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Chill Chibi sweeps into BMW Hong Kong Derby calculations

Chill Chibi took another significant step towards the HK$26 million BMW Hong Kong Derby (2000m) in March after Danny Shum’s talented young stayer overpowered older rivals to win the Class 3 Dunnottar Castle Handicap (1800m) at Happy Valley on Wednesday night.With four wins and a narrow second from five starts, Chill Chibi has emerged as a leading contender for the lucrative 2024 Four-Year-Old Classic Series, which features the Hong Kong Classic Mile (1600m) on 4 February, the Hong Kong Cl...

Highview proud to have another Cup contender

By Paul Vettise, LOVERACING.NZ News DeskHighview will continue its proud history with the Gr.1 Lexus Melbourne Cup (3200m) when proven distance performer Daqiansweet Junior makes his second appearance in the Flemington feature on Tuesday.While delighted to have another farm graduate in the line-up, the Waikato nursery’s expectations of further success in the time-honoured event are being kept in check.Trained by Phillip Stokes, Daqiansweet Junior is currently an $80 chance and will be partnere...

Mr Charismatic provides Valley redemption

Less than a week after Mr Brightside’s gallant effort when beaten a nose into second in the Gr.1 Cox Plate (2040m) at The Valley, connections were back at the inner-city venue to watch another New Zealand bred son of Bullbars. On debut, Mr Charismatic sat just off the speed under jockey Damien Oliver and made his challenge when rounding the home bend to go on to score narrowly from the fast-finishing Elba in the BoozeBud Plate (1200m). Prepared by Ben, Will and JD Hayes, Mr Charismat...

Tristarc victory for smart Wrote mare

Talented five-year-old mare Wrote To Arataki has added further black-type to her record when leading throughout to land the Gr.2 Tristarc Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on Saturday.The daughter of Wrote was ridden with good intent by comeback jockey Dean Yendall, and once the mare found the front she was rated to perfection to prevail from Shuffle Dancer and Call Di.There was less than two lengths over the first eight runners home, with trainer Matthew Williams delighted to see the honest galloper ...

‘Incredible’ Mr Brightside dominant in Makybe Diva

Mr Brightside notched his fourth Group One victory in comfortable fashion when landing the MakybeDiva Stakes (1600m) at Flemington on Saturday. In a small field of seven that always looked a tactical affair, winning jockey Craig Williams took luck out of the equation as he settled one-out one-back on the unassuming son of Bullbars. With his great rival Alligator Blood setting a sedate tempo and giving a strong kick turning for home, Mr Brightside...

Mr Brightside superb in Memsie

Mr Brightside has delivered plenty of highlights throughout his blockbuster career, but his performance in Saturday’s Gr.1 Stow Storage Memsie Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield suggested that the superstar six-year-old is still raising the bar.A two-time winner of the Gr.1 Doncaster Mile (1600m) in Sydney, the gelding by former Highview sire Bullbars added a Melbourne major to his trophy cabinet with a tenacious and top-class Memsie victory.Mr Brightside went ...

Draw only concern with Imprevu

By Joshua Smith, LOVERACING.NZ News DeskCambridge trainer Janenne Dalley is looking forward to heading to her local synthetic meeting on Wednesday where Imprevu will resume in the Horse Transport Services 1300.The daughter of Wrote had put together an impressive form line this preparation, winning one and placing in two of her four starts, and gave Dalley a great thrill when fourth behind some handy opposition at Ruakaka last start, including last Saturday’s Gr.2 Foxbridge Plate (1200m) placeg...

Mr Brightside lands second P.B. Lawrence

Star galloper Mr Brightside has returned in imperious fashion when successful in Saturday’s Gr.2 P.B. Lawrence Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield, a race the son of Former Highview-based stallion Bullbars won last year.Prepared by Ben, Will & JD Hayes, the multiple Group One winner covered the 1400m in a slick 1.21.71s as he went on to score by just under two lengths from Pinstriped, with fellow New Zealand-bred runner Aegon charging home into third.  With regular jockey Craig Williams ...

gavelhouse.com Waikato Stallion Parades this weekend

Hosted by the Waikato branch of the New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association and sponsored by gavelhouse.com, the parade will visit nine farms and showcase 39 stallions.No preregistration is required and lunch will be provided at Rich Hill Stud on the Saturday and Windsor Park Stud on the Sunday.All enquires can be directed to Scott Calder via 027 616 4235.Saturday August 19th (Matamata farms)9.30am Mapperley Stud – 107 Matai Road, Matamata(Armory, Contributer, Savile Row and Pucc...

