the rub of the green last weekend. “Not An Option is booked to come back on the 29th of this month,” Pike said. “He is at the spelling farm in Queensland at present.…
Sky Darci helps Moreira close gap
Joao Moreira got the fillip he’d been looking for at Happy Valley on Wednesday, teaming up with Caspar Fownes to nail a much-needed double. The Brazilian entered the arena four wins adrift of championship leader Zac Purton and that widened to five when the reigning champ took the opener. But with the Australian unable to add to that early score, Moreira hit back with two wins that narrowed the gap to three, with the tally running 129-126 in Purton’s favour. Moreira kicked off aboard Sky Darci (NZ) (Darci Brahma) in…
Selica freshened for Rivette Series races
Six weeks after contesting the Gr.1 Australasian Oaks (2000m) in Adelaide, three-year-old Selica (NZ) (Makfi) is set to compete over a much shorter distance at Moonee Valley. The Phillip Stokes-trained filly finished eighth in the Oaks at Morphettville on May 2 and drops to 1200m in Saturday’s Drummond Golf Handicap against her own age and sex. Saturday’s race is a heat of the Rivette Series, with the final over 1400m at Flemington on July 4 a late-season target for Selica. “She’s had a bit of a freshen up with the…
Roaring start for Belardo
Progeny of Haunui Farm shuttle stallion Belardo have made an impressive start to their careers as racing resumes in Europe. His juveniles are just hitting the track and are showing early promise, recording their sire’s first two victories this week. Golden Melody became Belardo’s first winner when taking out her 1200m event by 2-1/4 lengths at Haydock, in England, while Got Luck was just as notable when winning by a length on debut over 1300m at Craon, in France. “It is always nice to get winners and especially on debut,”…
NZTBA COVID-19 Information
Members of the NZTBA and industry participants,It is imperative you are familiar with the NZ government website which is updated regularly Government Covid 19 We are in unprecedented territory because of Coronavirus. It is time to make sure you have considered the implications as we move to Alert Level 4 and the impact imposed restrictions from the Government will have on our day to day operations. You URGENTLY need to have plans in place and to have briefed your staff and clients. We are working with other industry organisations to get clarification of…
Proposed changes for TAB
The Racing Industry Transition Agency (RITA) confirmed to its staff on Tuesday it would commence consultation about changes to the TAB in response to the impact of COVID-19. The proposal includes a reduction of approximately 30 percent of roles across all areas of the organisation and is in addition to other cost saving measures aimed at reducing total expenditure. The detail of the proposal, which will be presented to staff on Monday, and if progressed, would see the business becoming leaner, more efficient and with increased commercial and customer focus.…
Breeders’ send strong message to Minister Peters
by Brian de LorePublished 2nd May 2020 Last week we highlighted protest letters and OIA (Official Information Act) requests to the Minister of Racing and RITA (Racing Industry Transition Authority) from the Trainers’ Association, the Owners’ Federation and the Next Generation of NZ Thoroughbred Racing. The letter not mentioned but also written around the same time on April 22nd, was sent to Minister Peters on behalf of the New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association (NZTBA) and signed by its CEO Justine Sclater. The letter was not a long one but very…
First online sale for Mansfield Farm
This year’s New Zealand Bloodstock South Island Sale has taken plenty of getting used to by Mansfield Farm’s Kaye Sanders. The sale has been moved online to plus.gavelhouse.com and it is the first time the Canterbury horsewoman has had first-hand experience with an online auction. Sanders has three yearlings on offer in the sale including lot 33, the Zacinto colt out of a half-sister to Group One performer Vittoria; lot 53, the Highly Recommended colt out of a half-sister to Group One winner Bel Sprinter; and lot 65, the Ghibellines…