Category: Thoroughbred Breeding

Belardo recorded his first winner on Sunday. Photo: Trish Dunell Multiple Group One winner and Haunui Farm shuttle sire, Belardo recorded his first winner on Sunday when Golden Melody scored at the first time of asking at Haydock. The juvenile filly, trained by William Haggas, started 4-1 co-third favourite in the seven-runner novice event over 1200m and ran out an eye-catching two and a quarter-length winner over Star Of Emaraaty. James Doyle, the winning jockey, was impressed with the filly’s professional attitude and ability. “They said Golden Melody was quite…

Lot 19 – Burgundy x Precious colt. Photo: Supplied Moving into uncharted territory, New Zealand Bloodstock’s annual South Island Sale saw its first-ever online session conclude on Gavelhouse Plus on Sunday 7 June. Prominent agent Phill Cataldo was busy throughout the Sale, investing in four yearlings including the top-priced lot early on in the session. Purchased on behalf of an Australian buyer, the Reliable Man filly out of Lady Zafira (Lot 2) was secured for $58,500 from the draft of Canterbury-based Ripple Creek. “She is a very well-grown, strong and…

Lady Zafira filly (pictured) was the top-priced lot at New Zealand Bloodstock’s annual South Island Sale (Supplied) New Zealand Bloodstock’s annual South Island Sale saw its first-ever online session conclude on Gavelhouse Plus on Sunday evening.  Prominent agent Phill Cataldo was busy throughout the Sale, investing in four yearlings including the top-priced lot early on in the session. Purchased on behalf of an Australian buyer, the Reliable Man filly out of Lady Zafira (Lot 2) was secured for $58,000 from the draft of Canterbury-based Ripple Creek.   “She is a very…

Marc Devcich Photo: Supplied Well-respected and widely-experienced horseman Marc Devcich has been appointed to the role of General Manager at Cambridge Stud. Devcich has been involved in the thoroughbred industry since his school days and has previously worked at Highview Stud, Windsor Park Stud and Mapperley Stud in various roles. In Australia, he has enjoyed stints at Segenhoe Stud and Widden Stud and in the United States at Dixiana Farm in Kentucky where a highlight was foaling down the future Epsom Derby winner Benny The Dip. Devcich, 47, will take…

Astute pinhookers have enjoyed rich rewards with weanlings purchased through New Zealand Bloodstock in recent years, and from June 11 to 21, the National Weanling Sale on Gavelhouse Plus promises to deliver more of the same. Over the last few editions of the Karaka May Sale and its predecessor the National Weanling, Broodmare & Mixed Bloodstock Sale, there is a long list of pinhook purchases who fetched significantly higher prices at the National Yearling Sales Series or Ready to Run Sale. Multiple Group One winners Gingernuts (NZ) (Iffraaj) and Yourdeel…

Lot 19 – Burgundy x Precious colt. Photo: Supplied Canterbury breeder Susan Walker has been selling yearlings at New Zealand Bloodstock’s South Island Sale for several decades and she is enjoying the sale’s unique take this year. The sale has moved online to the gavelhouse.com plus platform as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and Walker hailed New Zealand Bloodstock for the move. “I just thought thank God New Zealand Bloodstock has come up with an idea where we can part with our horses,” Walker said. “I have been selling…

Lot 65 Ghibellines x Italian Miss Taking place online on Gavelhouse Plus between May 28 and June 7, the South Island Sale looks a little different this year, but its catalogue remains right up to the usual standard expected from a New Zealand Bloodstock Sale. There are 65 quality yearlings on offer, with plenty of close relatives to top-class racehorses and progeny of black-type performers.  This year’s catalogue features a close relation to New Zealand’s reigning Horse of the Year, Melody Belle (NZ) (Commands). Lot 36 is a colt by…

Gus Wigley of Inglewood Stud is a strong supporter of the South Island Sale Photo: Trish Dunell New Zealand thoroughbred auctions have moved into uncharted territory this week with the launch of New Zealand Bloodstock’s South Island Sale on Gavelhouse Plus. The southern yearling session was originally scheduled to be held in Christchurch in April, but was cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic. Instead it is taking place online on the enhanced Gavelhouse Plus platform, running for 11 days from May 28 to June 7 with a 65-lot catalogue. All…

Charm Spirit continues to produce stakes winners Windsor Park Stud’s shuttle stallion Charm Spirit was credited with this seventh stakes winner over the weekend when the Jean-Claude Rouget-trained Fantastic Spirit was successful in the Listed Derby Du Midi (1900m) in France. The three-year-old colt stayed on strongly in the final stages to beat Again Music by a short-neck with another length back to Frohsim in third. The son of Charm Spirit was purchased as a foal at the Arqana December Sale by Artemis Bloodstock Investments for €25,000, before being bought…