David Benjamin, a noted marketing innovator in the thoroughbred breeding industry, passed away on Friday. Benjamin played a pivotal role in establishing the now iconic hospitality area at New Zealand Bloodstock’s National Yearling Sale, and Ray Knight, who worked with him at Fieldhouse Stud, said he was a brilliant marketer. “He was before his time in many ways. He was very good with marketing and promotion, and always led a pretty good ship,” Knight said. “He started the tents and hospitality areas at the national sales when they were originally…
Month: January 2024
Westbury on a winning roll
Westbury Stud has an enviable feature race roll of honour with graduates of the farm excelling to the highest level over a wide range of distances. The Gerry Harvey-owned Karaka nursery has bred, raised or sold multiple New Zealand Horse of the Year winners, complimented by Australasian stakes success from 1200 to 3200m. Westbury graduate Bonneval (NZ) (Makfi) was a two-time Horse of the Year with the Harvey-bred and part-owned Sharp ‘N’ Smart (NZ) (Redwood) the current titleholder following his stellar three-year-old season. The son of resident stallion Redwood won…
Downey delighted with Remutaka Classic win
An $8,000 purchase in 2003 has continued to pay dividends for Gareth Downey over two decades later, when the filly’s son won the inaugural $350,000 The Oaks Stud Remutaka Classic (2100m) at Trentham last Saturday. Downey, a former General Manager of Valachi Downs Stud, relocated to take up the same role at Lindsay Park Racing in 2022, and was near speechless after watching The Odyssey (NZ) (Zacinto) charge to the post from his Australian base. “The only trouble we’re having is coming back down to earth after all our yelling…
Johnson scores satisfying Pukekohe double
Rightly So commenced a raceday double for Annabelle Johnson at Pukekohe on Sunday. Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images) Annabelle Johnson had a day to remember at Pukekohe Park on Sunday, saddling two impressive winners from as many starters. Commencing Johnson’s successful afternoon was Rightly So, the four-year-old contesting the Brighthill Farm Yearling Draft 1300 after a creditable fourth in her first raceday appearance under the Pukekohe Park trainer’s name. The daughter of El Roca travelled comfortably midfield under Kozzi Asano and dashed down the inside part of the track to…
Stakes targets await Pericles following Pukekohe triumph
Pericles (outside) on his way to winning at Pukekohe on Saturday. Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images) Stakes targets await Pericles after he recorded his second win from his last three starts at Pukekohe on Sunday. The son of Rubick showed good gate speed from his outside alley in the eight-horse field to find a handy position outside leader There Goes My Hero. Pericles put his nose in front with 200m to go and was able to hold off the fast-finishing Tanganyika to win by half a length. It was the…
Westbury graduates continue to shine
Westbury Stud graduate Sharp ‘N’ Smart will resume in Saturday’s $1 million Aotearoa Classic (1600m) at Ellerslie. Photo: Trish Dunell Westbury Stud has an enviable feature race roll of honour with graduates of the farm excelling to the highest level over a wide range of distances. The Gerry Harvey-owned Karaka nursery has bred, raised or sold multiple New Zealand Horse of the Year winners, complimented by Australasian stakes success from 1200 to 3200m. Westbury graduate Bonneval was a two-time Horse of the Year with the Harvey-bred and part-owned Sharp ‘N’…
New Zealand announce lucrative 3YO called The NZB Kiwi
Ellerslie will play host to the inaugural running of The NZB Kiwi in 2025. Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images) Excitement is building for the future of New Zealand racing as a groundbreaking collaboration between New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing, TAB New Zealand, and Entain leads to the launch of the Southern Hemisphere’s most lucrative three-year-old race – The NZB Kiwi. Sponsored by New Zealand Bloodstock, this inaugural thoroughbred slot race is set to headline a significant overhaul of the NZ summer racing calendar. The NZB Kiwi takes centre stage as a…
Gosford racing preview & quaddie | Wednesday, January 24
What Gosford Races Where The Entertainment Grounds – 4 Racecourse Rd, West Gosford NSW 2250 When Wednesday, January 24, 2024 First Race 1:45pm AEDT Visit Dabble Provincial racing heads to the central coast of NSW on Wednesday afternoon, as The Entertainment Grounds at Gosford get set to host a competitive seven-race program. The rail is in the true position throughout the entire circuit, and with minimal showers expected in the lead-up, we don’t expect the surface to shift from the current Good 4 rating at the time of acceptances. The…
Trainers to be part of Teal Pants fund-raiser
A new dimension is being added to Harness Racing New Zealand’s Teal Pants campaign this year. For the first time two trainers will be involved. They will be Amber Lethaby in the South Island, and Nicky Chilcott in the North Island. Every time one of their horses win $100 will be donated to the cause by HRNZ. They will join a roster of five drivers or ambassadors. They are: Sarah O’ReillyKerryn TomlinsonKim ButtCrystal HackettNeita Balle The drivers will wear teal pants and teal silks throughout the campaign and will have…
Leap To Fame all but confirmed for The Race by Grins
By Adam Hamilton Australia’s champion pacer Leap To Fame is heading to New Zealand. Leviathan owner Kevin Seymour said it was no longer an if, but a when Leap To Fame crossed the ditch to chase the $1m Race by Grins at Cambridge on April 12. “The race is a target and we are well advanced in talks with slot holders,” he said. “We said a while back he wouldn’t be going to the Perth race and that New Zealand was the aim. “We’ve got a pretty clear plan in…