Month: August 2022

Riverrock Farm has set their sights on life after racing and have decided to contribute financially towards the retraining and rehoming of thoroughbreds this season. The Matamata farm has been a regular vendor at New Zealand Bloodstock’s Ready to Run Sale and they have committed to donating a portion of their sales towards rehoming thoroughbreds. “We have decided that for every horse Riverrock Farm sells this season either publicly or privately, we will donate $250 toward the costs associated with rehoming and retraining off-the-track thoroughbreds,” Riverrock principal Chad Orsmby said.…

Almanzor (Wootton Bassett) had New Zealand first season sire honours in safe keeping some months ago before he was officially bestowed the prestigious title at the season’s close. He claimed the crown with unsurpassed progeny earnings for a freshman stallion and to cap a sparkling start to his career also earned the Champion Two-Year-Old title. The son of Wootton Bassett enjoyed a multiple Group One-winning career on the racetrack and has quickly turned stallion potential into performance with his first crop of Australasian two-year-olds in 2021-22. From his Southern Hemisphere…

Rich Hill Stud stallion Vadamos saw off a quality line-up to be crowned New Zealand’s Champion Second Season Sire. The Monsun entire was part of a strong intake of stallions to the New Zealand market in 2017 and Rich Hill Stud Managing Director John Thompson has been pleased with the success his shuttle stallion has achieved. “It was such a good intake of stallions that year with the likes of Tarzino, with his couple of Group One winners in Australia (Gypsy Goddess and Jungle Magnate), Tivaci, Turn Me Loose, Belardo,…

Mark Walker has tentatively planned two steps ahead with his trio of Group One winners Entriviere (NZ) (Tavistock), Imperatriz (I Am Invincible) and On The Bubbles (Brazen Beau). Te Akau’s head trainer will run all three of his spring contenders in this Saturday’s open 1100m handicap at Ruakaka and they are then likely to head to the Gr.2 Waikato Stud Foxbridge Plate (1200m) at Te Rapa. “They are all going well and we felt there should be a reasonable track up there at Ruakaka and then its three weeks into…

It’s been a bittersweet start to the season for Darryn Weatherley – while he is excited to welcome his daughter Briar into a training partnership, he will be without the services of his star galloper Mali Ston (NZ) (El Roca). The son of El Roca had returned in good order following a stellar summer, which culminated in victory in the Gr.2 Rich Hill Mile (1600m) at Ellerslie on New Year’s Day and a placing behind The Chosen One (NZ) (Savabeel) in the Gr.1 Thorndon Mile (1600m) at Trentham. The now…