New Zealand

I read with interest the article of The Thoroughbred Report titled "Dogs Gone: New Zealand bans greyhound racing from 2026," dated Dec. 12. The article starts with the sentence, "There are only five nations globally where greyhound racing still operates being New Zealand, USA, Ireland, Australia, and Britain, but this is set to change with an announcement by New Zealand MP Winston Peters that greyhound racing will be banned in NZ from 2026." I was not aware that racing greyhounds is still legal in the United States. According to Wikipedia,...

High injury rates in racing greyhounds sees a proposed ban on the sport introduced by the New Zealand government on Tuesday, Reuters reported. "While fewer dogs are dying, injury rates, while down slightly, have plateaued and remain unacceptably high," Minister for Racing Winston Peters said in a statement. The plan is for the sport to be ended gradually over a 20-month period. An advisory committee has been appointed to re-home an estimated 2,900 racing dogs, according to Peters. A bill was introduced by the government, with the support of the...

The G3 Sunline Vase, a 2100-metre race at Ellerslie in New Zealand, will now be sponsored by Malih Al Basti's Al Basti Equiworld Dubai, the company announced on Wednesday. Now worth NZ$250,000 (€139,560), the race will take place on Champions Day at the course, Mar. 8. Al Basti Equiworld also includes sponsorship of the New Zealand Jockeys' Association, the NZ$1-million (€558,240) G1 New Zealand Oaks (2400m), NZ$650,000 G1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) and best turned-out prizes at both Riccarton Park and Wellington. "We are delighted to be extending our...

Classic winner Chaldean (GB) (Frankel {GB}), who is standing his first season at Banstead Manor Stud in the UK, will shuttle to Cambridge Stud in New Zealand for the Southern Hemisphere breeding season, Juddmonte announced on Thursday. His fee will be NZ$35,000 + GST and his book will be limited to 120 mares. One of only nine horses to complete the G1 Dewhurst and G1 2,000 Guineas double, Chaldean stands alongside his sire, the multiple champion sire Frankel, who completed the double in 2010/2011. They are the only father-son pair...

Paddington (GB) (Siyouni {Fr}) will shuttle to New Zealand to stand at Windsor Park Stud, which was also the former southern hemisphere home of his broodmare sire Montjeu (Ire). Currently covering his first book of mares at Coolmore Stud in Ireland, the four-time Group 1 winner will become the first son of the Aga Khan Studs' Siyouni to join the stallion ranks in New Zealand. Siyouni's champion son St Mark's Basilica (Fr) shuttles to Coolmore's base in the Hunter Valley. Though Siyouni has remained in France throughout his stud career,...

To many horsepeople and fans, the news that 2022 GI Preakness S. winner Early Voting (Gun Runner) had been cured of a syndrome that initially--apparently--spelled doom to his stud career was a complete surprise. To New Zealand-born veterinarian and scientist Dr. Padraig (Paddy) O'Casaigh, it was just another day at the office O'Casaigh, the 'brain and chief researcher/inventor' behind the 'unique' product Chaperonze (his birthplace a contributor to this intentional misspell), has treated 'about 100' stallions with breeding problems. "My experience in my 35 years," he said, "is that I've...

Amid the speed-filled tempo of the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Yearling Sale this week, it's all about equine and human partnerships for Gandharvi Racing as they add Case Clay as a Business Consultant to their team. Mind you, this isn't about making a splash or just putting together some haphazard deal. No, the intent behind this organization's latest move tunnels much deeper into the recesses of history. As the saying goes, Rome wasn't built in a day. Neither was a racing stable. Like city-planning in the ancient world or otherwise, success just...

The latest intake of Godolphin Flying Start trainees for the 2023-2025 term was revealed by GFS on Wednesday. The two-year Thoroughbred Industry Management and Leadership Programme features trainees from Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, the UK and the U.S. Their course begins at Kildangan Stud, County Kildare, Ireland, on Monday, Aug. 14, 2023. The scholarship facilitates trainees to learn and experience practical horsemanship, management operations and leadership in the global Thoroughbred industry with phases in Ireland, the UK, the USA, Australia and Dubai. The course is accredited by University College Dublin...

The 2022-2024 Godolphin Flying Start Class was announced on Tuesday. The 12 trainees for the two-year Thoroughbred Industry Management and Leadership Programme are from five different countries and will begin the course on Aug. 15, 2022. They will spend time in Ireland, the UK, the USA, Australia and Dubai throughout the programme. In addition, the course is accredited by University College Dublin Michael Smurfit Business School as a Graduate Certificate in Management. The dozen trainees are as follows: Annabel Adams, New Zealand Liam Cunningham, New Zealand Sarah Kelly, Ireland Orlaith...

Dual Olympic gold medal-winning equestrian and licensed trainer Sir Mark Todd has become the subject of much criticism after a video showing him repeatedly striking a horse with a tree branch emerged on social media. The video, from 2020, shows the New Zealand native striking a reluctant horse some 10 times when it baulked at a water crossing. "I wholeheartedly apologise to the horse and all involved for my actions in this video clip," Todd said in a statement. "One of the main things I preach is about establishing a...

Breeders and buyers anticipating the upcoming first 2-year-olds by Almanzor (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) in Europe were provided a boost in recent weeks at the sales in Australia and New Zealand, where the triple Group 1 winner's first Southern Hemisphere yearlings were warmly received. After his three yearlings sold at Magic Millions averaged A$506,666 with a top price of A$800,000, Almanzor went on to be leading first-season sire at Karaka Book 1 with 43 sold for an average of NZ$190,698. Almanzor, who is based at his birthplace Haras d'Etreham in...

MG1SW Hello Youmzain (Fr) (Kodiac {GB}-Spasha {GB}, by Shamardal) has been retired and will take up stud duties at Haras d'Etreham in France. Etreham and Cambridge Stud purchased the bay for stallion duty last October, and he will shuttle to Brendan and Jo Lindsay's New Zealand property to fulfill Southern Hemisphere obligations in due course. Etreham and Cambridge joined forces to stand Hello Youmzain's new barnmate Almanzor (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) in 2018. A fee for the Rabbah Bloodstock-bred will be announced later and his book will be capped at...