Month: May 2024

Waikato Stud presents a roster of seven stallions for the 2024 season, headlined by New Zealand’s sire sensation, Savabeel. With a reputation for producing tough sprinter/ milers, the line-up also offers diversity in bloodlines for breeders and opportunity for value at every level. “We continue to place emphasis on good, tough miler types and our 2024 roster represents that,” said studmaster, Mark Chittick. “Longevity is a key part of our recipe for success, and rather than focussing solely on a successful first few seasons for our sires, we decide upon…

Jockey Darren Danis will make his Singapore debut this Sunday, eight days later than expected, but he was still excited at the thought of riding at home after spending the last nine years in New Zealand. Licensed to ride in Singapore till October this year, the Singaporean son of former trainer and ex-MRA champion apprentice jockey Luke Danis arrived in Singapore on 18 April and was looking forward to resuming trackwork and making his debut last week since he last rode as a track rider here in 2014. Unfortunately, a…

Exciting two-year-old Magice replicated the early feats of his Group One-winning relative with an impressive maiden victory at Matamata on Wednesday. The son of Savabeel is a full-brother to Noverre, who was victorious at his second raceday appearance before scaling the heights of a dazzling win in the Gr.1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) in 2021, before joining his champion sire on the stallion roster at Waikato Stud. Magice is the fourth foal out of Magic Dancer, a Rip Van Winkle mare who won the Gr.3 2YO Classic (1200m) and…

Jim Sweetensen spent decades at sea captaining merchant ships, but there was always one thing that he couldn’t shake – a dream to train racehorses. For decades that dream remained exactly that, however, when the Australian native retired to New Zealand a few years ago, he decided to bite the bullet and try and make that dream a reality. “I am an old ships captain and my whole time at sea I always wanted to be a racehorse trainer,” Sweetensen said. “I am from Aussie and my family have always…

David Haworth has significantly reduced numbers at his Foxton operation in recent times but his eye for a winner is as keen as ever. Haworth has a career tally of 492 victories to his credit, including Group One successes with Mac O’Reilly and Jurys Out, and Wigan Prince, Rosina Lad and The Foreman among other top performers from the stable. Haworth also successfully operated in partnership with Matt Dixon, and for five seasons with daughter Emma, who now works for Awapuni trainer Lisa Latta. “It suits Emma and she’s had…

Winton trainer John Phillips has been welcoming the wet weather in Southland this week ahead of his wet track specialist Midnight Runner’s return to racing at Riverton on Friday. The evergreen nine-year-old will head into the Jan Wisely @ First National Real Estate/Sparrow Logging Handicap (1600m) in a fresh state, having placed in his previous two outings this preparation. “He had a bit of a freshen-up since his last go and he has trained on really well,” Phillips said. “He is going to get a wet track to suit. It…