Heavenly start for Highview’s new recruit

The 2023-24 season is off to a perfect start for new Highview stallion Divine Prophet, whose daughter See You In Heaven scored a dominant win in Saturday’s Gr.3 Behemoth Stakes (1200m) in Adelaide.The high-class four-year-old was sent out as a $2.15 favourite for the Morphettville feature and lived right up to those high expectations, overcoming a three-wide run to win with plenty in hand.“Considering she is still underdone, it’s exciting to see wher...

Highview trio kick off new season in top form

Highview’s trio of stallions have kicked off the 2023/24 racing season in winning style. On Saturday, Divine Prophet’s star mare See You In Heaven resumed in spectacular fashion to win the G3 Behemoth Stakes (1200m) at Morphettville. The four-year-old mare raced three wide without cover before cruising to an effortless one-and-a-quarter-length victory. Trainers Richard and Chantelle Jolly confirmed that they have Group One aspirations for the mare this season with the G1 Empir...

See You In Heaven makes Spectacular Return

Mark Smith, Breednet.com.auThe quality 4yo Divine Prophet mare See You In Heaven overcame a three-wide trip to take her stakes tally to five in Saturday’s Group III Behemoth Stakes (1200m) at Morphettville.  Ridden by Jake Toeroek for Richard & Chantelle Jolly, See You In Heaven wore down the blue-collar millionaire Savatoxl (Kuroshio) by one and a quarter length, with Manhatten Times (Manhattan Rain) a  length back in third.The Group II MRC Sandown Guineas winner, See You In Hea...

Proisir crowned Champion Sire

At the conclusion of the New Zealand racing season Divine Prophet's full brother Proisir has officially been crowned New Zealand's leading sire for 2022-23.The 2022-23 season saw Savabeel’s eight-year reign as champion Kiwi sire broken in spectacular style. Proisir sired 47 winners from 89 runners on New Zealand racetracks, with eight individual stakes winners and total progeny earnings of $4.15 million. That places him almost $1.5 million ahead of the second-placed Savabeel, who amassed $2.68...

Te Akau Popthebubbles after Tauranga win

By LOVERACING.NZ News DeskPopthebubbles edged her trainer Mark Walker closer to the magical 200 wins for the season mark when taking out the Ultimate Mazda 1600 at Tauranga on Saturday.After jumping away fairly from the ace barrier, Popthebubbes settled toward the rare of the field for veteran hoop Vinnie Colgan, who began his move on the three-year-old filly at the 800m and she was able to storm home late out wide to capture a 1.8 length victory.“It was another really good winning effort from...

Highview's new boys turning heads

Paul Vettise, LOVERACING.NZ News DeskHighview Stud newcomers Divine Prophet and Santos are receiving warm welcomes from the New Zealand breeding community.The proven pair have relocated from Australia to join Wrote at the Waikato farm, with Divine Prophet’s profile further boosted this season by the deeds of his Group One-producing brother Proisir.Santos has also enjoyed a timely boost in New Zealand with his juvenile daughter Ulanova winning three of her six starts this season, including the ...

Two new winners for Santos

New Zealand's current leading first season sire Santos was represented by two impressive new winners in Australia yesterday. The Andrew Bobbin-trained Sandual was a 6.5 length winner at Horsham and the Kacy Fogden-trained Victory win was a 6.3 length winner at the Sunshine Coast. This takes the good looking son of I Am Invincible's winners tally to four, with Group One winner Ulanova his best performer to date. Bred by Emirates Park, Santos comes from one of their most successful ...

Ulanova in Melbourne to target early age group sprints

Leading filly Ulanova has temporarily relocated to Australia to prepare for the early part of her upcoming three-year-old season.The precocious daughter of Santos is in Melbourne to take advantage of lucrative opportunities within her specialist distance range.“She has gone over to join Anthony and Sam Freedman, basically it’s due to the racing pattern in New Zealand from August to Christmas for a filly like her,” part-owner and expatriate Kiwi bloodstock agent Michael Wallace said.“She ...

