Most local eyes were on the Matamata Breeders’ Stakes (Gr 2, 1200m) and its dominant winner, Captured By Love (Written Tycoon). However, Savaglee (Savabeel), successful in the Matamata Slipper (Gr 3, 1200m), is more interesting from a New Zealand industry perspective and the result may be the beginning of a long term plan, hatched just... Read More

It is all very well to note that Orchestral (Savabeel) was, as expected, an easy winner of the Avondale Guineas (Gr 2, 2100m) but what took place past the post should have her New Zealand Derby (Gr 1, 2400m) opponents looking for a miracle if they think she might find the longer distance a shade... Read More

Two weeks ago at Karaka, Proisir (Choisir) and Hallmark Stud stole the show with the $1.6 million sale-topper. Two weeks later at Te Rapa the same combination struck again with Proisir’s Legarto in the Herbie Dyke Stakes (Gr 1, 2000m) followed 80 minutes later by Hallmark Stud’s Super Easy (Darci Brahma), whose Bonny Lass led... Read More

It’s a long way from scraping a living out of selling yearlings at Claudelands’ Waikato sales for a $1,000, sometimes less, just to put food on the table, to a sale topper for $1.6 million. The writer well remembers the old Claudelands ring and the auctioneers’ rostrum which stood about five feet above ground. During... Read More

Proving the point that no one knows from where the next good horse will emerge, two unheralded sires, The Bold One (Fastnet Rock) and Vespa (Elusive Quality), took centre stage at Trentham on Saturday. One clue as to who might bag the Wellington Cup (Gr 3, 3200m) was available as the runners were loading. A... Read More