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FOR THE majority of his career, the one thing Jakkalberry could never be accused of is lacking experience! A horse that raced all over the world, from a three year old and for six consecutive seasons, winning races in four separate countries, he became well used to the experience of travel, new climates, new stables and training facilities, and new jockeys. He also became well experienced in the sensation of crossing the line in many of the world’s great staying events, with his competitors trailing behind him! However, the impressively handsome son of the Machiavellian horse, Storming Home, had a sideways shift in his career in 2014, and he rightfully took up his place at stud, given the opportunity to serve a first book in excess of seventy mares, including some first rate Premier mares, and producers of Group One winners. Residing now at the spectacularly appointed Novara Park, on the outskirts of Cambridge, in the heart of New Zealand’s Thoroughbred Nursery, he has the good fortune to be under the care and management of one of the industry’s most experienced and knowledgeable stallion handlers, Ray Knight. Ray’s own career has seen him at the helm of his own property, Ashwell Farm, previously where he launched the careers of a number of stallions including Shinko King, Blues Traveller and Handsome Ransom. A change of direction saw Ray seize the opportunity to seek warmer climates and manage The National Stud in Malaysia for two and a half years, putting systems in place to allow for successful breeding in a climate that is not conducive. “I’ve been very fortunate over the years to have worked on some beautiful properties, and with some beautiful horses’ said Ray. “My travels have reinforced to me what a fabulous country New Zealand is to breed a horse!” “To be one of the driving forces now behind the launch of the stallion career of Jakkalberry, from a property that is so well set up, is a fabulous thing to be a part of!” “He is as good a physical specimen as I’ve seen. He fills the eye, and he’s a real horseman’s’ horse who is very difficult to fault.” “Time has taught me the importance of a horse’s temperament. Having worked with Jakkalberry for a while now, I can completely understand why and how, as an entire, he was able to race for such a long time, how he handled the travel, the different environments and so on. Simply nothing fazes him! He just gets on with life in a beautiful laid back manner. That attitude is going to take him a long way!” “It’s a feature of the extended family too from what we’ve seen. His dam has left three Group One winners to date, and his half sister looks like she’s another one out of the top drawer, with her second place in the Italian Oaks as recently as last weekend.” “I very genuinely invite anybody with an interest, to give me a call, come down and see Jakkalberry, see the farm, and in a few months see his first crop of foals. Experience leaves me safe in the knowledge that they will be impressed!”

It has been with great sadness that the Mitchell family (owners) and the Ritchie family (trainers) have announced the passing of the people's champion, Bonecrusher, in his thirty-third year. He has been humanely euthanized after contracting laminitis (the same hoof disease that caused the death of the champion mare, Sunline). Bonecrusher will forever be part of Australasian racing folk law. Not since the great Phar Lap, who was also a striking chestnut, has a horse captured the imagination of the Australasian racing public. Who will ever forget the "Race of the Century" and Bill Collin's famous call when Bonecrusher raced into equine immortality with his victory over Waverley Star in the 1986 Cox Plate. He was the first thoroughbred to earn a million dollars in New Zealand, achieving that milestone at the age of three. He was ridden in all but one of his wins by Gary Stewart, a jockey who grew another leg, when he piloted the "Crusher". What Bonecrusher did in his three and four-year-old seasons had never been done before in Australasia and is not likely to ever be repeated. As a three year old he won seven consecutive races, including the New Zealand Derby, Air New Zealand Stakes, Tancred Stakes and the AJC Derby. As a four year old he won five races including four Australian Group Ones being the Underwood Stakes, Caulfield Stakes, Cox Plate and Australian Cup. In his career he won nine Group One races and a total of eighteen races in all winning from 880 metres to 2400 metres with all but three of his wins being Group or Listed races. His total earnings were almost NZD $3,000,000.00. Had he not been struck down by a severe virus in Japan in late 1986, which almost claimed his life, his record would surely have been incomparable. Although he was never quite the same he still continued to win Group Ones producing a mighty effort to catch the Melbourne Cup winner and Northern Hemisphere Stallion At Talaq in the Australasian Cup and went on to defeat Horlicks in the 1988 Air New Zealand Stakes. His final resting place will be at Ellerslie where a memorial will be erected in his honour. This post has been promoted to an article

There will be a major spin-off for Novara Park sire Jakkalberry from the win by unbeaten Chris Waller-trained Press Statement in the Group 1 A$500,000 JJ Atkins Doomben 2YO in Queensland today. Presslist, a half-sister to the Group One winners Press Statement and 2010 Atkins winner Pressday, was flown over to Novara Park in Cambridge from Australia last year to be served by promising sire Jakkalberry and has tested positive in foal to him. Jakkalberry, who is owned by Tony and Luigi Muollo, stands at Novara Park and recorded the fastest last 600m ever in a Melbourne Cup (35.33 seconds) when he finished third. A Group 1 winner of 12 races and $2.5 million in prize-money, Jakkalberry is a son of Storming Home and his dam, Claba Di San Jore, has had seven foals to the races for seven winners. Tony Muollo is the owner of Press Statement who has won three times from as many outings and gave Waller his 14th Group One win of the season "The family has been good to me and I think there is more to come in the spring. The hard part was getting him to the race today," Waller said. "He was a maiden when he won his first start at the end of April. He has now had three starts for three wins and has gone from kindergarten to a Group One win." Waller said there were several options for Press Statement next season. "There is the Caulfield Guineas in the spring or who knows he might be a horse for the Stradbroke Handicap up here next year," he said. Winning jockey Tye Angland is also a huge fan of Press Statement who he rates as potentially among the best horses he has ridden. "I rode him in a trial and said he was a potential Group horse. Thankfully he has proved me right," Angland said. The Waller-Muollo connection had more success recently when close relation to Press Statement, the 4 yo gelding Marenostro winning in Sydney last week. This post has been promoted to an article

