Kiwi Chronicles
Farewell Lucy
Geographically, the New Zealand thoroughbred industry is largely centered in the Waikato region and within that, principally around the towns of Matamata and Cambridge. The lower–half of New Zealand’s North Island (known as the Central Districts) has just two significant studs that stand stallions, namely Little Avondale Stud near Masterton in the Wairarapa, and Grangewilliam... Read More
More from Kiwi Chronicles
Replay
Replay In stark contrast with Ellerslie’s grand NZB Kiwi day, a week ago, this week the attention was focussed on Tauranga and the sole stakes race in the country. By some coincidence, the last 400 metres of the NZB Kiwi (Listed, 1500m) and the Japan Trophy (Gr 2, 1600m) saw a strong similarity when Waitak... Read More
Racing restoration
New Zealand’s biggest ever race day has come and gone and may well be remembered as a watershed point in time for our industry. Without racing there is no bloodstock industry and for too long we have languished behind the vibrancy of the Australian scene. Saturday changed all that and the realisation of that fact... Read More
‘Super Seth is our future’
Late last Saturday afternoon, New Zealand time, interested New Zealanders turned their attention to Flemington. The big question: Could Savaglee (Savabeel), our leading three-year-old, be as good as we thought? The answer was yes, despite being beaten by Feroce (Super Seth) in the Australian Guineas (Gr 1, 1600m). Imagine being Waikato Stud’s Mark Chittick when... Read More
One replay is not enough
How many times did you watch the replay? I am, of course, referring to the Oakleigh Plate (Gr 1, 1100m) and the scintillating performance by Jimmysstar (Per Incanto). Live, it looked as if ‘Jimmy’ was a total non-factor before the field straightened for the run home. The replay merely offered a head scratching. How on... Read More
Obvious
Those interested in pedigrees and bloodlines had only to look at the catalogue page of La Dorada (Super Seth) to find the winner of this year’s Matamata Breeders’ Stakes (Gr 2, 1200m). It was obvious, although, to be fair, her last-start win in the Karaka Million 2YO (Listed, 1200m) was also a major factor. La... Read More