Month: June 2021

The New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association will hold a seminar on the importance of welfare in Cambridge on Wednesday. It is open to farm staff, NZTBA members and breeding course students. Speakers Dr Chris Rogers, from Massey University, and Leigh Wills, from NZ Foal, will cover the subjects of physical and mental development of the young horse. New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing communications advisor Mary Burgess will also discuss industry messaging when defending misinformation. The Welfare Education seminar will be held at the Onyx Bar and Restaurant, 70 Alpha St, Cambridge from…

Victorian racing is set to receive a A$16 million prize money boost with group and listed events set for significant windfalls. While metropolitan clubs including The Valley and Melbourne Racing Club will receive significant boosts, country racing will also receive A$4 million in extra funding. Monday’s announcements include: •             More than $4 million will be directed to country racing, with standard country meetings minimums rising from $22,000 to $25,000 per race and standard maiden minimums lifting from $23,000 to $25,000 •             Standard Saturday metropolitan race minimums will be increased by $5,000 to…

Top jumper Zed Em (NZ) (Zed) has returned to New Zealand after another pleasing stint across the Tasman. The 10-year-old gelding finished runner-up in the Von Doussa Steeplechase (3250m) and Great Eastern Steeplechase (4950m) at Oakbank earlier this year before posting the same result in a brave performance against compatriot Gold Medals in the Grand Annual Steeplechase (5500m) at Warrnambool last month. He has returned to the care of his New Zealand trainer Kevin Myers, and his Australian carer Patrick Payne has been pleased with his efforts once again. “Kevin…

Hong Kong Jockeys’ Premiership leader Joao Moreira believes the best is yet to come from Savabeel’s exciting son Killer Bee (NZ). Moreira completed a hat-trick of wins aboard the Waikato Stud-bred and sold three-year-old when they bolted away with a Class Three handicap at Sha Tin on Sunday evening. Killer Bee, who has suffered just one defeat in five appearances, proved reluctant to go into the gates, but once into action he made light of his 60kg to romp home by a length and a half. “He’s a very smart…

In an age where horses race much less frequently, seven-year-old gelding Deerfield (NZ) (Falkirk) is like a throwback to decades gone-by. Since racing resumed in June last year after the COVID-19 lockdown, Deerfield has raced 19 times – a figure associated more with trainers like Bill Sanders and his team of ‘professional racehorses in the 70s. Deerfield thrives on racing, as evidenced by his tough victory in the Winstone Wallboards (1100m) at Awapuni on Saturday, lumping 60kg topweight. However, the formula for keeping Deerfield on the track is the opposite…

Joshua Lavelle has always wanted to be a trainer, but he didn’t realise how much of an impact following that dream would have on his life. Lavelle was hooked on horses from a young age, growing up watching his mother Bronwyn Lavelle train a handful of gallopers in the South Island before they moved to Palmerston North. He assisted Awapuni trainer Lisa Latta for a number of years but he decided that if he were to become a more well-rounded horseman and fulfill his dream of becoming a trainer, he…

Caspar Fownes capped a phenomenal show of strength with victories in the final two Group races of the Hong Kong season on Sunday.  Bidding for a fourth premiership title Fownes picked up five victories on the 10-race card including both feature events, the Gr.3 Premier Plate Handicap (1800m) with Southern Legend (Not A Single Doubt) and the Gr.3 Premier Cup Handicap (1400m) with Karaka Yearling Sale graduate Sky Field (Deep Field).  Sky Field’s rasping finish validated Fownes’ faith in the Deep Field gelding and provided Blake Shinn with a massive thrill, leaving Fownes to plot a possible course to December’s 2021…