It was a big weekend of results for the stallion Jakkalberry who stands at Novara Park in Karapiro, Cambridge. In the € 407,000 Oaks D’Italia for three year old fillies at Milano racecourse Italy, in what was the closest finish in the history of the race, it was taken out by the German-trained and bred Lovelyn (by Tiger Hill) by a margin of a head with Jakkalberry's half sister, Joyful Hope (by Shamardal), finishing second equal with Full Of Beauty (by Motivator). The latter was trained by Andreas Wohler, the trainer of 2014 Melbourne Cup winner Protectionist. In the Premio Carlo Vittadini (Group 2) over 1600m, there was a notable quinella as the first two placegetters are close relatives of Jakkalberry. It was taken out by Kaspersky whose pedigree makes for interesting reading. His sire is the successful stallion, Footstepsinthesand, and he shares the same fourth dam as Jakkalberry and Cambridge Stud based stallion Power. Kaspersky's dam, Croanda, also shares the same second dam as Jakkalberry. Second placed was Circus Couture who is out of Jakkalberry's half sister, Bois Joli. Joyful Hope is the latest class performer out of the prepotent blue hen mare, Claba Di San Jore, who is by the 1994 European Horse of the Year Barathea (by Sadlers Wells). From seven foals to race Claba Di San Jore, has produced seven winners. Aside from Group One winner and three times globetrotting champion Jakkalberry, Claba di San Jore is the dam of 2007 Group One Derby Italiano victor Awelmarduk, 2012 Group One Premio Presidente Della Repubblica and Derby Italiano hero Crackerjack King, and the joint Champion 3yo in Italy 2010 Kidnapping. She is also the dam of black-type performer Freezy and of two time winner Bois Joli who has showed early talent as a broodmare with first foal Celticus being a winner of seven races including listed level and current promising three-year- old stakes winning Circus Couture. Claba di San Jore has a two-year-old filly, La Mortola, in work with leading British trainer John Gosden and a yearling colt, both are by Dubawi. Jakkalberry's principal owner, Luigi Muollo, was delighted with the weekend results. “The ability of the the family to deliver on the racetrack is outstanding. Claba Di San Jore's record is amazing and she is one of the best broodmares still alive and breeding in the world as present. Jakkalberry is the highest rated of all his siblings with a Timeform rating of 125 and all six siblings to race have won as two year olds. is a prepotent pedigree and I believe that Jakkalberry will enhance the family further as a sire." Novara Park manager Ray Knight was equally confident of the future ahead for the farm. ”With Jakkalberry being a world-class stayer, a Derby horse who went on to compete in many of the world’s great staying races, he encapsulates everything that the New Zealand classic horse are renowned for. Precocious, tough, sound horses, with a great turn of foot, who are top class three-year-olds, and then train on. The sort of horse that brings the best purchasers of yearlings to the New Zealand Yearling Sales on an annual basis. It is equally right, and proper, that he is here in New Zealand, and is ideally qualified to take the legacy of the great New Zealand bred classic Three Year Old, The Derby Colts, and The Oaks fillies, to the next level. “ This post has been promoted to an article

The Chill Bill fan club should have plenty to cheer about through the winter months judging by the wet-weather specialist’s latest success. History repeated itself at the Auckland track on Saturday when the six-year-old won second-up over 1600 metres, as he had done 12 months ago in a lower grade, with a grinding victory in the Armitage Mile. A holding track had been against a resuming Chill Bill when he was unplaced at Rotorua at his previous start and the looser going at Ellerslie was much more to his liking. “He also needed the run to be fair and he still looks a bit soft condition-wise now,” said co-trainer Andrew Forsman, who prepares the gelding with Murray Baker. Chill Bill, whose eight career wins have all been on rain-affected ground, settled toward the back of the field before rider Danielle Johnson urged him around runners across the top. They came widest into the straight and the One Cool Cat gelding’s sustained finish got the better of Secrets Only close to home to score by a neck. Chill Bill was following the winning lead of his stablemate Gesemi, who had a much easier time of it when successful in the Bidvest 2400. She lobbed along at the tail and when rider Matt Cameron gave her more rein 700 metres from home she loomed quickly into contention. “She put herself in it a bit too soon really, but when they’re travelling that well in the ground you can’t hold them up,” Forsman said. Gesemi was in front at the top of the straight and supporters of the dominant favourite had no worries as the Ekraar mare drove clear to win by five and a half lengths. This post has been promoted to an article

