Category: Thoroughbred Breeding

Ill-fated Cambridge Stud stallion Tavistock sired his first Oaks winner on Saturday. Photo: Trish Dunell It was an emotional day on Saturday for the team at Cambridge Stud. The prestigious thoroughbred nursery went through a tumultuous few months last year when losing three stallions, including flagbearer Tavistock, but they had something to cheer about on the weekend when celebrating his first Oaks winner. His daughter Toffee Tongue (NZ) went close when finishing runner-up in the Gr.1 Australian Oaks (2400m), but she was not to be outdone on Saturday when taking…

The service fee for Reliable Man will remain at $15,000 +GST. Photo: Lesley Warwick In a year where the resilience of breeders is likely to be tested in New Zealand, Westbury Stud have taken a positive approach to the troubled times when announcing their roster and fee structure for the upcoming season.  “It is imperative for breeders to mate their mares this year, as the long term future of the New Zealand Industry is dependent on mares being bred and as many foals as possible being born in 2021,” general…

Contributer (pictured) sired his first winner when Lion’s Roar won at Wagga on Thursday. Photo: Trish Dunell Multiple Group One winner Contributer sired his first winner when Lion’s Roar (NZ) won the Good Luck Andrew Bensley 2YO Showcase Handicap (1200m) at Wagga on Thursday. Fittingly, the Champion Thoroughbreds-raced gelding was prepared by John O’Shea, who trained Contributer to win both the Gr.1 Chipping Norton Stakes (1600m) and Gr.1 Ranvet Stakes (2000m) when head trainer at Godolphin. “Contributer was a very special horse to me and hopefully he will continue to…

Multiple Group One winner Ribchester will join Haunui Farm’s stallion roster in 2020. Photo: Supplied Haunui Farm has announced that the decision has been made to call time on the shuttling career of Group One producing stallion Iffraaj. “After lengthy discussions with the team from Darley, we have made the decision to retire Iffraaj from Southern Hemisphere serving duties after 12 years. At 19 years of age, the decision was made solely in Iffraaj’s best interests,” Haunui Farm Managing Director Mark Chitty said. “I’d like to take this opportunity to…

There was plenty of cause for celebration amongst the Waikato region’s thoroughbred breeding fraternity on Saturday afternoon following the running of the Gr.1 All Aged Stakes (1400m) at Royal Randwick. The nail-biting last stride victory by Tofane (NZ) (Ocean Park) provided a triumph for both her breeder, Curraghmore Principal Gordon Cunningham, along with Waikato Stud and their resident stallion Ocean Park who is the sire of the Mike Moroney-trained four-year-old mare. Also celebrating were Kevin and Joanne Hickman’s Valachi Downs, who own Tofane’s dam Baggy Green, a half-sister to Group One…

With less than 24 hours to go before the online Inglis Sydney Easter 2020 Sale, there’s the usual pre-sale nerves amongst the team at LA but there’s also a sense of real achievement of having left no stone unturned in preparing and presenting the select draft of four blue blood fillies in very different circumstances. LA’s Sam Williams feels the farm has helped itself in preparation for the unique nature of the sale by a long-held focus on digital and social media as well as being able to rely on…

The sale of lot 313 raised $200,000 for the CatWalk Spinal Cord Injury Research Trust. Photo: Trish Dunell The generosity of a number of thoroughbred industry kingpins has led to more than $300,000 being raised for the CatWalk Spinal Cord Injury Research Trust at Karaka on Monday. The journey began a few years ago with Valachi Downs principals Kevin and Jo Hickman purchasing a Brazen Beau service, which was donated by Darley, at a CatWalk Trust charity for $100,000. The Hickmans subsequently decided to sell the resulting filly at this…

Group One winner Vanbrugh will be represented by his first crop of yearlings at Karaka in January 2020. A son of champion sire Encosta De Lago, Vanbrugh is the winner of more than $A740,000 and hails from the outstanding Waikato Stud family of Group One winners Diademe and Sacred Star. Trained by Chris Waller, Vanbrugh won five of his 21 starts including the Gr.3 Gloaming Stakes (1800m) as a three-year-old before claiming the Gr.1 Spring Champion Stakes (2000m). He won the Gr.3 Coongy Handicap (2000m) as an older horse. BOOK…