Kiwi Chronicles

Class of 2017

Last week’s Kiwi Chronicles featured the New Zealand dominance of Savabeel (Zabeel) within the local industry, so this week, a gaze into the crystal ball might be appropriate. Savabeel is also the country’s most prominent sire in Australia and since we are largely dependent on the Australian buying bench, making an impression there is paramount.... Read More

Eight Straight

What seemed impossible midway through last century, now seems possible. The number eleven, a historical benchmark for premierships by New Zealand-based sires, might be under threat. Eleven is the number achieved by the great Foxbridge (Foxlaw) and is looking more and more likely to be matched, perhaps even bettered, by Waikato Stud’s own Savabeel (Zabeel).... Read More

Flying Kiwis

New Zealand-based sires strutted their stuff in three international jurisdictions over the weekend, beginning with two good winners in Hong Kong on Friday when Duke Wai (Per Incanto) and Bourbonaire (Darci Brahma) scored at Sha Tin. Bourbonaire’s win, by six lengths, was especially pleasing as he was one of the better three-year-olds of his crop... Read More

Ireland of the South Pacific

  As the current racing season begins to wind down, there are still more than 20 stakes races to be run in our two countries next month and Kiwi thoroughbreds in Australia continue to represent our industry with good results. A Group 3 win from ex-New Zealand trained London Banker (Tavistock) was Saturday’s headline act,... Read More

Just like old times

The stars aligned for vendors and New Zealand Bloodstock at last Friday’s National Weanling Sale. Masks were discarded and the Aussies returned to make the sale a huge success, providing a much needed boost to the industry. It felt like old times. Online auctions are now part of, even central to, the auction scene but... Read More

Spirit, a key ingredient

A long neck, the winning margin in Saturday’s JJ Atkins Plate (Gr 1, 1600m), may be enough to ensure that I Am Invincible (Invincible Spirit) claims his maiden Australian Sire Premiership. The $420,000 difference between winning and second would have seen So You Think (High Chaparral) take over the top spot again. However, Sheeza Belter... Read More