Having acquired the exclusive rights in the Asia/Pacific region for Speed Silks®, the most innovative, ground-breaking development in jockey race-day wear that takes competitive speed in Thoroughbred horseracing to a new high is something which former top Sydney based trainer Kerry Jordan is very excited about. Jordan who trained such galloping greats as Innocent King, Hunter and Baryshnikov, is nowadays the co-proprietor of horsefabulous products and equipment. horsefabulous has been granted the exclusive Australasian rights from Darby Racing Technology, the Amarillo, Texas based company responsible for producing Speed Silks® race-wear which are the ultimate in form-fitting and almost seamless race colours and helmet covers, pants (breeches) and boot sleeves. Speed Silks® are made entirely of Aero Dimplex®, a state-of the-art speed sport fabric aerodynamically engineered to reduce drag. According to Jordan, Matt Darby, the owner of Darby Racing Technology, LLC and the inventor of Speed Silks® asserts that aerodynamic drag has a much greater impact on the speed of the horse than the most people appreciate. The horse has to work much harder to overcome the wind resistance than it does to overcome the inertia of its own mass. A jockey’s colours make a lot of noise during a race. That noise is the clothing flapping in the wind. Every single flap pulls backwards on the jockey, and therefore, the horse. It is called the ‘kite tail effect’. The tail of a kite is designed to create drag and pull the bottom of the kite in a specific direction. That’s good for a kite but bad for a racehorse! Speed Silks® colours, helmet covers, pants (breeches) and boot sleeves with the open knit dimpled, multi-layer structure of Aero Dimplex® are the only purpose-made horse racing colours specifically designed to breath and wick (transfer) moisture (sweat) from the inside to the outside of the garment where it can then dissipate through evaporation. What’s more Speed Silks® apparel, made entirely of Aero Dimplex® also has SPF 40 UV protection built right into the fabric. During his accomplished horse training career Jordan operated a boutique 16 horse stable complex at Rosehill and produced a string of high-class gallopers. During his accomplished horse training career Jordan won numerous black type races with gallopers such asInnocent King, AJC Derby (Gr 1), STC Rosehill Guineas (Gr 1), VATC Eclipse Stakes (Gr 3), Hunter, AJC Metropolitan (Gr 1), NJC Newcastle Cup (Gr 2) and GCTC Hollindale Cup(Gr 2), Baryshnikov, VRC Australian Guineas (Gr 1) and VATC Sandown Guineas(Gr 2), Mountain Rule, QTC O’Shea Stakes(Gr 2), In The Event, QTC Grand Prix (Gr 2) and AJC Frank Packer Plate(Gr 3), Corndale, GCTC Hollindale Cup (Gr 2), Kenfair, BRC Sprint(Gr 3), Varino, NSW Tatt’s RC Tattersall’s Club Cup (L) and STC Christmas Stakes (L), Oomph, AJC P.J. Bell (L), STC Triscay Stakes (L), Atlantic Brave, AJC Brian Crowley Stakes (L), STC Winter Cup (L) with Webster’s Wish, two Wagga Wagga Cups (L) Greenback and Nobellotto, two QTC Eagle Farm Stakes (L) Nobellotto and Zatella, MVRC Tesio Stakes (Gr 3) Zatella, and HJC Hawkesbury Guineas (L) and Hawkesbury Cup (Gr 3) Nias and Mr Impose respectively. Catherine Noonan, Kerry’s partner of 30 years and co-proprietor of horsefabulous products and equipment has extensive experience in accountancy, industrial negotiation and sales. Catherine brings a wealth of knowledge to the business. Kerry and Catherine make a formidable combination determined to make Speed Silks® the most successful and popular jockey race-wear in the Asia/Pacific region. horsefabulous has engaged New Zealand-based MediaPA to be their social media marketing agency for Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore and Malaysia. Contact details: +61 2 9613 3265 (Office) - +61 412 369 000 (Kerry mobile) - +61 412 389 000 (Catherine mobile) –info@horsefabulous.com.au - www.horsefabulous.com.au This post has been promoted to an article

Richard Yuill is more than happy be a fringe player these days with a smaller team of horses.. “I don’t chase the game like I used to,” the Group One winning Pukekohe trainer said. “I’m working about 18, but most of them are horses for overseas or being pre-trained for other people.” Yuill prides himself on his past record with a career tally of 731 winners of more than $12.5 million, 79 of them at Group and Listed level, and an outstanding partnership with master horseman Colin Jillings. “I worked hard in the game for years and enjoyed a lot of success out of it,” he said. “I’m in a very lucky position now and I don’t owe anyone anything. I’ve seen the best of racing in New Zealand.” Yuill has only had nine starters this season and Friday’s Avondale meeting will take him into double figures with He Rocks in the Racing at Avondale 10 June 2015 and Saki’s Ace in the Race Images 1200 Maiden. He Rocks was a $10,000 Karaka purchase for Dominic Olson, who formerly trained in partnership with Moira Murdoch. “He bought him and races him with a few of his mates,” Yuill said. “He goes along nicely and does everything right. “He’ll put himself in the race and it’s a good start for him. I had him in at Wellington a couple of weeks ago, but he drew wide and I couldn’t get a rider so it wasn’t worth a trip away.” Saki’s Ace has weighed in four times from seven starts and Yuill was happy with his last-start performance when resuming from a break. “It wasn’t a bad effort at Dargaville after getting taken on all the way and he only gave it away the last 100 metres,” he said. This post has been promoted to an article