Highview’s 2023 Stallion Fees Set

Highview have set their fees for the 2023 breeding season. New recruit Divine Prophet, a Group One-winning full brother to dominant New Zealand sire Proisir, takes top billing at $13,500 +GST. Divine Prophet was a high class two-year-old, placing third in the G1 ATC Champagne Stakes. He then came back the following spring to win the G3 ATC Up and Coming Stakes first up, in Chautauqua like style, and then the race every three-year-old is aimed for, the G1 MRC Caulfield Guineas...

First Australian winner for Santos

Fresh off the announcement that Santos will join Highview Stud’s stallion roster this coming breeding season, the son of I Am Invincible recorded his first Australian win as a sire at Newcastle on Wednesday.His daughter West Of Dalby was making her debut over 900m for Kembla Grange trainer Benjamin Smith and got her sire off the mark in Australia when downing hot favourite Party Doll by a short margin.West of Dalby joins classy New Zealand filly Ulanova as victors by her sire, with her Kiwi co...

Divine Prophet to stand at Highview Stud

Highview Stud has welcomed a further addition to their stallion ranks, with Divine Prophet set to stand at the Waikato farm this coming breeding season.The Group One-winning son of Choisir is a full-brother to in vogue sire Proisir and Highview Stud principal Brent Gillovic believes he will prove popular with New Zealand breeders.Divine Prophet won three of his 10 starts for trainers Michael, Wayne and John Hawkes, including the Gr.1 Caulfield Guineas (1600m) and Gr.3 Up & Coming Stakes (130...

Santos to stand at Highview Stud

Exciting Group producing first season sire, Santos, will relocate from Aquis Farm in Queensland to Highview Stud in New Zealand.A son of Champion Sire I Am Invincible, Santos is already the sire of high-class New Zealand two-year-old filly Ulanova. A brilliant winner on debut before dominating the Gr.3 Taranaki 2YO Classic (1200m) – by a massive 7 lengths. The Stephen Marsh-trained filly then rounded out her preparation finishing runner-up in the Gr.1 Sistema Stakes (1200m) last month, and is ...

Creator to join Price-Kent

Talented three-year-old gelding Creator has been purchased by OTI Racing and will join the Victorian stable of Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr.The son of Wrote was an impressive winner of his two starts to date for trainer Chad Ormsby, with a maiden romp at Tauranga before signing off with a comfortable Rating 65 success at Matamata over 1600m.The Gr.2 Queensland Guineas (1600m) and Gr.1 Queensland Derby (2400m) shape as ideal targets for Creator.A son of Group One winning High Chaparral stallio...

Group Three success for Wrote To Arataki

Talented four-year-old Wrote To Arataki has continued her winning ways, following up a New Year’s Day victory at Flemington with a game victory in the Gr.3 Geoffrey Bellmaine Stakes (1300m) at Sandown on Saturday.The daughter of Wrote was again ridden forward by jockey Jamie Kah, who has forged a successful association with the mare in her past two outings.Once nursed through the home-straight dip, Wrote To Arataki staved off her rivals to defeat Belle Et Riche and Forbidden City and claim her...

Ulanova dominates in New Plymouth juvenile feature

Speedy filly Ulanova gave her rivals a good old-fashioned beating as she led all the way to take out the Gr.3 Platinum Homes New Plymouth Taranaki 2YO Classic (1200m) in effortless fashion.Fresh off a solid effort for fourth in the Karaka Million 2YO (1200m) at Pukekohe, where she also led and was only claimed in the final 100m, the Stephen Marsh-trained daughter of Santos never looked like being caught on this occasion.Cuddled up in front by rider Craig Grylls, Ulanova used her high cruising sp...

Best Seller prospecting Trentham Gold

Trainer John Bary is hoping Trentham becomes a happy hunting ground for his stable over the next couple of months.The Hawke’s Bay trainer is looking toward the Gr.1 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai New Zealand Oaks (2400m) with Best Seller (Wrote) and Sequoia Star (Redwood), who will head to the Upper Hutt track on Saturday to contest the Gr.3 New Zealand Bloodstock Desert Gold Stakes (1600m).Best Seller will lead the stable’s charge this weekend and Bary is expecting to see plenty of improveme...