New Zealand Champion sire Savabeel will once again headline an impressive stallion roster at Waikato Stud for the forthcoming breeding season where he will stand for a fee of $100,000+gst. Savabeel has now sired 23 Group One winners and 114 stakes winners with his progeny earnings topping NZ$122 million globally. The venerable son of Zabeel is the current leading Australasian sire of stakes winners with 18 winners of 29 races including four Group One winners including Probabeel, Mo’unga, Concert Hall and Amarelinha. Savabeel is on track to record his seventh…
Month: May 2021
CEO’s Monthly Update: May
Firstly, I am very pleased to announce that GRV is boosting prizemoney and other returns by around $1.3 million over this May and June…
INVICTUS RISING V ASTON FASTNET
Two of the sports brightest young prospects are set to battle it out at The Meadows tonight in what could be ‘a race for the ages’. It’s Invictus Rising (Harry Manolitsis) versus Aston Fastnet (Jason Thompson) and in the Daily Mail’s Must Watch Race of the Day. The Watchdog is leaning slightly towards Thompson’s young tyro, who has won four of his 10 starts to date. “Aston Fastnet announced himself as a potential megastar when smashing the clock at Ballarat and Sandown Park in March, and since then he turned…
Pike quartet Queensland bound
Tony Pike knows how to make an impact at the Queensland Carnival, having saddled the likes of The Bostonian (NZ) (Jimmy Choux), Sacred Elixir (NZ) (Pour Moi) and Provocative (NZ) (Zabeel) to Group One success in the Sunshine State. The Cambridge horseman is again plotting a raid in search of Aussie dollars, with four young members of his team venturing across the Tasman on Monday. While not necessarily shooting for the stars with his travelling party, Pike said winter racing in sunnier climbs would provide a solid foundation for loftier…
Westbury leading the way in primary industries employment
Staffing has become one of the major factors for primary industries in New Zealand, and it is nearing a crisis point. Like many other primary industries, the thoroughbred breeding sector has found it difficult to attract and retain skilled staff, with the common outcry being meagre wages for long hours. While there has been plenty of talk around the staffing crisis, prominent thoroughbred nursery Westbury Stud has decided to take action and address the issue. “The last 12 months to two years it has been difficult acquiring skilled staff,” Westbury…
Derby tilt likely for Hezashocka
Hezashocka (NZ) (Shocking) will likely get his chance at Derby glory after his last start heroics. The Shaun and Emma Clotworthy-trained gelding was victorious in the Gr.2 Championship Stakes (2100m) at just his third start at Ellerslie late last month and now he is in line to contest the Gr.1 Queensland Derby (2400m). “Hezashocka has come through the race well, I have been pleased with his progress over the last week,” Shaun Clotworthy said. “At this stage he is heading to the Queensland Derby, he will definitely lap up the…
Harness Jewels Leaderboard – April 3
Just over a month out from the big event, and You’re So Fine has been the big mover in this week’s Harness Jewels leaderboard update. The Always B Miki colt was in 22nd place in the 2YO Emerald category before accruing $27,500 for his win in Saturday’s Group Two Diamond Creek Creek Farm 2YO Classic at Invercargill. He’s now been propelled up to fourth place, with Franco Indie going from 16th to 11th after finishing second in the same race. Mossdale Ben and Bollinger, who were 11th and 12th, are…
Ragazzo Mach shows true class
By Jonny Turner The real Ragazzo Mach stood up and showed his true worth in a dazzling performance to win the Group 2 Southern Supremacy Stakes at Ascot Park on Sunday. Circumstances and barrier draws meant the colt’s new West Australian owners went into the 2700m feature after having to watch their half-million-dollar purchase run down the track in both the New Zealand Derby and its traditional lead-up the Flying Stakes. Trainer-driver Nathan Williamson hadn’t lost any faith in Ragazzo Mach following those efforts and the flourish of his whip…
Record breaking win Gray’s career highlight
By Jonny Turner You’re So Fine delivered a career highlight for trainer Brett Gray with his national-record breaking victory in the Group 2 Diamond Creek Farm Stakes at Ascot Park on Sunday. The two-year-old’s win notched Gray’s first black-type victory, one which he rated at the top of his list achievements during his 20 years as a trainer. In typical Southland style, Gray deflected praise for having his pacer primed for his record-breaking effort onto driver Nathan Williamson. “It was awesome and it was just a freakish drive from a…
Lakeview Walter ready for Harrison-Dawson tilt
Lakeview Walter continued his outstanding form with a brilliant victory in last night’s Free For All. Despite entering the night on the back of consecutive top grade victories, Lakeview Walter (box 2) was a notable drifter in the market as Music Event (box 1) halved his opening quote to jump as the odds on favourite. But it was the group 1 Silver Chief winner that that took control of the race soon after box rise. He mustered quickly to lead by a length with a lap to go and was…