Jason Bridgman is hoping to sign off his tenure as Te Akau Racing trainer as a winner. Bridgman will hand over the reins at the Matamata stable to the new partnership of Stephen Autridge and newcomer Jamie Richards after racing this weekend. Bridgman has eight runners entered at either Riccarton or Te Rapa, with the trio of Angelica Hall, Risque and Unsurpassed chasing stakes success. Angelica Hall will contest the Listed Speight's Mid Ale Great Easter Stakes (1400m) at Riccarton, while Risque and Unsurpassed are slated for the Listed Hamilton Vet Clinic Equine Stakes (1200m) at Te Rapa. "I have really enjoyed my time here with a wonderful team of horses and a hard-working staff that have supported me, including my wife and family," Bridgman said. "My last runners will run this weekend and hopefully we can sign off with a win and we look forward to what the future holds. "At this stage, we haven't decided upon anything in the short term and will see what options present over the coming weeks. It's a chance to look within and outside the industry for the future. "I would like to thank David Ellis for the opportunities I have had at Te Akau." Bridgman, who has an honours degree in applied science, majoring in sports turf management and landscape architecture, succeeded five-time champion New Zealand trainer Mark Walker as Te Akau's Matamata trainer in 2010 when Walker set up shop for Te Akau in Singapore. Since then Bridgman has won 280 races, 34 at stakes level, including four at Group One level - the 2000 Guineas with Rock 'n' Pop, the 1000 Guineas with King's Rose and Costa Viva and the Diamond Stakes with Warhorse. He has finished in the top 10 on the trainers' premiership each season, peaking at third last term but has dropped to seventh on the ladder this season. Prior to joining Te Akau, Bridgman had gained experience working for Noel Eales, John Hawkes, Michael Moroney, English trainer Clive Brittain, Irish trainer Dermot Weld, Frenchman Francois Dumen, and Americans Niall O'Callaghan and Todd Pletcher. He trained in partnership with Graham Richardson and on his own right at Matamata before taking up the Te Akau position. Te Akau boss David Ellis wished Bridgman well for the future. "We are sorry to farewell Jason. He has been a very good trainer in his 4 1/2 years with us at Matamata," Ellis said. This post has been promoted to an article

Pace made the race for Abidewithme at Te Rapa and the well-related mare took full advantage of a strong tempo to record a career highlight victory in Saturday’s Gr.2 Travis Stakes. Trainer Jason Bridgman said the mare had been a victim of slowly run races on numerous occasions and she had now received her due reward. “Down the back there were a few horses trapped wide and they went forward to put the pressure on. “The 2000 metre races aren’t always run genuinely. She hits the line strongly at a mile, but the good sectionals haven’t been there for her at 2000m. “I don’t think I’ve ever had a horse in training that deserves a big race more than her, it’s fantastic.” Raced by her breeders Sir Patrick and Lady Hogan, Abidewithme is a daughter of Redoute’s Choice and the Group Two winning Zabeel mare Crimson, who is also the mother of the Group One performer Miss Scarlatti. “I’ll speak to Sir Patrick and there may be more ahead for her next season,” Bridgman said. “She’s been a slow maturer and she’ll go to the paddock now.” Abidewithme’s victory was also a treasured one for rider Michael McNab, whose career has been hindered by weight issues. “I want to thank Sir Patrick and Jason for keeping me on,” he said. “I can’t speak highly enough of the mare, she gives 120 per cent. “She’s got a beautiful temperament and she always wants to win.” Abidewithme settled back in the field and she was able to finish over the top of the defending champion Lauren Tate with Decorah a brave third. “She had every opportunity and got to the lead 150 metres out so there’s no excuses,” Lauren Tate’s owner-trainer John Morell said. This post has been promoted to an article

Giant’s Steps, the champion three-year-old colt of Chile in 2012/13 and closely related to the champion sires Hussonet and Ekraar, will be an exciting new addition to the New Zealand stallion ranks this spring when he stands at Linwood Park Stud in Cambridge. “With Ekraar having been such a success story for Linwood Park and Hussonet a champion sire in Australia it is perfect timing for us to acquire Giant’s Steps who has the same female family,” said Linwood Park stud manager Tony Mudgway. “It is undoubtedly one of the best stallion families in the stud book today. Not only did he possess a wonderful pedigree but he showed an amazing turn of foot on the racetrack which saw him achieve success at the highest level,” Mudgway said. A dual Group 1 winner and the winner of six races, Giant’s Steps (pictured) is a son of champion sire Giant’s Causeway (six times Gr.1 winner) who is the best son of Storm Cat and one of the best sires in the world. Giant’s Causeway was the champion freshman sire in Europe in 2004, Champion 2yo sire in U.S.A. in 2005 and he has already sired champion 2-y-o’s, Classic winning 3-yr-o’s, record breaking older horses, and exceptional colts and fillies on both dirt and turf. He is the sire of 28 Gr.1 winners worldwide. Certainly as a sire of international repute, Giant’s Causeway is the most recognizable and most successful of the many sons of Storm Cat at stud, but the lead sire for Coolmore’s Ashford Stud is atypical from many other sons of Storm Cat by siring a large percentage of horses who prefer a distance and show their best form with maturity. Those are admirable traits, even if they diverge somewhat from the “typical” Storm Cat tendencies of speed and early maturity. The salient quality about Giant’s Causeway stock is class, and from nine crops now age 3 or older, he has 129 stakes winners. What puts him at the top of the list of leading American sires in 2012 is stakes performance and especially graded stakes winners. To date, he has 62 graded or group stakes winners around the world. And just like his sire, Giant’s Causeway was a success from his first crop. That group included classic winners Shamardal and Footstepsinthesand, and both have sired high-class performers in their own right. Giant's Steps (Giant's Causeway-Hamsaat Hi Haat, by Hennessy) scored by 1.5-lengths for trainer Patricio Baeza in the Gr1 Premio El Ensayo Mega (2400m) for 3YO colts and fillies on turf, over fellow colts El Faraon (Dushyantor-Mirza, by Fappavalley) & Flaco Simpatico (Fusaichi Pegasus-Whinny, by Stuka). He also scored a brilliant success in the Gr. 1 Clasico Polla de Potrillos and his other major victory came in the Gr. 2 Gran Clasico Coronacion. Born in Argentina at Haras Pozo de Luna and bred in Chile by Haras Puerta de Hierro, Giant’s Steps is out of the placed Hennessy (USA) mare Hamsaat Hi Haat (USA) and comes from a superb dam family. Third dam, the champion USA 3YO Filly of 1987, Sachuista, left two champion sire sons in Hussonet and Ekraar. Hussonet was *Champion Sire in Chile 2000-2005*; *Champion 2YO Sire of Chile 5 times, 1998, 2002-2005*; *Champion First Season Sire 1998*; and has sired a total of 75 stakeswinners. Hussonet made an immediate impact with his first Australian-bred progeny as the sire of 7-time Group 1 winner Weekend Hustler. Ekraar (by Red Ransom) has been a boom at stud as the sire of the Gr. 1 winners Shez Sinsational, Habibi, Rising Romance and Ekstreme who were all top-class gallopers. Shez Sinsational won four Gr. 1 races comprising the Spring Champion Stakes at Hastings, Auckland Cup, Darci Brahma International Stakes and the Zabeel Classic. Habibi won the Gr. 1 New Zealand Derby while Rising Romance won the Gr. 1 AJC Oaks in Sydney. Ekstreme recorded her Group 1 victory in the Captain Cook Stakes. Giant’s Steps will stand alongside Ekraar and Echoes Of Heaven. His service fee will be $5000 plus gst. A brochure, Trackside advertisement and other promotional material on Giant’s Steps will follow soon. This post has been promoted to an article

