Dibbles

Mare returns are not due until February 2024 for last season, so it does not mean all the mares are in foal.

I am not a trainer, but this is probably why there was not enough for trials on the 2nd May Riccarton - 15th April Riccarton Trials - 18th April Riccarton - 22nd April Timaru - 27th April Wingatui - 30th April Riccarton Syn - 4th May Riccarton - 6th May

Yes, he had wonky leg and agree they probably gelded to help him not carry the extra weight and slow his maturity down. Some stallions do throw traits just as mares do but a wonky leg like he had at birth my thoughts would be it was caused due to how the foal was lying during utero and not something that would be passed on, but I am no expert. Agree with Pam smaller stables are probably not set up for colts. Also, what is nicer for the horse a gelding that can be with a mate in a paddock or a colt who has to be by himself and does not understand why he is being told to pull himself together and act like other horses when he gets excited due to still being a colt.

Here is a link to the ones in the Ready to Run - https://www.nzb.co.nz/sales/ready-to-run-sale-20rtr?search=preferment &ordered=lot&sort=asc&sale_id=179&page_size=1000&start_pos=1

Would have been nice if the Rangiora Trials videos could have been up for owners to see today.

Just out of interest I see the free to view channel 200 costs $250 per hour to hire, why can we not have the NZ Saturday Racing on this channel so it brings racing back to more of an general audience?

Verdi (Zabeel x Miss Opera) Here is a link to John Richardson’s article when he first went to stud (which he suggests Volksraad mares). https://0j.b5z.net/i/u/6119053/f/John_Richardson_Verdi.pdf

I rumor was incorrect, but there is a Nth Island stallion moving down South.

Has anyone else heard that Embellish is not standing at Cambridge Stud but is heading down South?

Interesting to see that the NZB May Sale is now down to 1 day (Friday 17 May). Sad to see this as it is just another thing pointing to how low the industry has got, in 2016 it was 3 days and then dropped to 2 days in 2017.

Maybe they will look at putting the entries up to what the TB pay to help cover the costs…their entries are $250 more. Makes it interesting for the combined sale in April with one code paying more for the same thing?

The bid spotter is Nikki Smart and she works in the NZB insurance division, and yes she does a great job.

Verdi x I'm Something filly (one day old)

Echoes Of Heaven x Sita filly (five days old)

Prince Of Brooklyn x Southern Raider filly (three and half weeks old)

Verdi x Sandra colt (one week old)

Ghibellines x Chapelle d’or colt (day old)

Thought it would be nice to see some of this season foal photos!

Verdi (Zabeel x Miss Opera)

Verdi (Zabeel x Miss Opera) is another son standing at stud in the Sth Island. Half to Sir Slick, Puccini and Shortblackmini (dam of Amarula and Little Wonder).

As a small breeder re a levy, I would agree many would struggle paying more fees . Also thought for those knocking breeders - the large studs (as do the smaller breeders in a smaller scale) put a lot of money back into the industry racing their horses that do not sell at the sales and their fillies that they are retaining for breeding and through sponsorship, so I would not knock any breeder large or small!!

Just a question was the land around Riccarton not in a trust that was not meant to be sold, look at it now all under development for housing? Seems to be that if all parties agree there is a way around selling the land.

I feel that there is a place for both paper print and digital/social media, and agree with Liz that it is a bad decision as their stallions are not there for many breeders to see. Has anyone received a brochure from Westbury in the mail, or are they only trusting on breeders to be subscribe to their social media pages or email list?

I think going by the ones listed I think it is a dispersal of his mares that are not in foal.