New Zealand
NZ Racing and Breeding News – 03 February 2025
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NZ Racing Desk
New Zealand
NZ Racing and Breeding News – 02 February 2025
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD NEWSLETTER
Australia
Bunker Hut back in winning groove
After seven placings in his last eight starts, Bunker Hut broke through with a dominant return to winning form in Saturday’s A$160,000 Captivant @ Kia Ora Handicap (1350m) at Rosehill. The Savabeel gelding has rarely run a bad race in his career, but he went into Saturday’s
Australia
Name Dropper breaks Sandown record
High-flying Kiwi-bred Name Dropper continued his unbeaten summer with a record-breaking victory in Saturday’s A$130,000 Sportsbet Handicap (1400m) at Sandown. The five-year-old’s time of 1:21.74 broke the Sandown Lakeside record for 1400m, which Group One-winning sprinter Swick set back in 2006 with his time
Australia
Back-to-back wins for resurgent Grand Impact
Former quality three-year-old Grand Impact has roared back into top form as a five-year-old this summer, stringing together back-to-back wins including Saturday’s A$160,000 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale Handicap (1200m) at Rosehill. The New Zealand-bred son of Satono Aladdin made an outstanding start to his career in 2022
New Zealand
Tax policy proposal would boost NZ racing
Racing Minister, Winston Peters has announced the Government is preparing public consultation on GST policy proposals which would make the New Zealand racing industry more competitive. “The racing industry makes an important economic contribution. New Zealand thoroughbreds are in demand overseas as racehorses and for breeding. The domestic thoroughbred industry
Breeding
Kneebone builds firepower for training venture
A productive week of shopping at Karaka has helped to put up-and-coming horseman Nick Kneebone on a path towards New Zealand’s training ranks. Kneebone made eight purchases under the Patella Bloodstock banner during New Zealand Bloodstock’s National Yearling Sale. He secured five yearlings from Book 1, including a
Breeding
Satono Aladdin top of the pops again
Rich Hill Stud stallion Satono Aladdin has provided the headline acts of Book 2 of Karaka 2025, siring the highest-priced lots on both Wednesday and Thursday. Less than 24 hours after topping the sale with Brighthill Farm’s $260,000 filly out of Sparkling Rose late on Wednesday afternoon, Satono
New Zealand
Te Akau strikes sale-topping blow
Fresh from a pair of million-dollar successes at Ellerslie and another leading buyer title in Book 1, Te Akau Racing’s David Ellis remained in the headlines with some Book 2 fireworks at Karaka on Wednesday afternoon. In the final hour of a solid opening day of trading in the
Breeding
Sword Of State ends strong Karaka debut on a high
An outstanding few days for Sword Of State’s first-crop yearlings at Karaka culminated in a $540,000 purchase price towards the end of the Book 1 session on Tuesday afternoon. The Group One-winning son of Snitzel took up stallion duties at Cambridge Stud in 2022 at an introductory service
Breeding
Third time lucky for Hawthorne
After being an underbidder on the two highest-priced yearlings of the sale, Dean Hawthorne had to wait until the last hour of the Book 1 session on Tuesday afternoon to finally secure one of the fillies on his Karaka wish list. Hawthorne went to $850,000 to purchase Lot 637.
Breeding
Million-dollar double for Donna Marie
For the second year in a row, Hallmark Stud has struck seven-figure gold at Karaka with a yearling filly by Proisir out of Donna Marie. The Baker family’s Te Kauwhata operation topped the Book 1 sale 12 months ago with a filly that fetched $1.6 million, and they