Crack international jockey Ryan Moore will team up with a red hot Cambridge training partnership on day two of The Championships this Saturday. The champion English rider has been booked for the Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman-prepared Diademe in the $A1 million Gr.1 Queen of the Turf Stakes at Randwick. Moore, who has ridden Group One winners in 11 countries, was a star turn during the Melbourne spring carnival when he claimed the Cox Plate-Melbourne Cup double with Adelaide and Protectionist. He is in Sydney to continue his association with Adelaide in the $A4 million Gr.1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes and Baker booked Moore through Coolmore’s racing manager James Bester. “Most of the Australian riders were taken so I asked James and we were lucky enough to get him,” he said. Last-start Gr.1 NZ Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes winner Diademe will fly to Sydney on Wednesday night with stablemate and Te Aroha runner-up Sports Illustrated. This post has been promoted to an article

Twenty four hours after securing his first Group One win as a thoroughbred owner retired stockbroker Scott Richardson, pictured, was taking time out in his usual quiet and understated manner to celebrate a victory that has been a lifetime in the making. Richardson’s gallant six-year-old mare Diademe provided that breakthrough victory at the highest level when she refused to yield in the closing stages of Saturday’s Fiber Fresh New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes at Te Aroha and ignited a smile that Richardson has found hard to shake since. “It’s a tough game this racing game and I’ve had plenty of slow ones over the years so when you are lucky enough to get a win like this you have to savour it,” he mused from his Mount Maunganui home where he retired just over three years ago after spending his working life in Auckland. “It took me a number of years to figure out this racing game and I’m probably still learning now but you soon work out there are plenty of tough times along the way so when you get a moment like this you have to take the time to celebrate because you never know just what’s around the corner.” Richardson’s passion for thoroughbred racing was fired at an early age when growing up on the outskirts of Matamata. “A friend and I used to hang around together a fair bit and we used to see this guy working with a grey horse on the property next door,” he recalled. “We were about 10 at the time and we decided one day we would go over and see what he was doing. “It turned out it was Norm Crawford who was a top notch trainer and the grey was one of the horses in his stable. The horse was called Our Chance and never won a race but that was the day I got bitten by the bug right then and there.” Like most New Zealand boys growing up Richardson was an avid sports enthusiast and spent much of his free time reading about racing and sports. “None of my family was in to racing at all but I used to read whatever I could about it and just got hooked,” he said. “I was at boarding school in Auckland and when I left there I ended up getting my first job for stock-broking firm Jordan Sandman Smythe where a principal of the firm became a member of the Auckland Racing Club Committee so that also fired my interest.” As his career progressed Richardson went from being an avid form student and casual punter to a prospective owner and took the plunge in 1982 when he and a friend purchased a two-year-old from a “ready to run” sale at Ellerslie. “I had become a member at Ellerslie and a mate and I went to a sale there that was for two-year-olds that had already raced,” he said. This post has been promoted to an article

Smashing may not yet have enjoyed the racing success of her mother, but she is nevertheless fashioning a tidy record of her own. The Pins filly won for the third time from nine appearances for trainer Jason Bridgman when she downed a handy field of three-year-olds in the Norman’s Transport & Storage 1400 at Te Aroha on Saturday. “Stepping up to the 1400 metres was the big thing for her,” Bridgman said “Like her mother, she’s got quite a high cruising speed.” Smashing is the first foal of Ruud Van Slaats, whose five wins featured the Cal Isuzu Stakes and the Auckland Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes at Group Two level. She was also a three time Group One placegetter for Trelawney Stud. The Cambridge farm bred Smashing, who also carries their colours, who will now be sent for a break and Bridgman is hoping she will continue to improve with age. “We’ll give her a good, long spell and when you put them out on a high note they generally come back better,” he said. “I think she can develop into a pretty handy 1400 to 1600 metre horse. Her mother didn’t really come to it until she was four and five.” As usual, Smashing jumped smartly to sit on the pace and she rallied strongly in the straight under rider Cameron Lammas to win by three quarters of a length. Fresh runner Zabelle, the only maiden in the line-up, ran on well from the back of the field for second. It was an encouraging performance from the Zabeel filly, given her connections are keen on a trip to Brisbane for a crack at the $A400,000 Gr.1 Queensland Oaks at the end of May. This post has been promoted to an article

