By any measure, Pakistan II (Palestine) stands among the most successful stallions in New Zealand breeding history. The one measure that sorts the men from the boys is the stakes-winners-to-runners ratio and Pakistan II sired 43 from 326 runners, or 13.2 per cent. Compare that to the country’s current champion sire Savabeel (Zabeel) whose 115... Read More

If Hollywood were to get hold of the following, they most likely would glorify the highs, emphasise the tragedies then simply script an ending in which everyone lived happily ever after. However, the subject is thoroughbred horse breeding, which is firmly based in reality, something that Hollywood can often struggle with. This is the story... Read More

The Hong Kong Jockey Club champion awards judging panel has decided to present a Lifetime Achievement Award to Beauty Generation (Road To Rock) in recognition of his great contribution to Hong Kong racing. If ever such an award was warranted, this one was self-evident. Twice Hong Kong’s Horse of the Year, Beauty Generation was crowned... Read More

One great aspect of the surprise Flemington win by Mongolian Marshal (High Chaparral) in Saturday’s Winter Championship Final (Listed, 1600m) is New Zealand stud masters’ recognition that High Chaparral (Sadler’s Wells) is a stallion whose blood blends particularly well with New Zealand stud book mares and they have backed that judgement by supporting and standing... Read More

Tiaras are for royalty and Tofane (Ocean Park), being the current Queen of Queensland, has every right to wear her prize after taking out Saturday’s Tattersall’s Tiara (Gr 1, 1400m), the final Group 1 of the season. Another piece of headwear is the ‘Baggy Green’, the cloth cap worn by the Australian cricket team. Baggy... Read More