A Group One pedigree was put under scrutiny at Matamata on Wednesday and it passed with flying colours. The Peter Tappin Memorial 1100 marked the first appearance of Scrutinize and the son of the former top-flight winners Savabeel and Legs didn’t disappoint. The two-year-old settled fourth on the inner and, once he was into the clear 250 metres from home, he wound up powerfully to post a perfect debut performance. “He’s a really smart colt and we’ve got a very good opinion of him,” trainer Jason Bridgman said. “He’s bred to be more of a three-year-old so he’s shown today what a talent in the making he is.” Scrutinize had been to the trials twice, winning at Matamata in February and then finishing third last month. “That was a lovely educational run at Rotorua where he weaved between runners,” Bridgman said. Scrutinize is now expected to head for a break with his classic season in mind. “David Ellis bought him as a Guineas and Derby sort of horse,” Bridgman said. “We’ll most likely put him out – he’s a really promising type.” The Te Akau principal purchased Scrutinize, a half-bother to his stakes winning stablemate Wolfwhistle, for $200,000 from Waikato Stud’s Premier Sale draft to Karaka last year. This post has been promoted to an article

Racing justice was served to prominent thoroughbred identities Brendan and Jo Lindsay at Awapuni on Saturday. The Karaka couple were narrowly denied a Group One victory at Moonee Valley on Friday night when Griante carried their colours to a third placing after a luckless run in the William Reid Stakes. The successful breeder-owners didn’t have to wait long for compensation with Marky Mark, pictured, scoring a decisive win in the Gr.1 Courtesy Ford Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes. “It’s been a fantastic 24 hours for them,” trainer Moira Murdoch said. “Griante was four wide the trip and only went down narrowly.” Marky Mark won his first two starts, including the Gr.3 Eclipse Stakes, before the son of Makfi suffered his first defeat in the Gr.1 Diamond Stakes at Ellerslie. He made the turn awkwardly there before finishing well for fourth under the Lindsays’ retained rider Leith Innes. Marky Mark didn’t put a foot wrong at Awapuni where he made use of a handy barrier to enjoy a cosy run behind the leader. Innes drove him through a gap one off the fence 200 metres from home and they were too good for Rocanto, who was given a fine run from a wide alley by Mark Du Plessis. “He had the perfect draw today,” Innes said. “He’s still green, but he got the job done well.” Reminisce powered home late for third while the longshot Our Rokkii was next in after he was denied room at a crucial stage in the straight. Bella Court was another to make ground well for fifth ahead of the strongly supported Selfie, who was given every chance by rider Opie Bosson. Murdoch has enjoyed a successful association with the Lindsays and prepared Marky Mark’s mother My My Maree to win two races before she ran third in the Gr.2 Cal Isuzu Stakes in her final race day appearance. This post has been promoted to an article

Andrew Campbell is hoping the Tavistock factor can give Werther an edge when his three-year-old chases age group honours at Awapuni. “I’ve got five of them and they all show ability,” the Opaki trainer said. “I just wish I had more of them.” Werther, like his Group performed stablemate Longchamp, is from the first crop of Cambridge Stud’s Group One producer Tavistock. “We got involved with them early and they are very athletic and will get even better with time,” Campbell said. Werther, pictured, has won two of his last three starts and will step up to a middle distance for the first time in Saturday’s Gr.3 Higgins Manawatu Classic. “In both his wins he was going away and I think he’s crying out for the 2000 metres,” Campbell said. Werther’s only failure this preparation was two runs back at Ellerslie where he was undone by a lack of tempo. “He got back and there was no pace on,” Campbell said. “He over-raced and every time we’ve tried to ride him quietly he’s done that. “He’s got a good gate on Saturday and hopefully he can jump out and take a position. He likes a fight.” Campbell will wait until after Awapuni before deciding whether he heads north again with Werther for the Gr.2 Championship Stakes on April 18. “If he went a top race we might look at that 2100 metre race at Ellerslie or give him a break and come back for the spring,” he said. “He’s going to be a very good horse with more time.” This post has been promoted to an article

Shaune Ritchie is preparing for a scouting mission to Auckland with his imposing debut winner Let Her Rip. The Cambridge trainer produced the filly for a first-up success at Matamata where she overcame an interrupted run to win with ease. “She was impressive and she came out of it well,” Ritchie said “It was a soft sort of kill and she’ll go to Ellerslie for the two-year-old race over 1300 metres on Easter Monday. “I want her to have a look around there – I think she’s good enough to be back next season for the better races. “She’s won well left-handed at Matamata and I want her to go right-handed – some of them can get a bit lost first time, but I’m hoping her talent will pull her through.” Meanwhile, Ritchie will also be represented at Avondale on Wednesday by first-starter Deverstation in the Brighter Carpets 1200. From the first crop of the New Zealand-based Australian Group three winner Shamoline Warrior, the colt has drawn well and will be ridden by Opie Bosson. “He’s probably better-suited to a bit further and I think they’ll almost certainly been a bit too sharp for him,” Ritchie said. “He’s placed at the trials and it will be a good educational run for him. It’s nice to get a start into these two-year-olds on a dead track that won’t do their bones or joints any harm.” Among Deverstation’s rivals with exposed form is the recent trial winner Kilmac, who hasn’t been out since his third placing at Ruakaka in the spring. That form is reliable with the first two home Maritimo and Showboy both subsequent black type winners. This post has been promoted to an article

David Hayes is going into Saturday's Gr.2 Windsor Park Stud Japan-New Zealand International Trophy at Tauranga with the same confidence he had with Weregoingtogetcha ahead of last year's Gr.1 Zabeel Classic at Ellerslie. Weregoingtogetcha ran a terrific race for second to Soriano in the Zabeel Classic under weight-for-age conditions and back to handicap conditions this weekend, the talented Testa Rossa four-year-old horse rates among the leading chances in the 1600m feature. Since the Zabeel Classic on Boxing Day, Weregoingtogetcha was freshened before returning to the trials with a smart win over last weekend's Gr.2 Wellington Guineas winner Vespa leading into a sub-standard seventh in the Gr.1 Haunui Farm Classic at Otaki. Hayes is loath to attribute Weregoingtogetcha's failure that day to the rain-affected track, saying he never responded to Vanessa Johnston's handling of him in that he was off the bridle and never comfortable in running. "We're just putting that run behind us and moving on. He's normally a toff on wet ground so we're not putting it down to that," Hayes said. "Rosie [Myers] jumped him out the other day and was rapt with him, so we think we've got him spot on. His work is close to where it was going into the Zabeel Classic. "He's got a nice weight [55kg], a good draw [barrier one] and a good jockey [Mark Du Plessis]. Mark was pleased to jump back on him and he knows him well. We're going to ride him handy, better than midfield anyway because I'm told it's hard to come from too far back at Tauranga so we don't want to give them too much of a start." Weregoingtogetcha has won four of his 17 starts, and was stakes placed in the Listed Ryder Stakes at Awapuni and the Gr.2 Waikato Guineas at Te Rapa at two and three before his Group One second in the Zabeel Classic this season. "He's a good horse and we're going into this race every bit as confident as we were going into the Zabeel Classic," said Hayes, who races Weregoingtogetcha with Steven Prenter. "It's a fantastic field for a Group Two. I'm surprised just how strong it is. They are all there - Recite, Kawi - but I'm not frightened of Kawi. We've beaten him before." Safely through the Japan-New Zealand International Trophy, Hayes will consider backing up Weregoingtogetcha in Saturday week's Gr.2 Awapuni Gold Cup (2000m) before a possible tilt at the Gr.1 Easter Handicap (1600m) at Ellerslie on April 18. "There's talk about going to Brisbane after that but we will just see about that closer to the time," Hayes said. This post has been promoted to an article

By Phillip Quay It will be a new start in more ways than one for promising apprentice jockey Josh Oliver at the Tauranga race-meeting on Saturday. Oliver, 19, returns from an injury break and he is nowadays based in Te Awamutu with trainers Keith and Brendon Hawtin's stable. Oliver suffered a broken wrist and concussion as the result of a fall at Rotorua on January 23. The injury came at a time when Oliver was in top form, having enjoyed a successful stint on the West Coast circuit and had ridden a treble at Te Rapa the previous Saturday. "Moving to the Hawtins stable came because the scene at Tauranga was getting a bit quiet and I thought that if I wanted to further myself then I needed a bigger stable to back me up," Oliver said. Te Awamutu has already been a happy hunting ground for Oliver given that he won the Te Awamutu Cup there last year aboard John Gray. "I have always had a lot of support from trainers at the Te Awamutu track so it make sense for me to be based there," he said. Oliver is looking forwad to returning to race-day action. "It's been seven weeks away from race-day riding and I can't wait to be back on the racetrack." This post has been promoted to an article

A masterly training performance and an outstanding ride landed a betting coup for Savaria’s connections when she reigned supreme in Saturday’s Gr.1 Wellfield New Zealand Oaks at Trentham. Awapuni horseman Roydon Bergerson had Savaria, pictured, at the top of her game and Hayden Tinsley gave a classic performance in the saddle to land the classic for Taranaki owners Des and Kay Fleming. “Des has slaughtered the bookmakers and got more than the winning stake off the TAB,” a jubilant and relieved Bergerson said. “He told me last Monday so there was no pressure!” The Flemings have been breeding thoroughbreds for more than three decades, but changed tack when they went to Karaka in 2013 and secured Savaria for $110,000. “She’s a damn good filly and from day one I said to Des that she was something special,” Bergerson said. “She’s proved that today – she’s one out of the box.” A maiden winner at Hastings on New Year’s Day, Savaria’s shared victory with Platinum Witness in the Gr.3 Lowland Stakes earned her Oaks favouritism. “She’s improved all the way through and it was a great ride today and that was the winning of the race,” Bergerson said. “I said to Hayden the rail is the shortest way home and to sit and wait.” Tinsley settled Savaria midfield on the fence from the inside gate and had to be patient when hemmed in at the top of the straight. A gap presented itself 200 metres from home between a weakening Gin Swing and Charmont and they powered through to Group One glory. “I picked her as my Oaks ride after her maiden win,” Tinsley said. “She’s a beautiful filly, she’s easy to ride and just goes to sleep.” Charmont boxed on strongly to finish runner-up and Platinum Witness’ brave effort for third was enough to secure her the New Zealand Bloodstock Filly of the Year title.

Cambridge trainer Shaune Ritchie unearthed a quality juvenile at Matamata on Wednesday when Let Her Rip defied a slow beginning to score an effortless two length victory over 1200m on debut. The daughter of Rip Van Winkle had won a trial at the venue leading into her first race day start and looks to have a bright future. "She's very exciting and she had the audacity to prick her ears on the line," Ritchie said. "She showed a lot of speed from day one and we initially had her earmarked as a Karaka Million horse, but she wasn't handling the prep and we gave her six weeks off. "We'll look for a race over further and see how far we get, but she looks like she will be an exciting three-year-old. This post has been promoted to an article

Richard Collett is unconcerned about a missed lead-up outing for Selfie, pictured, ahead of the stakes performer’s first Group One test. The Pukekohe trainer was forced to shelve plans to run the youngster in the Diamond Stakes at Ellerslie and is now focussed on the Courtesy Ford Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes on March 28. “He had a throat infection and he’s come right now,” Collett said. “He’s a horse that doesn’t take a lot of racing anyway – he’s quite naturally fit.” Raced by long-time stable client Arthur Avis, he was an impressive first-up winner at Avondale before Christmas and then ran third at Ellerslie on Boxing Day behind the subsequent Group One winner Dal Cielo. Selfie was narrowly beaten by the Queensland visitor Hardline in the Listed Karaka Million and got home well last time out for another second, after missing the jump, behind Rocanto in the Listed Matamata Slipper. The son of Thewayyouare is expected to be suited to the 1400 metres of the Sires’ Produce. “Every run has been very good and we’re looking forward to Awapuni - that looks the right race for him,” Collett said. This post has been promoted to an article

The lethal carnival combination of Murray Baker, Andrew Forsman and jockey Opie Bosson fired another winning Group One shot at Ellerslie on Saturday. The Cambridge trainers and the champion jockey claimed the New Zealand Derby seven days ago with Mongolian Khan and doubled their tally for the meeting with the classy Dal Cielo in the Haunui Farm Diamond Stakes. In between times, the trio also took major honours with Diademe in Wednesday’s Gr.3 Westbury Classic. “We’ve had a great run and I’ve got to thank Murray and the team – when you get on these sorts of horses you’re always confident,” Bosson said. Dal Cielo jumped to the head of the two-year-old queue with his latest victory, his second from four starts, and will get the chance to confirm himself as the country’s top youngster when he shoots for further Group One glory at Awapuni on March 28. “He’s a very good colt this guy,” Baker said. “We’ll probably have a go at the Manawatu Sires’ Produce and he’s also nominated for the Sires at Randwick, but that’s a big step up again.” Dal Cielo, beaten into third in the Karaka Million from a horror gate, settled in a perfect one out and one back spot under Bosson and took control 100 metres from home to down Battle Time and Rocanto. “We got the draw and a good run and got to the front at the right time,” Bosson said. “He came to the end of it the last bit and he’s only going to improve.” Dal Cielo had overcome a setback in his lead up, hence the colt feeling the pinch at the finish. “We thought he may have been a touch under done after a bit of a hiccup a few weeks ago, but his class told,” Baker said. “It was a beautiful ride from Opie.” Another central figure in the Dal Cielo success story is the Masterton bloodstock agent Bruce Perry. With Little Avondale Stud’s Sam Williams, he played a leading role in securing the youngster’s sire Per Incanto and also oversees the thoroughbred interests of Lib Petagna, who races Dal Cielo with the Perry-managed Homebush Syndicate. “It’s a great result for Sam, the stallion and the team that owns the horse,” Perry said. “It’s a massive boost for a first season sire with Rocanto running third as well.

Attention to detail paved the way at Ellerslie on Wednesday for Rock Diva to bring further Group One glory the way of Tony Pike and Raffles Farm. The secret to the mare’s success in the Gr.1 Barfoot & Thompson Auckland Cup lay in the pre-race plan decided upon by her Cambridge trainer and Raffles’ Bruce Sherwin. “Bruce and I looked at all the options and we couldn’t see any other one than to go back from the draw,” Pike said, “She came from a long way off them and it was a cool ride by Mark (Du Plessis) and she outstayed them.” Carrying the colours of her stablemate and dual Group One-winning sprinter Sacred Star, Rock Diva settled at the tail of the field and she took advantage of the field breaking up to pick a winning path home. “She had a horrible draw and I have to thank Bruce and Pikey for coming up with a great plan,” Du Plessis said. “They said to do nothing on her early and she switched right off. Coming to the half mile I was asking Moses to part the seas and it happened, she was really strong on the line.” Rock Diva finished powerfully to overhaul King Kamada, who was also given a top ride by Kelly Myers, and Pondarosa Miss was a gallant third under Noel Harris. “It’s a great buzz to win this race – my parents won it in 1981 (with Drum) and I vaguely remember that,” Pike said. “I’m rapt for the mare, rapt for the owners and all the staff at home.” The winner of the Gr.3 Sunline Vase 12 months ago, Rock Diva’s form to the cup had been encouraging and Pike’s confidence had been rounded off by her third placing in her final lead-up. “All her races had been very good and the Avondale Cup proved she was peaking at the right time when she closed off late,” he said. “She’s due a spell now and then we’ll look at all our spring options – the Melbourne Cup is one of those.” This post has been promoted to an article

Another Coup looks set for further home track success on Thursday when she rounds off her preparation for the Gr.1 Wellfield New Zealand Oaks. The Michael and Matthew Pitman-trained filly has already won three times at Riccarton and the NZ Brain Research Institute Rating 85 gives her a perfect opportunity to continue a successful drive toward Trentham. Another Coup beat the open handicappers on the course last time out under Matt Cameron and he will again take the mount in lesser company. “It’s only a small field and it will be a good race for her nine days out from the Oaks,” Michael Pitman said. “We’re really happy with her and everything continues to go forward – it’s great that Matt wanted to come down to ride her.” A daughter of Darci Brahma, Another Coup has won up to 1600 metres and Pitman is confident she will cope with the 2400 metres of the Trentham classic. “She runs her races out strongly and she’s got a very strong English pedigree behind her,” Pitman said. Another Coup is currently a $26 chance in the Oaks market while the top South Island fancy is Belle Miraaj at $18. The only time they have crossed paths was in the Listed Dunedin Guineas, which was won by the Pitman representative with Belle Miraaj finished fourth.